Page 135 - CJFeb25

ACDA NATIONAL
2025 Awards/Recognitions Continued on next page

March 18-22 Dallas, TX

cians, she has conducted hundreds of honor, festival, and
Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission all-state choirs in 46 U. S. states and six Canadian prov-
inces. Known for her knowledge of the choral repertoire
Rosephanye Powell, Pulitzer Prize and and performance practice of all styles, Dr. Archibeque
three-time Grammy winner, is one of has conducted and prepared over 150 major choral
America’s most performed composers. works with orchestras and performs music from all his-
She has an impressive catalogue of works torical periods. She holds degrees from the University
published by some of the nation’s leading of Michigan, San Diego State, and the University of
publishers, including the Hal Leonard Corporation, Colorado. She was named Outstanding Alumna at the
Gentry Publications, Oxford University Press, Alliance University of Colorado and was given both of San Jose
Music Publications, and Shawnee Press. She has had State’s highest honors: Outstanding Professor and Presi-
commissions from a wide range of performers, including dent’s Scholar. She serves on the executive board of the
the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony, American Beethoven Society, is a past president of the
and professional choral ensembles including Cantus and Silicon Valley League of the San Francisco Symphony,
the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Chanticleer. She and is editor of the Charlene Archibeque Choral Series
is commissioned yearly to compose for university cho- with Santa Barbara Music Publishing.
ruses, professional ensembles, community and church
choirs, as well as secondary school choruses. Her first
opera, Cold Mountain, was commissioned by Santa Fe
Opera and was the first American opera to win the In- Raymond W. Brock Prize for Professional Composers
ternational Opera Award. Powell serves as professor of
voice at Auburn University. She holds degrees from The Saunder Choi, a Filipino composer and
Florida State University (DM in vocal performance), choral artist in Los Angeles, has gained
Westminster Choir College (MM in vocal performance international recognition for his works
and pedagogy), and Alabama State University (BME). performed by esteemed groups such
as Conspirare, Philippine Madrigal
Singers, and the Los Angeles Master
Robert Shaw Choral Award Winner Chorale. Choi has arranged and orchestrated pieces
for notable figures such as Lea Salonga and organiza-
tions like the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the
Charlene Archibeque is considered one of San Francisco Symphony. As a choral artist, he actively
America’s foremost choral conductors and performs in ensembles such as the Pacific Chorale, L.A.
teachers. She was the first woman to earn Choral Lab, and HEX Vocal Ensemble, as well as
the DMA in Choral Conducting (Univer- singing in film scores of Disney’s The Lion King, Mulan,
sity of Colorado, 1969) and served for 35 Turning Red, and Avatar 2: The Way of the Water. Saunder’s
years as director of choral activities at San Jose State compositions strongly advocate for DEIJ, focusing on
University. The world-renowned SJSU Choraliers took themes such as immigration, racial justice, LGBTQ+
sixteen tours abroad, winning seven international com- advocacy, climate justice, and his own Filipino-Chinese
petitions, and performing in major music halls. Choirs identity. He is the director of music at the UU Church of
under Dr. Archibeque’s direction have performed at 25 Santa Monica and a teaching artist with the Los Angeles
state, regional, and national ACDA conferences. Her Master Chorale.
honors include receiving the 2008 Howard Swan Award
presented by California ACDA and the 2013 Excellence
in Choral Music Award presented by the University of
Colorado. Known as one of America’s top choral clini-

CHORAL JOURNAL February 2025 / ACDA National Conference Program Book Volume 65 Number 6 133