Applauded by the Salt Lake City Tribune for “maturity beyond his years” and “dizzying technical facility,” Namibian pianist Willem van Schalkwyk has concertized throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Southern Africa - most recently in France and Mexico. Willem regularly returns to Namibia for concert appearances, and has performed the Rachmaninoff Third Piano Concerto and the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto with the Namibia National Symphony Orchestra, in addition to presenting a solo recital as part of the National Theatre of Namibia’s 25-year anniversary.

Prior to her appointment at the University of  North Texas College of Music, Kristina served as associate professor of conducting and assistant director of choral activities at The Ohio State University, where she conducted the Symphonic Choir, Women’s Glee Club and instructed both undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of conducting and choral pedagogy.

Now entering his sixth season as Fort Worth Opera’s principal pianist and vocal coach, for eleven seasons, Stephen Carey was the assistant artistic director, director of the artist-in-residence program, chorus master, and principal pianist/vocal coach for Opera Memphis. During his tenure with Fort Worth Opera, Mr.

Allen Hightower is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas. At UNT, Allen serves as conductor of the A Cappella Choir and the Grand Chorus, and oversees a comprehensive choral program that includes eight choral ensembles. Dr. Hightower leads the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting.

Richard Sparks, Chair of Conducting & Ensembles, joined the faculty at UNT in 2009 with both a distinguished academic and professional career.

Diana Cooley provides administrative support for three Divisions within the College of Music: Keyboard Studies, Vocal Studies and Conducting & Ensembles. She joined the UNT staff in 2015 and was nominated for the Rising Star Award in 2017.

Diana has been both a Children’s Choir director and Adult Handbell Choir Director, with memberships in Chorister’s Guild and the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. She performed with the professional Dallas Handbell Ensemble led by David R. Davidson, and was President of the Greater Dallas Handbell Association.

Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams is the assistant director of wind studies, conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, and the director of athletic bands, including the North Texas Green Brigade Marching Band and the Basketball Pep Band at the University of North Texas. He is also the conductor for the GDYO Wind Symphony in Dallas, Texas. In addition, he is a frequent guest conductor for the Dallas Winds (formerly Dallas Wind Symphony) and the Dallas Winds Brass Choir.

2011 marked Joshua Habermann’s first year was as Chorus Director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, the official vocal ensemble of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Habermann is also Music Director of The Desert Chorale, a professional chamber choir based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Paul Leenhouts, recorder, director of early music studies and the Baroque Orchestra, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, where he was on the faculty as professor of recorder and historical development since 1993. He is a founding member of the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet since 1978. In 2002 he became director of the contemporary music collective Blue Iguana. He is also a composer, arranger and editor of numerous works for chamber music ensembles. Mr.