- All-District Mixed Choir – Dr. Jackson Thomas
- SSAA Honor Choir – Dr. Kacey Kennedy
- TTBB Honor Choir – Patrick Dell
- 9/10 Honor Choir – Christine Jarquio
DR. JACKSON THOMAS – ALL-DISTRICT MIXED CHOIR CLINICIAN
Clinician Dr. Jackson Thomas
Originally from Carrollton, Missouri, composer, conductor, tenor, and music educator Dr. Jackson Thomas has served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Missouri since 2021. Under his direction, UCM’s choral program has set a university record for choir enrollment for three consecutive years. The ensembles have performed at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference and on international tours to the Baltic States and Greece, with a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City scheduled for May 2027.
A passionate advocate for contemporary choral music, Dr. Thomas is the Founder and Artistic Director of KC VITAs, which has presented more than 100 world-premiere performances in the Kansas City region since 2015. His compositions have earned the Opus Award for Excellence in Choral Composition, and his work in choral performance and education was recognized in 2025 with the Podium Award for Significant Contributions to the Choral Art from the Missouri Choral Directors Association.
Dr. Thomas’s research and creative scholarship explores composer-conductor collaboration, inclusivity, and the pedagogy of minimalist and extended vocal techniques. His work has been presented at state, regional, and national conferences, including the American Choral Directors Association, and is featured in The Lavender Scores, forthcoming from Dulcamara Press.
Dr. Thomas holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas. He remains active as a tenor soloist, composer, private voice teacher, and Artistic Director of the Northland Community Choir. He is also a licensed ZUMBA instructor.
DR. KACEY KENNEDY – SSAA HONOR CHOIR CLINICIAN
Dr Kacey Kennedy is Assistant Professor of Music Education and Assistant Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Missouri. She holds a PhD in Music Education from the University of Missouri (2024), Master of Music Education from Central Methodist University (2019) , and Bachelor of Music Education from Culver-Stockton College (2013). Dr. Kennedy spent the majority of her career in the Wentzville School District in Wentzville, Missouri where she taught choral ensembles, guitar, and AP Music Theory. Prior to her appointment at UCM, she served as Assistant Director of Choral Activities at Troy Buchanan High School and Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of Choral Activities at Huntingdon College in. Her experiences in the classroom led her to her primary research interests which include music literacy and pedagogy, preservice teacher education, and curriculum design and reform. Dr. Kennedy is passionate about creating inclusive, student-centered musical experiences that foster confidence, musical independence, and a sense of belonging.
Dr. Kennedy joined the faculty at UCM in the fall of 2026 and resides in Warrensburg with her family.
DR. LAWRENCE ABERNATHY – TTBB HONOR CHOIR CLINICIAN
Lawrence Abernathy is a conductor, singer, and arts leader based in Kansas City. He serves as Director of Choral Studies at William Jewell College, Artistic Director of Topeka Festival Singers, and founder and Artistic Director of Astra Ensemble, a professional, conductorless chamber choir bringing together exceptional singers from Kansas City and beyond. Abernathy’s work centers on the expressive possibilities of the human voice and the ways choral music can create a direct connection between performers and audiences. His programming interests range from early music to contemporary repertoire, with a particular interest in music that is adventurous and deeply human.
As a conductor, Abernathy has led collegiate, professional, community, and festival ensembles across North America. His work has been recognized by The American Prize, and in 2023 he received the Dale Warland Prize in Choral Conducting for a performance of Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis. As a tenor, he has performed with ensembles including Spire Chamber Ensemble, The Bloomington Bach Cantata Project, Sphere Born, and Prometheus: An American Vocal Consort. He holds a Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, where he studied with Dominick DiOrio, Dana Marsh, and Betsy Burleigh, and serves as President-Elect of the Kansas chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
When not making music, Lawrence can usually be found spending time with his family or exploring the gravel roads of Kansas and Missouri by bycicle!
Christine Jarquio- 9TH AND 10TH GRADE HONOR CHOIR CLINICIAN
Christine Jarquio is a versatile conductor, collaborative artist, and music educator whose work spans choral music, musical theatre, piano, and conducting. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with a Choral Conducting emphasis at the University of Missouri, where her research centers on Filipino choral music—work she recently presented at the Missouri Choral Directors Association (MCDA) conference. Before her doctoral studies, she taught middle and high school choir for 13 years, using choral music to share diverse experiences and foster compassion. Last year, her Camerata ensemble at Columbia Independent School was selected to perform at the 2026 Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) conference. Christine remains an active choral singer in the community. She co-founded and serves as Executive Director of Vox Nova, a professional choral ensemble based in Columbia, which has performed at the 2014 Idaho International Choral Music Festival, the 2018 MMEA conference, and the 2025 Montana International Choral Festival. She sings with Prometheus: A Vocal Consort, now in her fifteenth season with the group. She recently joined the Tallgrass Chamber Choir and will perform with them at the National American Choral Directors Association conference this March. To relax and recharge, she loves running on Columbia’s beautiful outdoor trails and exploring the world through travel and food with her husband, Jay.
