Chorus & Chapter Leadership

The Music City Chorus (and the Nashville, TN Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society) thrive because of the energy and style of the people who have stepped up to lead. Here are a few of the people that make our ensemble tick:

Musical Leadership

Dusty Schleier

Director

Dusty joined the Barbershop Harmony Society in 1989. He is a second-generation barbershopper, and "grew up" singing with the 3-time International champion Phoenicians chorus. He served as an assistant director with the Phoenicians and directed the Mesa, AZ chapter from 1998-2000.

In June of 2000, Dusty moved to Connecticut and later won the Northeastern District Quartet Championship with Prelude. He directed the Bridgeport, CT, and the Westchester County, NY chapters while living in the northeast. He led the Westchester Chordsmen to multiple Mid-Atlantic division championships as well as a Buckeye Invitational championship. Dusty is also a past International quartet competitor with Resolution and a 4-time International Quartet Finalist with TNS.

In 2007, Dusty relocated to Nashville and is the Director of Meetings & Conventions for the Barbershop Harmony Society. Dusty is a certified Performance Judge and travels the country coaching quartets & choruses. He resides in Smyrna, TN, with his wife, Erica, and daughter, Scarlett.

Rick Spencer

Associate Director

Rick Spencer has spent over three-quarters of his life immersed in barbershop harmony. He joined the Barbershop Harmony Society at age 10 and has dedicated most of his life to teaching others about the barbershop art form.

As a quartet singer, Rick has won numerous district-level awards and has placed as high as 4th in international competition. He is a Music Judge for the Barbershop Harmony Society, a published arranger of men’s and women’s a cappella choral music, and an active music coach and clinician.

Originally from Connecticut, Rick holds degrees in music and music education from the University of Connecticut. When he’s not doing music, Rick loves spending time with his wife Heather and their combined family of six children!

Steve Scott

Assistant Director and Principal Vocal Coach

Steve Scott is an experienced educator, having taught voice and choir in higher education in Ohio, Georgia, and Kansas. He completed coursework for a Ph.D. in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Kansas and earned an MA in Vocal Pedagogy and an MM in Choral Conducting from The Ohio State University, where he also received a Singing Health Specialization; he also has a BME in Choral Music Education from Utah State University. Additionally, Steve has focused on research, presenting at national and international music conferences. His research interests include the biophysiology of the barbershop singing voice, barbershop acoustics, barbershop history, and Brazilian art song.

Steve is a certified Singing judge and the Director of Harmony University and Music Education Services of the Barbershop Harmony Society. He joined BHS at age 11 in the chorus his dad directed and in which his brothers sang. Steve has been active as a clinician, coach, and chorus director, and has sung in various quartets and choruses.

Steve’s pride and joy are his family, Jaylene his spouse, and his daughter, Lydia.