Bio 

Dr. Julie Ford (julieford.org), Director of Vocal-Choral Arts at Saint Mary’s College of California (Moraga, CA), is a conductor, vocalist, and educator in Northern California who specializes in classical, early music, jazz, and pop/commercial vocal-choral styles. She holds a Doctorate in Choral Conducting (University of Oklahoma), a Masters in Conducting (Eastman School of Music), a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance (San Jose State University), and certification as a Master Teacher in Estill Voice Training (EMT). 

As Associate Professor of Performing Arts and Music Program Director, she directs Chamber Singers, Glee, and Jazz Singers and oversees the non-Genre Biased Vocal-Choral program. The Chamber Singers and Glee received Gold Medals in Classical and Pop Champions Categories at the 2014 World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, and Silver Medals at the same events in South Africa (2018). Glee and Chamber Singers were invited to perform their own musical sets at the California State Music Educators Convention (2016) and in a choral showcase at Carnegie Hall in (2015). Other courses Dr. Ford offers include Vocal Science (Estill Voice Training, Levels I and II), Lyric Diction, Private and Group Voice Lessons, and Conducting. She also sings in Moodswing (vocal jazz quartet, 2005 Champions of the San Francisco Bay Area Harmony Sweepstakes), and in Eli (a contemporary sacred pop/light classical women’s quartet).  

From 2002 to 2013, Dr. Ford served as Director of Worship and Music at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC), a 2000-member congregation in Lafayette, CA, where she designed liturgy, directed four choirs (Chamber Singers, Chancel Choir, Cantemus Youth Choir, and Festival Choir), conducted choral-orchestral works bi-annually, and provided worship leadership as a vocalist and pianist. Under her direction, the LOPC Chamber Singers performed at the 2009 American Choral Directors Association National Convention and Cantemus received a Gold award at the 2011 Forum Music Festival. She also initiated collaborative events with the Company C Contemporary Ballet, Jubilate Baroque Orchestra, and the choir from Temple Isaiah of Lafayette, CA.   

Work within all these contexts inform and facilitate her passion for cross-genre integration. She will share her expertise in the choral application of the non-genre biased, science-based pedagogy, Estill Voice Training, at the 10th Estill World Voice Symposium (July 2021). Dr. Ford has been a frequent presenter within California ACDA, having served as the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Representative (2018-2019), and Repertoire and Standards Chair for Music in Worship for the California American Choral Directors Association (2009-2013).