In each academic discipline, there is one organization that is usually the marker for high achievement and success.  In the world of choral music, that organization is the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). 

The annual ACDA convention features information on the latest choral music techniques and showcases music performed with “honor choirs” selected from the region.  An outstanding choral director is chosen to conduct the honor choir.  This year, Charles Wright’s own Judy Herrington was chosen for this honor.

A few years ago, one of the nation’s leading choral musicians, Randall Stroope, chose to perform one of Judy Herrington’s compositions with his Women’s Honor Choir at an ACDA convention (yes, she is a composer too!). 

This year, Judy Herrington was invited to be the guest conductor for the Junior High (Middle School) Honor Choir at the Western Division convention in Anaheim.  This is outstanding mark of distinction as only 26 directors were chosen nationally to guest conduct. 

Judy rehearsed with 150 young people over three days and conducted a concert before all of her choral music colleagues.  It is a high achievement and significant honor in her career.

Bravo, Judy!  The young people who study music with you at Charles Wright and through Tacoma Youth Chorus are truly fortunate to work with such an accomplished educator and musician!

Judy completed her undergraduate degree in music at the University of Oregon and her masters in teaching music at Lewis and Clark College.  She joined the Charles Wright faculty in 1975.  In 1991, she received the CWA Parent Association’s Inspirational Faculty Award.

Judy is highly regarded as a guest conductor and as a workshop and choral clinician. In 1991, she founded the Tacoma Youth Chorus, a select, auditioned youth choir program. Well known through the Puget Sound area, TYC now serves over 240 musically gifted boys and girls, ages seven through eighteen.  This summer Judy will lead the TYC Chorale on a performance tour of Eastern Europe.

Judy is a past-president of the Washington-American Choral Directors Association. She has conducted all-state honor choirs and festivals in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Montana, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Tokyo. She has published choral compositions and arrangements, and has co-authored choral teaching texts. She also edits a choral series.