WorldStrides Updates

Meet Our New Festival at Carnegie Hall Choral Conductors, Dr. Jessica Nápoles & Dr. Rosephanye Powell!

Our Festival at Carnegie Hall rewards the most elite music groups with the opportunity to perform at the world-famous Carnegie Hall on the Ronald O. Perelman Stage. The illustrious history of this great hall demands that the highest standards be applied to all performers who take the stage, and it is truly the experience of a lifetime. Ensembles work directly with world-renowned conductors and adjudicators who exude a love and passion for music and the performing arts. (And they get to explore New York City too –  home to some of the world’s finest music venues, artists, and musical inspiration in the world!)

Dr. Nápoles is an Associate Professor of Choral Music Education and Conductor of the Concert Choir at the University of North Texas. She is a Cuban American and a Florida native and received her Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Education, and Ph.D. in Music Education from the Florida State University. Prior to her appointment at UNT, she taught at the University of Utah.

She has conducted All-State and honor choirs in California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Utah, as well as Southern division and Western division honor choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).

Dr. Nápoles is currently serving on the Steering Committee for the National ACDA as Assistant Conference Chair and previously as the Honor Choir Coordinator.

Dr. Rosephanye Powell serves as a Charles Barkley Endowed Professor of Voice at Auburn University. She holds degrees from The Florida State University (D.M. in vocal performance, University Fellow), Westminster Choir College (M.M. in vocal performance and pedagogy, with distinction), and Alabama State University (B.M.E., summa cum laude). Dr. Powell served on the faculties of Philander Smith College (AR) and Georgia Southern University prior to Auburn University.

Dr. Powell has been hailed as one of America’s premier women composers of choral music. She has an impressive catalogue of works published by some of the nation’s leading publishers, including the Hal Leonard Corporation, the Fred Bock Music Company/Gentry Publications, Oxford University Press, Alliance Music Publications, and Shawnee.

In 2009, Dr. Powell received the “Living Legend Award” presented by California State University African Diaspora Sacred Music Festival in Los Angeles.  She was listed in the first edition of the international publication Who Is Who in Choral Music.  And, she has been included in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and Outstanding Young Women in America in recent years.

Dr. Powell is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the College Music Society (CMS), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC).

“We have some terrific conductors lined up! In addition to some of our most reputable returning conductors, I’m also happy to welcome Jessica Nápoles & Rosephanye Powell to our 2020 Festival at Carnegie Hall line up!  It should be an exciting season,” said Marion Gomez, General Manager, WorldStrides OnStage Festivals at Carnegie Hall

Dr. Nápoles and Dr. Powell Join our outstanding lineup of talented choir conductors for 2020:

Rollo Dilworth
February 28- March 2
Rollo Dilworth is a Professor of Choral Music Education and Chair of Music Education and Music Therapy at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, PA. He serves as conductor for the University Chorale.

Greg Gilpin
February 28- March 2
Greg Gilpin is the current Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press and a vocal music education graduate from Northwest Missouri State University.

Anton Armstrong
March 13-16
Anton Armstrong, Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College, is a graduate of St. Olaf College and earned advanced degrees at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University.

Jessica Napoles
March 13-16
Jessica Napoles is an Associate Professor of Choral Music Education and Conductor of the Concert Choir at the University of North Texas and is currently serving on the Steering Committee for the National ACDA.

Jeffery L. Ames
March 20-23
Jeffery L. Ames serves as Director of Choral Activities at Belmont University. He is an accomplished composer, conductor, arranger, and accompanist.

André Thomas
March 20-23
André Thomas, the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University.

Lynne Gackle
March 27-30
Lynne Gackle is Professor of Ensembles and Associate Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University where she conducts the Baylor Bella Voce and the Baylor Concert Choir.

Dr. Edith A. Copley
March 27-30
Dr. Edith A. Copley is the Director of Choral Studies Northern Arizona University where she leads the Shrine of the Ages Choir and teaches choral literature.

Dr. Jeffery Redding
April 16-19
Dr. Jeffery Redding is past Director of Choral Activities at West Virginia University and currently serves as Director of Choral Activities at West Orange High School in Florida.

Rosephanye Powell
April 16-19
Rosephanye Powell serves as a Charles Barkley Endowed Professor of Voice at Auburn University. A premier composer, her works frequently appear in regional and national conventions of the ACDA.

Perform at the National Youth Choir during the Festival at Carnegie Hall! As of March 2019, we are accepting applications for our 2020 season, don’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime!