Dianne Brumley is Director of Choral Music Studies and Professor of Music Education, Emerita at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Brownsville. She was appointed in 2003 and was the first person to hold the position of Director of Choral Studies at the University. Brumley was the founding conductor of the University Master Chorale. During her ten-year tenure at UTRGV, the Master Chorale was selected to perform at the 2011 Texas Music Educators Association Convention and toured internationally. Brumley also served for 20 seasons as the founding Conductor and Artistic Director of the South Texas Chorale and Orchestra. A frequent guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout Texas and the United States, she currently serves as a choral music education consultant and conductor of the Dianne Brumley Chorale. Before her time with University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brumley was a successful choral music educator in public schools. Choirs under her direction were selected for honor performances at TMEA, TCDA, SWACDA and ACDA conferences. In 2011 Brumley was honored to receive the Texas Choral Excellence Award and in 2018 was the third woman to receive the prestigious Texas Choir Master Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association.

William (Will) McLean is a music educator-conductor who currently serves as Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University, where he leads the Concert Choir, the Baylor Men’s Choir, and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting and choral literature. Before Baylor, McLean most recently served as the Associate Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus and the Director of Choirs at South Salem High School. Choirs under his direction have performed at the National ACDA Convention, College Band Directors National Association National Conference, state music education conferences, and toured nationally. An in-demand guest conductor and clinician, McLean has led honor choirs across the country and was most
recently the featured clinician for the Bangkok International Choir Festival. He has presented sessions at national, regional, and state ACDA, NAfME conferences, and the International Symposium for Research in Choral Singing. An advocate for new music, he regularly collaborates with composers to commission new choral works. He holds graduate degrees from the University of North Texas, Baylor University, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from St. Olaf College. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with his wife, Jenna, and their dog Hildy.

Sandy Perez serves as the Associate Director of Choral Activities and Coordinator of Music Education at Sam Houston State University, where she conducts the Men’s Choir and teaches courses in music education. Prior to her appointment at SHSU, Perez spent 20 years teaching choral music at the middle and high school levels. During that time, ensembles under her direction were invited to perform at the FMEA Professional Development Convention and ACDA State, Southern Division, and National Conferences. Perez is an active clinician, adjudicator, and conductor of ensembles and honor choirs throughout Texas and Florida. She has presented pedagogical and conducting sessions at various conferences, including TMEA, TCDA, FMEA, NAfME, and ACDA. Her research focuses on vocal and choral pedagogy, with varied publications appearing in The International Journal of Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Southwestern Musician, and Florida Music Director. In addition, Perez facilitates the annual SHSU Choral Educators Workshop, a summer professional development event designed to provide relevant and engaging learning experiences for in-service choral directors. She regularly works with school programs throughout the year and is deeply committed to supporting educators in their pursuit of choral excellence.

2nd Annual Celebration of Excellence – Central Texas Results 

An American Classic Choral Artistry Experience 

April 13, 2026, Austin – Riverbend Centre for the Arts

First Place and 2027 Honor Choir, Mixed Division

Chaparral Varsity Chorale: Gerald Nicholas, Director

1^st Runner-up

Churchill Cambridge Chorale: Allison Cavazos & Rob Saldana, Directors

2^nd Runner-Up

Marble Falls Chorale:  Bryce Gage and Clark Stanley, Directors

3^rd Runner-Up

Vista Ridge Ovation: Courtney Kelly and Austin Hart, Directors

First Place and Treble Honor Choir, Treble/Tenor Bass Division

Karen Wagner Scarlet Voce: Antionette Harris and Grant Lyons, Directors

1^st Runner-Up 

Steele Silver Bells: Sean Whelan, Director

2^nd Runner-up

Great Hearts Northern Oaks The Anthropos Men’s Choir: Kevin Austin, Director

Performance of Distinction, Mixed Division

(in alphabetical order)

Akins Chorale:  Andre Jackson-Hall, Director

Georgetown A Capella Choir:  Joey Lowrance, Director

McNeil Chamber Singers:  Wendi Burwinkel and Sheridan White, Directors

Reagan Kantorei: Gavin Magee

Westlake Chorale:  Brandon Baker

Westlake Madrigals:  Brandon Baker

Brandon T. Cash, DMA

Director of Choral Activities

Assistant Professor of Music

Mississippi Valley State University

Itta Bena, MS

Dr. Brandon T. Cash is recognized for his dedication to artistic excellence and student success. Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Mississippi Valley State University, a Historically Black College and University, he conducts the University Choir, Valley Singers, Men’s Glee Club, and Women’s Chorale. Since 2019, Dr. Cash has revitalized the choral program. Under his leadership, the Valley Singers earned their first-ever invitation to perform at the 2025 Mississippi Music Educators Association and Mississippi American Choral Directors Association State Conference. The University Choir also gained national recognition with a performance at the 2022 National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference.  An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Cash led the 2025 Mississippi All-State JH Treble Choir and has prepared ensembles for regional, national, and international performances. In March 2025, the Valley Singers competed in the 33rd International Verona Choral Competition in Italy and earned 2nd place (Silver Cup) in the mixed choir category. Dr. Cash’s experience spans both K–12 and higher education, and he is known for guiding ensembles to high levels of artistry and performance. He currently serves on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization, Phi Mu Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and sings with The Greenwood Chorale.

Kristina MacMullen, DMA

Director of Choral Activities

Mary Gibbs Jones Chair in Music

Baylor University

Waco, TX

Kristina Caswell MacMullen serves as the Mary Gibbs Jones Chair of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University. She conducts the Baylor A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, and leads the graduate program in choral conducting. Prior to her appointment at BU, MacMullen served on the faculties of the University of North Texas and The Ohio State University. Her interdisciplinary work earned her the Sir William Osler Award at OSU and the President’s Special Recognition Award at UNT. MacMullen has also been recognized by TCDA for her innovation in programming. As an active adjudicator and clinician, MacMullen has conducted All-State and honors choirs throughout the United States. She has presented and co-presented interest sessions at state, regional, national, and international conferences. Her teaching and conducting is featured on the recording Conducting-Teaching: Real World Strategies for Success published by GIA (2009). MacMullen has enjoyed a diverse career as a public-school teacher, interacting with students in rural, suburban, and urban settings, elementary through high school. She also sings with the professional ensemble mirabai. Creative projects include interdisciplinary performances addressing human trafficking, the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, play theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, archetype exploration, belonging, American song, civic engagement, and the nature of tears.

John Ratledge, DMA

Professor Emeritus

University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

Dr. John Ratledge is Professor Emeritus of the University of Alabama where he was the conductor of University Singers, Area Coordinator of Graduate Choral Conducting, Director of Choral Activities, and he also taught graduate conducting, literature, and pedagogy. Ratledge made his European conducting debut in 1996 with the Filharmonia Sudecka of Walbryzychu, Poland, and since that time, he has conducted orchestras in France, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Spain, and South Korea.  His choirs have given the premiere of the full orchestral version of the Duruflé Requiem in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Greece, the organ version premiere of same in Bulgaria, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms premiere in Poland, and the St. Petersburg, Russia’s premiere of Handel’s Messiah in English.  Ratledge’s compositions are published by Alliance Music Publications and Carl Fischer Music Publishers.

1st Annual Celebration of Excellence – Central Texas Results 

An American Classic Choral Artistry Experience 

April 07, 2025 – Menchaca United Methodist Church, Menchaca

First Place and 2026 Honor Choir, Mixed Division

Midway Meistersingers: Caleb Overstreet, Director

1^st Runner-up

Churchill Cambridge Chorale: Allison Cavazos & Rob Saldana, Directors

2^nd Runner-Up

Georgetown A Cappella: Joey Lowrance, Director

3^rd Runner-Up

Reagan Kantorei:  Gavin McGee, Director

First Place and Treble Honor Choir, Treble/Tenor Bass Division

Churchill Cambridge Chorale Women: Allison Cavazos & Rob Saldana, Directors

1^st Runner-Up 

Roosevelt Treble Choir: Lindsey Johnson, Director

2^nd Runner-up

Wagner Scarlet Voce: Antionette Harris, Director

3^rd Runner-up

Westlake Chamber Signers: Chris Vineis, Director

Performance of Distinction, Mixed and Treble/Tenor Bass Divisions

(in alphabetical order)

Great Hearts Northern Oaks The Anthropos Men’s Choir: Nicholas Hauger, Director

Great Hearts Northern Oaks The Feather and Talon Chamber Choir: Kevin Austin, Director

McNeil Chamber Singers:  Wendi Burwinkel & Sheridan White, Directors

Seguin Varsity Treble Choir: Perry Dean, Director

Westlake Madrigals: Brandon Baker, Director

Eduardo Garcia-Novelli, DMA
Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities
University of Kansas                                                                                                            Lawrence, KS

Eduardo García-Novelli, born in Argentina, served as Choir Director at Belgrano Day School in Buenos Aires and as Assistant Conductor, National Youth Choir.  Former Assistant Director, Houston Symphony Chorus, and Director, Symphony of Southeast Texas Chorus, he received the Faculty Merit Award for distinguished teaching as Director of Choral Activities, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX. Two undergraduate degrees from state conservatories, Argentina. MM: Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. DMA: University of Houston. His choirs performed for TMEA, WMEA, KMEA, WCDA, NCCO National Conference, the International Choral Festival in Panama City, Panama, and on several National, European, and South American tours.  He had his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in 2011, returning in 2015 and 2017. In 2016 he was in residence at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Slovenia, lecturing and conducting the award-winning AVE Chamber Choir. Other international engagements include MidAm Festival, conducting Mozart at the historical Peterskirche in Vienna, the Coro Nacional de Jóvenes (in residence), Madryn Canta Festival (clinician), Tous Ensemble (guest conductor) all in Argentina, Tamara Brooks summer course in Galicia, Spain, and leading Carthage Choir to win First Prize at the prestigious Spittal International Choir Competition in Spittal, Austria, in July 2019. In July of 2023 he led The University of Kansas Chamber Choir to win First Prize at the Preveza International Competition in Greece, where he also received the best program award and the best conductor award.  He had the honor of serving as conductor of the Texas Small School All-State Choir in 2024.

Gary Packwood
Freelance Conductor
Pedagogue, Lecturer
Baton Rouge, LA

Recognized as an inspirational and motivational conductor, pedagogue, and lecturer, Gary Packwood has appeared throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia, and has conducted all-state and honor choirs in over 40 states.  Dr. Packwood has served as professor of music and director of choral studies at universities throughout the southeast and his choirs have performed at The White House, throughout Europe, and at State and Regional Conferences sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).  In 2017 Santa Barbara Music Publishing began the Gary Packwood Choral Series, which features compositions that specialize in music for developing and advanced young voices. He also has additional music publications through MusicSpoke, Alliance Music, and a new choral series Gentry Music. Dr. Packwood has published articles in the Choral Journal, Teaching Music, the 2nd Edition of the AmeriGrove Dictionary, and a book chapter in GIA’s Publication of Conducting Men’s Choirs, and the book Choral Reflections: Insights From American Choral Conductor-Teachers published by Hal Leonard. He is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Jennifer Sengin, DMA
Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Studies
University of Missouri – Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

Jennifer Sengin serves on the choral faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she serves as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Studies. There, she leads the graduate choral conducting program and conducts the flagship ensemble, Conservatory Singers, and the Choral Union. In addition to ensembles, Dr. Sengin teaches graduate choral conducting and choral literature. She most recently served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Georgia State University (GSU). Under her direction, the GSU Treble Choir won first place in The American Prize and Dr. Sengin received 2nd place in conducting. The Treble Choir has been invited to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference (2023) and twice at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference (2020 and 2023). An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Sengin has conducted honor choirs throughout the country and recently conducted the 2024 South Carolina American Choral Director’s Association TTB Honor Choir, 2023 Texas All-State Treble Choir, and others. Future engagements include guest conducting along with Dr. Sandra Snow in Carnegie Hall with National Concerts. Dr. Sengin currently serves on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and sings in the award-winning professional ensemble, mirabai.