Mission

Students in the state of Iowa have the opportunity to be a part of a show choir experience on a state-level. The opportunity focuses on the collaborative, communicative, and foundational music ideas involved in show choir. Master teachers and choreographers will share their passion for the art of show choir with the students selected through a comprehensive audition process. All forms of choral art need to be celebrated and highlighted for the next generation of music educators. Promotion of the art of show choir at the state level helps to illustrate the educational value in the extra-curricular or co-curricular music ensembles in Iowa high schools.

Katie Sullivan

All-State Show Choir Co-Chairperson, ICDA

Katie Sullivan is a vocal music educator from Waukee, IA. She teaches at Timberline School in Waukee, where she directs the 9th grade mixed choir and the 9th grade auditioned show choir, Inferno. Katie is also the Assistant Director of Spirit and Millennium, the 10-12 grade show choirs at Waukee High School. Sullivan also serves on the Timberline Instructional Leadership Team. Prior to teaching in Waukee, she spent three years in the Keokuk School District, where she was the Keokuk High School choir and show choir director.

Originally from Urbandale, Iowa, Katie received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Iowa State University in 2017. She will graduate with a Master of Music Education from University of Kansas in 2025.

Zach Howell

All-State Show Choir Co-Chairperson, ICDA

Zach Howell is the director of choral activities at North Polk High School. Prior to this, he served as the 6-8 director in the district. In this position, he directs concert choir, chamber choir, the high school show choir (Nexus) and assistant directs the middle school show choir (Revolution). He also serves as the district Fine Arts Content Team Lead and Mentor Teacher. He also is currently serving as the President of IMEA (Iowa Music Educators Association).

Originally from Davenport, IA, Zach received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Iowa State University in 2014. While at Iowa State, Zach was part of the Iowa State Singers, Opera Studio Productions, Studio Voice, as well as the Iowa State Marching Band for two seasons.

Before teaching at North Polk, Zach taught 7-12 vocal music, drama, and musical theater at Belmond-Klemme Jr./Sr. High School for five years. In that time, he expanded the show choir program, established new music history and theater performance classes for both middle and high school students.

Since being at North Polk, he has restarted both the middle and high school show choir programs in the past three years that have been inactive since around 2013 in the district. He has also increased numbers for the choral program over the past three years with significant growth and enrollment. This past fall, he started a show choir exploratory class for sixth-grade students to introduce them to show choir.

In addition to his duties in the district, Zach has served as an adjudicator or conductor with other local music and theater organizations across the state. Judge Story Theatrical Troupe, Crossroads Percussion, Des Moines Lincoln and Newton High School, IHSMA certified adjudicator. He has also been recognized as the 2024 South Central Outstanding Choral Educator by the Iowa Choral Directors Association.

Looking Ahead to 2025

We are excited to announce our clinicians for 2025!

Brian Johnson

2025 Iowa All-State Show Choir Director

Brian Johnson is Co-Director of Choral Activities at Papillion La Vista South High School in Papillion, NE. He co-directs four curricular concert choirs, three show choirs and two musicals. Brian received his bachelor’s degree in K-12 Vocal Music Education from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA, and went on to The University of Southern Mississippi where he earned his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. Brian is in his ninth year of teaching at Papillion South and taught for thirteen years prior in Iowa: three at Le Mars Community and ten at Lewis Central. Brian lives in Papillion, NE with his wonderful wife Emily, their amazing children, Tyson and Ava and rescue pooches, Rona and Penny.

Tori Brindis

2024 Iowa All-State Show Choir Choreographer

Tori Brindis is a full-time freelance choreographer living in Portland, OR. She is originally from Connecticut and a member of South Windsor High School’s “Choral Spectrum”. She grew up dancing in studios studying all styles of dance. Throughout college she participated in many shows and musicals as well as spent her summers at Show Choir Camps of America.

After receiving her college degree in Spanish Language and culture with a minor in dance, she moved out to Los Angeles and was signed by Clear Talent Agency and began to dance professionally. She trained at some of the top studios in Los Angeles and had the opportunity to work on many different shows, music videos, and live performances for things like LA Fashion Week, ABC's Mixology, Tokyo Disney's Little Mermaid attraction and much more.

Tori has been choreographing and adjudicating show choirs full time since 2012. She has the opportunity to work with and clinic for groups in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Indiana, South Dakota, Ohio, Nebraska, Illinois, Arizona, California, West Virginia, and Texas. She spends the year educating students on the power of movement and all the amazing life lessons show choir has to offer. When she’s not working with or adjudicating show choirs, she’s enjoying the comforts of home in one of the best west coast cities.