CUEcast

Family counselor Weslee Edwards Hill is Minister of Congregational Care at the Brentwood United Methodist Church in Nashville. Aside from her critical role in caring for a congregation largely in isolation, Weslee is also mother of three young boys, two of whom are teenagers. In this highly practical episode, Weslee provides both student ministers and parents an array of helpful tools for helping teenagers through this challenging chapter of life.

Randy and Alan discuss Alan's involvement in student choir as a teenager and how his experience in this teenage ministry laboratory is today influencing his vocation as a senior pastor. Special attention is given to navigating the treacherous waters of the pandemic as well as the toxic political rhetoric in our culture. The dialogue focuses on how we can help our students become instruments of peace.

Having served as a missionary in New Orleans and later as Senior Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington D.C. (2003-2014) followed by Riverside Church in New York City (2014-2019), Amy has always been fascinated by the question, "What does it take to build a community that can change the world?" Amy now serves at Interim Pastor at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., whose church facility is the rehearsal venue for all YouthCUE festival events in the heart of the Nation's Capital. You'll not want to miss this important and enlightening CUEcast episode!

Randy speaks with four students from across the United States who weigh in on how 2020 has affected their lives and their relationships with their friends. Aside from being a great resource of information for student choir directors, it would be good to have the teenagers in our choirs listen in on this discussion, as well. Be prepared to be both informed and inspired as we engage this bright quartet of high school and university students.

Dr. Cary Savage, a YouthCUE alumnus, is a brain scientist and professor at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Having previously taught at Harvard Medical School and the University of Kansas, Cary's expertise in brain imaging provides him valuable insights into the effects of pandemic isolation and how student choir directors can help their students -- and ourselves -- through this time. Join us for this insightful discussion!

Randy leads a conversation with YouthCUE friends Pam Dunagan as well as Dan and Carlene Jean on discovering inner peace and sharing that gift with those around us. Set in the midst of our current and bitter political fray, the discussion will center around how God offers love and comfort to all of us. Please join us for this enlightening episode!

No name is currently more recognized and respected in the world of American choral music than that of Anton Armstrong. Having served as the conductor of the St. Olaf Choir for the past thirty years, Dr. Armstrong was for the decade prior on faculty at Calvin College. As a beloved conductor and educator, he is in constant demand, traveling the globe to provide his extraordinary brand of leadership to thousands of young singers every year. In this interview, Randy will discuss with Anton the current state of choral music and how directors need to respond in helping our students experience the miracle of choral music in seemingly impossible times. Says Dr. Armstrong: "I want the power of music – that Spirit – to transform those who perform and those who will hear the message. For me, that is a very powerful reason for doing what we do."

Randy interviews Rollo Dilworth, composer, Professor of Choral Music Education and Chair of the Department of Music Education and Therapy at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia. In this rich interview, we discuss the role of the arts in the struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States. Dr. Dilworth describes his own growing up experience and what propelled him to become one of the leading authorities across North America in choral education and the arts. Tune in to hear Rollo's story and his commitment to the choral idiom as a means of changing the world through its beauty, collaboration, and mutual understanding.

In 1983, budding young youth choir director Randy Edwards came face to face with his own racism in an unexpected and most unlikely way. It was through a gentle and loving confrontation with then fourteen-year-old John Stinson that the course correction began. In this episode, Randy tells the story and engages in a rich and powerful dialogue with John Stinson, now 51. You'll not want to miss this life-changing episode for the whole YouthCUE network and, indeed, for the whole world. Please join us!

Randy interviews actress, teacher, social activist Angelique Feaster Evans about the current climate of race relations and where we are in our nation's progress towards racial equality and social justice. The questions and solutions are often complex and Angelique is, as always, brilliant in her communication on key issues. Sometimes what needs to be said is not easy to hear. However, when communicated by one as loving and sincere as Angelique, white Americans are inspired to be newly energized and sensitized as the allies we need to be with the communities of color around us. Please listen with open hearts to this very important and timely episode.