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2026 ACDA Southwestern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Albuquerque, New Mexico

Ridge Point High School Texas Christian University

Ridge Point Choir Purple, White, and Blues

Ridge Point Choir proudly serves two hundred
students across six ensembles. The program consis-
tently earns sweepstakes awards at UIL concert and Purple, White, and Blues is an auditioned vocal
sight-reading, performance of distinction at the San jazz ensemble in the TCU School of Music compris-
Antonio Madrigal Festival, and best in class at the Ke- ing music and non-music majors. The ensemble per-
mah Choir Festival. Ridge Point Choir also enjoys reg- forms a mix of standard jazz repertoire, arrangements
ular invitations to perform in the Houston and Sugar of contemporary popular songs, and newly composed
Land Community, most notably performances for the pieces in the vocal jazz style. In 2020, Purple, White,
Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend’s and Blues was awarded Outstanding Ensemble by the
commemoration of the Sugar Land 95, and The Greg- M-Pact Vocal Festival along with two Outstanding So-
ory School’s commemoration of George Floyd. In the loist awards. The following year, the Kansas City Jazz
heart of one of the country’s most diverse school dis- Summit also recognized the group with an Outstand-
tricts, the students of Ridge Point Choir thrive learning ing Ensemble and two Outstanding Soloist contribu-
music from all time periods and parts of the world. tions. They were invited to perform at the 2022 Jazz
Educators Network Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Chelsea Berner has served as a choir di-
rector at Ridge Point for the past eight Amy Stewart is an instructor in the cho-
years. Currently in her eleventh year of ral, jazz, musicology, and theory depart-
teaching high school choral music, she ments at TCU, and conducts the Purple,
holds degrees from Baylor University White, and Blues vocal jazz ensemble.
(music education) and Michigan State University (cho- She has a BM in vocal performance, MM
ral conducting). Prior to teaching at Ridge Point, Ber- in organ performance from TCU, and doctor of wor-
ner served as a choir director at Spring High School. ship studies degree from the Robert E. Webber Insti-
She is active as a clinician, adjudicator, and singer in tute for Worship Studies. She serves as assistant organ-
the state of Texas and is also a founding member of the ist at University Christian Church. After graduating
choral ensemble mirabai under the direction of San- from TCU, she moved to New York City, where she
dra Snow. She is a member of TMEA, TMAA, ACDA, performed in many solo venues and was the featured
and has served Region 13 in various capacities. a soloist in four concerts with the New York Pops at
Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 157