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ACDA NATIONAL
2025 Awards/Recognitions

March 18-22 Dallas, TX

Paris M. Rutherford (1934-2022) was sity, and University of Southern California, Saltzman
born in Dallas, Texas, to Ruth and Paris began his tenure at the University of Oregon in 1964.
M. Rutherford Jr. on September 23, 1934. Over five decades, he served as professor of choral mu-
Primarily an instrumentalist and ar- sic and associate dean of the School of Music, national
ranger, he earned both the bachelor’s and president of ACDA (1979–1981), a founding member
master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. and president of IFCM (1985–1993), and executive
Rutherford was a Regents Professor Emeritus at the director of the Oregon Bach Festival (1970–2007). In
University of North Texas, where he served for 30 years 1994 he received the German government’s highest
on the jazz studies faculty, directing the award-winning honor: the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit. He
UNT Jazz Singers, the North Texas Summer Vocal was also awarded Chorus America’s Distinguished Ser-
Jazz Workshops, and the Jazz Arranging/Composition vice Award, ACDA’s Robert Shaw Award, and lifetime
program. While at UNT, he mentored countless stu- achievement awards from IFCM and the 6th World
dents. Widely considered one of the greatest vocal jazz Children’s Choir Festival.
arrangers of his time, Rutherford made immeasurable
contributions to the jazz community; he was pivotal
in elevating jazz education and assuring the future of Peter Tiboris (1947-2024) founded
vocal jazz. He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 MidAmerica Productions in 1983 and
years, Lynne, 6 children, grandchildren, and great- served as its general music director until
grandchildren. his death. For over four decades his re-
markable vision and passion shaped the
organization and touched the lives of countless musi-
H. Royce Saltzman (1928-2023) co- cians and audiences alike. Hailed as “the most prolific
founded the Grammy-winning Oregon presenter of choral concerts in the history of Carnegie
Bach Festival with acclaimed conductor Hall” by the director of the Rose Museum and Archives
Helmuth Rilling in 1970. A graduate of at Carnegie Hall, Maestro Tiboris was instrumental in
Goshen College, Northwestern Univer- the presentation of over 1,500 concerts worldwide. In
2004 he founded MidAm International, extending his
vision to major cultural centers across Europe. Maestro
Tiboris received his doctorate from the University of
Illinois and conducted repertoire ranging from major
choral works to symphonies, operas, and ballets. Among
the distinguished orchestras he conducted were London’s
Royal Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Mos-
cow Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, and the
National Opera Orchestra of Cairo.

Virgil “Leon” Thurman (1940-2024) was
the author of the influential book Body
Mind & Voice: Foundations of Voice Educa-
tion, which has been a vital resource for
voice educators and singers worldwide.
His work emphasized the holistic integration of body
and mind in the development of vocal technique and

138 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 65 Number 6 February 2025 / ACDA National Conference Program Book