Kimberly Waigwa
Kimberly Waigwa (they/them) is a lover of cats, a meower or tunes, a conductor, and an educator dedicated to the goal of intentional music making. They focus on the intersections of racial justice, queer advocacy, and community building. Waigwa strives to expand aspects of learning beyond the musical realm and to dive into the internal work of learning and growing in the spheres of anti-racism, ABDEI, and the music of the global majority.
Waigwa has served as a facilitator and clinician for the choral department at Temple University and the Choir School of Delaware. Most recently they participated in a GALA Choruses webinar focused on intentional programming and performing music of the marginalized, as well as participating in the inaugural Chorus America Choral Executive Leadership Academy.
Waigwa served as artistic director of the Phoenix Women’s Chorus and Desert Voices Mixed Chorus. Additionally, they served as music director of Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation and held a variety of other musical positions including Interim Director of the St. Nicholas and After School Music Program Choirs, private vocal and piano instructor, and guest conductor with multiple ensembles in southern Arizona.
As a conductor, Waigwa has been selected by audition for the National American Choral Directors Association’s Conference masterclass both as an undergraduate student and graduate student. They have had masterclasses with Jason Max Ferdinand, Eugene Rogers, Joe Miller, Ann Howard Jones, Arian Khaefi, Jerry Blackstone, and James Jordan. Waigwa received their masters of music in Choral Conducting at Temple University, a student of Dr. Paul Rardin, and they received their Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, from the University of Arizona.
As of July 2023, Waigwa has taken the helm as artistic director of One Voice Mixed Chorus in St. Paul, Minnesota, a queer chorus with the mission of “Building community and creating social change by raising our voices in song.” Waigwa also sings with Elevation, the flagship professional performing ensemble of Elevate Vocal Arts.
A Texas native and recent Twin Cities transplant, Waigwa is intrigued by their first adventure into the midwest. They are a lover of Star Trek, ice cream, oil pastels, long walks, and podcasts.