Board of Directors
btynch@vaacda.org
Bonny Tynch has taught a wide span of students from early childhood to graduates and has enjoyed sharing her work across the country in workshops and as a guest conductor. Bonny is the Middle School Choral Director at St. Stephens & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA, and specializes in developing voices. She has been a long-time community chorus director with Fairfax Choral Society Youth Choruses and most recently Strathmore Children’s Chorus in Bethesda, MD. She received national recognition as the first recipient of the Spotlight Award given by the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement and was recognized for her work as co-founder of BRIDGES: Harmony Through Music, a 501(c)3 after-school program providing underserved students and their families opportunity and engagement through high quality and accessible instrumental and vocal music ensembles.
In addition to currently serving as President for the Virginia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, she is a past president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association where she served on the executive board for 7 years.
Bonny holds an Artist-Teacher Diploma from the Choral Music Experience Institute with Doreen Rao, studied pedagogy in Salzburg at the Orff Institute, and completed her Orff-Schulwerk Certification and Master Level IV training at George Mason University. Mrs. Tynch holds general and choral music education degrees from East Carolina University (BM) and George Mason University (MM).
amoir@vaacda.org
Amy Sprague Moir studied piano and voice at James Madison University where she earned a B.A. in music education. She later received an M.M.E. from Florida State University. She has completed 19 years of teaching music for Fairfax County Public Schools at elementary, middle and high school levels. Mrs. Moir has served as a children’s chorus conductor, piano accompanist, and soloist throughout Northern Virginia. She performs as a soprano soloist and piano accompanist in the area. She has sung with numerous ensembles in the DC area. Her newest endeavor is as chairperson of Caritas NoVA, a local women’s chamber ensemble with the mission of charitable concerts for local non-profit organizations. Mrs. Moir works as a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator on the district and state level for choral music. She is currently Choral Director at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA. She is a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association and is currently serving as the President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. When not pursuing her music career, she enjoys spending time with her twin boys, daughter, husband, and dog.
mbowen@vaacda.org - 540.831.5260
Dr. Meredith Bowen is the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Radford University in Radford, VA, where she teaches choral music education classes and conducts three ensembles. Her two current scholarship interests include restoring, publishing, and performing music written by 17th-century women and the impact of socially-conscious programming. She enjoys an active guest conducting schedule, is an inaugural member of and Artistic Administrator for Mirabai, a professional women’s ensemble, serves as R&R Chair for VA – ACDA Youth and Student Activities, serves on the Choral Advisory Council of the Institute for Composer Diversity, and is on faculty for the Choral Music Experience Institute and the Virginia Governor’s School for the Visual and Performing Arts and Humanities.
Previous to her appointment at Radford, Bowen taught K-12 general music, choir, and band in Lansing, MI, and was the Artistic Director of multiple ensembles in Michigan including: Sistrum - Lansing Women’s Chorus, Holland Chorale, and the Battle Creek Girls Chorus. Bowen holds a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University, an M.M. and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University.
mmwoodsmt@gmail.com - 571.423.4542
Margie Woods is approaching nineteen years of teaching with Fairfax County Public Schools, with positions at both the middle and high school level and six years as the Choral Music Resource Teacher for the county. Currently, she teaches at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, VA. She received her undergraduate degree at William and Mary, then a Master of Music Education at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Recently, Margie received her doctorate in music education from George Mason University, with a dissertation on alleviating the difficulties in teaching multicultural choral music.
As a regular D.C.-area chorister, Margie has sung with several large choral associations, including the (now-defunct) Master Chorale of Washington and the Washington Chorus. Currently, Margie sings with Voce Chamber Singers, based in Vienna, VA. She has also worked with local organizations to nurture young choral singers, serving as youth choir director for Choralis and as conductor and musicianship teacher for the youth choruses of Fairfax Choral Society.
lesliedripps@gmail.com
Leslie Moruza Dripps is the Executive and Artistic Director of City Singers Youth Choirs in Richmond, Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University and Orff I certification at VCU and has taught choral and vocal music at the elementary, middle and high school levels, from public school to church settings. Leslie frequently adjudicates choral festivals and directs all-area choral ensembles throughout Virginia, and also performs as a vocalist in a variety of venues, from recording studios to classical soprano repertoire. She is a published composer and performer with commercial and film credits with her band “Moruza.” Leslie is currently serving as the R&R Chair for Children’s and Community Youth Choirs for the Virginia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
Dr. Hannah Wunsch Ryan is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) where she directs three choral ensembles and teaches courses in conducting, vocal pedagogy, diction, choral literature, music history, and choral methods. She has been a featured presenter, clinician, and director at conferences and honors choirs across the country, and ensembles under her direction have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall and throughout the world.
Ryan holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Gustavus Adolphus College, and an M.M. in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance/Pedagogy and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado. Ryan lives in Wise, VA with her husband, pianist Peter Ryan, and son.
Repertoire and Resources
Lifelong R&R Chairs
songmanva@gmail.com
After a 30 year career as the choral director at W.T. Woodson HS in Fairfax, Michael was hired by the Fairfax Choral Society to start a new adult choir. The Vocal Arts Ensemble made its debut in the fall of 2018 with 120 singers. He received his degree in music and theatre from Indiana University and his Master’s in Music Education, with an emphasis on choral conducting, from Florida State University. He is the past president of the Virginia Choral Directors Association of VMEA and also of the Virginia Music Educators Association.
omar.dickenson@hamptonu.edu
Omar Dickenson is Director of University Choirs and Assistant Professor in the Department of Music & Performing Arts at Hampton University. He also serves as Director of Music for the Hampton University Memorial Church and as Music Director for the Choir Directors’ & Organists’ Guild of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Mr. Dickenson served as Director of Fine Arts at the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church in Jacksonville, FL. While in Florida, he held a faculty appointment at Florida State College of Jacksonville as conductor of its Gospel and Concert Choruses. Mr. Dickenson holds degrees in Mathematics from Hampton University and in Music from Edward Waters University. He also earned a Master of Music degree from Norfolk State University and a Master of Education degree from Columbia University Teachers College. He is a published composer and arranger and maintains an active schedule as a clinician and church music consultant.
College R&R Chairs
john.irving@cnu.edu
John Irving is director of choral studies at Christopher Newport University where he conducts the CNU Chamber Choir and University Chorale, teaches courses in conducting, choral literature, music education, vocal pedagogy, and supervises student teachers. In addition to his responsibilities at CNU, he is co-artistic director of the Ad Astra Music Festival in Kansas, and sings with the Virginia Chorale and Philadelphia Symphonic Choir. Dr. Irving served as interim music director of the Denton Bach Society and men’s chorus director of Westminster’s Vocal Institute. Previously, he was director of choral music at Fordham High School for the Arts in New York City and founding choral workshop director to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute Count Me In program. Dr. Irving earned a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of North Texas. He holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Texas at Austin. His musical training began as a treble with the Texas Boys Choir. The New York Times praised his choirs in performance as “not just exuberant but polished and precise.”
chansen@vaacda.org
Dr. Chris Hansen serves as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education and oversees Choral Activities at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he conducts Commonwealth Singers and Choral Arts Society. He also teaches music education courses about vocal/choral methods and techniques. Before coming to VCU, Dr. Hansen served as Assistant Professor of Music at Anderson University and was an Instructor and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to his collegiate career, Dr Hansen taught for a decade at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
In addition to his university conducting and teaching, Dr. Hansen is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Prior to coming to Virginia, he held offices in professional organizations in South Carolina and North Carolina. He served as the Collegiate Choral Activities Chair for the South Carolina chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (SC ACDA) and the Collegiate Membership Chair for the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA). He also served as the High School Choral Section Activities Chair for the North Carolina Music Educators’ Association (NCMEA).
Dr. Hansen earned his Doctorate and Master degrees from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he studied music education research and choral conducting. He earned his Bachelor of Music from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Dr. Hansen has nineteen years of successful conducting and teaching experience at the secondary and post-secondary levels.
krickovictj@mymail.vcu.edu
Travis Krickovic is a junior studying Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University, and president of VCU's student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Outside of student life, Travis is a member of Sanctuary, the compline choir at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, and teaches Live Art: an inclusive arts program at the School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) through an internship with VCU. He is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and was the recipient of their 2020 Sinfonia Educational Foundation scholarship. In his free time, he enjoys relaxing with his friends and his cat.
He is thankful for all the growth ACDA has offered him so far, and he's thrilled to work alongside Virginia ACDA's team this year.
Youth R&R Chairs
Jane is the Artistic Director of the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy in Southwest Virginia and Upper East Tennessee and has conducted choirs at Carnegie Hall, ACDA Southern Region, Greece, and Ireland. She has her Master’s in Performance Studies from UNC-Greensboro.
turandotfan@gmail.com
Kevin Sapp is a native of Fort Myers, Florida. He received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Florida in Tampa and a Master of Music Degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. In 1992 Mr. Sapp joined the US Air Force Singing Sergeants, performing in New York's Carnegie Hall and Metropolitan Opera House with musical “greats” like Lena Horne, Billy Taylor, Denyce Graves, and Michael McDonald. In addition, Mr. Sapp has performed with “American Idol” winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks and pop stars Lee Ann Rimes and Chris Brown. In 2006 Mr. Sapp joined the faculty at Kilmer.
To contact the choir office call 703-846-8966 or email Mr. Sapp at Kevin.Sapp@fcps.edu.
tthorpeiii@gmail.com
Theodore Thorpe III has been recognized both locally and nationally for exemplifying musical excellence throughout the years. His life-long experience as a musician brings richness to his leadership, as he draws on celebrated talent as a conductor, musical director, vocalist, pianist, organist, composer, arranger, and choral master. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Theodore Thorpe III began his musical training studying piano at the age of four. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music: vocal performance and pedagogy from Oakwood University, and a Master of Arts degree in music with emphasis in choral and orchestral conducting from Morgan State University. Mr. Thorpe has served as Artistic Director and conductor for performances at major historical performing arts centers including Carnegie Hall, the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the Strathmore Music Center, and the Kennedy Center. He presently serves in his twelfth season as Director of Choral Activities at TC Williams High School, his fifteenth season as music director and staff musician at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA, and in his fifth season as Artistic Director for Washington Performing Arts Men and Women of the Gospel. Mr. Thorpe believes strongly in excellence without excuses, as he continues to look to make a difference in music education.
Repertoire-Specific R&R Chairs
kerry.wilkerson@gmail.com
Kerry is currently an adjunct professor of applied voice at George Mason University. Recently retired from the US Army Chorus, actively performing as a soloist with arts organizations from coast to coast in concert and recital appearances. Also serving as member at large for the board of directors with the Virginia chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
glombstudios@gmail.com
Sherlee Glomb received the Master of Music Education degree with emphasis in choral conducting from Florida State University, a Post Masters degree in Administration from George Washington University, and received a Bachelors of Music degree from James Madison University in Piano Performance. She has previously taught elementary through high school in Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County and Orange County in Winter Park, Florida. Currently in her twentieth year of teaching, she is grateful to have worked with master teachers including Dr. Andre Thomas, Dr. Judy Bowers, and Dr. Kevin Fenton.
Mrs. Glomb’s groups consistently receive superior ratings at festivals and competitions. Her groups have had the opportunity to perform at invitational performances including the White House, Lee-Fendall House, and the Washington Bach Consort under the direction of J. Reilly Lewis. In addition, Mrs. Glomb’s ensembles most recently performed at last year's Virginia Music Educator’s Association Conference in Hot Springs, Virginia and was featured on Channel 7 news show "Good Morning Washington." She has given conference presentations at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in Tampa, Florida and the American Choral Directors Association in Philadelphia, PA.
Mrs. Glomb has held District XI Chairperson for Choral Directors in the Fairfax County Public Schools and has been recognized as an “Emerging Leader” of the Virginia Choral Directors Association. She has served as a clinician for middle and high school honor choirs, as well as a festival adjudicator, throughout the state of Florida, Virginia, and Maryland. Mrs. Glomb is also an accomplished pianist, choreographer, and musical theatre director. She is a member of NAfME, VMEA, ACDA, NATS and SAI.
She resides in Bristow, Virginia with her family and is thrilled to transition to a full-time private voice/piano studio to spend more time with her children. She also conducts the first Homeschool Choir of Northern Virginia.
helai.karim@lcps.org
Helai Karim is a graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. From Fairfax, Virginia, Helai has had the opportunity to work with various choirs, including the Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir and the Children's Chorus of Washington.
Helai has been fortunate to open two of Loudoun County's newest schools, Willard Middle School in 2018 and Lightridge High School in 2020. She has been ecstatic to open Lightridge with her Willard students to continue building a strong choral community in the Aldie area.
harlan.zackery.jr@gmail.com
Dr. Harlan Zackery Jr., is Director of Choral Activities and conductor of the Concert Choir at Norfolk State University. He completed the Bachelor of Music degree in music education, cum laude, as well as the Master of Music in choral conducting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was a 2004 winner of the UNCG Conducting Competition. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Zackery has taught band and chorus in middle and elementary schools in North Carolina. In addition, he has served as assistant director of the Durham Youth Symphony. He has taught on the music faculties of Winston-Salem Bible College, the North Carolina School of the Arts and Jackson State University. He has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico and Canada as a piano soloist, accompanist, conductor and clinician. In 2012, Zackery, along with Dr. D. Royce Boyer, co-founded the Jackson Metro Male Chorus, a skillful group of male singers of all ages, residing in the metro-Jackson area. He has also served as accompanist and assistant artistic director for the Jackson Choral Society and the Mississippi Chorus. Dr. Zackery is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, and Pi Kappa Lambda music honor fraternity. Zackery is past vice-president of the Mississippi Girlchoir and currently serves on the board of the Virginia Choral Directors Association, the Virginia Children’s Chorus and the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the College Music Society.
Communications Team
Dr. Matthew N. Russell is an Assistant Professor of Music & Music Education and Co-coordinator of Graduate Music Studies at Norfolk State University. At NSU, Dr. Russell interacts with both undergraduate and graduate students, supervises student teachers, and teaches courses in music education, conducting, music history, and music theory. His research interests include generative music learning, choral repertoire, and conducting pedagogy. Dr. Russell earned his DMA in conducting from The Ohio State University and the BS and MM (choral/vocal music education and conducting) from The Pennsylvania State University. A frequent adjudicator and guest conductor, Matthew also serves as Music Director-Educator for the Chamber Singers of the Virginia Children's Chorus, Minister of Music at the Historic Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA, and as editor of VA-ACDA's Virginia Harmony Newsletter.
aeboyars@fcps.edu
Alice Boyars teaches general music at Keene Mill Elementary. She is passionate about finding ways for all students to be successful. Alice was honored to be a VMEA presenter in 2018 and 2019 and the FCPS West Springfield Pyramid Outstanding New Teacher of the Year 2021. She enjoys composing, directing the youth choir at St. Matthews UMC, and volunteering with a community choir at Sunrise Fair Oaks Retirement Center.
KEIRSTPC@pwcs.edu
Philip Keirstead is one of two choral directors at Marsteller Middle School in Prince William County, Virginia. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University and his master’s from Florida State. Guest conducting engagements include several district and regional choirs events in and around Virginia and all-state events in Louisiana and Kentucky. He and his 8th Grade Bass Choir have presented at VMEA, ACDA Southern, and ACDA Eastern conferences. He was named Prince William County’s Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012 and was a runner-up for the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.
Annabelle Mills is a graduate of Susquehanna University and is currently pursuing an MME at Florida State University. She was a finalist for Loudoun County Teacher of the Year in 2019 and was awarded the Colleen Kirk Award by ACDA for outstanding achievement and commitment to choral music education. She has worked to develop curriculum, assessments, and standards for Loudoun County Public Schools and the Virginia Department of Education. She is a clinician and trained adjudicator who judges auditions and choral assessments throughout Virginia. She is an active member of NAfME and ACDA and currently sings with Caritas NoVA. Outside of teaching, she also volunteers as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line.
clrobertson@marybaldwin.edu
Dr. Craig Robertson is an Assistant Professor of Music and Choral Director at Mary Baldwin University (Staunton, VA) and conducts all of the choral ensembles while facilitating conducting and music education courses.
As the former choral director at Sandy Creek High School (GA), his ensembles consistently received ‘Superior’ ratings at choral festivals and has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney World, and Spivey Hall (one of Georgia’s premiere performance venues). He also lead the award-winning SCHS Gospel Choir and coached the SCHS Men’s Quartet who were named Regional Champions at the GHSAA - Literary Competition.
Previously, Dr. Robertson led the Dutchtown Middle School ensembles to win awards at Music in the Parks, OrlandoFest Music Competition, CaroWinds Music Festival, and presented a performance at the 2011 Georgia Music Educator Association’s Conference. The DMS Chorus has also performed at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion, the Georgia Aquarium, and on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Additionally, Dr. Robertson has taught at Forest Park Middle (GA), Bonner Elementary (FL), and organized the choral program at Reading Edge Academy (FL).
Dr. Robertson received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado (Boulder) where he was the primary conductor of the CU Men’s Chorus as well as conducted several other university choral ensembles. He also served as the Director of Music for Children and Youth Choirs at the historic Montview Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Robertson holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from Virginia State University and a Master of Music Education from Georgia State University. He is an active member of NAfME and ACDA and is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc
Jane Waldrop has been a music and chorus teacher in Fairfax County for 15 years and is excited to be joining Virginia’s ACDA team! Jane graduated from JMU with a degree in vocal music education and received a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction where the focus of her thesis was “Curriculum Integration in Elementary General Music.” Jane has directed many different choirs over the years including elementary chorus, community choir, and church choirs. Formerly, Jane was the a cappella director of the Flint Hill Major Minors. While there, the Major Minors were featured on the album “Best of High School A Cappella” singing Jane’s arrangement of “Halo” by Beyoncé. Additionally, she has produced and directed many musicals and revues including, “A Sentimental Journey: Songs of the 40’s and 50’s” for the Voce Chamber Singers in the summer of 2014 and “Seussical Jr” at Clearview Elementary School. This past summer, she worked as music director for “The Little Mermaid” with the Herndon High School Summer Grand program. Jane currently sings alto with the Virginia Master Singers and lives in Herndon with her family.
purevarslan@gmail.com
Purev Arslan teaches young singers from grades 6 to 8 at Poe Middle School in Annandale, VA. He is assistant to the music director at Annandale United Methodist Church in the heart of Annandale, VA. He performs regularly in the DC metro area with Voce Chamber Singers and occasionally freelances with other ensembles in the area. Purev completed his Bachelor of Music Education in 2016 at George Mason University. He lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife Sara.