SHAWNA CROSS STEWART Conductor Home: 1681 Amberwood Drive Apt 112 School: Biola University-Music South Pasadena, CA 91030 13800 Biola Avenue (626) 799.7414 La Mirada, CA 90639 (562) 944-0351 ext. 5960 [email protected] EDUCATION Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Music, University of Southern California, in progress since 1999 Master of Music, Choral Conducting, Eastman School of Music, 1995 Bachelor of Science in Music, Voice Emphasis, John Brown University, 1992 MAJOR TEACHERS Dr. William Dehning, University of Southern California, 1999-present Timothy Koch, Eastman School of Music, Choral Conducting, 1993-94 Dr. Donald Hunsberger, Eastman School of Music, Orchestral Conducting, 1993-94 Dr. Samuel Adler, Eastman School of Music, Choral Literature, 1993-94 Paul B. Smith, John Brown University, Choral Conducting, 1988-93 C. Jeanne Robison, John Brown University, Voice, 1988-92 PROFESSIONAL/TEACHING EXPERIENCE Choral Director, Whittier Area Community Church, Whittier, CA, 2002-present Part-time choral director for adult choir. Select and lead choral music sung in services, bi-monthly. Serve on worship planning committee. Co-direct large Christmas, Easter and July 4th celebration services. Plan non-musical events to foster relationships amongst members including a yearly retreat, social and devotional activities. Choral Director, Granada Heights Friends Church, La Mirada, CA, Fall 2002 Directed thirty-five voice choir in weekly services. Conducted weekly rehearsals. Served on worship planning committee. Lead congregational singing when necessary. Assistant Professor of Music, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, 1997-present Full time assistant professor of music. Conductor of Biola University Chorale; membership by audition only, fifty-eight voices, performs both on and off campus including a spring tour and several area festivals. Director of the fourteen voice Vocal Jazz Ensemble with combo, and forty-four voice Women's Chorus. Instructor of Choral Literature and Basic and Advanced Conducting classes; provide further semester-long private study in preparation for student recital. Supervisor and part-time artistic coach for male sextet. Serve as coordinator and host of fall invitational high school, community and Christian college festival, and an additional spring high school women’s chorus choir festival. Supervisor of vocal education majors, including observation and student teaching supervision Instructor of Music, North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND, 1996-1997 Full time instructor of music. Conducted select, extensive touring ensemble, specializing in the performance of popular styles. Conducted sixty-voice mixed chorus. Academic class instructor for Theory I, Theory II, Introduction to Music, and non-music related course, Human Relations. Private voice instructor. Instructor of Music, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR, 1995-1996 Two-thirds full-time (sabbatical replacement) instructor. Conducted Men’s and Women’s choral ensembles which performed in campus chapel services, Christmas and Spring concerts, and area church services. Taught Conducting I and II. Team-taught general education fine arts course. Directed rehearsals for the select choir in absence of conductor. Owner and Teacher, Children’s Music Academy, Siloam Springs, AR, 1992-93, 1995-1996 Independently established a music school as an extension of a Denver-based school. Educated children ages 5-10 in the fundamentals of music, including rhythm, harmony, and melody. Teaching methods involved keyboard, vocal, and instrumental exercises. Motivational techniques included encouraging parental classroom participation and home follow-up. Musical Director, Trollwood Performing Arts School, Fargo, ND, 1994, 1995,1996 42nd Street, 1998: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 1997; Guys and Dolls, 1996; West Side Story, 1995; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 1994 Vocally prepared cast (including Joseph’s 45-voice children’s choir) for fifteen performances of each show. Worked closely with sound designer in creating accurate sound production for outdoor theater. Mentored student assistants including vocal coaching and conducting instruction. Provided promotional musical groups used in advertising the production to local businesses and schools. Private Piano Teacher, 1995-1996 Instructed beginning level children ages 8-10. Focused on developing musicianship beyond technical piano skills. Director of Music, Gates Presbyterian Church, Rochester, NY, 1993-95 Conducted Adult Choir, Youth Singers, Handbell Choir, and smaller vocal ensembles. Responsible for weekly selection and rehearsal of Introits, Anthems, and Benedictions. Prepared Handbell Choir and Youth Singers for monthly performances. Orchestrated special musical events, and choreographed liturgical dance to be used with service music. Teacher of voice on short-term basis. Assistant Conductor, Kilbourn Chorus and Graduate Orchestra, Eastman School of Music, 1993-94 Co-conducted fifty-voice chorus. Solely responsible for score preparation, and directed portions of weekly rehearsals for end of semester performance. Co-directed Graduate Orchestra, which involved score selection and preparation for bi-monthly rehearsals. Executed duties in cooperation with other conductors. Assistant Choral Conductor, John Brown University, 1992-93 Served as Assistant Conductor of the Cathedral Choir, Men’s Chorus, and Women’s Chorus. Rehearsed and conducted selected works for performance in concert, including a week-long tour. Studied major choral works, including their placement in historical context, for both academic and artistic objectives. Performed administrative duties including concert planning, public relations, choral library management, and clerical tasks. RELATED EXPERIENCE Singer, Chamber Choir, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, Fall 2003-present Choral conducting masterclass teacher, American Choral Director’s Association summer conference, Oakhurst, CA, 2003 ECCO Registrar, California American Choral Director’s Association summer conference, Oakhurst, CA, 2003 Clinician, Choral Retreat, Brethren High School, Huntington Beach, CA, 2003 Adjudicator/Clincian, World Strides Choral Festival, Orange, 2003 Adjudicator, Orange County Choral Festival, Orange, CA 2003 Adjudicator, Long Beach Choral Festival, Long Beach, CA, 2003 Headliner, clinician, “Jr. High ‘Celebration,’” Association of Christian Schools International, Pasadena, CA 2002 Board Member “Secretary,” R&S Chair for Four-Year Colleges,” California American Choral Director’s Association, 1999-present Adjudicator, Association of Christian Schools International, Pasadena, CA, 1999, 2001, 2003 Adjudicator, Fullerton Vocal Jazz Festival, Fullerton, CA, 2000 Adjudicator, Fullerton Junior College High School Choral Festival, Fullerton, CA, 1998 Adjudicator, Redlands High School Women's Chorus Festival, Redlands, CA, 1997, 2000 Guest Conductor, Wahpeton/Breckenridge Mass Concert, Wahpeton, ND, 1997 Choral and Vocal Contest District Adjudicator, Wahpeton, ND, 1996-97 Promotional Assistant, Trollwood Performing Arts School, Fargo, ND, 1996-97 MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS René Clausen Choral School, choral workshop, Concordia University, 1998 Donald Neuen, choral workshop, UCLA, 1996 Kenneth Jennings, choral master class, Eastman, 1994 Roger Norrington, orchestral master class, Eastman, 1994 Helmuth Rilling, choral master class, Eastman, 1993 Nico Castell, vocal diction master class, Eastman, 1993 René Clausen, workshop on church music, Denver, CO, 1993 CHORAL PERFORMANCES Fauré , Requiem, Paul B. Smith, Conductor; John Brown University, 1995 Lassus and Palestrina, Motets and Chansons, Cappella Antiqua, Patrick Macey, Conductor; Eastman, 1995 Adler, Choose Life (World Premier), Timothy Koch, Conductor; Eastman, 1994 Stravinsky, Mass, Sidney Hodkinson, Conductor; Eastman, 1994 Josquin, The Music of Josquin, Patrick Macey, Conductor; Eastman, 1994 Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, David Effron, Conductor; Eastman, 1993 Rouse, Karolju, Timothy Koch, Conductor; Eastman, 1993 Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, Carlton Woods, Conductor; Northwest Arkansas Symphony Chorus, 1992 Poulenc, Gloria, Paul B. Smith, Conductor; John Brown University, 1991 OPERA/MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMANCES Menotti, Medium, “Madame Flora”; John Brown University, 1993 Gilbert and Sullivan, Pirates of Penzance, “Ruth”; John Brown University, 1992 Burt, Oliver!, Choral/Dance Ensemble; Encore Productions, 1992 Senior Voice Recital; John Brown University, 1992 Gilbert and Sullivan, Patience, “Jane”; John Brown University, 1992 Puccini, Suor Angelica, “Mistress of the Novices”; John Brown University, 1991 Mozart, The Magic Flute, “Third Lady”; John Brown University, 1990 Mozart, Marriage of Figaro, “Marcellina”; John Brown University, 1989 AWARDS/MEMBERSHIPS Biola University Merit Award for Excellence in Education, 1998 College Music Society, 1997 Fargo-Moorhead Master Chorale, 1996-1997 American Choral Directors’ Association, 1993-present Outstanding Service Award, Music Department, 1993 Magna Cum Laude, 1992 Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges, 1992 Oiesen Music Leadership Award, 1992 Outstanding Cathedral Choir Member, 1992 National Association of Teachers of Singing, 3rd place, Music Theater, 1991 Collegiate Music Educators’ National Conference, State President, 1990-91 Alpha Chi Honor's Society (inducted), 1990 REFERENCES William Dehning, University of Southern California, Chairman of Choral and Church Music, University of Southern California,