2026 Jr. High Honor Band & Choir
Band & choir directors are invited to have your students participate in this year’s CMEA-Northern Section Junior High Honor Band and Choir. This year’s event will be held on January 23rd and 24th, 2026, at CSU, Chico with conductors Dr. Angelina Gomez of Chico State and Dr. Richard Hutton of Boise State University. You can read about them below.
CMEA-Northern Section Jr. High Honor Band & Choir Coordinators
Jane Brown - [email protected]
Mary Colligan - [email protected]
CMEA-Northern Section Jr. High Honor Band & Choir Coordinators
Jane Brown - [email protected]
Mary Colligan - [email protected]
2026 Jr. High Honor Band Director
Dr. Angelina Gomez
Angelina Gomez is the Director of Bands at California State University, Chico where she leads the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Pep Band. She also teaches conducting, studio instruction in clarinet, and supervises the student chapter of the National Band Association (NBA). Dr. Gomez recently earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the University of Kansas. She holds a Master of Arts in Music (Instrumental Conducting) from Washington State University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Sonoma State University. Her conducting mentors include Andy Collinsworth, Danh Pham, Matthew O. Smith, and Paul W. Popiel.
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kansas, she taught conducting courses to undergraduate and graduate students, directed the KU Women’s Basketball Pep Band, and assisted the director of the KU Men’s Basketball Pep Band. She also coordinated KU’s Prairie Winds High School Honor Band and provided administrative, musical, and game day support for the Marching Jayhawks. She was a production assistant for Klavier commercial recording projects with the KU Wind Ensemble and toured in Milan, Italy with the KU Wind Ensemble in Fall 2022.
Prior to her appointment at CSU Chico, Dr. Gomez taught in Santa Rosa City Schools and the Wright Elementary School District in Santa Rosa, CA. In 2022, she was also invited to present “Implementing Ethnomusicology in the Secondary Music Classroom” at the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Conference. Dr. Gomez is a member of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the National Band Association (NBA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), Women Band Directors International (WBDI), and is an honorary member of the Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority.
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Kansas, she taught conducting courses to undergraduate and graduate students, directed the KU Women’s Basketball Pep Band, and assisted the director of the KU Men’s Basketball Pep Band. She also coordinated KU’s Prairie Winds High School Honor Band and provided administrative, musical, and game day support for the Marching Jayhawks. She was a production assistant for Klavier commercial recording projects with the KU Wind Ensemble and toured in Milan, Italy with the KU Wind Ensemble in Fall 2022.
Prior to her appointment at CSU Chico, Dr. Gomez taught in Santa Rosa City Schools and the Wright Elementary School District in Santa Rosa, CA. In 2022, she was also invited to present “Implementing Ethnomusicology in the Secondary Music Classroom” at the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) State Conference. Dr. Gomez is a member of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the National Band Association (NBA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), Women Band Directors International (WBDI), and is an honorary member of the Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority.
2026 Jr. High Honor Choir Director
Dr. Richard Hutton
Dr. Richard Hutton enjoys a career as a conductor of university, secondary, community, church, and symphony choruses. He is the Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education/Interim Director of Choral Activities at Boise State University, where he directs the Boise State Meistersingers and University Singers and teaches courses in choral conducting and music education. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and a Yamaha “40 Under 40” Music Educator whose greatest passion is to empower his students to develop their artistic and creative capacities, enable them to be a part of a musical community, and provide opportunities where they will experience the power and value of music. He is an active clinician and adjudicator for honor choirs and choral festivals and regularly presents his expertise and research at conferences.
Hutton obtained advanced degrees with distinction in conducting from the University of Nevada, Reno (D.M.A., ’23) and Westminster Choir College (M.M., ’11). He has taught various levels of music for twelve years in New Jersey, Illinois, and Nevada. He has held conducting appointments for the Boise Phil Master Chorale, the Reno Phil Chorus, the Carson Chamber Singers, and the Reno Baroque Ensemble, and has worked with many other ensembles throughout the country. He has also served in various leadership roles for the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Educators.
Hutton obtained advanced degrees with distinction in conducting from the University of Nevada, Reno (D.M.A., ’23) and Westminster Choir College (M.M., ’11). He has taught various levels of music for twelve years in New Jersey, Illinois, and Nevada. He has held conducting appointments for the Boise Phil Master Chorale, the Reno Phil Chorus, the Carson Chamber Singers, and the Reno Baroque Ensemble, and has worked with many other ensembles throughout the country. He has also served in various leadership roles for the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Educators.