SHAWNA CROSS STEWART
Biola Chorale Conductor, Vocal Jazz Ensemble Conductor, Music Education

Shawna Cross Stewart is Director of Choral Activities at Biola University in La Mirada, CA where she conducts the Biola University Chorale and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. As assistant professor, she also teaches the conducting and choral methods courses, and serves as the supervisor for the vocal music education majors. She has previously taught at John Brown University and North Dakota State College of Science.

Ms. Stewart is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate of Choral Music at the University of Southern California, where she studies with William Dehning. In addition to her doctoral studies, she has also had the privilege of receiving instruction in choral conducting from Helmuth Rilling, Kenneth Jennings, Donald Neuen, René Clausen, Donald Hunsberger and David Effron.

Annually, under the direction of Ms. Stewart, the Biola University Choral Department hosts three invitational choral festivals. Active in the greater L.A. choral community, Ms. Stewart regularly guest conducts for jr. high and high school honor choirs, and is frequently called upon to adjudicate choral and vocal jazz festivals. She has served on the board of the California American Choral Director’s Association as the College and University Representative, chair of the inaugural Conducting Skills Workshop and as Recording Secretary. Recently, she served as president of the Pacific Southwest Intercollegiate Choral Association. She is a member of IAJE, MENC, and ACDA.

Outside of her choral activities, Ms. Stewart is active in church music and early childhood music education.

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