Our Conductors for the event
James Madison University 2016 Woman of Distinction Award Winner and Director of Choral Activities Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy is a Maryland native who hails most recently from Tallahassee, Florida. A proud Seminole, she completed her doctoral studies in choral music education/choral conducting at The Florida State University, with Drs. André Thomas, Kevin Fenton, Judy Bowers and Clifford K. Madsen. Dr. van der Vat-Chromy also served as vocal music director at Tallahassee Community College, conducting the seventy-voice Tallahassee Civic Chorale and the TCC Select Ensemble Illuminare. Formerly on the music staff of The International School of Brussels, Belgium, Jo-Anne most recently served as the Vocal Music Director at the American School of The Hague, in The Netherlands. Her work at ASH included directing six choirs and co-directing two concert bands, as well as teaching Rock Music History, Musical Theatre and directing the fifty-five-voice ASH Community Choir. Jo-Anne was also the founder/music director of Het Davidkoor, a subsidized thirty voice Dutch women’s choir who, for over eighteen years, has focused on the integration of choral music and holistic music making. In addition to her doctoral degree in Music Education/Choral Conducting from Florida State, Dr. van der Vat-Chromy holds Teacher Certification from the University of Michigan, a MM in Horn Performance from Bowling Green State University, and BA in Music from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Her research interests include the kinesthetic connections in conducting pedagogy, choral acoustic music measurement, curriculum/assessment strategies for middle and high school choirs, and the sociological impact of choral cultures on student learning. As Director of Choral Activities at James Madison University, Dr. van der Vat-Chromy directs The Madison Singers, the JMU Chorale and the University Women’s Chorus. Her academic responsibilities include graduate thesis supervision, undergraduate and graduate choral conducting, high school choral methods, and student teacher supervision. A certified Kodály music educator, Dr. V has served from 2012-2014 as Interim Music Director for the Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir, is currently director and guest conductor of the JMU Vocal Arts Summer Camp.
JMU Associate Director of Choral Activities Dr. Bryce Hayes maintains an active career as a conductor, teacher, church musician, pianist, accompanist and singer. In addition to his work with the JMU Treble Chamber Choir and The University Men's Chorus, Dr. Hayes serves as the Artistic Director of the Crozet Community Chorus. His academic responsibilities at JMU include graduate choral literature, undergraduate conducting, and music education classes. Dr. Hayes is a certified Kodály educator, and his current research interests include strategies for improving musicianship with secondary and collegiate choirs, the role of gender in the choral ensembles, and creativity in the choral classroom.
Dr. Hayes is an active adjudicator and clinician, recent and upcoming appearances include conducting honors choirs and workshops in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. As a baritone he has performed in the professional ensemble, The Princeton Singers, and most recently as a founding member of The Valley 7. Dr. Hayes serves as the Virginia ACDA Repertoire and Standards Chair for Youth and Student Activities.
A New Jersey native, Dr. Hayes hails most recently from Minneapolis, Minnesota where he completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from The University of Minnesota. Prior to his time in Minnesota Dr. Hayes received a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University. His career began with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education summa cum laude from Westminster Choir College following which he served as the Director of Upper School Choral Music at Princeton Day School.