Too often, we think about music making on a continuum between process and product, with one at the expense of another. Yet, research consistently shows that when singers are “bought in” to the process, the product is richer. In this session, we will explore the roles that pedagogy, classroom culture, collaboration, and a positive climate play in ensuring a choral experience that is rewarding and meaningful.
Target Audience
Choral Directors, Music Education Students
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Jessica Napoles
University of North Texas
Jessica Nápoles is Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of North Texas. She teaches undergraduate coursework in choral methods, conducts the Concert Choir, and mentors graduate students in research. As an administrator, Dr. Nápoles served as Interim division chair for Conducting & Ensembles, Interim division chair for Music Education, and Interim division chair for Voice Studies. A native of Florida with a Cuban-American background, Dr. Napoles taught middle school chorus in the public schools of Miami and Orlando, FL. She received her Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Education, and PhD in Music Education from the Florida State University. Prior to her appointment at UNT, she taught at the University of Utah for 11 years.
Dr. Nápoles is an active choral conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, frequently engaging in guest conducting opportunities locally, regionally, and nationally. She has conducted All State and honor choirs in 25 states across the US. She has conducted the Southern, North Central/Central, Eastern, and Western division honor choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 2019, Dr. Nápoles was conductor for the WorldStrides OnStage Honors Performance Series in Carnegie Hall. She was asked to return every year since.
In addition to her choral conducting invitations, Dr. Nápoles is a well-known researcher, with numerous publications in journals such as the Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and the International Journal of Music Education. She served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education, the premier research journal in music education, the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, and the Journal of Music Teacher Education. Her research interests center on testing practitioner practices empirically, perfectionism, burnout, and teacher talk. She has presented at conferences on these topics nationally and internationally. She is presently serving on NAfME’s Executive board of the Society for Research in Music Education.
Dr. Nápoles was recently elected the President-Elect Designate for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at the national level. She is the former chair of the Research & Publications Standing Committee. Additionally, she served as Assistant Conference Chair for the 2019, 2021, and 2025 conferences, the Honor Choir Coordinator for the 2015 and 2017 conferences, and will serve as Program Chair for the 2027 conference. Dr. Nápoles led the writing team of the ACDA COVID-19 task force that drafted a document to assist choral directors at all levels during the pandemic.