Repertoire & Resources Chairs
Matthew N. Farr
Nick Farr is the artistic director of Una Vice at Wildwood in Little Rock, AR. He holds an education doctorate in higher education and a doctorate of music education. Farr is the Maumelle High School Principal in Maumelle, AR. He has been a music educator for eleven years and enjoys impacting the arts as an administrator. Farr is the president-elect for Arkansas ACDA and has served in various other roles. He has two daughters and enjoys running and working with community theatre.
Vacant
Jonathan Palant
Jonathan Palant is associate dean of the arts and director of choral activities at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and conductor of both Credo, a 140-member community choir, and the Dallas Street Choir, a musical outlet for those affected by homelessness. In addition, Palant is director of music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church. His book, Brothers, Sing On! Conducting the Tenor-Bass Choir, and The Jonathan Palant Choral Series are published by the Hal Leonard Corporation. Palant holds degrees from Michigan State University, Temple University, and the University of Michigan.
Leia Browning
Leia Browning has a BME from the University of North Texas. She also attended Louisiana State University, where she studied musical theatre. Browning has been teaching high school choir for eighteen years. She spent seven years at South Garland High School and is in her tenth year at Rockwall High.
Jim Graves
Jim Graves is a multifaceted vocal artist, arranger, and educator, He serves as director of choral activities at Southern Nazarene University since 2008. He directs the University Singers, SNU Chorale, and Concert Choir. He also teaches courses in music theory, music education, and private and group voice. Graves has led groups at the National ACDA Convention, at the Jazz Education Network National Convention, has presented interest sessions at the national and regional level of ACDA, and was formerly the Southwest ACDA Jazz R&R Chair. Graves’s arrangements have been performed by The University of North Texas Jazz Singers, UNT Jazz Singers II, University of Oklahoma Singing Sooners, and performing groups from around the United States.
William George-Twyman
William George-Twyman is a dedicated educator and seasoned choral conductor, currently serving as the head of choral studies at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He has recently taken on the role of assistant director of the Music Conservatory for Curriculum/Instruction. Renowned for his innovative programming and multimedia collaborations, he has wielded the baton for musical theater productions and international performances. He is a trained countertenor, showcasing his vocal talents in a wide array of classical works. He earned his DMA in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma, a master of sacred music, master of music in choral conducting, and a BME.
Vacant
Jim Henry
Jim Henry, serves as the director of choral studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. With a PhD in music composition from Washington University, he conducts University Singers and Vocal Point and teaches courses in choral methods, choral conducting, and choral arranging. Henry’s commitment to education earned him the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. As a celebrated composer, he received awards for his songs and piano pieces. Furthermore, he boasts a rich performance career as a two-time Barbershop Harmony Society International quartet champion bass with Crossroads. He will make his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in June.
Robert T. Gibson
Robert T. Gibson is a Houston native, dynamic conductor, clinician, composer/arranger, lecturer, and educator with a passion for developing future music educators. Armed with a BME from the University of North Texas and an MM from Missouri State University, he has held diverse roles in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and churches. Gibson’s choral works and arrangements can be found through Walton Music and Alfred Publications. He is the recipient of the 2020 Missouri Choral Director Association Opus Award for his arrangement of “We Shall Overcome.” Gibson’s work has also been performed by the Texas All-State Tenor Bass Choir and the Missouri Summer All-State Choir.
Yoojin Muhn
Yoojin Muhn is the director of choral activities at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she conducts the UTSA Chamber Singers and teaches choral conducting. She also serves as the Music Director for the San Antonio Mastersingers, a 120-voice volunteer chorus. Muhn is in high demand as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. She received a DMA from the University of Southern California, an MM in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati, an MM in sacred music from Westminster Choir College, and a BA in composition from Sook Myung Women’s University in Seoul, Korea.
Pamela Dawson
Pamela Dawson, born in Detroit, Michigan, began studying music at the age of seven on the piano taught by her father. She continued in music throughout her education and was greatly influenced by her god-sister, Dorothy Ashby, a well-renowned jazz harpist. She graduated from Cass Technical High School as a vocational music major and holds a bachelor of arts in communications and theater with an emphasis in music and business from Eastern Michigan University. She studied harp with Ruth Myers and master classes with the late Lucille Lawrence. She is the director of choral activities at Desoto High School and the 2023 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year.
Vacant
R&R COMMITTEE PURPOSE AND FUNCTION
The Repertoire and Resources (R&R) areas provide support, vision, and
resources for every major area of choral work. R & R chairs and
Coordinators are positioned to provide vital content through the following:
- Literature recommendations
- Resource presentation
- Conference-related curated events
- Year-long programming of professional development opportunities
- Collaboration between R & R leadership at the state, region and
- national levels
- Member support and encouragement
- Direct impact on membership
Repertoire and Resources Committee Coordinators and Chairs serve as
conductors, teachers, composers, and constituencies who share similar
interests. R & R Leaders possess demonstrated expertise in a specific
choral area and serve as leaders in the three primary efforts:
Collaboration
- Communication
- Commitment
It is our mission to form partnerships between R&R committees and the
ACDA national, regional, and state leaders through education, cooperation,
communication, and dedication in our unending quest for excellence in the
American Choral Directors Association.
Gretchen Harrison
National Repertoire and Resources Committee Chair
Revised 2023
