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2026 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference

Honor Choir Conductors
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9-10 Grade SATB 11th-12th Grade Soprano-Alto

Jeffery Redding is director of choral Lynne Gackle, Professor Emeritus of Mu-
activities at the University of Central sic at Baylor University, served as director
Florida and the 2019 Grammy Music of choral activities, chair of the ensemble
Educator Award recipient. He has led division, and held the Mary Gibbs Jones
choirs at national, regional, and state Chair of Music. She previously taught at
ACDA conferences, earning top honors at prestigious the University of South Florida, University of Missis-
festivals worldwide. A sought-after guest conductor and sippi, and University of Miami (FL), earning degrees
speaker, he has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Ken- from LSU (BME) and the University of Miami (MM,
nedy Center, Sydney Opera House, and major sport- PhD). An active clinician and conductor nationally
ing events such as the 2024 and 2025 Pro Bowls and and internationally, Gackle is past national president
the 2025 Super Bowl. Redding is a conductor for Walt of ACDA and has held multiple regional leadership
Disney World’s Candlelight Processional and Harmo- roles. She is editor of Choral Artistry for the Singer and the
nious Live! He founded the Winter Garden Commu- Lynne Gackle Choral Series, and author of Finding Ophelia’s
nity Choir and the Orlando Choral Society, and serves Voice, Opening Ophelia’s Heart. Her honors include Bay-
as worship arts director at Tuskawilla UMC. He holds lor’s Outstanding Faculty Award in Research, TCDA
degrees from The Florida State University and Florida Texas Choir Masters Award, MacPherson Prize, and
A&M University and is active in leadership roles with the Frost Centennial Medal.
ACDA.

11th-12th Grade Tenor-Bass
9th-12th Grade Jazz

Brandon A. Boyd is the Mary M. and
Greg Jasperse, world-renowned com- Harry L. Smith Endowed Chair, director
poser, arranger, vocalist, and pianist, is of choral activities, and associate profes-
director of vocal jazz at Western Michi- sor of music at the University of Missouri,
gan University and leads Gold Company, where he leads the graduate choral con-
WMU’s award-winning vocal jazz ensem- ducting program and conducts MU University Singers,
ble. His voice appears on numerous film soundtracks, Sankofa Chorale, and Choral Union Symphonic Cho-
including Jurassic World, Star Trek, Oz: The Great and Pow- rus. His work includes choirs for the homeless, senior
erful, and Disney’s Sofia the First, as well as albums by singers, and prison partnerships. An active composer
the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse. A member of and arranger, Boyd’s works appear in major choral cat-
Vertical Voices and a touring sub with New York Voic- alogs, and he curates the Brandon A. Boyd Choral Series
es, Jasperse has performed internationally with artists with Hinshaw Music. Boyd has guest conducted and
such as Adele, Bobby McFerrin, Dianne Reeves, and taught internationally, served as composer-in-residence
Rosemary Clooney. His works are sung worldwide by for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and received commis-
premier ensembles, and he has conducted all-state vo- sions from universities, festivals, and national organiza-
cal jazz ensembles across the United States and in Can- tions. He holds degrees from The Florida State Univer-
ada. Jasperse is a graduate of the University of Miami sity and Tennessee State University.
and Western Michigan University.

96 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5