Conductor, Off The Street Club & In-School Program
Heather Stewart directs the West Town and Garfield Park/Off The Street Club Neighborhood Choirs as well as School Program choirs for Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir). She also serves as chair of the Social-Emotional Learning Committee for the organization.
Prior to joining the faculty in 2018, Heather pursued many formative roles as an educator and musician in diverse schools and cities across the country. She taught general music, bands, choirs, and gained extensive experience working as an autism therapist and teacher in special education classrooms. One of Heather’s most treasured roles was that of director of the Academy of Music and Arts for Special Education (“AMASE”) Community Choir during her time at Northwestern University.
Throughout her many experiences, Heather found her distinct love for choral music education and became a decorated conductor, having coached her choirs to many highest-rated, “Superior” level performances at state and regional competitions across Texas. Heather has performed with esteemed ensembles such as the Isthmus Vocal Ensemble, and Madison Chamber Choir (WI), and the Alexandria Choral Society and Alexandria Symphony Chorus (VA). She studied choral conducting with Dr. Bruce Gladstone and Grammy Award-winning choral conductor Dr. Donald Nally. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters of Music Education from Northwestern University.
Heather believes that everyone has the potential to inspire and change lives through singing. Not only is Heather passionate about empowering singers through voice science education, but she is also passionate about addressing social justice through music and culturally responsive pedagogy.
