Dr. Shawna Stewart

Dr. Shawna Stewart is the Director of Choral Studies at Biola University in La Mirada, CA. She conducts the Biola University Chorale and the Vocal Jazz ensemble. As associate professor, she also teaches the conducting classes, Choral Methods and Choral Literature.

Previously, she was an instructor of choral music at John Brown University and the Director of Choral Activities at North Dakota State College of Science. Dr. Stewart is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and the University of Southern California with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music, having studied under the tutelage of Dr. William Dehning.

Dr. Stewart has been active in church music ministry. In Los Angeles she has held short and long-term positions at several area churches including the Crystal Cathedral, Whittier Area Community Church and Granada Heights Friends Church.
With a secondary interest in music for children, she has been a franchise owner and teacher of Children’s Music Academy (CMA), a Denver-based school for early childhood music education. Currently, she owns and teaches at the Whittier-area branch.

Dr. Stewart frequently serves as an adjudicator and guest clinician for choral festivals, workshops and honor choirs throughout California, including ACDA, SCVA and ACSI. Under her direction, the Biola University Chorale performed at the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s Biennial National Conference (2017) and at the Western Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association (2016, 2020, upcoming March 2024). She is a member of ACDA, SCVA and NATS, and has served as a board member for the California Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Currently, she is on the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s National Board and serves as Co- Membership Chair for the Western Division of ACDA.