Festival Conductor - Copenhagen International Children's Chorus Festival

Judith Willoughby
July 9-16, 2007
Conductor/Clinician

“I look forward to conducting Musica Mundi’s newest, notable festival for children’s choruses.”

Judith Willoughby, Founding (former) Music Director, Temple University Children's Choir; Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education, Northwestern University

Judith Willoughby has conducted children’s, adult, collegiate, high school, and junior high/middle school all-state, honor and festival choirs throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. She has appeared internationally as a guest conductor and clinician in China, Hong Kong, Australia, Hungary, Canada, the Czech Republic, St. Petersburg Russia, Puerto Rico and Wales. In 2003, Willoughby conducted the Women’s Honor Choir at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national convention in New York City. During the same 2002-2003 concert season, she also made her professional debut in Chicago conducting the opening concert of the William Ferris Chorale and led a collaborative choral/dance project for Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Future guest conducting continues her work throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Ms. Willoughby holds degrees from Northwestern University and Temple University's Boyer College of Music, has served on the summer institute faculty of the Eastman School of Music and Westminster Choir College and is currently Associate Professor of Conducting and Music Education at Northwestern University.

Judith Willoughby lived and worked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for many years. Two ensembles which she founded and led for ten and twenty years respectively, the Temple University Children's Choir and the Choral Society of Montgomery County, appeared numerous times with the Philadelphia Orchestra, in live performances on public television and radio, for contracted appearances on many regional arts series, and at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and of the Music Educators National Conference. Both choirs also recorded and were featured on Chorus America’s radio program, The First Art. In 1997, the Temple University Children’s Choir appeared at the national ACDA Convention in San Diego, California. In 2000, the Temple University Children's Choir performed in concert, and in collaboration with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus, in Eugene, Oregon, under the baton of Helmut Rilling. Additionally, the Temple University Children's Choir was featured on recordings for the Silver Burdett Ginn Music Series published in 2002.

Well known in the Mid-Atlantic region, Willoughby served terms as state president of Pennsylvania’s branches of the American Choral Directors Association, the Collegiate Choral Association, and Pennsylvania (Arts) Presenters. She has served on panels for the National Endowment of the Arts, state arts agencies and private foundations. She has served nine years on the board of Chorus America (two as secretary), and currently dedicates her efforts to work on Chorus America’s conducting task force, and as national co-chair of the Children and Youth constituency group. Ms.Willoughby is a member of the International Federation for Choral Music, Chorus America, the College Music Society and the Music Educators National Conference. Judith Willoughby is a life member of the American Choral Directors Association.