Page 97 - CJJanuary2026

2026 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Tacoma, Washington

Sing, Swing, and Start Somewhere: Untried Yet True:
Secrets for Crafting a Great Vocal Jazz Set Lesser-Known Jewels for Treble Choirs with Ideas
for Teaching Empowering Treble Singers

Presenter: Mike Scott, with Repertoire
R&R Chair for Vocal Jazz Choirs

Presenter: Angie Kasper,

Repertoire & Resources R&R Chair for Soprano/Alto & Treble Choirs
for Cross-Cultural Collaborations

Presenter: Erin Guinup,
R&R Chair for World Musics & Cultures

2026 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Tacoma, Washington

Honor Choir Conductors
H onor C hoir C onduc t ors

4th-7th Grade Children and Community Youth 6th - 8th Grade Middle School

Maria A. Ellis is an acclaimed conductor, Victor C. Johnson, a native of Dallas,
music educator, and media personality Texas, is school choral editor for SING!,
whose work blends artistry, scholarship, the educational publishing division of
and community engagement. She serves Choristers Guild. He has over 350 pub-
as artistic director for The Sheldon’s All- lished choral works, vocal solo books,
Star Chorus and the University of Missouri–St. Louis and keyboard collections. He earned his music edu-
Voices of Jubilation Ensemble. Ellis is the owner of Girl cation degree with an organ concentration from the
Conductor LLC, which provides innovative music ed- University of Texas at Arlington, where he served as
ucation resources worldwide. She is chair of the Cho- student conductor and opera workshop accompanist.
ral Music Council for NAfME and a board member From 2000 to 2018 he directed choirs at the Ft. Worth
for Chorus America. She earned her BME from the Academy of Fine Arts, including the Academy Sing-
University of Missouri–St. Louis and her MA in cho- ers, Academy Men’s Choir, and the Singing Girls and
ral conducting from Webster University. Her work has Children’s Choirs of Texas. Johnson has led all-state
been recognized with multiple awards for innovation, and honor choirs across the United States. His choirs
artistry, and community impact. She is also the host of have performed at TMEA (2011, 2014) and Southwest
the award-winning radio programs Bach & Beyoncé and ACDA Region (2016). Since 2007, he has served as
American Gospel with Maria A. Ellis. minister of worship and arts at Shiloh Baptist Church
in Plano, Texas.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 95