Clinton (Hardy) Ferrie is in his seventeenth year of directing choral music and serves as Head Choir Director and Fine Arts Chair at Trinity Springs Middle School. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Texas Christian University and a Master’s in Music Education from the University of North Texas.

Mr. Ferrie directs eight choirs whose ensembles consistently earn UIL Sweepstakes awards. His groups have performed at major conferences, including this year’s 2026 Southwestern ACDA Convention, 2025 National ACDA, 2023 and 2019 TMEA, 2022 SWACDA, and the 2021 National ACDA Convention. Nationally recognized for his leadership, Mr. Ferrie is the current National ACDA Junior High/Middle School R&R Chair. A three-time Teacher of the Year and recipient of the TCDA Choral Director of Distinction Award and Young Director of Distinction Award, Mr. Ferrie believes in teaching students to be outstanding humans first and excellent musicians second. He enjoys life with his husband, George, and their dogs.

Please Share Your Ideas For Assisting TCDA To Live Into The Mission And Purposes Of The Organization

It is a profound honor to be nominated for TCDA President-Elect. I approach this opportunity with deep humility and a clear understanding of the responsibility that servant leadership requires. TCDA stands at a pivotal moment in its history—one that calls for courageous, reflective leadership willing to examine and refine systems that have not always elevated every member of our community. Our mission compels us to fully embody diversity, equity, and inclusion not only in principle, but in practice. That work demands intentional listening, humility, and the wisdom to seek guidance from voices and communities who have too often felt unseen or unheard.

I have been a member of TCDA for nearly twenty years and have been privileged to serve the organization in multiple capacities. During the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic, I helped TCDA not only endure but innovate. When our profession was uncertain how choral education would continue, I helped design and launch TCDA’s first virtual conference. I intentionally recruited presenters who had never before been featured, believing strongly that our organization grows stronger when we actively cultivate new voices and perspectives. It was an honor during my tenure to help bring these educators into the spotlight. Additionally, while serving as MS/JH Vice President, I developed the first TCDA MS/JH Virtual All-State Choir, expanding meaningful opportunities for students during a critical time.

Beyond this role, I served as the inaugural chair of the TCDA Geographic Region Committee, helping elevate regional perspectives and identify the diverse needs of directors across our state. My service has also included work on the Hospitality, Scholarship, and Ways and Means Committees. In 2024, I had the privilege of co-hosting one of TCDA’s inaugural Happy Hour Meet and Greets with Levi Duncan, further strengthening member connection and engagement. 

Outside of TCDA, I have served at the region, state, and national levels and am currently concluding my term as the National ACDA MS/JH Repertoire and Resource Chair, where I have worked intentionally to expand inclusion, diversity, and membership within the division. Throughout my career, I have sought to use every leadership role as a platform to elevate others and highlight the breadth of talent within our profession. My experiences across school, community, and church choral settings have shaped a well-rounded perspective that I believe is essential for effective TCDA leadership.

TCDA needs a leader who both honors our rich traditions and thoughtfully guides us into a vibrant future. As technology and educational landscapes evolve, we must evolve alongside them. While our grassroots foundation as a reading-session conference remains valuable, this is also a moment to expand innovative, meaningful professional learning opportunities that meet the needs of today’s educators.

If elected, I am committed to building intentional, year-round outreach that supports educators across Texas beyond a single annual conference. Choir directors need connection, resources, and encouragement throughout the year. While I deeply value our summer and winter conferences, our membership deserves sustained engagement. I will prioritize expanded repertoire resources, regional meet-and-greets, and accessible professional content that keeps our community connected and supported. At a time when music education faces increasing pressures, TCDA must remain a professional home where educators feel safe, valued, and empowered.

I am truly honored and humbled by this nomination and do not take the responsibility lightly. I am committed to leading with heart, transparency, innovation, and empathy. As President-Elect, I will prioritize clear communication, inclusive representation—especially for middle school and elementary educators who are often underrepresented—and the continued cultivation of a TCDA culture where every member feels essential. TCDA exists because of its members, and our future depends on how intentionally we serve them.

Thank you to the Governance Committee and the TCDA membership for your time and consideration.

With gratitude and commitment, 

Clinton (Hardy) Ferrie

Dr. Eric Posada serves as Director of Choral Activities at Angelo State University, Vice President of College & New Professionals for the Texas Choral Directors Association, and a National Board Member of the Chorister’s Guild. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Pasión and the San Angelo Chorus. Dr. Posada has presented sessions at more than thirty national and state conferences. His ensemble, Pasión, earned third place in two categories of The American Prize—Choral Performance and the Performance of American Music—and was featured as a Performing Choir at the 2021 TCDA Summer Conference. With fourteen years of public‑school teaching experience and two decades in liturgical music, his work includes a performance at Notre-Dame de Paris. A sought‑after translator of Spanish poetry, Dr. Posada recently completed translations for Mark Burrows’ Worship and Wonder: Story, Song, and Rituals, Vol. 1. He is pursuing a Non‑Profit Arts Management Certificate from New York University.

Please Share Your Ideas For Assisting TCDA To Live Into The Mission And Purposes Of The Organization

It is my distinct honor to accept the nomination presented by the Governance Committee for the office of TCDA President‑Elect. I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to Clinton Ferrie on his many accomplishments and on his nomination for this esteemed position.

For the past twenty‑two years, TCDA has held a special place in my heart. I can say with complete sincerity that I would not be where I am today without this organization. My journey began as a first‑year teacher and middle school choir director in the summer of 2004, serving on the Hospitality Committee—entrusted with the vital responsibility of ensuring that the margarita machine operated smoothly and was ready for our members at the designated time. In 2010, during my doctoral studies at Texas Tech University, I was honored to receive the Abbott‑Ipco Professional Scholarship. The following year, I organized a church quartet to travel from Lubbock to San Antonio to participate in the inaugural festival chorus for the TCDA Worship Service, How Excellent Is Thy Name, featuring Dr. Donald Neuen. I was then blessed to conduct my first reading session in the Worship Division for Advanced Church Choirs in the summer of 2012. One of the most meaningful moments of my career occurred in 2021, when my professional ensemble, Pasión, performed Light Beyond Shadow in the Lila Cockrell Theatre as a selected invited choir. The shared emotion in that room was palpable, marking our collective return to live performance after COVID.

The past five years have brought a meaningful and transformative shift in my professional journey. It became my turn to introduce this organization to my own students and to give back to the community that has shaped so much of my career. In 2021, one of my students was honored as the recipient of a $1,200 General Fund Scholarship. Since 2023, music education majors from Angelo State University have participated in the Undergraduate Conducting Session. In 2024, I was humbled to be elected Vice President of College & New Professionals—a newly created office formed through the merger of the College Division and the emerging New Professionals Division.

In this role, I have worked diligently to create meaningful opportunities for our membership. My first initiative was assembling a New Professionals team and building a comprehensive database for this growing community. Since then, we have launched numerous efforts including Meet & Greets at the past two TMEA Conferences; the publication of seven newsletters featuring contributors such as Trenton Davis, Nathan Dame, Christian de la Cruz, Laura Farnell, Heather Orr, and Brigitte Smith; the establishment of Conference Mentor Chats for New Professionals across all teaching levels; a TCDA Conference Meet-Up; the founding of our inaugural Fall Professional Development Workshop; the creation of Virtual Meet-Ups; and the continued expansion of our Undergraduate Conductor Session to include accessible music for all levels.

As I offer my final thoughts, I feel compelled to once again share how deeply this nomination has touched me. Being considered for President‑Elect fills me with gratitude, humility, and genuine emotion. I cannot promise perfection, but I can offer the wisdom that comes from mistakes made and lessons learned—experiences that continue to shape who I am today and the leader I strive to be. I also draw upon my experiences founding two non‑profit organizations, serving on the National Board of the Choristers Guild, and completing a Non‑Profit Arts Management Certificate from New York University. These opportunities have broadened my perspective and strengthened my commitment to selfless service.

Ultimately, I hope to be a leader who leads with heart, compassion, and empathy; a leader who listens deeply to colleagues, friends, and students; a leader with vision, creativity, and energy; and a leader dedicated to ensuring that TCDA remains both relevant and efficient—all while honoring the rich history of this organization.

Thank you, from the heart, for your time and consideration.

In service and gratitude,

Eric Posada