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2026 ACDA Eastern Region Conference

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Honor Choir Conductors
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9th - 12th Grade SATB 9th - 12th Grade SSAA

Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him) is a Vir- Cindy Ellis is a native of Holguín, Cuba,
ginia native and associate professor of who immigrated to the United States in
choral studies at the University of North 2005. She earned her bachelor’s in mu-
Texas. He earned his PhD in music edu- sic education and jazz voice from Florida
cation (choral conducting) at The Flori- International University and her MME
da State University. An active conductor, Garrett is the from the University of Missouri. Ellis is a full-time cho-
founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers ral director at Miami Arts Studio, a 6th- through 12th-
and leads conducting workshops at other universities grade public performing arts magnet school in Miami,
and conferences. A versatile voice that performs both FL. MAS students have recorded and performed back-
as a baritone and countertenor, Garrett has sung with ground vocals for Gloria and Emilio Estefan and several
several community, church, and university groups and music award shows, including the AMAs, Latin Ameri-
currently sings with the Festival Singers of Florida can Music Awards, and the Latin Grammy Awards. In
and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers. Garrett is an 2024, Ellis conducted her students at the Miami show
avid composer of choral and solo-vocal music whose of Jacob Collier’s DJESSE Volume 4 World Tour. El-
compositions have been performed to acclaim by high lis is Miami Arts Studio’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, a
school all-state, collegiate, and professional choirs, in- 2025 Grammy Music Educator semifinalist, and serves
cluding Seraphic Fire and the Oakwood University Ae- the Southern ACDA Region as the R&R coordinator
olians. His compositions are available through several for world musics & cultures.
publishers.

SATB Contemporary A Cappella Fusion
6th - 8th Grade SATB Gospel Choir

Rob Dietz is a multi-award-winning sing-
Robert T. Gibson is a Houston native and er and vocal percussionist who has been
a conductor, composer, and clinician who arranging, composing, teaching, and per-
desires to develop future music educators forming contemporary a cappella music
for future generations. Gibson received a for over twenty years. Based in Los Ange-
BME from the University of North Texas les, Dietz is best known for his work as an arranger and
and an MM at Missouri State University. His choral group coach for NBC’s The Sing-Off. Through his work
arrangements can be found through Walton Music, Al- as an arranger, Dietz has had the pleasure of collaborat-
fred Publications, and Oxford Press. Gibson currently ing with some of the top talent in the vocal music world,
resides in Texas, where he is the head director at Strick- including Grammy Award-winning groups Pentatonix,
land Middle School and leads the Unity Choir at Oak The Swingles, and Kings Return. Dietz is a founding
Cliff Bible Fellowship under the leadership of Dr. Tony codirector of A Cappella Academy and the author of
Evans. He is the proud husband to Amber Renae and A Cappella 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Contemporary A Cap-
father to Truly and Lovie Gibson. pella Singing (Hal Leonard, 2022). Dietz is an avid choral
composer and serves as the National ACDA R&R co-
chair for contemporary/a cappella music.

44 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5