Dr. Eph Ehly – Conductor, Honors Choir 2010, 2011 and 2013
Declared as "one of the most sought-after choral conductors/clinicians" in the American Choral Directors Journal, Dr. Eph Ehly has conducted over 80 All-State Choirs and more than 600 Festival Ensembles. As a conductor, author, lecturer, and clinician he has appeared in 48 states, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, and various countries throughout Europe. Dr. Ehly retired from the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City after 27 years of service. He has additionally served at the University of Oklahoma and University of New Mexico, having supervised nearly 200 graduate students. Dr. Ehly is the recipient of numerous teaching and performance excellence awards and grants, including the Missouri Choral Directors Association Luther Spade Choral Director of the Year Award and the AMOCO Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award.

Jeffrey Grogan – Conductor, Honors Orchestra 2013; Honors Band 2011 and 2012
American conductor Jeffrey Grogan is hailed as a musical leader who "knows what kind of sound he wants," "rich and vibrant." Mr. Grogan begins his fifth successful season as Conductor, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his appointment with the NJSO, Grogan was a director at the Ithaca College School of Music (New York) and on faculty at the University of Michigan and Baylor University. Mr. Grogan's recent domestic and international conducting engagements include performances at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and in the United Kingdom, as well as with the Nashville Symphony and the Reno Philharmonic. He was recently chosen to participate in the prestigious 2009 Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.
Mr. Grogan considers his work with young musicians as one of the cornerstones of his career and recently served as cover and preparation conductor for the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Grogan spends a large portion of each season working with school music programs, festivals, and conducting All-State ensembles throughout the country. Mr. Grogan continues this commitment as music director of the Greater Newark Youth Orchestra and the Indiana University Summer Music Clinic.

Sharon Lavery – Conductor, Honors Band 2013; Guest Conductor Honors Band 2010
Sharon Lavery is the Music Director of the Downey Symphony Orchestra and Ms. Lavery holds the post of cover conductor for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra of Orange County. She has led the La Jolla Symphony in concert, served as assistant conductor to the Pasadena Symphony, and, for many years, was associate conductor of the Herbert Zipper Orchestra of Los Angeles.
Ms. Lavery is also a member of the faculty at the University Of Southern California Thornton School Of Music where she serves as professor of conducting and resident conductor of the Thornton Symphony, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. She has led the Thornton ensembles in concert on many occasions and dedicated seven years to her post as music director of the Thornton Concert Orchestra. Ms. Lavery has been active on a national and international basis as well. Her extensive career has led her to conduct in many concert halls across the United States, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, and she previously served as music director of the MUSE International Music Day festival in Chiba, Japan.

H. Robert Reynolds – Guest Conductor, Honors Band 2013; Conductor, Honors Band 2010
Mr. Reynolds is a Principal Conductor at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he holds a professorship in his name. He previously served as the Henry F. Thurnau Professor of Music and Director of the Division of Instrumental Studies at the University of Michigan. For over 25 years, he has been the conductor of The Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. During his distinguished career, he has conducted throughout the world at notable venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center (New York), the Kennedy Center (Washington, D. C.), Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), the Tonhalle (Zurich), and the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam). He has won the praise of many esteemed composers, including Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, and Michael Daugherty for his interpretive conducting of their compositions.

Jeffery L. Ames – Conductor, Honors Choir 2012
Jeffery L. Ames is a distinguished conductor, composer, and educator, currently serving as Director of Choral Activities at Belmont University. Prior appointments include Assistant Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University. Professor Ames holds a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting/Choral Music Education and a Master of Choral Music Education degree from Florida State University, as well as degrees from James Madison University.

A highly-sought and experienced choral clinician, Dr. Ames is frequently asked to lead selective ensembles, including the National Youth Choir at Carnegie Hall and high school mixed and male choirs at the state conventions of both the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educator's National Conference. He has performed and guest conducted internationally in many countries, including Italy, Germany and Costa Rica. He is currently the R & S Chairman of Ethnic and Multicultural Perspectives for the Tennessee ACDA, and holds the honor of being the first recipient of the National ACDA James Mulholland Choral Music Fellowship. With a reputation as a distinguished and well-respected composer and arranger, Dr. Ames' music has been premiered by the National ACDA Conferences in Los Angeles and Miami, amongst others.