Scoring Judge

TED BRIMEYER serves as Teaching Artist of Choirs and Voice at Drake University. There he conducts Borealis, the auditioned treble choir, and teaches studio voice. During his tenure at Drake, the choir toured Ireland and collaborated with Cantus, the world-renowned treble choir from Trondheim, Norway.

Ted recently completed fifteen years of service to Urbandale High School as Director of Choirs. There, he led a vibrant vocal music program enrolling 470 students in seven performing ensembles. Under his direction the choirs were recognized at state, regional, and national levels with highlights including the 2020 American Prize in Choral Performance and 2019 American Choral Directors Association Conference. In 2022 the Iowa Choral Directors Association named him the inaugural Outstanding High School/Post-Secondary Choral Educator.

Ted recently joined the team at Plymouth Church in Des Moines as Director of Children, Teens, and Families and the Matins Choir. He is thrilled to be part of Plymouth’s storied musical tradition and strong social justice mission.

Critique & Finals Scoring Judge

Melody Easter-Clutter has taught music to students for the last 38 years. Melody has taught at Johnston Schools, Indianola Middle and High School and Urbandale Middle School. 

Some of her musical career highlights are receiving the Golden Apple Award and the Iowa High School Musical Theater Impact Award, directing OPUS Treble Clef, publishing music curriculum with Alfred Music Publishing, guest clinician at the Iowa Choral Director's Association conventions, specials speakers at NAFME National Convention, music director for Des Moines Performing Arts Musical summer camps, and Education Director for Opera Iowa with Des Moines Metro Opera but the greatest highlight was being in the classroom with students everyday. 

Melody is currently a private vocal coach, show choir guest coach and judge, owns a cookie truck and catering business called "The Fat Cookie."

Scoring Judge

Jeff Johannsen is the high school choral director at Des Moines Christian where he directs the 9th and 10th grade choir, Concert Choir, the Victory Singers and the varsity show choir, Light, Inc. Through his time at Des Moines Christian, his choirs have earned several Division 1 ratings at Large Group Contest, several show choir Grand Champions and caption awards, and Victory was selected to sing for The Iowa Choral Showcase and was asked to perform at the 2023 inauguration of Governor Kim Reynolds. 

Critique

Grant Luther is a freelance choreographer based out of Des Moines, IA. His show choir groups have garnered multiple awards including Grand Champion, Best Choreography, as well as multiple top 5 finishes. His work beyond the show choir stage ranges from professional theatre productions to national TV specials.

A graduate of Iowa State University, Grant holds multiple degrees in Music and Marketing. He was also the founder and director of the first ever Iowa State Alumni Choir. At Iowa State Grant studied under associate professor of music, Mary Creswell, director of choral activities, Dr. James Rodde, and internationally acclaimed opera singer, Simon Estes. Prior to Iowa State University, he attended Waukee High School, where he was actively involved in the vocal music department under the direction of Dr. Ryan Beeken, Dr. Amy Vorhees, Ben Walters, and Matt Huth.

Upon graduation from Waukee, Grant started the Music in Motion Show Choir Camps. Currently in their 11th year of existence, the camps offer fundamental show choir skills for children grades K-9. In addition to his own camp, Grant has served as the male camp counselor at Show Choir Camps of Central Iowa for 6 years.

Grant is no stranger to the stage. As an avid performer, Grant has been

involved in multiple productions including: The Sound of Music, Into the

Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Beauty and the Beast, The Fiddler on the Roof, The Mikado, and Gianni Schicchi. Grant was also a proud performer and manager of the professional a cappella group, Shy of a Dozen, which under his direction has performed around the state of Iowa, the Midwest, and was featured on PBS’ DooWop Generations. In addition to Shy of a Dozen, Grant has also performed multiple years with the Des Moines Choral Society.

Scoring Judge

Lindsey Norine is a private vocal coach, choral clinician, and adjudicator based in Waukee, Iowa. She teaches a full private studio, as well as serving as an adjunct voice teacher for Urbandale High School's vocal program. She received her bachelor's in Vocal Music from Drake University and has been shaping voices for thirteen years. Her students frequently receive best soloist awards, Opus Honor and Iowa All-State choir selections, acceptance and vocal scholarships at prestigious universities, and other accolades.

Lindsey’s background onstage touts many performances in musicals and operas. She has been lucky enough to travel the world singing—performing in China, England, Ireland, and Wales; as well as in Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, The Grand Ole’ Opry in Nashville, and the MainStage in Disney World (Orlando). 

An active member in the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Lindsey is passionate about promoting vocal health, proper technique, confidence, and using music as a tool to encourage personal growth and interpersonal connection. She enjoys serving as a judge for show choir and solo and ensemble contests, as well as a freelance clinician for choirs and show choirs across the state. Lindsey directed multiple show choirs at Des Moines Christian School prior to her proudest accomplishment — becoming “Mama” to three.

Finals Scoring

Chase Shoemaker currently serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus, the Director of Music for Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, the vocal music accompanist for Timberline Middle School (Waukee, IA), and as a vocal teacher/coach through his own studio in the vibrant East Village of Des Moines, IA. Apart from these positions, Chase also works as a freelance composer, arranger, vocalist, clinician, and adjudicator for various schools and organizations throughout the state of Iowa.

Chase recently completed a decade of work as a music educator for the Harlan Community School District, Portland State University, and Bettendorf High School. In those years, he worked with over 500 students directing choirs, providing private voice lessons, and teaching courses in music theory, music history, and vocal techniques. Chase has been involved in the show choir world since 2007; 6 years as a singer/dancer, 7 years as a showband accompanist, and 8 years as a director for Bettendorf’s “Surround Sound” and Harlan’s “Breaking Cylence”/”Cytones.” Now outside of the realm of education, he enjoys working as a clinician, judge, and arranger for show choirs throughout Iowa and its neighboring states.

Chase is a graduate of Simpson College (Magna Cum Laude) where he received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Portland State University (Summa Cum Laude) where he received his Master of Music in Choral Conducting. He is driven by a love of music in all of its forms and seeks ways to make music-making more inclusive for all singers, presenting at local and regional conferences around the United States. Outside of his music career, Chase also enjoys spending quality time with friends and loved ones, doing a mean “Pig the Pug” impression for his beloved niece and nephew, and yelling at UPS trucks alongside his 10-year-old corgi, Rosie.