Sounds of the Holidays

The first Noel the angel did say  
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; 
In fields where they a-keeping their sheep, 
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. 

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
Born is the king of Israel. 

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
Born is the king of Israel.

And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
Born is the king of Israel.

What Child is this, who, laid to rest,  
On Mary's lap is sleeping?  
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,  
While shepherds watch are keeping?  

This, this is Christ, the King,  
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:  
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,  
The Babe, the Son of Mary.  

Hark, the herald angels sing,  
Glory to the newborn King:  
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,  
God and sinners reconciled.  
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,  
join the triumph of the skies,  
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,  
Christ is born in Bethlehem!  

Hark, the herald angels sing,  
Glory to the newborn King!  

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!  
Hail! the Sun of Righteousness!  
Light and life to all He brings,  
Risen with healing in His wings.  
Mild He lays His glory by,  
Born that man no more may die,  
Born to raise the sons of earth,  
Born to give them second birth.  

Hark, the herald angels sing,  
Glory to the newborn King!  

Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella,  
Bring a torch, come hurry and run.  
It is Jesus, good folk of the village,  
Christ is born, and Mary's calling:  
Ah! Ah! beautiful is the mother:  
Ah! Ah! beautiful is the Child!  

Skies are glowing, the heavens are cloudless,  
Bright the path to the manger bed.  
Hasten, all who would see little Jesus,  
Shining bright as yonder star,  
Ah! Ah! beautiful is the mother:  
Ah! Ah! beautiful is the Child!  

It is wrong when the Baby is sleeping,  
It is wrong to speak so loud.  
Silence now, as you come near the cradle,  
Lest you awaken little Jesus,  
Ah! Ah! beautiful is the mother:  
Ah! Ah! beautiful is the Child!  

Gloria in excelsis Deo.  
Gloria in excelsis Deo.  

Angels we have heard on high,  
Sweetly singing o'er the plains,  
And the mountains in reply  
Echoing their joyous strains.  

Gloria in excelsis Deo.  
Gloria in excelsis Deo.  

Come to Bethlehem and see,  
Him whose birth the angels sing:  
Come, adore on bended knee  
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.  

Gloria in excelsis Deo.  
Gloria in excelsis Deo.  
Alleluia! Alleluia!  

See him in a manger laid,  
Whom the choirs of angels praise:  
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid  
While our hearts with love we raise.  

Gloria in excelsis Deo.  
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining 
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth 
Long lay the world in sin and error pining 
'Til He appeared 
And the soul felt its worth 
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices 
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn 
Fall on your knees 
Oh hear the angel voices 
O night divine 
O night when Christ was born 

Truly He taught us to love one another 
His law is love and His gospel is peace 
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother 
And in His name 
All oppression shall cease 
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we 
Let all within us praise His holy name 
Christ is the Lord 
Oh praise His name forever 
His power and glory 
Evermore proclaim

Ding-a ding-a ding, ding-a ding-a ding, 
Ding-a ding-a ding, dong. 

Merrily on high, hear the bells ring. 
Merrily, the heavens sing. 
Merrily on high, hear the bells ring. 
O'er the earth, they ding dong, ding! 

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. 
Jack Frost nipping at your nose. 
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir  
And folks dressed up like eskimos. 

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe 
Help to make the season bright. 
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow 
Will find it hard to sleep tonight. 

They know that Santa’s on his way, 
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. 
And every mother’s child is gonna spy 
To see if reindeer really know how to fly. 

And so I’m offering this simple phrase 
To kids from one to ninety-two. 
Although it’s been said many times, many ways, 
“Merry Christmas to you!" 

Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Strike the harp and join the chorus,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.  
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Christmas future is far away, Christmas past is past. 
Christmas present is here today, bringing joy that will last. 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, 
Let your heart be light. 
From now on our troubles will be out of sight. 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, 
Make the yuletide gay. 
From now on our troubles will be miles away. 

Here we are as in olden days. 
Happy golden days of yore. 
Faithful friends who are dear to us, 
Gather near to us once more. 

Through the years we all will be together 
If the fates allow, 
Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow, 
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; 
Let Earth receive her King; 
Let every heart prepare Him room, 
And heaven and nature sing, 
And heaven and nature sing, 
And heaven and nature sing. 

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; 
Let us our songs employ; 
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, 
Repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat the sounding joy. 

He rules the world with truth and grace, 
And makes the nations prove 
The glories of His righteousness, 
And wonders of His love, 
And wonders of His love, 
And wonders of His love. 

Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation, 
Sing all ye citizens of heav'n above: 
Glory to God in the highest: 
O come, let us adore Him, 
Christ the Lord. 

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, 
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; 
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels; 
O come, let us adore Him, 
Christ the Lord. 

Malcom Matthews, Assistant Professor of Organ and Harpsichord

Malcolm Matthews, who earned a doctoral degree in organ performance from the Eastman School of Music, is one of only four organists to have been awarded the prestigious Artist's Certificate in Eastman's century-long history. In addition to his organ studies with David Higgs, he earned a master's degree in harpsichord performance under William Porter and pursued a minor in collaborative piano with Jean Barr. 

Dr. Matthews comes to UNT most recently from the faculty of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennesee where he served as Adjunct Artist Teacher of Organ and Harpsichord. He also served as associate organist and choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville. Matthews enjoys collaborative work and often accompanies ensembles and soloists across a broad repertoire. He has performed as a soloist with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. A featured artist at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society, his accolades include first place at the 2013 Westfield International Organ Competition, second place at the 2012 National Young Artist's Competition in Organ Performance, semi-finalist at the 2016 International Bach Competition, second place at the 2016 OSM Manulife Competition, first place at the 2005 Southeastern Region IV Young Organists Competition and semi-finalist at the 2009 Concours international d’orgue de Lyon.

Jennifer Barnes, Professor of Vocal Jazz

Maryn West, UNT undergraduate student in Voice Performance

Maryn West is a lyric soprano from Houston, Texas, currently in the final year of her undergraduate degree in voice performance at the University of North Texas. Maryn was recently awarded second place in the San Antonio Tuesday Musical Club Competition in Voice. She is a past finalist in the Schmidt Undergraduate Vocal Competition as well as a semi-finalist in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and the MiOpera International Vocal Competition University Division. An enthusiastic enjoyer of sacred music, Maryn has performed as the soprano soloist in Faure’s Requiem in D minor and Vivaldi and Bach’s Magnificats. Recent operatic roles include Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) and Littler Zegner Daughter (Proving Up) with UNT Opera, Monica (The Medium) with Chicago Summer Opera, and Zerlina (Don Giovanni) at Varna International Music Academy. Upcoming roles include Frasquita (Carmen) with Opera Arlington. 

Concert Choir is an auditioned mixed choir open to students of all majors in the university. Auditions are held in August, the week before classes begin. Consistent with its mission to share our love of music with others and to uplift others through choral singing, Concert Choir is committed to engaging meaningfully in service to the community. In recent years, we have participated in the Out of the Darkness suicide awareness community walk, the Meetup Cleanup initiative for combating littering in Denton County and sustaining the Butterfly Garden at UNT. Concert Choir combines annually with the A Cappella Choir and University Singers to form the UNT Grand Chorus, which performs extended works with orchestra. Recent performances include Verdi's Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Brahms Requiem. 

While comprised primarily of musicians from the College of Music, the University Singers welcomes artists of every academic discipline with a love and capacity for choral singing. The ensemble explores a variety of repertoire to push the boundaries of what a choral ensemble can do. Recent performances have included Shaw’s To the Hands, a concert production of Puccini's Tosca, a collaboration with the UNT Jazz Singers, Bach motets, and premieres of works by student composers. In addition to a robust performance schedule throughout the year, the University Singers become part of the UNT Grand Chorus to present extended works with orchestra every spring. 

The University of North Texas A Cappella Choir is the premier ensemble of the UNT Choral Studies program comprised of nine choirs. Since its founding more than 85 years ago, the A Cappella Choir has had a distinguished history of conductors that include Wilfred Bain, Frank McKinley, Hal Gibbons, Mel Ivey, Jerry McCoy and Allen Hightower. The A Cappella Choir frequently performs at regional, national and international conferences including engagements at the American Choral Directors Association national conference in Los Angeles, California in 2005; Dallas, Texas in 2013, 2022 and 2025 and in Chicago, Illinois in 1999. They have performed as well at the clinic/convention of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) in 2020. TMEA is the largest music education convention in the United States with nearly 30,000 attendees. They've also performed at the National Collegiate Choral Organization convention in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2008 and at international choral festivals in 2012 in Daejeon, South Korea and in 2009 in Taipei. In 1966, the choir participated in a three-month tour of Europe under the sponsorship of the United States Department of State. Nearly forty years later, the ensemble embarked on a tour of the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany in summer 2025. The Czech Republic portion of  the tour was under the auspices of the Czech Music Initiative of the University of North Texas funded by the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas. The choir closed its visit to Europe with a first-prize win in the invitation-only International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Bavaria. 

The Wind Orchestra has developed an exemplary national reputation for their performances and recordings. Membership is drawn from the finest musicians attending the College of Music. The highest quality contemporary music—mixed with traditional and standard literature—make up the foundation of repertoire performed by the group. The ensemble is dedicated to playing outstanding and challenging works of diverse musical styles while furthering wind music of artistic and historical significance. The Wind Orchestra has performed at the Southwest Regional College Band Directors National Association Convention and has released more than 15 CD recordings on the Mark, Klavier, GIA, and Eurosound labels. Critical comments include “Bravo…for a resplendent performance!”; “…played with great gusto by the ensemble”; “played with brilliance!”; “the elegant sonority of this marvelous band is apparent in the slow sections”; “The attention to detail, precise intonation, and beautiful phrasing make this a compelling performance”; “WOW! Absolutely stunning!”; “…what an incredible CD! An enormously valuable addition to the band world.”

Andrew Trachsel, Professor of Wind Studies

Andrew Trachsel serves as Professor of Wind Studies and Chair of the Division of Conducting and Ensembles at the University of North Texas College of Music. He is the conductor of the Wind Orchestra and teaches courses in graduate and undergraduate conducting as well as the history and repertoire of the wind band.

Trachsel has collaborated with and received critical acclaim from many leading performers and composers including Tony Baker, Barcelona Clarinet Players, Mason Bates, Denée Benton, David Biedenbender, Bruce Broughton, Canadian Brass, Jung Choi, Viet Cuong, James David, Paul Dooley, Mark Ford, Nancy Galbraith, Julie Giroux, Saül Gómez Soler, Dave Hall, Haven Trio, Sungji Hong, Jennifer Jolley, Lindsay Kesselman, Joseph Klein, Libby Larsen, John Mackey, Dave Malloy, Michael Markowski, Manuel Martínez, Quinn Mason, Stacie Mickens, Robert Moran, Mark Phillips, Joel Puckett, Paul Rennick, Jake Runestad, Raquel Samayoa, Drew Schnurr, Seraph Brass, James Stephenson, Third Coast Percussion, Omar Thomas, Zhou Tian, Bramwell Tovey, Noriko Tsukagoshi, Jess Langston Turner, Dana Wilson, Christoph Wünsch, Chen Yi, Gregory Youtz, and Larry Zalkind. An advocate for new music, Dr. Trachsel has premiered, commissioned, or co-commissioned more than 100 new works over the past two decades. He is interested in developing innovative programming through interdisciplinarity, culminating in the establishment of the Ampersand festival to explore new opportunities for authentic collaboration between the contemporary wind band and other musical genres (including jazz, rock, and electronica), other arts (including dance, film, theater, and visual art), and other disciplines.

In 2019 Trachsel was named series editor of GIA Publications’ landmark Teaching Music through Performance in Band series after serving for fifteen years as the coordinator of research associates and as a contributor to eleven volumes. With Eugene Migliaro Corporon, he is the co-creator of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band Video Rehearsal Series. His transcription of Robert Moran’s Points of Departure is published by Charlotte Benson Music and his critical edition of Gordon Jacob’s William Byrd Suite was recorded by the North Texas Wind Symphony and released on the album Altered States. Trachsel is active internationally as a guest conductor, clinician, advocate, and recording producer, and holds professional or honorary memberships in the Recording Academy (formerly NARAS), National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity of America, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, and the College Band Directors National Association, for whom he serves as president of the Southwestern Division. He was appointed Assistant Conductor for the inaugural season of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and now serves as the music director and conductor of the Lone Star Youth Winds.

Prior to this appointment, Trachsel served as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Conducting at Ohio University for eleven years. He was the conductor of the Wind Symphony, music director for the “Under the Elms” Summer Concert Series, Division Chair of Conducting and Ensembles, and Assistant Director for Recruitment for the School of Music. Under his artistic direction, the Ohio University Wind Symphony performed at numerous music conferences and venues, including the CBDNA North Central Division, Ireland, Rome, and New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall. The Ohio University Wind Symphony released three commercial albums on the Mark Masters label, with multiple appearances on national syndicated radio and the Grammy Entry List. Trachsel also taught in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia as an assistant director of bands and postdoctoral fellow, and for four years served as a public high school band director in central Iowa. 

A native of Iowa, Trachsel received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Drake University, a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts, both in conducting, from the University of North Texas, where he studied with Eugene Migliaro Corporon and Dennis Fisher.

Marques L. A. Garrett, Associate Professor of Choral Studies

A Virginia native, Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him) is Associate Professor of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas. His responsibilities include conducting the University Singers and teaching graduate and undergraduate choral conducting. His previous appointments were at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Cheyney University. Additionally, he holds a PhD in Music Education (Choral Conducting) from Florida State University, an MM from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a BA from Hampton University. 

An active conductor, Dr. Garrett is the founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers and previously served as artistic director of the Omaha Symphonic Chorus. He serves as a guest conductor or clinician with school, church, and community choirs throughout the country in addition to festival, honor, and all-state choirs in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Among his most recent engagements were with the New Jersey, Maryland, and Tennessee All-State Mixed Choirs. In 2022, he and the UNL Chamber Singers won second place in the American Prize’s Choral Performance—College/University Division—Larger Program’s category. His formal conducting studies were with Dr. André J. Thomas, Dr. Carole J. Ott, Dr. Carl G. Harris, Jr., and Mr. Royzell Dillard. 

A versatile voice that performs both as a baritone and countertenor, Dr. Garrett has sung with several community, church, and university groups as both a chorister and soloist. He was the baritone soloist for the Germantown Concert Chorus’s performance of Haydn’s Missa in Angustiis. His premiere as a countertenor in Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo served as the work’s European premiere in Limerick, Ireland. Additionally, he performed the role of Lil Lud in Bernstein’s White House Cantata with the Tallahassee Community Chorus. Currently, he sings with the Festival Singers of Florida and Jason Max Ferdinand Singers. 

Dr. Garrett is an avid composer of choral and solo-vocal music whose compositions have been performed to acclaim by high school all-state, collegiate, and professional choirs including the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Oakwood University Aeolians, and National Lutheran Choir. His music is available through more than ten publishers. He has been commissioned by the Cincinnati Youth Choir, Concordia Choir, Harvard University, Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, and Westminster Choir College. Among his latest commissions is his largest work to date, Dreamland: Tulsa 1921. This collaborative work with librettist Sandra Seaton for tenor-bass chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra was commissioned by the Turtle Creek Chorale to tell the story of the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

As a researcher, his most advantageous topic is the non-idiomatic choral music of Black composers. His lectures at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and at other local and national venues afford him the opportunity to showcase this underrepresented area of music resulting in the anthology The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers released in February 2023. His peer-reviewed presentations and headlining events for conferences and organizations have been in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Canada. He serves as co-editor of the “Out from the Shadows” Series with Gentry Publications. 

Chorus America recognized Dr. Garrett’s contributions to the choral community with the 2023 Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award. He holds membership in the American Choral Directors Association; American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; National Association of Negro Musicians; National Collegiate Choral Organization; and Pi Kappa Lambda. For more information, visit www.mlagmusic.com.

Jessica Nápoles, Professor of Choral Music Education

Jessica Nápoles is Professor of Choral Music Education where she teaches undergraduate coursework in choral methods, conducts the Concert Choir and mentors graduate students in research. As an administrator, Dr. Nápoles served as Interim division chair for Conducting & Ensembles, Interim division chair for Music Education, and Interim division chair for Voice Studies. A native of Florida with a Cuban-American background, Dr. Napoles taught middle school chorus in the public schools of Miami and Orlando, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Education, and PhD in Music Education from the Florida State University. Prior to her appointment at UNT, she taught at the University of Utah for 11 years.

She is an active choral conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, frequently engaging in guest conducting opportunities locally, regionally and nationally. She has conducted All State and honor choirs in 25 United States and has conducted the Southern, North Central/Central, Eastern, and Western division honor choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). In 2019, Dr. Nápoles was conductor for the WorldStrides OnStage Honors Performance Series in Carnegie Hall. She was asked to return each year since.

In addition to her choral conducting invitations, Dr. Nápoles is a well-known researcher with numerous publications in journals such as the "Journal of Research in Music Education," "Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education," "Journal of Music Teacher Education," "Update: Applications of Research in Music Education," and the "International Journal of Music Education." She served on the editorial boards of the "Journal of Research in Music Education," the premier research journal in music education, the "International Journal of Research in Choral Singing," and the "Journal of Music Teacher Education." Her research interests center on testing practitioner practices empirically, perfectionism, burnout, and teacher talk. She has presented at conferences on these topics nationally and internationally. She is presently serving on National Association for Music Education's (NAfME)’s Executive board of the "Society for Research in Music Education."

Dr. Nápoles was recently elected the President-Elect Designate for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at the national level. She is currently the Chair of the Research & Publications Standing Committee. Additionally, she served as Assistant Conference Chair for the 2019, 2021, and 2025 conferences, the Honor Choir Coordinator for the 2015 and 2017 conferences and will serve as Program Chair for the 2027 conference. Dr. Nápoles led the writing team of the ACDA COVID-19 task force that drafted a document to assist choral directors at all levels during the pandemic.

Allen Hightower, Professor of Choral Studies

Allen Hightower is a seventh generation Texan, and resides in McKinney, Texas with his wife, Dr. Kristin Hightower and their two daughters Caroline and Julianne.  As the director of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas, Allen leads the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting, and oversees a comprehensive choral program of eight ensembles. Allen serves as the conductor of the UNT A Cappella Choir, and the UNT Grand Chorus which collaborates annually with the UNT Symphony Orchestra in performances of major choral-orchestral works. As a member of UNT’s Early Music faculty, he leads the vocal ensemble Vox Aquilae, an artistic partner of the UNT Baroque Orchestra.

Since arriving at UNT in 2016, the A Cappella Choir has received invitations to perform for the Texas Music Educators Association in 2020, the National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in 2021, and the Southwestern Division of ACDA in 2022. Vox Aquilae and the UNT Baroque Orchestra were featured at the January 2022 virtual conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization.

As a teacher and conductor, Dr. Hightower has visited 30 states, Asia, and Europe. His students hold positions of leadership as choral conductors in public schools, colleges and universities, and churches and community choirs throughout the United States.

Prior to his appointment at UNT, he held the Weston Noble Endowed Chair in Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he served as conductor of the renowned Nordic Choir and artistic director of Christmas at Luther. As Luther’s Director of Choral Activities, he gave leadership to a choral program that included four conductors, six choirs, and over 530 singers. Under Hightower’s direction, the Nordic Choir performed at the 2014 North Central Division of ACDA, recorded six compact discs, made annual concert tours throughout the United States, and toured Europe on two occasions.

From 2000-2010, Hightower served as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Sam Houston State University. During his tenure, the SHSU Chorale toured Europe, performed for the 2007 National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, 2010 Southwestern Division of ACDA, and 2003, 2006, and 2010 conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association. His high school teaching career included tenures at Klein High School in Spring, Texas and at Odessa Permian High School in Odessa, where he led the PHS Kantorei and Satin Strings in performance at the 1996 TMEA convention. 

Outside of his work in academia, Allen has served as the Artistic Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra, leading an annual concert series of choral-orchestral masterworks. As a deeply committed church musician, he has served Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in Texas, California, and Minnesota. He currently serves on the music staff of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, and has served as the Church Music Vice-President of the Texas Choral Directors Association. He was as Adjunct Professor of Conducting at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

As a conducting student of the Texas choral legend Bev Henson, Allen earned his undergraduate degree in music education and piano from Sam Houston State University.  He went on to earn a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Eastman School of Music where he was a student of Baroque scholar Alfred Mann, and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Baylor University, where he served as assistant conductor to Stephen Heyde and accompanist to Donald Bailey and the Baylor Chamber Singers. Allen earned his doctorate in conducting from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he served as assistant conductor to Donald Neuen. Hightower pursued additional orchestral conducting studies with Jung-Ho Pak at the University of Southern California, choral conducting studies with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College and choral-orchestral conducting with Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival. After winning first prize in the graduate division of the American Choral Directors Association’s Conducting Competition in 1997, Allen served as assistant to Paul Salamunovich, conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The University of North Texas College of Music is the largest public university music program in the United States and one of the most globally respected. Faculty and staff include internationally acclaimed artists and scholars in composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, jazz studies, music education, music business, music history, music theory, commercial music and performance. The college presents more than 700 music events annually. Students perform in more than 70 ensembles in eight campus venues and can be viewed worldwide via free superior quality live streaming. UNT music alumni can be found around the world in impressive, award-winning careers across a wide range of music professions. Our current faculty members include Guggenheim Fellows, Fulbright Fellows, an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, a Charles Ives Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medalist, Emmy, Grammy, Latin Grammy, Oscar and Tony nominees and Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winners. Our students come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and more than 40 countries.

The mission of the UNT College of Music is to serve our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity and imagination. The vision of the UNT College of Music is to provide leadership, artistry and expertise to every facet of the music profession.