Biography

Melanie Popejoy is Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Dakota where she conducts the Allegro Choir and Vivo Chamber Ensemble, and instructs courses in Music Education Methods. In addition, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Grand Cities Children’s Choir, serving as conductor of the elite Primo Voce choir. 

She holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree and the Master of Arts degree in Music Education from Central Missouri State University, and has taught in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas prior to coming to North Dakota. In over 40 years of teaching, Mrs. Popejoy has taught at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. She has conducted numerous honor and festival ensembles, including the North Dakota ACDA JH/MS Mixed All-State Choir, the Northern Plains Kodaly Festival Regional Honor Choir, the Missouri Choral Directors Association 9-10 Honor Choir, and the UND Women’s Honor Choir. 

Mrs. Popejoy has earned numerous teaching awards throughout her career, including selection as the Raytown South Middle School (MO) Teacher of the Year; Meadowbrook Elementary (TX) Teacher of the Year; Waco Independent School District (TX) Teacher of the Year; the DeLay Middle School (TX) Teacher of the Year; a Community Leadership Award from the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce; Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club North Dakota Teacher of the Year; Distinguished Alumnus award from the Central Missouri State University Department of Music; an Athena Award for Professional Excellence and Community Leadership; North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Leadership Award; Grand Forks Thursday Music Club Gold Note Award; the Phenomenal Woman Award from UND Multicultural Student Services; North Dakota Choral Director of the Year, North Dakota Music Educators Association Educator of the Year, as well as being nominated twice for the UND Undergraduate Teaching Award. The UND Vivo Chamber Choir has presented featured concerts at North Dakota American Choral Directors Conferences. Her Waco Girls Choir was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, while her Grand Cities Children’s Choir has presented concerts at the North Dakota Music Educators Association Conference, the American Choral Directors Association North Central Conference, and the North Dakota ACDA Conference, and two featured performances at Carnegie Hall. She is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, and is a member of the North Dakota Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, North Dakota Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, and the Organization of American Kodaly Educators.