The 31st Annual Invitational
Friday, March 7 & Saturday, March 8, 2025
2025 Judging Panel
Jack Daubitz
JACK DAUBITZ is the head vocal music director at Waukee Northwest High School in Waukee, Iowa, administrating a choral program of five curricular ensembles and four extra curricular ensembles in its fourth year of existence. At Northwest, Jack conducts The Northwest Singers, the select mixed choir, as well as the bass clef ensemble, Northwest Glee Club. In addition to his curricular duties he also directs the varsity show choir, Eos, a chamber ensemble, and serves as the pit orchestra conductor for the annual musical. Ensembles under Jack’s direction have collaborated with numerous collegiate ensembles, been featured at multiple festivals, and tour regionally every year and internationally every three years. Jack holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Iowa State University, studying with Dr. James Rodde, and a Master of Music Education: Choral Conducting from the University of St. Thomas, studying with Dr. Phillip Shoultz and Dr. Bert Pinsonneault. His thesis work focused on large format choral and instrumental collaboration in the high school music program. In addition to his school duties Jack is also a member of the professional choir, The Madison Choral Project, based in Madison, Wisconsin. When not working with students Jack enjoys spending time with his wife, Kersten, also a music educator, as well as being outdoors or cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones and Boston Celtics.
Caroline Edgeton
CAROLINE EDGETON is the Director of Choirs at Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny, IA. There, she directs the most advanced curricular choir, Concert Choir, and is the director of the varsity mixed show choir, Spectrum.
Caroline received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Drake University and has been a director, clinician and adjudicator of show choir and solo contests for over 10 years. She is married to another vocal music educator, Jon Edgeton, who is the assistant director of choirs at Urbandale High School, in Urbandale, IA. Together, they have two wonderful children and the sweetest pitbull in the world.
Andrew Jacobson
ANDREW JACOBSON is the Head Choir Director at Lincoln Southwest High School. He is in his 15th year at Southwest teaching Vocal Music. He is director for Varsity Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Echo Show Band, Ambience Show Choir and Resonance Show Choir. He received his undergraduate in Voice-Music Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is an active adjudicator and clinician for Show Choirs and Show Bands across the Midwest. As well as directing Show Choirs, he spends his summers arranging for Show Choirs in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Virginia and Texas. When he’s not working for High School Choral programs, Andrew spends his time golfing, being with his nieces and nephews, and traveling as much as he can. (Especially to Husker activities and other sporting events!)
Lindsey Ussery
LINDSEY USSERY is currently the Assistant Band and Choir director at Papillion LaVista High School; she has previously taught at Omaha South and O’Gorman Jr. High and High School. Lindsey received her BME from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance and the University of Nebraska Omaha. After teaching for a few years she went back to school and received her Masters in Choral Conducting from UNO under Dr. Derrick Fox.
Lindsey was involved in dance for 15 years growing up and got her start in the professional show choir world as a choreographer. Her vocal accolades include being a national semi-finalist for NATS, starring in regional theater, and being selected to sing the national anthem for President Obama in 2016. Now she judges and clinics for multiple schools in the Midwest when she’s not out competing with her show choirs Monarchy and Free Spirit. Lindsey wishes all groups performing the best of luck today and is excited to see some great shows!
Ben Schrank
BEN SCHRANK is a nationally recognized choreographer, show designer, and adjudicator with over 20 years of experience. His show choirs have received frequent Best Choreography, Best Show Design and Grand Championship awards. Ben is a past recipient of the Fame Aspire award for Best New Choreographer. He has also directed and choreographed various musical theatre productions, winning regional awards for Outstanding Stage Direction in 2010 and 2013. In 2011, Ben was inducted into the Jerry Awards Hall of Fame at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI. He brings performance experience as a former member of the Wisconsin Singers at the University of Wisconsin, and multi-show performer at Six Flags Great America. Ben has served on staff at The Southern Experience Show Choir Camp (MS), Shell Lake Show Choir Camp (WI), Westside Edge Show Choir Camp (NE), and Show Choir Camps of Central Iowa (IA). He has also been honored to choreograph the Mississippi and Nebraska All-State Show Choirs. Ben resides in Davenport, Iowa with his beautiful wife Emily, his amazing daughter Harper, and their dogs Pacey and Frankie.
Doran Johnson
DORAN JOHNSON is in his 37th year of teaching choral music. For the past 27 years he has been the choral director at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska where he also serves as Chair of the Performing Arts Department. Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master of Music degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has served as Chair of Choral Affairs for the Nebraska Music Educators Association. In 2008 he was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from the Schrager Foundation. The Nebraska Music Educators Association honored him as its Educator of the Year in 2012. He also received the Lundquist Award for Excellence in Teaching, a student driven award, in 2016. In 2023 the Nebraska School Activities Association named him Music Educator of the Year. Each summer he is a part of the staff of the Nebraska Show Choir Camp and has served as an assistant conductor for the Midwest Honor Choir trips to Europe. He has also guest conducted the inaugural All Iowa Show Choir and the Missouri All State Show Choir.