2024 Guest Teacher-Conductor
Jace Saplan
Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan is an intersectional Native Hawaiian culture bearer and conductor, and is the artistic director of Nā Wai Chamber Choir, a vocal ensemble based in Hawaiʻi dedicated to the preservation, propagation, and innovation of Hawaiian choral music. Under Dr. Saplan’s direction, Nā Wai recorded a Global Music Award-winning album entitled Eō Liliʻuoklani under the Mālama Music label and performed for the 2021 Chorus America Summer Conference, the 2021 National American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conference, and the 2020 ACDA Western Region Conference in Salt Lake.
In academia, Jace serves as Artist-in-Residence for the Vocal Chamber Music program at the University of Redlands where they conduct the graduate vocal ensemble residencies, and teach courses in decolonial choral literature and conducting pedagogy.
Jace is known as a national thought leader and consultant in enacting social change and equity-driven practice through the choral arts. Jacve serves as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging consultant for arts organizations throughout the country, such as Choral Arts Northwest, The Phoenix Chamber Choir, The Guitar Federation of America, The Columbia University School of Education, The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and Native Arts.
Prior to Dr. Saplan’s appointment at the University of Redlands Dr. Saplan was the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Hawai’i and conductor of the UH Chamber Singers. Under Jace’s direction the UH Chamber Singers sang as an auditioned choir at the 2022 ACDA Western Division Conference in Long Beach. The ensemble also performed virtually at the Musica Pasifika Festival in Tahiti in 2020, and at the Pasifika Choral Symposium in Guam in 2019.
As a composer, his works are published with Walton, Earthsongs, and Pavane publishing. He also serves as an editor for two series that feature Indigenous/Native composers and arrangers through Earthsongs and Pavane. His works have been performed by the North Dakota Treble All-State Choir, the Massachusetts SATB All-State Choir, the Georgia SATB All-State Choir, Seraphic Fire, the USC Chamber Singers, the BYU Singers, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and Chanticleer
Jace regularly conducts high school and collegiate honor choirs across the United States, and is invited to headline conferences and serve as a guest lecturer in the United States and abroad. This year he will conduct the Choirs of America Festivals in Carnegie Hall and Hawai’i, National Concerts Festivals in Carnegie Hall and Seattle, the ACDA Northwest Region Conference SATB Honor Choir, and all states/honor choirs in Alaska, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Vermont, and Florida. International engagements this year include residencies at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, Waikato University in New Zealand, the University of Manila in the Philippines, and guest conducting for the Phoenix Chamber Choir in Vancouver, Canada.
Jace received a BA in Hawaiian Music from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Portland, an MM in Choral Conducting from the University of Oregon, an MA, graduate certificates in Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Organizational Change and Leadership from Hawai’i Pacific University, and a DMA in Choral Conducting with cognates in Music Education and Ethnomusicology from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Their teachers include Karen Kennedy, Sharon Paul, and Wanda Gereben.
Find out more about Dr. Saplan at https://www.jacesaplan.com/
In academia, Jace serves as Artist-in-Residence for the Vocal Chamber Music program at the University of Redlands where they conduct the graduate vocal ensemble residencies, and teach courses in decolonial choral literature and conducting pedagogy.
Jace is known as a national thought leader and consultant in enacting social change and equity-driven practice through the choral arts. Jacve serves as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging consultant for arts organizations throughout the country, such as Choral Arts Northwest, The Phoenix Chamber Choir, The Guitar Federation of America, The Columbia University School of Education, The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and Native Arts.
Prior to Dr. Saplan’s appointment at the University of Redlands Dr. Saplan was the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Hawai’i and conductor of the UH Chamber Singers. Under Jace’s direction the UH Chamber Singers sang as an auditioned choir at the 2022 ACDA Western Division Conference in Long Beach. The ensemble also performed virtually at the Musica Pasifika Festival in Tahiti in 2020, and at the Pasifika Choral Symposium in Guam in 2019.
As a composer, his works are published with Walton, Earthsongs, and Pavane publishing. He also serves as an editor for two series that feature Indigenous/Native composers and arrangers through Earthsongs and Pavane. His works have been performed by the North Dakota Treble All-State Choir, the Massachusetts SATB All-State Choir, the Georgia SATB All-State Choir, Seraphic Fire, the USC Chamber Singers, the BYU Singers, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and Chanticleer
Jace regularly conducts high school and collegiate honor choirs across the United States, and is invited to headline conferences and serve as a guest lecturer in the United States and abroad. This year he will conduct the Choirs of America Festivals in Carnegie Hall and Hawai’i, National Concerts Festivals in Carnegie Hall and Seattle, the ACDA Northwest Region Conference SATB Honor Choir, and all states/honor choirs in Alaska, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Vermont, and Florida. International engagements this year include residencies at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, Waikato University in New Zealand, the University of Manila in the Philippines, and guest conducting for the Phoenix Chamber Choir in Vancouver, Canada.
Jace received a BA in Hawaiian Music from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Portland, an MM in Choral Conducting from the University of Oregon, an MA, graduate certificates in Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Organizational Change and Leadership from Hawai’i Pacific University, and a DMA in Choral Conducting with cognates in Music Education and Ethnomusicology from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Their teachers include Karen Kennedy, Sharon Paul, and Wanda Gereben.
Find out more about Dr. Saplan at https://www.jacesaplan.com/
2024 Collaborative Pianist
Rhonda Kwiecien
We are pleased to announce the return of Rhonda Kwiecien of Carroll University as the 2023 NextDirection collaborative pianist!!
Rhonda Kwiecien is a widely recognized and highly respected collaborative pianist in the greater Milwaukee area. In her 23rd year at Carroll University, where she is the senior member of the collaborative piano team, she works with students, colleagues, and choral ensembles presenting recitals and concerts. Rhonda also serves as the University Organist, playing for convocations, Baccalaureate, and other special events.
In addition to her position with Carroll University, Mrs. Kwiecien is the Keyboard Artist for First Congregational Church in Wauwatosa and the Collaborative Pianist for the Choral Music Department of Muskego High School. She has shared the stage with featured ensembles from Muskego at several choral conventions.
During her career, Rhonda has worked with and premiered compositions by renowned composers Vijay Singh, Joseph Martin, Craig Hella Johnson, Eric Barnum, Jim Bassi, Robert Harris, Paula Foley Tillen, and Zachary Moore. As a pianist for the Wisconsin NATS competitions, she has traveled state-wide to play for both semi-finalists and finalists. Mrs. Kwiecien is also a board member for the Brew City Opera in Milwaukee. She and her husband are long-time residents of Waukesha.
Rhonda Kwiecien is a widely recognized and highly respected collaborative pianist in the greater Milwaukee area. In her 23rd year at Carroll University, where she is the senior member of the collaborative piano team, she works with students, colleagues, and choral ensembles presenting recitals and concerts. Rhonda also serves as the University Organist, playing for convocations, Baccalaureate, and other special events.
In addition to her position with Carroll University, Mrs. Kwiecien is the Keyboard Artist for First Congregational Church in Wauwatosa and the Collaborative Pianist for the Choral Music Department of Muskego High School. She has shared the stage with featured ensembles from Muskego at several choral conventions.
During her career, Rhonda has worked with and premiered compositions by renowned composers Vijay Singh, Joseph Martin, Craig Hella Johnson, Eric Barnum, Jim Bassi, Robert Harris, Paula Foley Tillen, and Zachary Moore. As a pianist for the Wisconsin NATS competitions, she has traveled state-wide to play for both semi-finalists and finalists. Mrs. Kwiecien is also a board member for the Brew City Opera in Milwaukee. She and her husband are long-time residents of Waukesha.
