Page 7 - Mar_Apr23

About the

Composition Initiatives Commitee

Robert Bode is the conductor in resi- rest. He also chairs the National ACDA Composition
dence at The Ohio State University. He Committee, teaches and mentors composers through
has previously led the choral programs the John Ness Beck Foundation, and serves as artist-in-
at the University of Missouri–Kansas residence at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church.
City and Whitman College (Walla Walla,
WA). He is artistic director, emeritus, of Choral Arts Katie Houts is a music educator and
Northwest, a chamber chorus based in Seattle, WA. He composer who specializes in children’s
has commissioned over fifty choral pieces from Ameri- choirs and developing voices. As the sa-
can composers. He is also a prize-winning poet, and has cred choral editor for Choristers Guild,
written texts for more than seventy-five choral works Katie curates and edits their comprehen-
by American composers. His book of poetry, Crickets sive choral catalog of anthems, musicals, and resources
and Commas: Selected Poetry of Robert Bode, was published for singers of all ages. She leads the eighty-five-voice
by Walton in 2021. His latest book is Hearts All Whole: IGNITE choir (ages 5-12), which serves as the training
Reflections on (Life and) Twelve Choral Gems (GIA, Spring program for Rise Up Children’s Choir, Utah’s premiere
2023). contemporary vocal performance group for youth; she
also serves as one of RUCC’s in-house arrangers. Ka-
Brandon A. Boyd is currently the assis- tie is a frequent presenter at sacred music conferences
tant director of choral activities and as- throughout the country and leads the children’s music
sistant professor of Choral Music Educa- ministry for Hilltop United Methodist Church in Salt
tion at the University of Missouri, where Lake City. She is a sought-after professional accom-
he conducts the Mizzou Men’s Choir. panist and studio musician, and teaches lower grades
In addition to his conducting duties, he teaches un- singing at Wasatch Charter School (SLC).
dergraduate and graduate courses in choral conduct-
ing and music education. Brandon appears regularly Joni Jensen is the director of choral
as a conductor, clinician, composer-in-residence, pia- activities at Texas Woman’s University
nist, and conference presenter. He holds two degrees (TWU) in Denton, Texas. She received
from the Florida State University (PhD and MM) and degrees in Vocal Performance and Ped-
earned a B.S. from Tennessee State University. He is agogy and Choral Conducting from
also the executive editor of Gentry Publications. Brigham Young University and the University of Ari-
zona. She is a sought-after festival and all-state con-
Dan Forrest’s music ranges from major ductor/clinician. The TWU Concert Choir, under her
works for chorus and orchestra to smaller direction, has performed at many conferences includ-
choral works for community and church ing the ACDA National Conference in 2019. Joni is ac-
choirs, as well as solo and ensemble in- tive as a composer as well, publishing with Walton and
strumental pieces. Dr. Forrest’s music Hal Leonard. She is also the editor of a series at Hal
continues to be commissioned and performed around Leonard for advanced women’s choral music. Joni is
the world (including broadcasts on the BBC Proms and the associate dean and musical director of the Millen-
NPR and recordings on the Decca and Sony labels) nial Choirs and Orchestras. Their album, “Millennial
and has received numerous honors and awards. Dan is Song,” peaked at #1 on the Classical Album Billboard
highly active in the music publishing industry, serving Chart.
as editor at Beckenhorst Press and self-publishing his
own concert music through The Music of Dan For-

CHORAL JOURNAL March/April 2023 Volume 63 Number 7 5