Schedule & Adjudicators
SCHEDULE
(Schedule subject to change. Click on image to download a PDF)
ADJUDICATORS
Kate Burns
Kate Burns is a singer, arranger, clinician, pianist, and performer based outside of Boston, MA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Wagner College and a Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University. Kate is a studio vocalist and her voice can be heard on hundreds of choral practice tracks each season. She is a frequent judge and clinician at choral festivals across the country as well as a sought-after arranger of show choir music. Her a cappella arrangements of many beloved Star Wars themes are featured as the score to the SyFy docu-series "Looking for Leia." Kate was the Choir Director at Natick High School from 2017-2024 where she founded and led the award-winning show choir, West Street Singers.
Andrew Drinkall
Andrew Drinkall is the former Director of Choral Activities and Performing Arts Chair at Troy Buchanan High School. During his 28 year tenure at Troy Buchanan, he grew the program from 60 to as many as 325 students, directing five concert choirs, two competitive show choirs and two contemporary a cappella groups, as well as the all-school musicals. During his years at TBHS, the choirs received consistent superior ratings at festivals and contests, and in 2005 the TBHS Men’s Choir was selected to perform at the MMEA state music convention in Osage Beach, MO. Under Drinkall, Troy show choirs have had opportunities to travel and compete at prestigious competitions in locations as far away as California and Canada, winning many Grand Champion and caption awards along the way.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Coe College and a Master of Music Education degree from Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago. Andrew has served as Choral Vice President for the Northeast District of MMEA, MCDA R&S Show Choir Chair, SWACDA R&S Chair for Show Choir, and has served as the Missouri All State Show Choir Coordinator for 6 years.
Andrew is enjoying retirement, trying to figure out “what to do when he grows up”, judging, traveling, and planning a wedding for his newly engaged daughter, Ainsley.
Michael Engelhardt
Michael Engelhardt is a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and director on a mission to make a positive impact on people’s lives. His work has been featured on ABC, NBC, PBS, and NPR broadcasts, the Carnegie Hall stage, and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Jazz Education Network (JEN).
He has numerous choral works published by Walton Music (GIA), Alfred, Hinshaw Music, and at Kerry Marsh Vocal Jazz in addition to his self-published catalog. In the pop music field, he has arranged and/or performed backing vocals for such artists as O.A.R., Ben Folds, Take 6, Kansas, and Patti Austin, and he has produced vocals for Michael McDonald.
Michael currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri, where he works as a freelance artist and serves on the faculty of Webster University as an instructor in the Songwriting degree program and as director of the Jazz Singers.
Connie Mulligan
Connie has served as a vocal music educator specializing in show choirs for over 30 years. Her groups have earned multiple National Championships, regional titles, and numerous awards for Outstanding Vocals and Choreography. Connie's talent as a vocal director, choreographer and producer has been instrumental in creating innovative and unique performances that have set her groups apart as some of the most successful in the country.
Connie's expertise extends beyond daily classroom teaching and directing. She has a proven track record of building and revitalizing show choir programs as well as transforming small groups into thriving programs. Additionally, Connie's contributions as a competition adjudicator, workshop leader, and team-building facilitator have further showcased her expertise and commitment to the show choir community. In addition to her educational work, Connie enjoys consulting and designing costumes for top show choir groups across the nation. For the past decade, Connie has pursued her dream of making show choir more popular and accessible, spreading its benefits not only to students but also to the surrounding community. Her passion for music has led her to Nashville, TN where she is able to enjoy being near her kids, Samual and Sydni.
Chad Alexander
His 25+ years in entertainment & public music education has allowed him the privilege of working with show choirs from coast to coast, and at professional regional theaters such as: The Rep (MO), Little Theatre On the Square (IL), Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (IL), & La Mirada Performing Arts Center (CA). As an educator, he has been the guest speaker at state and regional ACDA conventions including guest choreographer for the Missouri All State Show Choir (founder) and the Arizona All State Show Choir. His work has been featured on the SWACDA, and National ACDA conventions, and his groups have won numerous awards from coast to coast. In 2014, Chad launched Heart of America (HOA), and went on to produce some of the country’s most prestigious and competitive show choir competitions in Chicago, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Nashville, Orlando, & New York City. Chad is a graduate of Millikin University in Decatur IL and has recently relocated to SoCal with his dog Baxter. This May, Chad is being inducted into his high school’s “Hall of Fame” for excellence in education and the arts.
