High School Choir

Eduardo García-Novelli is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS, where he directs the graduate program in choral conducting and guides the university choral program. He comes to KU from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, where he served as Director of Choral Activities and as Chair of the Music Department. During his tenure at Carthage, he led Carthage Choir to perform in five state conventions (WMEA and WCDA), three national tours, five European tours (concertizing in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, the Vatican, Spain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland), a solo debut concert at Carnegie Hall, and multiple concerts at Chicago Orchestra Hall. In July of 2019, Dr. García-Novelli led Carthage Choir to a coveted international recognition, winning both categories at the prestigious Spittal International Choir Competition in Spittal, Austria. In addition, he served for 10 years as Artistic Director of the Master Singers of Milwaukee.

Prior to his time at Carthage, Dr. García-Novelli served for six years as Director of Choral Activities at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, where he earned the Faculty Merit Award. During his time at the helm of the choral program, Lamar University A Cappella Choir was selected to perform at the prestigious annual TMEA Convention, an honor the institution received for the first time in 40 years. The choir was also selected to perform for the National Conference of NCCO (National Collegiate Choral Organization) in Cincinnati, OH; this was the first time a choral ensemble from Lamar University was recognized at the national level. Finally, the choir was the only American ensemble invited to perform for the IV International Choral Festival: Central America and the Caribbean Sing! in Panama City, Panama.

A runner-up for the National ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition, Dr. García-Novelli is the former chorus director for the Symphony of Southeast Texas and served for five seasons as Assistant Director of the Houston Symphony Chorus, helping to prepare choral-orchestral repertoire for world-renowned conductors. Finally, he served for six seasons as the Assistant Conductor of the Coro Nacional de Jóvenes (National Young People Choir) of Argentina. In March of 2015, he conducted Schubert's Mass in G at Carnegie Hall, with a large festival choir, orchestra, and professional soloists. Dr. García-Novelli returned to that historic concert hall in March of 2017, this time conducting Mozart's Coronation Mass. He conducted Mozart's Missa brevis in F, K192 at Peterskirche in Vienna in June of 2016, as part of the MidAm International Festival, and had his debut at the newest professional concert hall in Buenos Aires, the CCK, in July of 2017.

As a church musician, Dr. García-Novelli has served churches in NJ, TX and WI, and he is currently the Choirmaster at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, KS. He has held several offices for WCDA and NCACDA, and is a member of the National Board of the NCCO. He is active as a clinician and adjudicator in the US, Europe, China and South America. Recently Dr Garcia-Novelli was in residence for two weeks at the Tamara Brooks Summer Music Course in Tui, in Spain; offered a presentation for the World Choral Expo in Lisbon, Portugal; was a guest faculty member at the school of music in Banská Bystrica in Slovakia and served twice on the jury panel for the Voce Magna International Choral Competition in Žilina, Slovakia.

In July of 2023 he led the University of Kansas Chamber Choir to a triumph at the Preveza International Choir Competition in Preveza, Greece, earning first prize at the Mixed Choir Category, first prize at the Free Program category, a special prize from the jury for "Best Program" and a special prize from the jury for "Best Conductor."

Born in Argentina, Dr. García-Novelli is a graduate of the Conservatorio Juan José Castro with an undergraduate degree in Choral Conducting, and from the Conservatorio Manuel de Falla, with another undergraduate degree in Music Education. After moving to the United States, he earned a Master's degree in Choral Conducting with distinction from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and received his D.M.A. from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, where he was a Moores Scholar.

John Stafford II is Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Coordinator of the Music Department at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). Professor Stafford was a 2015 recipient of the John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award for outstanding teaching and leadership at the community college level. Also, Stafford was the recipient of the Henry Louis Award for Teaching Excellence at KCKCC in 2020 (Faculty of the Year award). He has also received two other teaching awards from KCKCC for Recruitment and Teaching Excellence. Previously, he was appointed at Millikin University, Eastern Illinois University, and Danville Area Community College teaching composition, theory, orchestration, history, and vocal jazz. He holds degrees from Millikin University (music business), Bowling Green State University (composition), and has done additional doctoral studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (choral conducting).

Among his current professional activities, Professor Stafford currently serves as the National Repertoire and Resources Vocal Jazz Chair of the American Choral Directors Association. He is also a member of the National Association for Music Education, Jazz Educators Network, and American Choral Directors Association. He also has arrangements published by the Lorenz Corporation, Anchor Music Publications and Kerry Marsh: Vocal Jazz and Beyond. He recently wrote chapters in both, "Rehearsing The Vocal Jazz Ensemble", published by GIA Publications, and "Sing Vocal, Teach Vocal Jazz: a Holistic Guide to Vocal Jazz Performance Pedagogy", published by Routledge.

Professor Stafford is a nationally sought after clinician and presenter for vocal jazz and choral music. Recent activities include directing the 2021 Iowa All-State Jazz Choir, which won a 2022 DownBeat Magazine Student Music performance award, and he has directed All-State Vocal Jazz Ensembles in New York, Oklahoma, Missouri, Wyoming, Illinois, North Dakota, Washington and Kansas. In June 2022, Professor Stafford gave his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall (through MidAmerica Productions), giving the New York Premiere of Justin Binek’s "Missa Lucis" for choir and jazz ensemble. He will make his second Carnegie performance with MidAmerica in May 2027, conducting Paul Mealor's "Stabat Mater". In April 2024, Stafford received 3rd Place for The American Prize Dale Warland Choral Conducting Award and his college chamber choir was an American Prize national finalist the same year.

Professor Stafford directs "The Standard", the award-winning contemporary vocal jazz ensemble from Kansas City Kansas Community College. They have been invited to perform at the national conferences of the Jazz Education Network (2025, 2022 and 2019), the American Choral Directors Association (2017), and the National Association for Music Education (2018). The Standard has also been selected to perform at the Southwestern Divisional Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (2026 and 2020), seven times at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop, and the New York City Jazz Festival at Jazz at the Lincoln Center. Within the last ten years, The Standard has won sixteen DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards, including being the winner of the 2026 category for best large community college vocal jazz ensemble in the country. The group has released two studio albums and have shared the stage with such highly acclaimed artists as Take 6, The New York Voices, m-pact, säje, Sweet Honey On The Rock, and Carmen Bradford.