This 2025 ACDA Insight Choir session will feature singers from the Dallas Street Choir, the University of Texas at Dallas, the Credo Community Choir, conductor-teacher Jonathan Palant, and composer-lyricist Jacob Ryan Smith. Together, we will explore the transformative power of communal singing and how every choral rehearsal serves as a beacon of connection for those too often isolated. We will also discuss the profound role music has in cultivating empathy, understanding, and catalyzing social change across generations. Hear selections from “Shelter Me: An Original Rock Oratorio” commissioned by the Dallas Street Choir, that chronicles the touching journey of a young man suddenly finding himself without shelter and navigating the unforgiving streets. His steadfast companion is an older man who is well-versed in the trials of homelessness, having weathered its challenges for a significant portion of his life.
“Shelter Me” is based on the real-life experiences of Dallas Street Choir members and offers hope and resilience in the face of adversity.