Bob Anderson (Finals Only) retired from public school teaching in May 2017, after having taught high school choral music in Iowa for 41 years. Mr. Anderson’s choirs sang featured performances at multiple North Central Division and National ACDA Conventions.  His choirs toured internationally on four different occasions from 2003-2012. Bob was the director of 10th Street Edition, the varsity show choir at Linn-Mar High School.  10th Street Edition was recognized for its excellence throughout the Midwest, winning innumerable Grand Championships, as well as receiving Best Vocal, Choreography and Band caption awards. An active member in the American Choral Directors Association, Bob served as both Iowa President and President of the North Central Division of ACDA.  Bob received the prestigious Robert McCowen Award for outstanding contribution to choral music in Iowa, from the Iowa Choral Directors Association. Bob currently has a private voice studio, clinics All-State ensembles across Iowa each fall, and is a show choir adjudicator/clinician throughout the US annually.

Bob and his wife, Jill, recently moved to Urbandale, Iowa, and are thoroughly enjoying life in the Des Moines Metro area!

Braxton Carr (Critique/Finals) is a freelance choreographer based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Originally from Omaha, Braxton has unwavering passions for music and dance that were molded through years of impactful educational experiences in numerous vocal, instrumental, and theatrical ensembles. 

After attending University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music—where he studied classical and musical theatre under Professor Alisa Belflower—Braxton turned his focus to freelancing as a show choir choreographer, clinician, and adjudicator. Since 2015 he has partnered with more than 30 high school programs, designing and choreographing at least 80 shows, and earning several accolades for choreographic and visual production along the way.

Between 2016 and 2020, Braxton dedicated a portion of his time to directing Intensity, the mixed prep show choir ensemble at Millard North High School. Under his direction, the choir achieved numerous 1st place results, as well as caption acknowledgments in the ‘best choreography’ and ‘best band’ categories. Since then, he’s broadened his reach to collaborate with as many programs as possible.

When he’s not in the show choir season, Braxton teaches at several performing arts camps in the Midwest, and focuses on his continued professional development with annual trips to Los Angeles for dance training. Lucky for Braxton, show choir season is here; and he’s overjoyed to be engaged in such positive, enriching musical experiences everywhere he works.

Melanie Dygert (Critique Only) is a graduate of Johnston High School and is currently a student at Drake University. In high school, Mel participated in show choir, sang in the top curricular choir, and danced competitively for eight years. She was a dance captain for the award-winning show choir Innovation, where she helped lead her team to several Grand Championships. Mel is now a freelance choreographer and clinician for several schools around Iowa, such as Johnston, Urbandale, and Cedar Rapids Prairie. She choreographs for both Middle School and Prep level groups. Mel has also worked closely with Johnston Impact in a director role. She choreographs for the Johnston Show Choir Camp and has choreographed audition routines for schools around the Metro area. Mel has assisted choreographers such as Stephen Todd, Erik Hall, and Kevin Chase. 

Mike Esser (Scoring/Finals) retired after teaching 40 years. He taught 10 years in Iowa and 30 years at Central High School in La Crosse, WI. Recently, Mr. Esser retired again from working at a bank and he is currently working for the National Association of Educational Progress. Mr. Esser received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Northern Iowa. He furthered his studies at the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, Northern Arizona University and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Esser's choirs were invited to perform at various college choral festivals in the Midwest, Iowa Public Television, State and Regional Music Educators Conventions, and State and Regional American Choral Director's Conventions. Over 70 of his CHS voice students were selected as finalists throughout the years at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Fall Competition and his soloists performed at regional vocal festivals. Mr. Esser served as Musical Director for several theatre productions at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Mr. Esser was the director of the Grand Central Station Show Choir for 28 years. Over three decades, GCS was selected Grand Champion in 65 competitions and was awarded several vocal, band, and choreography awards. Also, the select concert choir from Central received numerous 1st place awards in concert choir competitions held in the upper Midwest region.

Shanna Luckett (Scoring/Finals) is in her 14th year as the Director of Choirs at Petal High School in Petal, MS and on her 22nd year of teaching. As the director of the award-winning Petal Soundsations Mixed Show Choir, the Petal Innovations Women’s Show Choir, and assisting the Petal Women’s Ensemble, Shanna Luckett has reestablished the program (from the Gail McInnis years) winning a plethora of Grand Champion awards, as well as Best Vocals, Best Visuals, and Overall Show Design captions. Along with all the Choir responsibilities, Mrs. Luckett also teaches a Dual Credit Music Appreciation class and a General Music Class and is an active member of the American Choral Director’s Association. In 2022, she received the Allen & Sandra Chapman Outstanding Director of the Year award for Show Choir Nationals at the Grand Ole Opry. 

Mrs. Luckett graduated from Clinton High School where she was a member of the Attaché Show Choir and the Clinton High School Color Guard for the Marching Band and Concert Bands. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music Education: Vocal Emphasis at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is married to her amazing husband, Jason, for 19.5 years and they have one handsome son, Caleb, who is 13 years old and in 8th grade at Petal Middle School and a member of Petal Spark Show Choir as well as Baseball Manager for the 8th grade baseball team.

Jen Randall (Scoring/Finals) is in her 21st year as a choral music educator. Randall is a graduate of the University of Nebraska where she was a founding member of Big Red Singers show choir. From 2005 to 2016, Jen was a 6A choral director in Texas where she started four show choirs; including Central High School's "Voices of Central.” Summer of 2016, she relocated to South Dakota to take over “Friend de Coup” show choir and vocal music duties in Mitchell. 2019 saw a move back to Texas to be near family and to create Show Collective. With her company, she tours the country doing clinic/consulting work for show choirs and provides professional development for show choir professionals. Randall’s book, The Art of Competitive Show Choir was published by GIA Publications in June of 2020. As of Fall 2022, she is the Head Choir Director at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, TX. She and her husband Tim have two sons: Ben and Owen, and the four enjoy having family adventures in the Lone Star State and beyond.

Rishi Kolusu (Band) Rishi Kolusu is in his third year as Assistant Band Director at Waukee High School. He co-teaches the Waukee Warrior Regiment, which participated in the 2022 Rose Parade alongside the Northwest Royal Brigade. Rishi directs Waukee’s Jazz One and Symphonic Band, teaches lessons, and coaches a variety of chamber ensembles. Prior to this post at the high school, Rishi spent two years teaching fifth grade band at Waukee Elementary and Grant Ragan Elementary, and was on brass staff with the River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps in 2019.

Rishi is a freelance trumpet player and he performs regularly with the Des Moines Big Band, the Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra, BYOBrass, and the Diamond Empire Band. He has also performed with the Nate Sparks Big Band, the Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra, and other ensembles in the Des Moines Metro. Rishi also performed with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2017. His playing can be heard on Rachel Bearinger’s “Spirals” (2018) and the Paul Lichty Jazz Orchestra’s “Dark Soul” (2019)

Rishi attended the University of Northern Iowa where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with a Jazz Studies minor. There, he studied with Dr. Randy Grabowski, Dr. Robert Washut, Professor Christopher Merz, Dr. Alexander Pershounin, Dr. Ronald Johnson, and Dr. Danny Galyen.

Amy Farley (Jazz Clinician) is a highly accomplished music educator with a strong academic background. She obtained her Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa, where she focused on voice under the guidance of Dr. Leslie Morgan. During her time at UNI, Amy actively participated in numerous choirs and operas, showcasing her exceptional vocal talents. Her remarkable abilities even led to her being invited to premiere a composition by David Childs at the renowned Carnegie Hall in 2011. Amy then went on to receive her Masters of Music Education from Anderson University in South Carolina. After earning her degrees, Amy embarked on a fulfilling teaching career at Cedar Rapids Washington High School. As the director of various choral ensembles, show choirs, and jazz choirs, she consistently achieved outstanding results at state and national levels, specifically maintaining her reputation as one of the foremost jazz choir educators in the state. Additionally, Amy took on the responsibility of directing the school's annual musical production each fall. Notably, in 2017, she was handpicked to oversee the musical direction of Disney's pilot off-Broadway production of "Newsies," a testament to her exceptional musical directorship. After dedicating ten years to her teaching career at Washington High School, Amy decided to prioritize her family and transition to a stay-at-home mom. She resides in Coralville with her husband Matt and their three children, Lucas, Clara, and Jameson. On the side, she teaches voice at Coe College, while also embracing any opportunity to serve as a jazz and show choir clinician. 

Kate Skinner (Jazz Clinician), jazz pianist and vocalist, maintains an active performing, composing, and teaching career in the western United States.  A native of Ogden, Utah, Skinner pulls influences from the bluegrass and classical roots of her childhood into both her songwriting and performing as a jazz musician.  In her teenage and college years, Kate delved into R&B, funk, and hip hop, genres that also continually find their way into her musical explorations helping to create her own unique voice.  Part of this unique voice is an obsession with alternative keyboard instruments and a study of the great keyboardists of jazz, rock, and funk. 

As a pianist, Skinner is in demand in a variety of performance styles and has performed with the Downbeat-award-winning jazz band from the University of Northern Colorado, Jazz Lab Band I among many other established large and small jazz ensembles.  Her work as a vocalist has seen much success among a wide audience of listeners across genres.  Kate’s compositions and playing have won multiple awards, including a Downbeat award for Outstanding Vocal Performance and a Jazz Education Network award for composition.

Skinner is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, where she directs Jazz Band II and teaches multiple courses in jazz studies.  She holds M.M. and D.A. degrees in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado.