High School Vice President Candidates

Davina Hendrix is in her 25th year of teaching choir in Texas public schools.  She is currently director at Liberty Hill High School.  Davina started the choral program for Liberty Hill ISD in 2016 which now has four choral directors in a thriving program. Prior to that, Davina was head choir director at Pflugerville High School for nine years.  In 2012 the Pflugerville Varsity Treble Choir had the honor to perform at TMEA.  Choirs under her direction have made consistent sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluation.  Davina served as Vocal Chair for Region 18 for four years, All-State Treble Choir Section Leader two years, and is currently the Treasurer for Region 32.  She is an active clinician/conductor and adjudicates for UIL Contests across the state.  Davina currently lives in Leander with her supportive husband, Jason, and their 13 year old son Jackson.

If Elected: It is both humbling and an honor to run for the TCDA Board. TCDA has influenced my career and given me the foundation to walk through all the doors that have opened. The meaning of each summer's convention changes as our careers and our personal lives change. Many of us are singleton electives on our campus without assistants. TCDA provides us a true PLC and Professional Development that is hard to find in many districts.  TCDA is changing and evolving but the foundation of the organization has remained the same.

If elected, my hope is to provide quality sessions needed to encourage, revitalize and grow our choral community. To support new directors and reignite fatigued directors not only through inspiring sessions but through camaraderie, reminding all of us of our value in education and the choral community. If our membership is strong, so is our organization. If our members are strong, so are the students of our diverse programs.

Evan Key is in his ninth year of teaching and his third year as the head choir director at Conroe High School located in Conroe, TX. He is a proud product of Texas choral education, hailing from Cypress, TX where he sang in choir at Cy-Fair High School and eventually returned as an assistant choir director. He has completed degrees from Louisiana State University (BME), Florida State University (MME), and is currently enrolled at Texas Tech University (MM). Evan is an active member of TCDA and has served as the summer convention’s Logistics Coordinator and as one of the High School Leadership Day organizers. Evan currently resides in Houston, Texas with his fiancé, Jimmy, and their dog and cat, Dewey and Topher.

If Elected: When elected, members of the board earn the tremendous task and privilege of representing, promoting, criticizing, and restructuring the many facets of TCDA that support choral directors across our state. I will work to push boundaries and continuously reconsider what can be done to invoke change and promote structures for all choral directors in all settings with all types of singers. I will keep TCDA’s diverse membership at the forefront of planning and decision-making. I understand the need for both quality relationships and high-level accountability at every level of TCDA. As the previous summer convention’s Logistics Coordinator, I have experience working with all human resources involved in the Summer Convention: contributing in board meetings, coordinating with publishers and vendors, organizing volunteers including presiders, a team of college students, clinicians, working with the A/V team, and helping with registration. I have experienced the value of TCDA’s membership and understand that without its work, this organization cannot stand. To serve such an outstanding membership would be a privilege not taken for granted.

Arielle Sword is in her 15th year of directing choirs in Stephenville ISD. She is currently in her 7th year at Stephenville HS and spent the previous 8 teaching the middle school choirs. Mrs. Sword holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Howard Payne University, Masters of Education from Tarleton State University and Masters of Music Education from the University of North Texas. Her public school choral experience is from a 6A district in San Antonio but she is passionate about providing a world-class musical experience for students at all levels. She has served as Region 7 MS Coordinator, Region 7 Vocal Chair, SSC Central Texas Area Chair, Tarleton State University All-State Camp Clinician, Texas All-State SSC Section Leader 2020, and the Texas All-State SSC Organizer for the 2022-23 conventions. She has presented twice at the Texas Choral Directors Association Conference, regularly judges UIL Concert & Sightreading and has served as an invited clinician for both MS and HS Region Ensembles.

If Elected: There are many different choral programs across Texas. We, as well as our communities, have different needs and wants and we all strive to provide the best music education we can give with whatever resources and training we have at our disposal. I have always felt that every child, no matter their circumstance, deserves a world-class musical experience. We as educators deserve the same opportunities for our own professional growth and development. TCDA has always provided opportunities to build my own knowledge of teaching techniques and literature selection. Of even greater benefit are the opportunities to connect and learn from master teachers who provide techniques that can be immediately implemented in our classrooms as well as long-term mentorship. If elected as the high school VP, I hope to continue to provide an array of literature sessions for all types of programs, proven classroom techniques, and innovative ideas that move us forward.