Menu Close
Bluff City Banner

The Bluff City Choral Festival is a unique festival, sure to provide lasting experiences for your students, no matter your ensemble size! Competitions across three categories of activities provide all students the chance to grow and show off where they excel. From performance clinics with quality music educators to the trampoline park and more, this festival is sure to be the one your students talk about for the rest of the year!

Friday, April 11, 2025   -   High School Festival

Saturday, April 12, 2025   -   Middle School Festival

IMG_3606
2B50667A-0FE7-411F-8538-00FEE72AEF67
community service
72F3A4B6-71FE-4731-8195-D16FEA1AE1C1
20230414_111018
BE382319-62A8-41EE-B7ED-E54E9EE1ECB0
Headshot Daniel Gutierrez

Daniel is an active conductor, clinician and presenter throughout the country. He is currently the head director of Nixa Choirs. Daniel has a masters degree from Missouri State University in music. Daniel has received accolades for his work as a teacher, being named Teacher of the Year for Springfield Public Schools and Southwest Missouri (also a finalist for the state TOTY award), Springfield Rotary Award for Outstanding Community Service, honoree for Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and the recipient of the Missouri Choral Directors Association Podium Award.

Daniel’s speaking engagements include presenting for TEDx, and presenting for regional and national ACDA(American Choral Directors Association) conferences. Daniel's Choral ensembles have won music festivals and have received numerous invitations to perform at the Missouri Music Educator Association Conference, Southwest American Choral Directors Association Conference, the National Conference for MS/JH Choral Music, and the National American Choral Directors Association Conference.

2024 Bluff City Choral Festival - 3

Morgan Luttig, Ph.D. is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama where she conducts the university’s choral ensembles and runs the undergraduate and graduate choral conducting programs.An active conductor, music educator, and clinician, Luttig is recognized for her service to the American Choral Directors Association, most notably as the Honor Choirs Chair for the 2022 and 2020 Southern Region Conferences. Her scholarly interests include conducting pedagogy, inclusive programming, student engagement, and representation in the choral arts.

Prior to her appointment at UA, Luttig did her doctoral work at Florida State University where she received an Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. Luttig previously served as Visiting Choral Director at Washington and Lee University, and taught K-12 choral and general music in Savannah, GA and Princeton, NJ. Luttig earned her Ph.D. in Music Education (Choral Conducting) from Florida State University, and holds a Master of Music Education degree (Choral Emphasis) from Westminster Choir College and a B.A. in Music degree from Washington and Lee University.

2024 Bluff City Choral Festival - 4

Holly Grefe is Director of Choirs at Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Louisiana.  During her 25 years as conductor, the Lafayette High School Choirs have toured 40 times, accumulating over 180 District, State, and National Awards. Selected by audition, her choirs have performed at the 2011 and 2015 Louisiana American Choral Directors Association State Vocal Conferences, as well as the 2016 American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Ms. Grefe earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Studio Art from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She received a Master’s Degree in Vocal Music Education, with emphasis in Choral Conducting, from Florida State University where she studied with Dr. Judy Bowers, Dr. Kevin Fenton, and Dr. André Thomas. Additionally, under the tutelage of Anne Eisen and Lamar Roberston, she earned Level I & II Kodaly Certificates from McNeese State University. As a 1995 Teach For America Corps member, she spent four years teaching choral music at Crowley High and Middle Schools in Crowley, Louisiana. 

Ms. Grefe holds the distinct honors of being selected as the 2019 Worldstrides National Teacher of the year and the 2013 Lafayette Education Foundation High School Teacher of the Year. She is a member of Louisiana Music Educators Association, and American Choral Directors Association.  She is currently President-Elect, has served as the LA ACDA Youth Treble All State Co-coordinator and the LA ACDA High School Repertoire & Standards Chairperson.  Ms. Grefe serves as a guest director, clinician, and adjudicator for many events throughout the Southern region.