Conducting Masterclasses
Announcing the Western ACDA Conducting Master Classes!
Our regional conference in Pasadena includes three master classes:
Conducting Master Class 1: Conference Attendees (including graduate students)
Date/Time: Thursday, March 7, 11am-12pm (conductors & clinician meet at 10:30 am)
Clinician: Dr. Iris S. Levine
Clinic Ensemble: Sterling Ensemble of Los Angeles (Michelle Jensen, conductor)
Conducting Master Class 2: Undergraduate Students
Date/Time: Friday, March 8, 1:15-2:15 pm (conductors & clinician meet at 12:45 pm)
Clinician: Joseph Huszti
Clinic Ensemble: Cal Poly Cantabile (Dr. Scott Glysson, conductor)
Conducting Master Class 3: New Teachers & Emerging Conductors
Date/Time: Thursday, March 7, 1:15-2:15 pm (conductors & clinician meet at 12:45 pm)
Clinician: Dr. Marcela Molina
Clinic Ensemble: Mater Dei High School (Dr. Jodi Reed, conductor)
Congratulations to the selected participants for our WACDA 2024 Conducting Masterclasses!
Undergraduate Students
Rosie Ding
Christopher Gomez
David Pulanco
Thien-An Truong
Conference Attendees
Tyler Berg
Mengda Jiang
Jordan M. Shomper
Jennifer Tibben
New & Emerging Conductors
Talin Emmerson
Emilio Lopez Felix
Christina Hall
Christina Nelson
Alternates: Ariel Banuelos, Arianna Campbell, Patricia Gisela, Zachary Lindquist, Terceros Montano, Evan Montemayor, Bryce Rivera
Masterclass Clinicians
Joseph Huszti (Undergraduate Student Clinician)
Joseph Huszti, Professor Emeritus, retired from UC Irvine in 2014 after a 54-year teaching career, 37 at UCI. Joining ACDA in 1960 as the 214th member, he continues to be active as a singer and conductor of the Men in Blaque. His first position was in 1959 at Bakersfield College and he subsequently headed choral programs at the University of Delaware and Boston University. His mentors included Howard Swan, William Vennard, Todd Duncan, Robert Fountain and Otto Werner-Mueller. In 1965, the Bakersfield College Choir became the first American choir to win the International Musical Eisteddfod, Llangollen, Wales. The BC Choir held command performances for Pope Paul VI and President Lyndon B. Johnson. During his tenure at UC Irvine, twenty-seven international concert tours included prize-winning performances at the International Musical Eistedfod, the Bela Bartok International Choral Competition, the Koorfest and the World Choir Games. Huszti headed the Young Vocalists Program at the Tanglewood Festival from 1972-1977 where he collaborated with Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Norman Dello Joio, among others. Huszti has held leadership positions in ACDA in Delaware and Boston. He served as Western Division President from 1980-82. Huszti was honored by CCDA with the Howard Swan Award in 2020.
Dr. Iris S. Levine (Conference Attendee Clinician)
Nationally recognized for her excellence in choral conducting, Iris S. Levine is founder and artistic director of VOX Femina Los Angeles, L.A.’s premier women’s chorus. Dr. Levine has charted VOX Femina on an impressive journey, building its prominence in the choral community by way of numerous concerts and appearances at ACDA conventions, Chorus America conferences, and more. Under Dr. Levine’s artistic leadership, VOX Femina Los Angeles has commissioned more than 50 new works for women’s voices. Dr. Levine is faculty emerita at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona where she served as Director of Choral Activities, Dean, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She is an active member of ACDA, with former leadership roles as state, regional, and national R&S chair for Women’s Choruses. Dr. Levine is the editor for the Iris S. Levine Treble Choral Series with Pavane Publishing. She authored the chapter on “Working with the Women’s Community Choir” in Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success and she is a contributing author in Choral Reflections: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers. Dr. Levine is highly sought as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for choral festivals throughout the country.
Dr. Marcela Molina (New and Emerging Conductors Clinician)
Dr. Molina has been affiliated with the Tucson Girls Chorus since 2006, first serving as Artistic Director and taking the helm as Executive Director in 2011. Under Dr. Molina’s guidance, the Tucson Girls Chorus has grown significantly in programming and community engagement. With her leadership, the TGC has transformed into a vibrant and collaborative organization that creates access to inclusive programming for youth, and provides resources to music educators and support to their classroom all year-round. In addition to her work with the TGC, Dr. Molina serves as Director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Marcela Molina holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the University of Arizona. She has contributed articles to Antiphon, and the books Teaching through Performance in Choir, Volume 2 and Choral Reflections: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers. She was named 2019 Choral Director of the Year by Arizona American Choral Directors Association (AzACDA), and she often serves as a clinician and guest conductor for choral festivals. Dr. Molina has served on the board of the AzACDA as well as standing committees for ACDA Western Division. She currently serves on the board of Chorus America.