Stephen Hatfield

Stephen Hatfield is a resident of Vancouver Island, where he composes for the theatre * Has taught band, chorus, stage band, vocal jazz, guitar, keyboard, steel drum and music appreciation, as well as university English and graduate courses in teaching techniques * Noted for his exciting arrangements of world music, and for his original works which weave influences from diverse cultures into a fresh and distinctive idiom * His choirs have earned gold medals in national festivals, and he has received various awards for his work in education, music and poetry, including the Governor General's Gold Medal * Often featured as a guest conductor and workshop leader throughout the world.

Kent Hatteberg

Kent E. Hatteberg is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Louisville, where he conducts the Collegiate Chorale, Cardinal Singers, and University Chorus, and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting and literature courses. He received the Bachelor of Music degree in piano and voice summa cum laude from the University of Dubuque and the master's and doctorate in choral conducting from The University of Iowa, where he studied conducting with Don V Moses and conducted the renowned Old Gold Singers.

Named a Fulbright Scholar in 1990, Dr. Hatteberg studied conducting and choral-orchestral literature in Berlin, Germany with Uwe Gronostay (conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Choir and Professor for Conducting at the Hochschule der Kunste), pursued research on the works of Felix Mendelssohn, and sang in the Berlin Philharmonic Choir. His doctoral thesis contains urtext editions of Mendelssohn's Gloria and Grobe Festmusik zum Durerfest, two previously unpublished works for chorus and orchestra. In 1997 he conducted the world premiere of the Gloria on the University of Louisville campus. The Grobe Festmusik was given its first modern performance at the Konzerthaus in Berlin on November 10, 2000, with the score provided by Dr. Hatteberg. He has lectured on Mendelssohn's early works in the United States and Germany.

Mary-Kay Henderson

Mary Kay Henderson is a vocalist and women's retreat speaker. Her ministry is focused on encouraging the local church, the importance of praise and worship, and victorious day-to-day living through Jesus Christ. In addition to her personal ministry, she travels throughout the United States and abroad with CHIEF (Christian Hope Indian-Eskimo Fellowship), a Phoenix based international ministry to indigenous people. She is also employed by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma as the director of the Cherokee National Youth Choir, based in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Mary Kay's musical career and ministry began as a teenager at First Baptist, Muskogee, Oklahoma, where she was a leader in her youth group and choir. She later served as that church's Staff Soloist and began ministering in many local churches as well as associational and statewide events.

In l980-81 and l981-82, Mary Kay served as a goodwill ambassador for her tribe as Miss Cherokee. She is the only person to have served two consecutive terms in this position.During this time, she was recognized as an Outstanding Young Woman of America.

Patricia Hennings

Patricia Farris Hennings, 51, died peacefully in her home in Palo Alto, California on December 20, 2001 after a life made rich by music. She had battled breast cancer for nearly four years. Hennings, best known as conductor of the Peninsula Women's Chorus since 1975, touched many lives through her work as a conductor, educator, and performer. As Director of Choral Activities at Skyline College, Hennings gathered students from diverse backgrounds into a musical community, performing standard choral works as well as new works by living composers.

Under Hennings' direction, the Peninsula Women's Chorus (PWC) issued four CDs, toured internationally, and performed three times at national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 1999, the PWC won the prestigious American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Award for Adventurous Programming. In 2000, for the twenty-fifth anniversary of her tenure as Artistic Director of the PWC, Hennings gathered a panel of composers who had written works for the chorus; the panel members demonstrate the quality and variety of composers Hennings had engaged during her career: Libby Larsen, Kirke Mechem, Michael Cleveland, David Conte, Joan Szymko, Brian Holmes, David Meckler, and Ron Jeffers.

Judith Herrington

Judith Herrington brings more than 35 years of teaching and conducting experience to her work at Tacoma Youth Chorus and Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington, where she received the Inspirational Faculty Award and the Murray Foundation Chair for Teaching Excellence. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Ms. Herrington earned her Master of Education degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She has furthered her conducting studies through master classes with Rodney Eichenberger and Henry Leck. She has served on the Washington American Choral Directors Association Board as R&S Chair for Children's Choirs, President and Past-President of the Board and is the 2011 recipient of its Leadership and Service Award. She is an inaugural member of the School of Arts and Communication Advisory Board at Pacific Lutheran University.

Richard Hickox

The English conductor, Richard (Sidney) Hickox, studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1966 to 1967, and was an organ scholar at Queen's College Cambridge from 1967 to 1970.

In 1971 Richard Hickox founded in London the Richard Hickox Singers & Orchestra, with which he gave programs of works ranging from the 14th century to the present era. He also founded the City of London Sinfonia in 1971 and is its Music Director, and following a long association with the London Symphony Orchestra he is their Associate Guest Conductor. From 1982 to 1990 he was Artistic Director of the Northern Sinfonia, and is now Conductor Emeritus. In 1990 he formed a new period instrument group together with Simon Standage: Collegium Musicum 90. His contract as Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales starts in September 2000.

Edward Higginbottom

Edward Higginbottom's early years were marked by distinction as a keyboard player. He gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists before leaving school, winning the Harding and Read prizes for the most outstanding candidate of the year. A long association with Corpus Christi College Cambridge followed, beginning with an organ scholarship (winning the John Stewart of Rannoch university prize in Sacred Music), continuing with graduate work and a doctoral thesis on French baroque music, and ending with a research fellowship (1973-76).

While at Cambridge, he gained recognition at home and abroad as director of the Cambridge University Purcell Society, one of the very first English early music groups to perform regularly in France. Graduate work in Paris from 1970 to 1972 deepened his contacts abroad as he studied organ with Marie-Claire Alain while writing his doctoral thesis. His love of French culture has borne fruit in editions of Francois Couperin's chamber music, many recording projects featuring French music, and frequent invitations for New College Choir to sing in Europe and further afield. He is sought after as president of international music competitions, and as a consultant. The French Ministry of Culture has rewarded him with the honour 'Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' for his role in the revival of choir schools in France and support of French cultural activities.

Dr. Allen Hightower

Allen Hightower is a professor of music and conductor of the renowned Nordic Choir. He serves as director of choral activities, giving leadership to a choral program that includes four choral conductors, six choirs, and over 500 singers.

Prior to joining the faculty at Luther, Dr. Hightower served as professor of music and director of choral activities at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. During his tenure, the SHSU Chorale performed for the 2007 National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, the 2010 Southwestern Division of ACDA, and the 2003, 2006, and 2010 conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association.

Before joining the faculty at Sam Houston, Allen served on the faculty of California State University, Long Beach, conducting the CSULB Chamber Singers. His high school teaching experience includes teaching at Klein High School in Houston, Texas and at Odessa Permian High School. Under Allen's direction, the Permian High School Kantorei performed for the 1996 Texas Music Educators Association convention.

David Hill

David Hill (born on 13 May 1957 in Carlisle, Cumberland), is a choral conductor and organist. His most high profile roles are as Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers from September 2007, and Musical Director of The Bach Choir from April 1998. He was previously Organist and Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge, in succession to Christopher Robinson from 2002. He formerly held the same title at Winchester Cathedral from 1987 - 2002 and at Westminster Cathedral from 1982 - 1987.

Hill was educated at Chetham's School of Music. He also holds the positions Chief Conductor of the Southern Sinfonia, and Music Director of the Leeds Philharmonic Society. He took up the position of Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers in summer 2007, succeeding Stephen Cleobury, and assumed the presidency of the Incorporated Association of Organists, succeeding Catherine Ennis. He was succeeded at St John's by Andrew Nethsingha.

Paul Hillier

Paul Hillier was born in Dorchester and sang in the local church choir. In his early teens he became a devotee of pop music, deeply immersing himself in the weekly pop charts and listening to Radio Luxembourg under the bedcovers. He discovered the early music of Elvis Presley, whose fan club he joined around the time of Return to Sender. He won a dance competition doing the twist. He discovered the local poet, Thomas Hardy. He joined a folksong trio, who performed here and there and included the Beach Boys in their repertoire, but at the same time he began to switch his main interests to classical music. He heard Tallis and Byrd, and read T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets. He went up to London to study singing and acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He discovered medieval music. Together with two fellow-students he formed a music-theatre ensemble called Travelling Music Theatre, performing both contemporary and early music. He formed the Hilliard Ensemble in 1973. He lived for a while in Windsor Castle before moving into a tiny flat in Islington.

Pamela Blevins Hinkle

Appointments: Spirit and Place Festival Director (Research Associate. B.S. in arts administration, Butler University, 1983 Graduate work in community arts management, Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois-Springfield), 1985-87

Academic Interests: Interdisciplinary collaboration, community development, civic engagement, music improvisation, choral music, women's music, chant, creativity

Teaching: Annual workshops on Collaboration and Program Design via Spirit & Place. "Music in the Moment," a music improvision class at Indiana Women's Prison. Lead workshops and talks for congregations and community groups on chant, creativity, improvisation, and more.

Awards: Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship, Arts Council of Indianapolis (2003) Indiana Arts Commission Studio Award, Mary Anderson Center for the Arts (2004)

Moses Hogan

Moses George Hogan, born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 13, 1957, was a pianist, conductor and arranger of international renown. A graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, he also studied at New York's Juilliard School of Music and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Mr. Hogan's many accomplishments as a concert pianist included winning first place in the prestigious 28th annual Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition in New York. Hogan was recently appointed Artist In Residence at Loyola University in New Orleans. Hogan began his exploration of the choral music idiom in 1980. Hogan's former New Orleans based Moses Hogan Chorale received international acclaim.

Dr. Brad Holmes

Dr. Brad Holmes has been Director of Choir Programs at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois since 1991. During this time Dr. Holmes has overseen the growth of the choral program to five traditional choirs and a variety of smaller vocal ensembles involving more than 300 students and six choral/vocal ensemble staff. In addition to conducting the University Choir Dr. Holmes teaches classes in conducting and choral methods. He is artistic director for Millikin's annual Christmas Vespers, an event that attracts 6,500 people each year, as well as a frequent guest conductor of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra. Under his direction the Millikin University Choir has performed before both regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. They have again been selected to perform for the National Conference of ACDA in March, 2011. Dr. Holmes's extensive guest conducting schedule has included All-State, ACDA Honor Choirs and District festivals as well as church music clinics throughout the United States. Internationally, he has served as Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College in Cambridge, England. He has conducted choirs in 35 countries in Europe, South America, East Asia, the South Pacific and Australia.

Imogen Holst

Imogen Clare Holst, CBE was a British composer and conductor, and sole child of composer Gustav Holst. She was brought up in west London and educated at the Froebel Demonstration School and St Paul's Girls' School, where her father was director of music. She worked with Herbert Howells before entering the Royal College of Music (RCM) in 1926 to study composition with George Dyson and Gordon Jacob, harmony and counterpoint with Ralph Vaughan Williams, and conducting with William H. Reed. She won several prizes for composition including the Cobbett Prize for a string quartet (1928).

She was appointed a fellow of the RCM in 1966, an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in 1970 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1975. She received honorary doctorates from the universities of Essex (1968), Exeter (1969), and Leeds (1983).

Bo Holten

Bo Holten (born 1948) is a Danish composer and conductor.

He has been the principal conductor for the vocal ensembles Ars Nova and Musica Ficta (Denmark), as well as guest-conductor for the BBC Singers. He is currently the principal conductor for the Flemish Radio Choir (Vlaams Radio Koor) in Bruxelles.

As a composer he has written more than 100 works, including 6 operas, 2 musicals, 2 symphonies, and 5 solo concertos. He has also composed several film scores, amongst them the music for Lars Von Trier's The Element of Crime.

Daniel Hughes

Daniel Hughes is in constant demand as a conductor, accompanist, coach and choral clinician. He serves as the Artistic Director & Conductor of The Choral Project, a mixed-voice vocal ensemble specializing in dramatic, conceptual performance of high-level choral music from the medieval period to the contemporary. Under his direction The Choral Project has received international recognition, performing to standing ovation crowds in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Scotland and Wales. The ensemble has also received top prizes in international competitions throughout the world. They have recorded seven compact discs on the Gothic Records label. Mr. Hughes also serves as the director for two new choirs in The Choral Project musical family: Menharmonics - a men's chorus dedicated to celebrating diversity, creating community, and forming fellowship through quality musical performance; and Amaranth - a small a cappella vocal jazz ensemble specializing in a broad range of styles including contemporary a cappella, world music, and straight-ahead jazz. In addition to his work with The Choral Project choirs, Hughes serves as the Music Director for Los Gatos United Methodist Church.

Jeffrey Hunt

Jeffrey Hunt received his B.M from Taylor University and a M.M in Choral Conducting from Northwestern University. Jeff conducts St. Charles Singers, a group he founded in 1984. He is Director of Music at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, Illinois where in addition to overseeing the active music program, he directs the Adult choir, the boy choir and coaches high school singers. Mr. Hunt is on the music faculty at Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois, and has an active voice studio.

Under his direction, St. Charles Singers have made numerous appearances at both State and Regional American Choral Directors Association conventions. The Singers have several commercial recordings on both the Proteus and Naxos labels. The choir has made several European tours performing in notable venues in both France and England. In addition to having their own concerts series, the choir has appeared with both the Elgin Symphony and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Peter Hunt

Peter is currently Head of Voice at Berkshire Maestros, the young musicians' trust delivering music education for 8000 young people across the county, a post he has held for four years. He has responsibility for all vocal activity and the three county choirs which have a national reputation. Previously, Peter was Head of Music at Chipping Norton Secondary School for nine years and, thanks to his hard work, the school gained status as a Performing Arts College from September 2004, putting it firmly at the centre of artistic activity in the Chipping Norton community. From 2000-2002 Peter was also part-time Advisory Teacher for Oxfordshire's vocal strategy. In January 2009 he takes up a new post with Maestros as Deputy Head of Service.

David Irvine

David joined the Sonoma Valley Chorale in 2003 as Associate Conductor and added his excellent voice to the baritone section. In 2007 he assumed the role of Artistic Director and Conductor and began planning exciting and challenging programs for the singers and audiences.

David offers an impressive musical background to the Chorale. He has served as the Director of Worship and Music at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church since 1994 and continues in that position today. He is both Assistant Director and baritone soloist with the Consort Chorale of Marin County and performs as a soloist with the Redwood Empire Sing-along Messiah. He was trained as a choral conductor at Chapman College by William Hall and has worked closely with several other renowned choral conductors as well.

Elmer Iseler

n a career that spanned five decades, Elmer Iseler, the Dean of Canadian Choral Conductors, was pivotal to the development of choral music in Canada. After founding the Festival Singers in 1954, Canada's first professional choir, he became Artistic Director and Conductor of the 180-voice Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for 33 years. In 1979 he established Canada's leading chamber choir, the 20-voice Elmer Iseler Singers. He also enjoyed a long association with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducting over 150 performances of Handel's Messiah, and often premiering complex twentieth century music. Under his baton, Dr. Iseler's choirs achieved international stature for their technical brilliance and artistic versatility. He has, in the estimation of many of his peers in Canada and abroad, created a vibrant world class choral infrastructure in Canada.

Roberta Q. Jackson

Girlchoir's Founding Artistic Director/Executive Director, Mrs. Jackson is recognized as a leading choral educator, both for her work spanning 30 years teaching in public schools in Minnesota and Oregon and her work with Girlchoir since its founding in 1989.

Receiving her Master Degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado, Mrs. Jackson has also been awarded the distinction of Artist Teacher and Master Teacher certification from the Association of Choral Music Education.

In demand as a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator, she is serving her third term as Northwest Region representative on the ACDA National Committee for Children's Choirs.

Mrs. Jackson's inspired directing, respect for the individual singer and her vocal development, and quest for excellence have created a world class youth music organization.

John Jacobson

John Jacobson has choreographed, directed and performed in hundreds of staged productions throughout the nation and the world including Grand Opening Ceremonies for Tokyo Disneyland in Japan, portions of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and served as choreographer for Reagan's Presidential Inauguration and The Singing Sergeants.

John received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education (Choral) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he performed in, and eventually directed, The Wisconsin Singers. He has served as guest clinician at such events as the Showchoir Camps of America, The Brightleaf Music Festival and hundreds of festivals, workshops, camps and reading sessions throughout the country. The highly successful John Jacobson Workshops, which are one-day choreography sessions, are held each summer for directors and students and are sponsored by local music dealers and Hal Leonard Corporation.

Daria Jazz

Acclaimed vocalist, DARIA, an innovative singer and songwriter with a beautiful voice, unerring pitch and wide vocal range, blends Jazz, Brazilian music, Afro Cuban and world rhythms to create her own powerful and expressive style. Growing up in San Francisco, Daria was part of a uniquely creative family. Her mother spoke five languages, taught creative writing and is a published author. Her father was a first violinist with the San Francisco Symphony. Daria began to sing at age six. In her teens she fell in love with Jazz. She went on to study with Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy and Brazilian musician, Celia Malheiros. Daria has 2 critically acclaimed CDs, Just the Beginning, produced by Ian Dogole and Feel The Rhythm, produced by Frank Martin and seven-time Grammy Nominee, Wayne Wallace. The title track, Feel The Rhythm, a beautiful Brazilian style song, received Honorable Mention at the Billboard World Music Competition.

Joseph Jennings

Joseph Jennings is widely regarded as one of the choral world's top conductors and music directors, clinicians and arrangers. He joined the renowned a capella group, Chanticleer, in 1983 as a countertenor, and shortly thereafter assumed position as Music Director. Under his direction, Chanticleer achieved international renown, releasing 23 critically acclaimed recordings in works ranging from Gregorian chant to Renaissance masterworks to jazz. Many of the recordings, for Teldec and for Chanticleer's own label, became Billboard best sellers, including the GRAMMY-Award-winners Colors of Love, Magnificat and, most recently, the World-premiere of Sir John Tavener's double GRAMMY-Award winning Lamentations and Praises.

Mr. Jennings has performed at the most prestigious festivals and concert halls throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. These performances have included appearances at the Salzburg Festival, the International Josquin Symposium, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and the Holland Voices Festival and at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In the U.S., Mr. Jennings has appeared at Jones Hall in Houston, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Severance Hall in Cleveland, Jordan Hall and Symphony Hall in Boston, Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

Kenneth Jennings

Jennings is an alumnus of St. Olaf College and sang as a member of the St. Olaf Choir as an undergraduate. He received his master's degree from Oberlin College and his doctorate from the University of Illinois. Jennings was appointed to the faculty of St. Olaf College in 1953, and ascended to one of the world's most coveted choral podiums in 1968: Jennings was the third director of the internationally renowned St. Olaf Choir, succeeding founder F. Melius Christiansen and his son-successor, Olaf C. Christiansen. He retired from St. Olaf College in 1990, turning over the podium to his former student, Anton Armstrong. His Son, Dr. Mark Jennings, is the director of Choral Activities at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

As director of the St. Olaf Choir Jennings became noted for guiding and maturing the St. Olaf Choir from one rooted substantially in its 1911 era founding to arguably one of the most highly respected choral ensembles of the world.

Joni Jensen

Dr. Joni Jensen is the Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Voice at Texas Woman's University (Denton, TX). She conducts three choirs and teaches voice, conducting, vocal pedagogy, and graduate art song literature.

She received her Bachelor's degree in vocal performance and pedagogy and her Master's degree in choral conducting from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. She received her DMA in choral conducting, minor in vocal performance, at the University of Arizona. Dr. Jensen studied under renowned conductors and arrangers Dr. Mack Wilberg, Dr. Ronald Staheli, and Dr. Bruce Chamberlain. During her doctoral work, she was a semi-finalist in the American Choral Directors Association national graduate conducting competition in Los Angeles, February 2005.

Craig Hella Johnson

Renowned as one of the most influential voices in choral conducting in the United States, Craig Hella Johnson brings a depth of knowledge, artistic sensitivity and imagination to his programs. Founder and Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-Nominated choral ensemble Conspirare, Johnson has assembled some of the finest singers in the country to create a world class, award-winning ensemble committed to creating dynamic choral art.

In addition to his work with Conspirare, Johnson also serves as Music Director Laureate and Conductor of the Victoria Bach Festival, an annual event that draws musicians and critical praise from around the country. Of Johnson's performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Mike Greenberg of the San Antonio Express-News wrote: "Through all the amazing ebbs and flows of dynamics, the radiant balances, the seamless connection of episodes, the theatrically astute tempo relations, the unified structural arc, the music shone forth with organic naturalness. Nothing sounded fussed over. Everything just sounded right."

Derric Johnson

As a Musician... he has written 150 original songs, 23 cantatas and 2800 musical arrangements, published 32 books of choral collections and has been involved in producing 84 recorded albums on twelve labels.Derric founded and directed "ReGeneration" a touring ensemble of a cappella singers who traveled for twelve years, logging over a million miles, performing to more than 12,000,000 people in 6,000 concerts.

As a Consultant... he has served Church and Parachurch Ministries, has been a specialty writer for Radio City Music Hall and for seventeen years served as a Creative Consultant for Walt Disney World where he has arranged and produced Epcot Center's The Voices of Liberty, America's premier a cappella stylists

Dr. Jefferson Johnson

Jefferson Johnson is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Kentucky where he conducts the University Chorale and Men's Chorus. He also teaches advanced choral conducting, choral methods and literature, and directs the graduate program (MM and DMA degrees) in choral music. A native of Atlanta, Johnson received the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Georgia (magna cum laude, 1978), the Master of Music from the University of Tennessee (1981), and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado (1992). While living in Atlanta, Johnson was also a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus conducted by Robert Shaw.

Mark S. Johnson

Mark Johnson began his work with the choir in 1991 as the accompanist. He was hired as the Music Director in 1993. Mr. Johnson holds a degree in music education from St. Olaf College, and he taught junior high choral music for six years before becoming full-time director for the Boychoir. From 1995 to 2007, he was a member of the staff at Albemarle, a summer music camp program of the American Boychoir School in Princeton, New Jersey.

Mr. Johnson's reputation in choral work, especially with children's groups, has led to many invitations to work as a clinician and accompanist for honors choirs and festivals in Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Recently, he conducted the Minnesota ACDA 7th grade Boys Honor Choir and the Young Men's track at the World Voices Australia Festival in Sydney. Mark is active in Minnesota's chapters of ACDA and MMEA, and currently serves as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Boychoirs at the state and regional level.

Sigrid Johnson

As the associate conductor of VocalEssence, Sigrid Johnson provides invaluable input on repertoire decisions, choral blend and balance, and in the audition process. Her unique ways of working to achieve excellence in choral blend and intonation have garnered her great praise.

Sigrid is a member of the voice and choral faculty of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and the conductor of the Manitou Singers, St. Olaf's 100-voice first-year women's chorus. Sigrid Johnson maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician at choral festivals, workshops and all-state music festivals across the country. She is known internationally for her work with musicians at all levels, having conducted workshops in Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. In August 2008, she was one of the featured lecturers for the Eighth World Symposium on Choral Music in Copenhagen; in 201, she will be featured in the Ninth World Symposium to be held in Argentina.

James Jordan

James Jordan is considered to be one of the most influential choral conductors and educators in America. His more than eighteen books covering rehearsal and teaching pedagogy, conducting technique, and the spirituality of musicing, as well as numerous DVDs and recordings, have brought about far-reaching pedagogical and philosophical changes not only in choral music but also in the worlds of orchestral conducting, wind conducting, piano, and music education. The Choral Journal has described his writings as "visionary." Renowned American composer Morten Lauridsen dedicated the third movement of his Midwinter Songs to him.

Ron Kean

Dr. Ronald Kean, Emeritus Professor of Music at Bakersfield College, recently retired after completing his 30th year of teaching in California. He was awarded the 2012-2013 Distinguished Teaching Award by his colleagues. He is Past-President of the Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC) and Past-President of the American Choral Directors Association Western Division following six years as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives at state, division, and national levels. He was selected to be the 2007 California Music Educators Association Multicultural Educator of the Year. The Bakersfield College Chamber Singers under his direction have performed at state, division, and national ACDA conventions. He is frequently called upon to adjudicate festivals, lecture, and to conduct workshops and honor choirs in the US and abroad.

Dennis Keene

Dennis Keene is Artistic Director and conductor of the Voices of Ascension Chorus & Orchestra. Known internationally through his many concerts and recordings with Voices of Ascension; his regular guest appearances as conductor and clinician; and his work as Artistic Director of The Dennis Keene Choral Festival, he has emerged as one of leading choral conductors in the world today.

Recognized early as an exceptional organist, Dennis Keene began musical studies and performing in his native Los Angeles. He moved to New York City to study at The Juilliard School, where he earned the BM, MM, and DMA degrees and the coveted Gaston Dethier Organ Prize as a student of Vernon de Tar. Dennis Keene was active as a recitalist until his interest in conducting led him to concentrate on that discipline. He subsequently studied conducting at the Pierre Monteux School for Orchestral Conductors, with Charles Bruck in Paris, and with John Nelson at The Juilliard School. His passion for the finest in professional choral music can be traced to his early work as organist with Gregg Smith, Roger Wagner, and Margaret Hillis.

Joyce Keil

Joyce Keil, Artistic Director and co-founder of Ragazzi, has served as panelist, adjudicator and guest conductor for music teachers and choirs throughout the Western United States.

An experienced teacher, she has served on the faculties of the College of Holy Names, Notre Dame de Namur University and Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.

She is the founder of the choral program and advanced placement music theory curriculum at Crystal Springs Uplands School.

Ms. Keil has served as Western Division Chair of the Boychoir Committee for the American Choral Directors Association and has sat on the College Board for Advanced Placement Music Exams.

Ragazzi, under Joyce Keil's leadership, was cited in the November 22, 1998 S.F. Chronicle as one of the four elite youth choruses in the Bay Area.

Lee Kesselman

Lee Kesselman has been Director of Choral Activities at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago, since 1981. He is Founder and Music Director of the New Classic Singers, a professional choral ensemble. He also directs the DuPage Chorale and College of DuPage Chamber Singers. A native of Milwaukee, he holds undergraduate degrees in piano and composition from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a master's degree in conducting from the University of Southern California. In addition to teaching and composing, Mr. Kesselman is active as a conductor, pianist, clinician and lecturer. He is music director for a variety of opera and musical theatre productions. He was chosen the Outstanding Faculty Member at the College of DuPage for 1994-95.

Pekka Kostiainen

Pekka Kostiainen's long and impressive career as a composer and choir conductor is undoubtedly based on his profound understanding of and widely recognised expertise in choral music. As a conductor, he collaborated for several decades with the Vox Aurea Children's Choir and the Musica Choir. Kostiainen also wrote several of his choral works for these choirs.

His flexible composition technique allows him to adapt his musical goals and intentions into a range of different circumstances. He not only exploits the choir's expressive potential in a captivating manner, but also takes into account the performer's technical capabilities and overall musical experience. His technical flexibility is very much appreciated among the performers, in particular when it comes to the heterogeneous and highly ambivalent language of contemporary music.

Janeal Crabb Krehbiel

Janeal Crabb Krehbiel, founder and director of the Lawrence Children's Choir, is a clinician and festival director throughout the United States. A graduate of Bethel College in Kansas, she earned a Master's degree in Music Education at Wichita State University. She was a member of the Chorister's Guild Board of Directors, has been the featured clinician at St. Olaf College, Montreat Music Conference, Westminster Choir College, and the North Carolina Summer Institute of the Choral Art. She has held seminars at colleges and universities, directed camps and festivals and published many articles about choral music for children and youth. In March 2000 Ms. Krehbiel was the guest conductor for the National 2000 Children's Choir at Carnegie Hall. She conducted the 2007 National Children's Choir at Carnegie Hall and conducted the Lawrence Children's Choir in a premier performance at Carnegie Hall.

Erich Kunzel

Erich Kunzel's distinguished career was personified by his 2006 National Medal of Arts, presented by President and Mrs. Bush at a ceremony in the Oval Office at The White House in 2007. The National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States Government, is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States. The legendary "Prince of Pops" was also honored in September 2008 as an inductee into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

The late Maestro Max Rudolf invited Mr. Kunzel, then a young conductor on the faculty of Brown University, to join the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as an associate conductor in 1965. That October Maestro Kunzel conducted his first sold-out "8 O'Clock Pops" concert, marking his ascent as a modern orchestral legend. The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, part of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, was then officially founded in 1977 with Maestro Kunzel at the helm. For decades he led the orchestra, packing houses in Cincinnati's Music Hall and Riverbend Music Center, and also gaining new fans the world over through tour performances, PBS television specials and millions of recordings sold on the Telarc label.

Paul T. Kwami

Dr. Paul T. Kwami is Musical Director and Curb-Beaman Chair of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Dr. Kwami was born in Ghana, West Africa one of seven children. His father, a musician, taught him piano, violin, theory and conducting. He studied music at Ghana's National Academy of Music and taught there until immigrating to the US in 1983 as a student at Fisk University. He promptly joined the Jubilee Singers.

After graduating from Fisk in 1985 he continued to study music at Western Michigan University. In 1994 he was solicited to serve as part-time director of the Jubilee Singers. Shortly therafter, Dr Kwami was promoted to full time faculty member in the music department and musical director of the Singers. He is the first African to direct the ensemble, and the first to hold the Curb-Beaman Chair position. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the American Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Kwami feels a deep connection between Negro spirituals and the music of his Motherland. "The music we sing today helps to bridge the gap between Africans and African-Americans," he says. "When my students sing, I am reminded of my life in Ghana and feel close to my past."

The music also touches his spirit. He believes in the sovereignty of God, who was a source of faith, hope and love for slaves and for the original Jubilee Singers. "My greatest desire is to fulfill my call," he says.

Cameron LaBarr

Cameron F. LaBarr is director of choral studies at Missouri State University where he leads a comprehensive choral program including over 250 singers in eight choirs. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Missouri State University and he earned a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. He has completed further study in choral music and conducting with Simon Carrington and Alice Parker. He has previously held university choral positions at Lee University (Cleveland, Tennessee) and the University of North Texas. Dr. LaBarr has been awarded conducting fellowships at the Yale International Choral Festival, the Sarteano (Italy) Chamber Choir Workshop, and was named a Salzburg Fellow in April 2014, where he participated in the Salzburg Seminar: Conflict Transformation through Peace-Building and the Arts.

Dr. Arthur Lapierre

Dr. Arthur Lapierre is currently Professor of Music, and Director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble at American River College, where he also teachers applied voice, jazz history, and voice classes. He has served on the faculties at the Berklee College of Music, California State University, Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles, Rancho Santiago Community College and Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Dr. Lapierre is active as an adjudicator and clinician and previously served as the R&S Chair for Jazz and Show Choirs for ACDA - Northeast Region.

Dr. Lapierre's ensembles have performed at conferences of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), Jazz Education Network (JEN), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), California Music Educators Association (CMEA), New York State Music Teachers Association (NYSMTA) and at other regional and international conferences. Dr Lapierre's ensembles have been honored with 11 Student Achievement Awards by DownBeat Magazine.

Richard Larson

Richard Larson, Artistic Director of Kantorei, has been involved in community music and music education for over thirty years and is in demand as a clinician, conductor, and teacher. Named "Choral Conductor of the Year," in 1989 by the Colorado ACDA, Mr. Larson taught music both at the University of Northern Colorado and at Metropolitan State College in Denver. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a Masters in Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder. Mr. Larson has studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller, Elizabeth Green, John Nelson, Julius Herford, Richard Westenberg and Margaret Hillis, among others.

Stephen Layton

Edward Higginbottom's early years were marked by distinction as a keyboard player. He gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists before leaving school, winning the Harding and Read prizes for the most outstanding candidate of the year. A long association with Corpus Christi College Cambridge followed, beginning with an organ scholarship (winning the John Stewart of Rannoch university prize in Sacred Music), continuing with graduate work and a doctoral thesis on French baroque music, and ending with a research fellowship (1973-76). While at Cambridge, he gained recognition at home and abroad as director of the Cambridge University Purcell Society, one of the very first English early music groups to perform regularly in France. Graduate work in Paris from 1970 to 1972 deepened his contacts abroad as he studied organ with Marie-Claire Alain while writing his doctoral thesis. His love of French culture has borne fruit in editions of Francois Couperin's chamber music, many recording projects featuring French music, and frequent invitations for New College Choir to sing in Europe and further afield. He is sought after as president of international music competitions, and as a consultant. .

Henry Leck

An internationally recognized choral director, Henry Leck is an associate professor and Director of Choral Activities at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1986 he became Founder and Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Children's Choir, one of the largest children's choir programs in the world. The Touring Choirs of the Indianapolis Children's Choir have performed regularly for National ACDA, MENC, OAKE and AOSA Conferences. Additionally, ICC tours internationally every year, having sung in prestigious concert sites throughout Great Britain, Greece, Scandinavia, Europe, South America, North America, Mexico, Guatemala , Australia, New Zealand and China. Mr. Leck is a frequent conductor of regional and national honor choirs, including the ACDA Southern, Southwest, North Central, Central and Northwest Divisional Honors Choirs. In the spring of 2003, he conducted the ACDA National Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir in New York City and on three occasions has conducted National Honor Choirs for OAKE. In 2010 he will conduct the ACDA National Children's Honor Choir.

Sir Philip Ledger

Sir Philip was born in Bexhill-on-Sea in 1937 and educated at King's College, Cambridge.(1) When appointed Master of the Music at Chelmsford Cathedral in 1961, he became the youngest Cathedral Organist in the country.(1) In 1965 he took up the post of Director of Music at the University of East Anglia where he was also Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Music and responsible for the establishment of an award-winning building for the University's Music Centre, opened in 1973.(1) In 1968 he became an Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival with Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, conducting at the Snape Maltings on many occasions including the opening concert after its rebuilding, and playing in first performances of works by Britten.(1) He appears as continuo player on Britten's recordings of Bach and Purcell.

Josephine Lee

Born in Chicago, Josephine Lee is a classically trained pianist, conductor, arranger and producer. Appointed in 1999, Ms. Lee is the youngest Artistic Director in the history of Chicago Children's Choir. Under her direction, the Choir has toured nationally and internationally, received a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for the 2008 documentary Songs on the Road to Freedom, and has been featured in nationally broadcast television and radio performances. In 2010, Ms. Lee was invited to join The Chicago Network, a premier organization of diverse, professional women who have reached the highest echelons of business, the arts, government, the professions and academia. In 2009, she led the Choir in concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC with Denyce Graves and Sweet Honey In The Rock, honoring the 70th Anniversary of Marian Anderson's historic concert at that site. In 2008, Ms. Lee received the 3Arts Artist Award and in 2006 was named "Chicagoan of the Year in the Arts" by Chicago Tribune. Most recently, Ms. Lee directed and produced the new Chicago Children's Choir studio recording, Holiday Harmony.

Dr. Iris S. Levine

Nationally recognized for her excellence in choral conducting, Dr. Iris S. Levine is founder and artistic director of VOX Femina Los Angeles, L.A.'s premier women's chorus. Through her extensive experience with women's choral literature, and innovative concert programming, Dr. Levine has charted VOX Femina on an impressive journey, building its prominence in the choral community by way of numerous appearances at ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) conventions and Chorus America conferences, and over 300 appearances throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Erick Lichte

In the last ten years, Erick Lichte has carved out a distinct niche in the vocal music world and concert life in America. As a founding member, singer, and artistic director of the male vocal ensemble Cantus, Lichte created and sustained one of the two full-time vocal ensembles in the nation.

2000-2009, Lichte's programming and artistic direction was heard in more than 60 concerts a year in such venues as Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Merkin Hall, San Francisco Performances, Oregon Bach Festival, UCLA, and Spivey Hall. His work has also been heard by hundreds of thousands of people through national and international broadcasts of hour-long Christmas programs distributed through American Public Media. He has collaborated with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, the Boston Pops, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, James Sewell Ballet, and poet Robert Bly, to name a few.

Ed Lisk

Edward S. Lisk is an internationally recognized clinician, conductor, and author. He is a graduate of Syracuse University School of Music with graduate studies at Ithaca School of Music, Syracuse University, and Oswego State University.

Mr. Lisk is an elected member (48th) of the prestigious National Band Hall of Fame for Distinguished Conductors. To be nominated for such an honor, directors have had a national impact on the American band movement throughout their career. The National Band Hall of Fame for Distinguished Conductors is housed in a magnificent facility made available by Troy University in Alabama.

He is a member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and in the year 2000, served as the 63rd President of this distinguished organization founded by Edwin Franko Goldman. He has an active guest-conducting schedule that includes all-state bands, honor bands, university and military bands. Mr. Lisk has served as an adjunct professor, clinician/lecturer, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout 46 states, 5 Canadian Provinces and Australia. He is author of The Creative Director Series (Meredith Music) and a co-author of the GIA series of books, Teaching Music through Performance in Band. He is also editor of the Edwin Franko Goldman March Series (Carl Fischer).