J.D. Steele Named Community Music Educator of the Year

Award recognizes his transformative leadership of MCYC and Mill City Singers 

J.D. Steele has been named Community Music Educator of the Year by the Minnesota Music Educators Association — an honor recognizing his profound impact through two MacPhail ensembles: the MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC) and Mill City Singers. 

For 15 years, Steele has led MCYC, a tuition-free youth choir that rehearses weekly at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. What began in 2010 as a vision to create a choir rooted in access, excellence, and mentorship has grown into a vibrant, high-impact arts community. MCYC has performed at gubernatorial inaugurations, the Minnesota State Fair, and festivals and celebrations across the state — but its most meaningful work happens each Saturday morning in rehearsal. 

Steele’s approach is as much about character as it is about music. 

“I tell the kids every Saturday morning that as much as I love singing and dancing with you, that’s secondary to the fact that I want them to be really great human beings, good citizens, and astute academically,” Steele says. 

Each student meets individually with Steele in a welcoming audition process designed not to screen out, but to understand and support. Students are encouraged to sing from head to toe — not just to be heard, but to be felt. The result is a rehearsal space that blends the energy of a professional gospel choir with the mentorship of a trusted community leader. 

Inspired by the powerful community surrounding MCYC, Steele later founded Mill City Singers, an adult community choir that has grown to include hundreds of singers from across the Twin Cities. Together, the two ensembles reflect Steele’s belief that music builds connection across generations — and that high-quality choral experiences should be accessible to all. 

In nominating Steele for the award, MacPhail CEO Paul Babcock wrote: 

“Few people in this world make an impact on others’ lives the way J.D. Steele does. J.D. is there for his students at all times. He is their number one cheerleader when they win a competition or receive the gig they had been hoping for or pass a test they were dreading. J.D. is a mentor, a leader, and a consummate humanitarian.” 

While Steele is widely recognized for his distinguished performance career — including Broadway appearances in The Gospel at Colonus and collaborations with artists such as Prince, Mavis Staples, and George Clinton — he has long said that building community through MCYC and Mill City Singers represents the most meaningful dimension of his life’s work. 

For MacPhail, the award affirms something students and families have known for years: when young singers walk into rehearsal on Saturday mornings, they’re not just joining a choir. They’re stepping into a community that expects excellence, celebrates individuality, and believes deeply in who they can become.