About SWACDA
Message
Welcome to the SWACDA home on the ‘interwebs.’ This site is the hub for everything we’re up to: current and future events, conference news, links to our content across platforms, and ways to connect with the leadership team.
I have the honor of serving as SWACDA’s President for 2026-2028. My goals include:
- Making SWACDA something you experience year-round. That means consistent ways to connect, whether through content on the apps you’re already scrolling, opportunities to get involved that don’t require a plane ticket, or just knowing there’s somewhere to plug in when you have an idea.
- Building a strong foundation for our younger and early-career members. From collegiate membership through that first job, this profession asks a lot in the transition. I’d like SWACDA to be one of the things that doesn’t fall away.
- Opening doors. Every one of you has a story to tell and insight the rest of us would benefit from. If you’ve got something to say, there’s a door open for you here, especially if your name isn’t on an org chart yet.
- Reaching beyond our own community of conductors, educators, and composers, let’s consider all the individuals in your middle school, high school, and college choirs. While most of them may not have chosen this as their profession, I firmly believe in the profound impact that this art form has on people. I am confident that we can extend our reach and bring a much larger audience into the world of choral music; becoming patrons at concerts, returning singers in community choirs, and advocates for preserving choral music in our daily lives.
I’m glad you’re here – and thankful for the opportunity to continue serving our wonderful organization!
Joshua Oppenheim
SWACDA President
The 2028 SWACDA Regional Conference runs on volunteer power, and this is your chance to be part of it. Our major leadership posts are filled, but we’ll need many hands throughout the conference to keep things running smoothly, from registration to hospitality to backstage support. Volunteer slots are just 4 hours long, so it’s easy to fit into your conference schedule while still leaving plenty of time to attend sessions and enjoy the performances. Sign-ups are open now through January 10, 2028, so claim a slot that works for you and be part of making this conference unforgettable.
The Southwestern Region
The American Choral Directors Association is proud to serve the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
From the plains of Kansas to the mountains of Colorado, from the heart of Texas to the pueblos of New Mexico, SWACDA connects choral directors across seven states: Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
We share ACDA’s mission to inspire excellence and nurture lifelong involvement in choral music for everyone through education, performance, composition, and advocacy. Every two years, our region comes together to live out that mission in person, singing, learning, and connecting across state lines.
Curious what that looks like? Take a look back at one of our past conferences below.
Subscribe to the SWACDA Newsletter
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Starting on the Right Note: Back-to-School Tips for Choral Directors
Tanner Oglesby, SSAA Choirs R&R Chair Starting on the Right Note: Back-to-School Tips for Choral Directors Though I typically mourn the close of summer vacation,
Worshipping Through the Arts
Bryan Taylor, Music & Worship R&R Chair Worshipping Through the Arts In 1999, I felt an overwhelming urge to pursue church music full-time, a calling
First Impressions in Choir: Building Skill, Culture, and Community
Nathan Wubenna, Children & Community Youth R&R Chair First Impressions in Choir: Building Skill, Culture, and Community We all understand the importance of first impressions—whether
Eva Jessye: A Pioneer in American Choral Music and Cultural Advocacy
4-Year University R&R Rayvon T. J. Moore Introduction This year marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Eva Jessye—a pioneering figure in American music
Empowering Voices!: Encouraging Lifelong Singers
Youth & Student Activities Dr. Jennifer Sengin Empowering Voices!: Encouraging Lifelong Singers A hallmark of a truly meaningful singing experience is inspiring singers to continue
The First Answer is Always to Listen More
Beth Enloe Fritz Jazz R&R The First Answer is Always to Listen More They say one of the best characteristics of a friend is to
Leadership Team
Joshua Oppenheim
Biography
Dr. Joshua Oppenheim has served as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Kansas State University since 2008, following a successful tenure in a similar role on the faculty of the Crane School of Music in New York. In 2025, Dr. Oppenheim founded Re:Sound Ensembles, a professional choral nonprofit dedicated to advancing innovation, excellence, access, and impact in choral music. Operating as a national choral institution, Re:Sound encompasses professional, youth, community, and justice-centered ensembles. The organization is widely recognized for its uniquely immersive, multisensory concert experiences, which integrate theatrical narrative and environmental design into unified artistic statements rather than traditional concert formats.
An active guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Oppenheim’s work spans across the United States and internationally. His global engagements include conducting choirs and serving as a clinician in Austria, the Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Nationally, he has presented workshops and conducted All-State and honor choirs across 29 states, including leading the Southwestern ACDA Region Collegiate Honor Choir and the Southern Region ACDA High School Honor Choir. His guest conducting engagements feature appearances at some of the nation’s most prestigious venues, such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Washington National Cathedral, and Orchestra Hall in Chicago.
Choirs under Dr. Oppenheim’s direction have earned frequent recognition, with selections to perform at state, regional, and national conferences for the New York State School Music Association, Kansas Music Educators Association, A Cappella Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, and National Collegiate Choral Organization. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Mississippi, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University.
Rondal Wallace
Biography
Rondal Wallace serves as the Oklahoma Choral Directors Executive Director. He is also a professional accompanist and church musician in the Oklahoma City area. Currently serving as the organist for St Paul’s Lutheran Church. Rondal also has experience as a secondary vocal music teacher, teaching Middle School and High School Choirs from 1991 – 2021. Mr Wallace has been an active ACDA member for many years.
Erin Plisco
Biography
Dr. Erin Plisco serves as Associate Director of Choral Studies at Missouri State University, where she helps lead a comprehensive choral program of over 300 singers, conducting multiple choirs and teaching undergraduate and graduate choral conducting and literature.
Plisco was elected President-Elect of the Southwestern Region of ACDA, beginning a six-year term on July 1, 2026, serving two years as president-elect, two years as president, and two years as past president. She has been involved in ACDA leadership at various levels since 2018, and since 2022 has served as the national repertoire and resource chair for soprano/alto choirs. In that role, she recently led a national commission consortium for treble choirs, which saw record participation of over 130 ensembles and produced 13 new commissioned works in a single cycle.
Plisco has held positions at the university and high school level, most notably as Director of Choral Studies at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, North Carolina, where her choirs earned numerous awards at national festivals and competitions, and her chamber choir won The American Prize for high school choral ensemble performance in 2013.
She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, a Master of Music in Choral Studies from Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where she was a recipient of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance from Christopher Newport University.
Margie Camp
Biography
Margie Camp recently retired from her role as administrative director and training choir director for Young Voices of Colorado and is now serving as YVC’s Board President. With thirty years of public school experience, she served the Cherry Creek School District as the choir director at Campus Middle School and as the district music coordinator. Camp has served SWACDA as a past president, treasurer, and program chair for many SWACDA conferences. She has earned degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She also has a music specialist degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. Camp was inducted into the Colorado Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2011 and received ACDA’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2023. She was honored to receive the SWACDA Margie Camp Lifetime Achievement Award and the Colorado ACDA Legacy Award in 2024.
Jonathan Owen
Biography
Jonathan Owen retired as choral director in 2018 after thirty years as a Missouri public school music teacher. During his teaching tenure, his choirs performed eight times at the Missouri MEA Conference and for the 2002 Music Educators National Conference (NAfME). In his retirement, Owen serves as organist/accompanist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MO. He has an MM in choral conducting from Missouri State University, a BME voice emphasis (Certificate Recital) from Evangel University, and an AA from Neosho County Community College (KS).
Brandon Baker
Biography
Brandon Baker is Head Choir Director at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas where he leads over 200 students across six choirs. He holds a Master of Music Education from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he graduated with honors and was inducted into the University Student Hall of Fame. Brandon has taught in Texas, Georgia, and Mississippi at both the middle and high school levels. Prior to Westlake, he directed the choral program at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville and previously taught at Discovery High School outside Atlanta, where he was named Teacher of the Year for 2021–2022. His choirs have consistently earned superior ratings and Sweepstakes honors at UIL and other prestigious festivals and is passionate about inspiring students through excellence in music education. Brandon serves as the Executive Director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy tenor bass ensemble, Unheard. Brandon also performs with professional choral ensembles, including Unheard, Orpheus Chamber Singers, and Kinnara. Brandon recently served as one of the SWACDA 10/11 Mixed Honor Choir Coordinators in 2026.
Kathy Bhat
Biography
Kathleen Bhat has 35 years of experience as a music educator, all in the state of Missouri. She currently teaches choir, general music, music appreciation, and music production at Orchard Farm Middle and High School. Her choirs have consistently received high praise, including 4 performances at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference. She is also the director of their all-district musical, which incorporates students from Kindergarten through High School. In addition to teaching, Kathy serves in leadership roles in several professional organizations: Membership/Secretary for the Missouri Choral Directors Association (30 years); Membership Chair for the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association (10 years); Program Book Editor for Missouri Music Educators Association (22 years); Mentoring Chair for St. Louis Suburban District #5 (5 years); and a recent appointment as co-editor for the Missouri School Music Magazine, the publication of the Missouri Music Educators Association.