Gender Bias in the Choral Field: Past, Present, and Future

Session Abstract: This session will feature five active women conductors and a first-year doctoral student in a candid discussion about past, present, and future challenges for women in choral music. The presenters will offer strategies on how young and experienced conductors can fight new and longstanding matters involving gender bias in the choral field. Members will learn to:

a) identify instances of gender disparity in the choral profession;
b) fight challenges related to gender bias;
c) support students and colleagues who experience gender discrimination;
d) advocate for themselves and others;
e) promote change to help create more equitable spaces for women conductors

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Mariana Farah

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Mariana Farah is the Director of Choral Activities at UW-Madison where she conducts the Concert Choir, teaches courses in graduate choral conducting, and oversees a comprehensive choral program. Prior to her appointment at UW-Madison, Farah served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Kansas. Choirs under her leadership have performed at the Missouri, Kansas, and Wisconsin Music Educators Association conventions and at the ACDA Southwestern Division conferences.  Farah maintains an active schedule as a clinician in Brazil and in the U.S, where she is often sought out for her expertise in Brazilian choral music.

Edith Copley

Northern Arizona University- Regents’ Professor Emeritus

Edith A. Copley is Regents’ Professor Emeritus at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where she served as director of choral studies from 1993-2021. During her tenure at NAU, she conducted the Shrine of the Ages Choir and Chamber Singers and taught choral methods, conducting, and graduate choral literature. Copley has served American Choral Directors Association in various leadership roles, including Arizona and Western Region President and is currently National President-Elect. She is in high demand as a guest clinician and conductor both in the US and abroad.

Lynne Gackle

Baylor University

Lynne Gackle is Professor Emerita at Baylor University where she served as the Director of Choral Activities and Ensemble Division Chair. An active choral clinician/conductor nationally, she has held several positions within ACDA, including National President, Southern Region President, President Florida-ACDA, and TCDA VP-College/Community Choirs. Internationally recognized for her research on the female adolescent voice, Lynne is the author of Finding Ophelia’s Voice, Opening Ophelia’s Heart. She is a contributing author for other books published by GIA, Oxford, and Hal Leonard/McGraw-Hill. Gackle serves on the Editorial Board of Walton Music and editor for the Lynne Gackle Choral Series (Colla Voce).

Jessica Nápoles

University of North Texas

Jessica Nápoles is Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of North Texas. She teaches coursework in choral methods, conducts the Concert Choir, and mentors graduate students. She has served as Interim division chair for Conducting & Ensembles (2019-2020) and for Music Education (Fall 2020). Nápoles is an active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. She has conducted All State and honor choirs all over the United States, and has conducted the Southern, North Central and Western division honor choirs for ACDA. In 2019, Dr. Nápoles made her Carnegie Hall debut as choral conductor for the WorldStrides OnStage Honors Performance Series.

Coty Raven Morris

Portland State University

Coty Raven Morris is the Visiting Professor of Choir, Music Education, and Social Justice at Portland State University and founder of Being Human Together, a budding community normalizing difficult topics in music education through conversation and connection. Through her work, Coty discusses traditionally taboo topics like mental health, systemic oppression, diversity, and inclusivity. Coty is a proud alumnus of Texas State University-San Marcos and Michigan State University, where she obtained a Masters in choral conducting. Morris is a sought-after clinician and artist across the country and has recently served as the Clinician and Headliner for Florida ACDA and Minnesota ACDA.

Elizabeth Olson

University of Wisconsin Madison

Elizabeth Olson is a conductor, educator, and arranger from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has earned degrees from the University of South Carolina (BM Music Theory) and the University of Colorado Boulder (MM Choral Conducting). While in Boulder, she was the Music Director at Niwot United Methodist Church and the Director of the medical student and faculty chorus at the University of Colorado Anschutz. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado, Olson returned to South Carolina, teaching various levels of high school Chorus and IB Music. In the Fall of 2022, she will start her DMA in choral conducting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.