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2024 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference January 24-27, 2024 Spokane, Washington

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Honor Choir Conductors
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6 - 8 Grade 9 - 12 Grade Jazz

Rollo Dilworth is vice dean and professor Jennifer Barnes, a renowned vocalist,
of choral music education in the depart- educator, and arranger, is a professor of
ment of music education and therapy at music at the University of North Texas
Temple University’s Center for the Per- (UNT), and directs Vocal Jazz Studies and
forming and Cinematic Arts in Philadel- the award-winning UNT Jazz Singers. She
phia, PA. Prior to his position with Boyer College, he has conducted music festivals across sixteen states and
taught music education and was the director of choral taught at Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camps. She received
activities for thirteen years at North Park University in the 2016 Jazz Education Achievement Award from
Chicago. Dilworth’s contributions extend to conduct- DownBeat Magazine. Previously based in Los Angeles,
ing the Temple University Singing Owls Campus/ her voice is featured in films (e.g., Wall-E, Star Trek), TV
Community Chorus, leading the Singing City Choir, (“Glee”), and advertising campaigns. Barnes’s acclaimed
and conducting the School District of Philadelphia solo jazz recording is “You Taught My Heart.” She is a
High School All-City Chorus. He is a prolific composer member of Vertical Voices, a professional vocal group.
and arranger, with over 200 published choral works. Barnes holds degrees from the University of Miami and
Western Michigan University.

9 - 10 Grade SATB
11 - 12 Grade SA

Jace Kaholokula Saplan (they/he) is the
director of choral activities and associate Jonathan Talberg serves as director of
professor of music learning and teach- choral activities at the Bob Cole Conser-
ing and choral conducting at Arizona vatory, where he is conductor of the inter-
State University. They oversee the gradu- national award-winning Bob Cole Conser-
ate program in choral conducting, conduct the ASU vatory Chamber Choir and the CSULB
Concert Choir, and teach courses blending decolonial University Choir. His choirs have shared the stage with
and critical theories with vocal practice. Saplan is an diverse groups from the Kronos Quartet to the Rolling
Obama Asia-Pacific Leader, focusing on equity-driven Stones. Talberg conducts honor choirs nationwide and
choral arts. They serve as a DEIAB consultant for orga- has taken his choirs to global venues, including the Sis-
nizations like Choral Arts Northwest, and The Phoenix tine Chapel and the Great Hall of the People in China.
Chamber Choir. As a Kanaka Maoli advocate, artist, Talberg serves as director of music at the First Congre-
and culture bearer, Saplan leads the Nā Wai Chamber gational Church of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles
Choir, preserving Hawaiian choral music. Bach Festival, and as an editor at Pavane Music Publish-
ing. His proudest role is mentoring the next generation
of choral musicians. He holds degrees from Chapman
University and the University of Cincinnati.

32 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5