NCDA Awards
Our organization recognizes a “Young Conductor of the Year” and “Conductor of the Year” annually.
Our lifetime achievement award is named for its first recipient, Dr. Cornell Runestad,
and is given as nominations warrant.
Cornell Runestad Award
Current Recipient:
Lyn Bouma
July 2023
Honoring the award’s namesake, his family, and all previous winners, the Cornell Runestad Award is to be given to a deserving choral director in Nebraska. Learn More
Outstanding Director
Current Recipient: Lacey Franzen
July 2023
The NCDA Outstanding Choral Director Award honors directors who maintain high performance and literature standards and promote choral music in the community. Learn More
Outstanding Young Director
Current Recipient: Susie Kearney
July 2023
The NCDA Outstanding Choral Director Award honors young directors who maintain high performance and literature standards. Learn More
Cornell Runestad Award
Past Honorees
2023 – Lyn Bouma
2019 – Cornell Runestad (posthumously)
2018 – Jim Elsberry (posthumously)
2017 – Randy Hayes
2016 – David Cecil
2015 – Fred Ritter
2014 – Boyd Bacon
2013 – Cheri Helmer-Riensche
2012 – Dr. William Wyman
2011 – Dr. Roger MacNeill
2010 – Robert Yanike
2009 – Carolee Curtright
2008 – Don Reimer
2007 – Jon Peterson
2006 – Ray Miller
2005 – Earl F. (Pete) Jenkins
2004 – Don Peters
2003 – Cornell Runestad
Outstanding Director
Past Honorees
2022-23 – A.J. Reimer
2021-22 – Denise Cotton
2020-21 – All Choral Directors (due to Covid)
2018-19 – Dr. Matt Hill
2017-18 – Chris Storm
2016-17 – Dr. Rhonda Fuelberth
2015-16 – Karen Reynolds
2014-15 – Dr. Pete Eklund
2013-14 – Mark Harman
2012-13 – Dr. Kurt Von Kampen
2011-12 – Marty Wheeler Burnett
2010-11 – David Sackschewsky
2009-10 – Wes Hansmeyer
2008-09 – Randy Hayes
2007-08 – David Batter
2006-07 – Lyn Bouma & Toni Hess
2005-06 – Sharon Smith
2004-05 – Cheri Helmer-Riensche
2003-04 – Marjorie Simons-Bester
2002-03 – David Cecil
2001-02 – Fred Ritter
2000-01 – Carolee Curtright
1999-00 – Dr. Z. Randall Stroope
1998-99 – Lyman Anderson
1997-98 – No Award
1996-97 – Dr. William Wyman
1995-96 – Don Reimer
1994-95 – Joe Skutchan
1993-94 – No Award
1992-93 – Duane Nichols (posthumously)
1991-92 – Jon Peterson
1990-91 – Dwaine Price
1989-90 – Paul Swanson
1988-89 – Fran Wilson
1987-88 – Dr. Cornell Runestad
1986-87 – Boyd Bacon
Outstanding Young Director
Past Honorees
2022-23 – Casey Allen
2021-22 – Jason Frew
2020-21 – No Award (Covid-19)
2019-20 – No Award
2018-19 – Patricia Fox
2017-18 – Jeff Vyhlidal
2016-17 – Sara Cowan
2015-16 – Matt Hill
2014-15 – Dane Christensen
2013-14 – Thomas Young
2012-13 – Dr. Barron Breland
2011-12 – Nathan Helzer
2010-11 – Stacie Blackmore
2009-10 – Erin Poe
2008-09 – Adam Reimer
2007-08 – Elizabeth Eno & Jeff Spencer
2006-07 – Adam Lambert
2005-06 – Mark Harman
2004-05 – Julie Sackschewsky
2003-04 – Erinn Machacek
2002-03 – Tim Marsden
2001-02 – Dan Hays
2000-01 – David Sackschewsky
1999-00 – Tim Howard
1998-99 – No Award
1997-98 – Tom Doran
1996-97 – Stacie Moore
1995-96 – Tim Fredstrom
1994-95 – Janelle Reetz
1993-94 – No award
1992-93 – Marti Sanchez
1991-92 – Dan Ruhnke
1990-91 – Tim Vanderhelden
1989-90 – Lyn Bouma
1988-89 – Jennifer Luethje
1987-88 – Rick Stamer
1986-87 – Joel Johnston