2023 NATIONAL CHORAL HONORS ADJUDICATORS

Richard Bjella

Richard Bjella, Director of Choral Studies Emeritus, Texas Tech University, has distinguished himself as a conductor, clinician, choral pedagogue, and choral arranger. He was honored to have his choirs appear at the 2009 and 2013 National ACDA Conventions, as well as performances at Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, and TMEA conventions. In addition, Bjella’s graduate conductors received finalist recognition in conducting competitions at two recent National ACDA Conventions and one was awarded the Julius Herford Dissertation Prize.

He has conducted and presented master classes throughout the world and at over 400 festivals and workshops in 34 states with workshops at 17 major universities in the last several years. He has also presented workshops and conducted in SOUTH KOREA, ENGLAND, SWEDEN, FRANCE, SWITZERLAND, LATVIA, ESTONIA, LITHUANIA, COLUMBIA, HAITI, and ITALY.

He is also active in the promotion of creative choral programming and is a contributing writer for the book, The Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy (2017) Bjella also served as President of the WCDA (Wisconsin) and was awarded the prestigious Lawrence Excellence in Teaching Award (2007) and the Lifetime Achievement Award (2013) from WCDA. Bjella was the recipient of the 2017 Professing Excellence Award at Texas Tech University. He has served as the Artistic Director for the San Antonio Chamber Choir since 2014.