Dr. John McDonald
Dr. John McDonald is the Director of Choirs and Vocal Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, conductor of Cantus, the St. Louis Children’s Choirs tenor-bass ensemble, and artistic director and founder of Continuum Vocal Ensemble, a professional choir based in St. Louis. A sought-after guest conductor and clinician, he has led workshops across the United States and in Europe.
John currently serves as the chair of the Communication and Education Committee for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and is a member of the National Board for the National Collegiate Choral Organization. In 2023, he was selected as one of six conductors to represent ACDA in the International Conductors Exchange Program with Germany.
John earned degrees in vocal music education and choral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, East Carolina University, and Middle Tennessee State University.
Elizabeth Ducey-Moss
Soprano, Elizabeth Ducey-Moss, is an experienced singer and voice teacher with over twenty years of experience. Since moving to St. Louis, she has performed with the Saint Louis Women’s Chorale, the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus, and Union Avenue Opera. Originally from Canada, Elizabeth began her musical studies at Acadia University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She holds a Master of Music degree from Binghamton University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois. Elizabeth also received extensive training in the Tri-Cities Opera Resident Artist Program.
Dr. Ducey-Moss maintains a thriving private studio in West St. Louis County while also contributing on the voice faculties at Missouri Baptist and Webster Universities. Prior to these appointments, she served as Assistant Professor of Voice at McMurry University in Texas. Performance credits include leading roles in The Magic Flute, Così Fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Hänsel und Gretel, The King and I, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Brahm’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Mozart’s Requiem. Elizabeth has been a national semi-finalist in the NATSA Competition, the Louis Alba Aria Competition, and a finalist in the American Prize in Voice. She has been a featured artist presenter in the Heavenly Rest Chamber Music Concert Series, the Rocky Mountain Region College Music Society Conference, and in the Artist Series of the Texoma Region National Association of Teachers of Singing. Committed to her field, Elizabeth has pursued educational workshops, masterclasses, and conferences, including the Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute, Pilates 2 Voice Workshop, and Bel Canto Can Belto Workshop. Elizabeth is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.