Julie Dana

Julie Reyes Dana is thrilled to join the Cal Poly music faculty as a visiting lecturer, conducting the choral ensembles in fall 2026. She is professor emeritus from Fresno City College (FCC), where she taught for 23 years as director of voice and choral music. Under her direction, FCC ensembles toured nationally and internationally — including performances in Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York. Her 42-year career as a choral educator at the high school and collegiate levels has been recognized by local, state and regional organizations.

As the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Western Region president (2024–26), Dana’s most recent work included coordinating the Western Region Conference in March 2026 in San Jose, California; she currently serves as region past-president. Her other professional contributions include: chair, ACDA Western Region Conference; president, California ACDA; state regional representative, Southern and Central California; and state choral representative, CASMEC (CCDA/CMEA). She also served as a board member of the Southern California Vocal Association, holding roles as president-elect, festival coordinator and member of the regional and state honor choir committees. Additionally, she has served on the faculty of Jazz Education Abroad (JEA), teaching vocal jazz in the Middle East. A sought-after honor choir conductor, Dana has led ACDA and SCVA Regional Honor Choirs, as well as TKMEA, SCMEA and FMCMEA middle and high school honor choirs.

Since retiring, Dana has continued her service in music education as an arts education content specialist for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Office, providing instructional coaching and program development support to choral music teachers across Fresno County.

Her honors include the California Choral Directors Association Howard Swan Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Silver Burdett Outstanding Choral Educator Award for California, the State Center Community College District Bill Stewart Award of Excellence, and induction into the SCCCD Muro de Honor at Arte Américas in Fresno, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the district as a Latino/Chicano individual.

Dana holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from San Diego State University and a Master of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She and her husband, jazz guitarist and composer Mike Dana, continue to foster an appreciation of the arts in their community.