Joseph Huszti is Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of California, Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts. During his tenure at UCI, Huszti led 27 international concert tours included prize-winning performances at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales (1979, 1986, 1992, 1997, 2008, 2017), Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Debrecen, Hungary (1988, 1994, 2000), the Nederlands Koorfestival, in den Haag, Holland (1979), World Choir Games in Xiamen and Shaoxing, China, (2006, 2010) and Bratislava Choir Festival in Bratislava, Slovakia (2014).

Under his direction, UC Irvine choirs have performed concerts in Westminster Abbey and the cathedrals of York, Stirling, Coventry, Canterbury, Ely, Burgos, Liverpool, and Boston; along with concert venues in London, Tokyo, Burgos, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, and Vienna.

In 1998, Huszti founded Men in Blaque as an eclectic repertory choir. His goal was to present the finest TTBB literature from Gregorian chant through present-day commissioned works. Huszti believed that working with singers from diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ages—not necessarily traditionally-trained musicians—enhanced the depth of communication through song. That belief has held true through the group’s 26 years and has led to award-winning international success.

Before coming to California, Huszti headed choral activities at Boston University’s School of Music, College of Fine Arts and directed the Young Artists Vocal Program from 1972–1977 at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Huszti has also collaborated with internationally-renowned musicians including Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Norman Dello Joio.

Andy holds an MM in Choral Conducting from CSU Fullerton, and both a BA in Music and Teaching Credential from University of California, Irvine. Andy has had the privilege of studying with notable conductors such as Professor Joseph Huszti and Dr. Stephen Tucker (UCI), Professor Christopher Gravis (CSULA), plus Dr. Robert Istad and Dr. Chris Peterson (CSU Fullerton). Andy is currently based at Corona del Mar High School, where he is the Director of Vocal Music and conductor of seven different vocal ensembles including the Corona del Mar High School Madrigal Singers, which has performed under his direction in France, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

In addition to his time teaching, Andy serves as co-conductor of Men in Blaque. He has performed with MiB at international festivals and competitions including China, South Korea, Mexico, South Africa, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom.

In the summer of 2014, Andy made his international conductor debut at the International Youth Music Festival in Bratislava, Slovakia, and has since conducted performances at notable venues like la Madeline and Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, and the Archduke’s Hall of Mirrors in Olomouc, Czech Republic. He is regularly asked to present lectures at University of California, Irvine and Vanguard University, where he discusses music education at the primary and secondary levels.

Mike Ushino received his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University, Long Beach in 2013. His conducting mentors have included Professor Emeritus Joseph Huszti (UCI), Dr. Jonathan Talberg (CSULB), and Keith Hancock (Chapman University).

Mike serves as the director of the Choral/Vocal Arts Department at San Juan Hills High School and heads the program's Vocal Music Conservatory. He has also led concert tours to San Francisco, New York, France, Luxembourg, and Germany with performances in notable venues including Carnegie Hall in New York City, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. As the vocal director for the musical theatre productions at San Juan Hills, Mike has helped produce multiple shows since 2014.

Mike currently serves as co-conductor for Men in Blaque. He has sung with the ensemble since 2007 and competed in numerous prize-winning tours including 2010 World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China and 2017 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales.

Mike currently serves as the 2022–2024 President-Elect, Southern California Vocal Association. He also presents at workshops and reading sessions for SCVA, universities, and school district music programs.

Katie Franklin Ledsinger earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of California at Irvine and her Master of Arts degree from the City University of New York, Queens College. Active as a collaborative pianist, piano instructor, vocal coach, and organist for more than twenty years, Katie has served on the faculties of several institutions, including the City University of New York at Queens College, Orange Coast College, the Orange County High School of the Arts, and Orange Lutheran High School. Her private studio includes students ranging from four years old to sixty-five years old, of all skill levels. Katie provides in-home, studio, and online lessons, covering all aspects of piano technique (in particular, the Taubman Technique), music theory, and music history. As a performer, her sensitive accompanying and her particular proficiency in contemporary music have made her a popular and respected collaborator on both coasts. Her concerts in New York City and southern California include performances with operatic artists such as Mark Thomsen and Metropolitan Opera headliner, Erika Sunnegardh. Katie has also been a featured pianist with the South Coast Symphony, the Long Beach Chorale, and the Orange County Women’s Chorus. Outside of music, she has been a librarian, a preschool teacher, and a horse wrangler.