Jana Ballard

Jana Ballard has been on the music faculty at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art & Performing Arts in New York, New York since the fall of 2007. At LaGuardia High School, Ms. Ballard conducts both the Senior Chorus and Cantare and teaches group voice classes. Ms. Ballard served as the Repertoire & Standards Senior High School Chair for the Eastern Division of the American Choral Directors Association from 2012-2016. Ms. Ballard frequently serves as a guest conductor and clinician for honors choirs; she has also served as a clinician and guest pedagogue with the Metropolitan Opera Education Program. Ms. Ballard was the choral director for the 2020 Grammy Award Winning Album, Arturo O’Farrill’s Four Questions, and she served as a Think Tank Educator for Grammy Award Winning and World Renowned Composer, Eric Whitacre, in conjunction with his Virtual Choir 6: “Sing Gently” Project. Ms. Ballard has been on the teaching staff with the Queens Summer Vocal Institute (QSVI) since 2012 and serves as the stage director for the college division. Ms. Ballard also conducts the New York City Labor Chorus and the Christ Church Community Youth Choir at New Brighton Episcopal Church. Ms. Ballard frequently performs as a soprano soloist and choral singer with New York City based ensembles.        

 

Prior to teaching in New York City, Ms. Ballard taught in Kentucky for eight years where she was a high school choral director and private voice instructor. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ms. Ballard was very involved in professional leadership and organization on the state level such as the Kentucky Choral Directors Association and Kentucky Music Educators Association (MENC). Ms. Ballard received both undergraduate and master’s degrees in music education from Western Kentucky University.