REPERTOIRE RESOURCES & REFLECTION RENEWAL
TheR&RChairsarehereforYOU.
They will each be writing articles in the coming months and sharing some of their favorite choral literature If you have questions, please reach out to them If you have ideas to share, I am sure that they wouldlovetoconnectwithyou.
They each bring a wealth of knowledge to the SWACDA team, and I am grateful and honored to workwitheachofthem.
StudentActivities-JenniferSengin
jsengin@umkc.edu
JenniferSenginservesonthechoralfacultyinthe role of Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral StudiesattheUniversityofMissouri-KansasCity where she leads the graduate choral conducting program and conducts the flagship ensemble, Conservatory Singers, and the Choral Union. In addition to ensembles, Dr. Sengin teaches graduate choral conducting and choral literature. She has mentoredmultiplegraduatestudentswhohavebeen successfully placed in professional positions, admitted to graduate programs, accepted to invited conference presentations, and selected to participate inconductingmasterclasses
ShemostrecentlyservedastheAssociateDirectorof Choral Activities at Georgia State University (GSU) Under her direction, the GSU Treble Choir won first place in The American Prize and Dr Sengin received 2nd place in conducting The Treble Choir has been invited to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference (2023) and twice at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference (2020and2023)
An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Sengin has conducted honor choirs throughout the country and recently conducted the 2024 South Carolina American Choral Director's Association TTB Honor Choir, 2023 Texas All-State Treble Choir, and additional regional honor choirs. Future engagements include guest conducting along withDr SandraSnowinCarnegieHallwithNational Concerts She recently participated as a Conducting Fellow with ACDA’s International Conductor Exchange Program to Germany where she led workshops at the Hochshule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover as well as the Hochshule für Musik, Universität der Künste Berlin. In 2024, Dr. Sengin will travel to Helsinki, Finland to present at the International Society for Music Education World Conference. Dr. Sengin currently serves on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and sings in the award-winning professionalensemble,mirabai
Dr. Sengin holds degrees from The College of New Jersey (BM Music Education), Ithaca College (MM Choral Conducting), and Michigan State University (DMAChoralConducting).
Women’sChoirsSSAA-TannerOglesby toglesby@bryantschools.org
Tanner Oglesby is the Director of Choirs for theBryantSchoolDistrictwhereheleadsthe secondary choral department, teaches high school choir, and collaborates with administrators for the advancement of fine arts in the district Under Tanner’s direction, students have achieved high ranks in state and national level honor choirs, and his ensembles have received several “Best in Class” distinctions attheArkansasStateChoralFestival.
Bryant choirs have performed in St. Patrick’s CathedralinNewYorkCity(2022)andCadoganHall inLondon(2023) In2025,Bryantchoirswillembark onaEuropeanchoirtourwheretheywillperformin Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and FranceTanner holds aBachelorofMusicEducationfromHendersonState University, a Master of Science in Education from Arkansas State University, and a Master of Music fromWesternIllinoisUniversity.
His professional accolades include Bryant High School Teacher of the Year (2020), Bryant School DistrictTeacheroftheYear(2020),Quarterfinalist forGRAMMY®MusicEducatoroftheYear(2023), Region 3 Choral Director of the Year (2022), and nomineeforArkansasFineArtsTeacheroftheYear (2024).
In addition to being an active clinician and adjudicator in the state of Arkansas, Tanner has servedontheboardsforArkansasACDA,Arkansas Music Educators Association, and the Arkansas ChoralDirectorsAssociation
HighSchoolChoir-SpencerWiley Spencer.Wiley@killeenisd.org
Graduating from the University of Mary HardinBaylor with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, Spencer Wiley began his teaching careeratHenryMiddleSchoolinCedarPark,Texas in 2005. During his time at Henry MS, he was fortunate enough to assist with preparing the Varsity TrebleChoirfortheirTMEAinvitedchoirperformance inFebruary2008.Inthefallof2008,hebeganworking towardsaMaster’sDegreeinMusicEducationatTexas State University-San Marcos. While attending graduate school, he remained very active in several Austin area choral programs, teaching private voice lessons to young men and women and serving as a choralclinician.
Inthefallof2010Mr.Wileywashiredastheassistant choir director at Rouse High School in Leander Texas Over the course of three years at Rouse HS choirs under his direction earned multiple first division ratingsatnumerouschoralfestivalsandUIL Concert & Sight-Reading competitions Mr Wiley became the head director at Leander High School in the spring of 2014 During his time at LHS his choirs continued to receiveconsistentsweepstakesawardsatUILcontests and choral festivals. He also piloted Leander High School’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) music program AP Music Theory course and show choir ensemble.
Mr. Wiley has been the head choir director at Harker Heights High School in Killeen ISD for five years. With a focus on singing a variety of styles of choral music, choirs under his direction have received recognition not only at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading contests, but also at contemporary a cappella contests such as the International Championship of High SchoolACappella(ICHSA)andAca-TexVocalFestival The varsity mixed choir from Harker Heights HS was also selected as an invited ensemble to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in 2024. He has served as a TMEA invited clinician for regions 9, 10, 12, 19, 26, and 32 and is a frequent adjudicator for UIL Concert & Sight-Reading contest aroundthestateofTexas.
Children’s& CommunityYouth- NathanWubbena nathan@boulderchoraleorg
Nathan Wubbena is the Artistic Director of the Boulder Children’s Chorale as well as the Longmont Chorale. He is also Board President and founder of Ascent Vocals Mr Wubbena has served as a guest clinician and conductor throughout the state of Colorado, directing the Colorado Springs District 11 Honor Choir,Poudre School District Honor Choir, Western Slope Fall Vocal Festival, Northeastern Colorado High School Honor Choir, Western State Colorado University Directors Choir, andMiddleSchool
AllStateDirectorsChoir;healsoadjudicatesatACDA festivalsandMusicintheParks.HeisChairEmeritus of the Colorado Middle All-State Choir board, of which he was a founding board member.In 2015, Nathan received the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award from the Colorado Music Educators Association, which honors outstanding achievement in an educator with up to 5 years of experience He has been a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) since helping found a student chapter during his Bachelor’s degree and of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) sincegraduation
Nathan resides in Longmont with his wonderful family: his wife, Anna, his son, James, and daughter, Claire. He enjoys cheering for the Broncos and spendingtimeoutdoorswithhisfamilyanddogs.Itis Nathan’s firm belief that music is for everyone; he works tirelessly to make that a reality for young and old alike, and then to create an environment where music and collaboration can bring beauty and joy to both those that sing and those that listen. Nathan is excited to serve the choral community through SWACDA by providing resources, creating opportunities and building connections amongst our members.
bryan.taylor@lumcmo.org
BryanTayloristheDirectorofTraditionalMusic and Worship Arts at the Liberty United Methodist Church, celebrating his 28th year there. He has just completed his 32nd season as a singer in the Grammy-Award-winning Kansas City Chorale. Bryan is the Founder and Director of the Liberty Community Chorus, now in its 21st season and taught choral music at Kearney High School from 1985-2000. Bryan earned his undergraduate degree in music education from William Jewell CollegeandhisMaster’sdegreeinchoralconducting from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Bryan has served the Missouri Choral Directors Association and the Southwest American Choral Directors Association as the Music and Worship Repertoire andResourceCoordinator
Jazz-BethEnloeFritz
benloefritz@gmail.com
Beth Enloe Fritz graduated in 1992 from UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Under mentorsDr.EphEhlyandDr.CharlesRobinson, she earned three degrees: BME (vocal and instrumental certification), and BAs in Music Therapy and Psychology. In 2005, she earned a MM in Jazz (emphasis: vocal jazz arranging), from Webster University She is now retired, after teaching for 31 years, having taught every grade from K-12 in subjects including general music, guitar,otherindividualinstruments,andband.
Inaddition,for25yearsatthehighschoollevel,she taught students in AP Music Theory, choral music and vocal jazz Under her direction, in 2008 and in 2019theFZWHSJazz&MadrigalEnsembles(J&M) were chosen to perform at the MMEA state conference and the 2019 J&M was given the 43rd Annual Student DownBeat Award (2020) for HS OutstandingPerformanceandforOutstandingLead Soloist. As an active member of MMEA and MCDA, Beth has led many sessions, served as the MCDA Multicultural Resource and Repertoire Chair (R&R), High School R&R, Jazz R&R multiple years, and coordinated the MO All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble for 9 years She is now working as a clinician, adjudicator, and substitute teacher for all grades Currently, she is the assistant director for the St. LouisSymphonyOrchestra’sINUNISONChorus.
CommunityChoirs-AndyWaggoner andy waggoner@yahoo.com
Andy Waggoner was appointed Artistic Director of the St. Louis County Community Chorus in 2016. The chorus has an active membership of 200 singers from all over the St. Louis area. In addition, he serves as Director of Worship Arts at Webster Hills UMC in St. Louis, Missouri. He served Missouri ACDA as representative for both Community Choirs and Music in Worship and currently serves in various capacities, mostly in the areaofwelcomingnewmembersandspecialevents
Andyhaspreparedchorusesandconductedresidencies in London, Dublin, New York City, Washington, DC, and festivals and tours throughout the Midwest He hashadthehonorofworkingwithmanycomposerson commissions and premieres, most notably two new works by Mark Hayes at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve SWACDA, an organization that has meant so muchtohimthroughouthiscareer.
JuniorHigh/MiddleSchool-CristiMiller
cmiller@heritagehall.com
Cristi Miller is internationally regarded as a master teacher, conductor, composer and arranger. A graduate of Oklahoma State University, she has spent over 40+ years in education, teaching levels from K-12. Through her teaching, she has received numerous awards and honors in education ranging from District Teacher of the Year to Oklahoma Music Educators Association Excellent Educator and, including, the OkMEA Music Educators Hall of Fame. Miller’s conducting has led her across the nation directing elementary, middle and high school honor choirs at the district and All-State levels As a clinician, she focuses on many areas including elementary classroom resources to secondary chorals and techniques. As an active composer, her compositions range from elementary resources and musicalstochoraloctavos.Inaddition,shehasbeen acontributingwriterforanationalmusicmagazine entitledMusicExpress!aswellasfortheMacmillan McGraw-Hill music textbook series, Spotlight on Music, the highly acclaimed secondary textbook series, Voices in Concert, and recently as a writer/consultant for the Hal Leonard Essential Elements Music Class digital curriculum and resource.
In 2010, Miller joined the prestigious Fine Arts Staff atHeritageHallSchoolinOklahomaCity,whereshe currently teaches middle school music. She and her husband,Rick,liveintheOklahomaCityarea.
Reginal Wright has served over 20 years as a publicschoolteacher.Asaneducator,Reginalhas earned many awards including Outstanding Teacher, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and the Secondary Educator of the Year Award. Reginal has performed music throughout Europe and theUnitedStates.Asaconductor,heissoughtafteras a clinician in both middle and high school and has enjoyed the opportunity to conduct honor choirs throughouttheUnitedStates
As a composer, Reginal’s works have been commissioned by middle school, high school, college, and professional choirs. His works have been performed by All-State Choirs and invited convention choirs.His“Invictus”wasperformedinthe2021ACDA National Convention and by the 2022 Texas All-State Tenor-Bass Choir. His “Where are the Bodies” was performed at Carnegie Hall in collaboration with Dallas-based Turtle Creek Chorale Reginal’s works are published and distributed through BriLee, Carl Fisher, Graphite, Hal Leonard, Oxford University Press, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and his own publishing company,ReginalWrightMusic.Reginalreceivedboth his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music Education Degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Most recently, he was the head choral director at Mansfield High School and is currently on the choral music faculty at Baylor University
His choirs consistently earn sweepstakes in concert and sight-reading contests. Choirs under his direction also earn “Outstanding in Class'' awards at State and National Music Festivals. The Mansfield High School Varsity Treble Choir was featured as an invited choir fortheSW-ACDAConventionin2012and2022andfor the ACDA National Convention in 2023 In 2018, the Mansfield High School Varsity Tenor-Bass Choir was honored as a Texas Music Educators Association InvitedChoir.ReginalresidesinArlington,Texaswith his wife, Renetta, son, Gabrien, daughter, Reece, and Yorkie,Cooper.
WorldMusic&Cultures-EduardoGarcia-Novelli
edugarno@ku.edu
Eduardo García-Novelli, born in Argentina, served asChoirDirectoratBelgranoDaySchoolinBuenos Aires and as Assistant Conductor, National Youth Choir Former Assistant Director, Houston Symphony Chorus, and Director, Symphony of Southeast Texas Chorus, he received the Faculty Merit Award for distinguished teaching as Director of Choral Activities, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX. Two undergraduate degrees from state conservatories, Argentina. MM: Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. DMA: UniversityofHouston.HischoirsperformedforTMEA, WMEA,KMEA,WCDA,NCCONationalConference,the International Choral Festival in Panama City, Panama, andonseveralNational,European,andSouthAmerican tours
HehadhisconductingdebutatCarnegieHallin2011, returning in 2015 and 2017 In 2016 he was in residence at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Slovenia, lecturing and conducting the awardwinning AVE Chamber Choir. Other international engagements include conducting Mozart at the historical Peterskirche in Vienna for the MidAm Festival, being in residence with the Coro Nacional de Jóvenes of Argentina, serving as clinician for Madryn Canta Festival in Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina, guest-conducting Tous Ensemble in La Plata, Argentina, and serving as lecturer for the school of music at Banská Bystrica in Slovakia He lectured and conducted at the Tamara Brooks summercourseinGalicia,Spain,andwasapresenter for the World Choral Expo in Lisbon, Portugal in 2022. Dr. Garcia-Novelli led Carthage Choir to win First Prize at the prestigious Spittal International ChoirCompetitioninSpittal,Austria,inJuly2019.In July of 2023 he led The University of Kansas Chamber Choir to win First Prize at the Preveza International Competition in Greece, where he also received the best program award and the best conductoraward Heservedonthejurypanelforthe Voce Magna International Choir Competition in Zilina,Slovakia.
Dr.Garcia-Novellipreviouslyservedontheboardsof WCDA,NCACDAandasanationalofficerforNCCO.
ContemporaryACappella-LeiaBrowning leia.browning@rockwallisd.org
Leia Browning began teaching in 2004. After coming to Rockwall HS in 2012, she has become increasingly excited to work in the world of a cappella. She is the Education Manager for the National A Cappella Convention, the Repertoire and ResourcesChairforContemporary/CommercialMusic for the Southwest American Choral Directors Association, and the co-founder and Executive ProduceroftheAcatexACappellaFestival.
She directs a nationally-recognized a cappella group called Walk the Line, who has earned national and regionalacclaimthroughlivecompetition,compilation albuminclusion,andrecordedmusicawards LeiaisamemberofACDA,SWACDA,AEA,TMEAand TCDA and enjoys teaching and masterclassing a cappellagroupsinTexasandbeyond
2-YearCollege/University-TatianaTaylor tatiana.e.taylor@neo.edu
NorthwestArkansasnative,Dr.TatianaTaylorisa conductor, music educator, pianist, and soprano. She serves as the Director of Choirs and Vocal MusicatNortheasternOklahomaA&MCollege.At NEO she directs the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, teaches courses in sight singing and ear training,musicappreciationandappliedvoice
In 2020-2021 Dr Taylor was awarded the Dobson ExcellenceinTeachingAwardfromNEOA&MCollege aswellastheExcellenceinEducationAwardfromthe MiamiChamberofCommerce.Shewasalsorecognized for her service to the college in 2018-2019 by being awardedtheDobsonDistinguishedServiceAward.
Taylor is passionate about making choral music accessible to people from all walks of life, creating unique collaborative projects, and sharing her love of worldmusicwithherchoirsaswellasthecommunity
Dr. Taylor holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in sacred music, music education and vocal pedagogy. Previous degrees include a Master in Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts degreeinmusicfromRhodesCollege
4-YearCollege/University-RayvonT.J.Moore
rayvon moore@friends.edu
ASouthernCalifornianative,RayvonT.J.Mooreis a conductor, educator, and baritone who has been lauded for his energetic yet sensitive conducting and his rich baritone voice. Moore serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Friends University and as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Wichita Chamber Chorale. At Friends, he conducts the internationallyrenownedSingingQuakers,inaddition toteachingcoursesinconducting,choralmethods,and applied voice. Under his leadership, the Singing Quakers have performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) In-Service Workshop and have toured Spain and Portugal domestically and internationally.
Moore recently became a national finalist for the American Prize Dale Warland Choral Conducting Award In 2023, he was recognized by the Wichita Business Journal, being listed as 40 UNDER 40, recognizinghisworkatFriendsUniversity,community involvement,andartsleadership.Hehasappearedasa guest conductor, music director, and chorus master with the Wichita Grand Opera, Forum Theatre, and CrownArtsCollaborative.
In 2015 Moore received the Graduate Equity Fellowship at California State University, Fullerton andin2016hewastherecipientoftheMuPhiEpsilon Foundation's,FoncannonChoralConductingGrant,for his academic and conducting excellence. In April of 2017, he was awarded the Elliot and Kathleen Alexander Memorial Scholarship from Pacific Chorale for excellence in choral conducting. He has participated as a conducting fellow in several workshops including Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s Conducting Fellowship program, the University of Michigan’s Choral Conducting Symposiumandothers
Being a versatile performer, he has sung back up for The Rolling Stones, Barry Manilow, Patti Austin, Andrea Bocelli, Kathleen Battle and Deborah Voigt. Moore can be heard on the album “John Williams & Steven Spielberg: The Ultimate Collection” recorded with Sony Classical. He has sung under the baton of Helmuth Rilling, John Williams, Jeffery Kahane, Carl St Clair, James Conlon, Grant Gershon, Marvin Hamlisch and others As a conductor/soloist, he has premiered works by composers such as Christopher Tin,StaceyV.Gibbs,SethHoustonandmanymore.
His conducting mentors include William Weinert, Robert Istad, Donald Brinegar, Brad Lubman, Joel Pressman, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Cristian Grases, Mark Scatterday, and Neil Varon. As a conducting fellow at several programs, Moore has worked with Ann HowardJones, John Alexander, Jerry Blackstone, David Hayes,andDanielBara,HeholdsaBachelorofArtsin Choral Music from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music degree in Choral ConductingfromCaliforniaStateUniversity,Fullerton, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting fromtheEastmanSchoolofMusic.
Moore specializes in topics on conducting gesture and musicalinterpretation.Hehasheldfacultypositionsat ColgateUniversity,Hamilton,NY;HobartandWilliam Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY; The Young Musicians Foundation, Los Angeles, CA; The Saturday Conservatory of Music, Pasadena; CA and Esperanza Azteca Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles. He has also served as Associate Conductor of the EastmanRochesterChorusandChorale,AssistantConductorfor California State University Fullerton's Opera, Concert Choir and Women's Choir, as well as the Assistant ConductoroftheDonaldBrinegarSingers.
He is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, National Collegiate Choral Organization, the National AssociationforMusicEducation,andissoughtafteras aguestconductor,clinician,speaker,andadjudicator. RayvonT.J.Mooreisgratefultohisgrandparents,Rev. John A. and Sheila J. Moore and Shirley Kleinpeter for their love and for being extraordinary role models. He is married to Brittany, who is a registered nurse, and they reside in Wichita, KS with their fur-babies Chester(minipoodle)andWinnie(cavapoo)
ShowChoir-MichaelShimp
michael.shimp@jenksps.org
Michael Shimp received his Bachelor of Vocal Performance from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2003. He began his operatic studies in the Tulsa Opera Young Artist Program and Inspiration Point in EurekaSprings,Arkansas.MichaelcurrentlyteachesatJenksHighSchoolin Jenks,OK.Mr.ShimpalsotaughtChoralMusicinOwassofrom2007to2018.
Shimp is in his 17th year of teaching and is well known for his work in teaching and directing young singers to achieve excellence and in organizing regional and state competitions such as Northeast Quad All-State Chair for OkMEA, OkCDA Vocal Jazz All-State Chair and Co-Chair, Oklahoma Children's All-State Choir for which he will serve as state co-chair in Oklahoma Circle the State with Song for whichheservedasstateco-chair,RegionRCoordinator,andGuestClinicianfrom 2015-2024.HealsoservedasaGuestClinicianinNovember2015fortheECOCDA Regional Treble Choir and the Western Oklahoma Junior High Honor Choir. Michael has served on the Choral Staff of the Oklahoma Ambassadors of Music fromApril2011tothepresent
Mr.Shimp'schoirshavebeenselectedastheHonorGroupfortheOklahomaMusic EducatorsConventioninJanuary2014&hisAdvancedMen’sChoirin2022.Shimp wasalsothe2010-2011TeacheroftheYearfortheOwasso6thGradeCenter.
Shimp'sprofessionalmembershipsincludeNAfME,OkMEA,ACDA,andOCDA.Mr. ShimpistheQuadChairforOklahomaMusicEducatorsNortheastAll-Stateregion.
