Jack Ballard is a choral music educator who has never stopped
teaching or learning. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music
Education degrees with an emphasis in voice from Arkansas State
University in Jonesboro. The first ten years of his career were in
Arkansas and the next 34 he taught at Shawnee Mission
Northwest High School. Jack is a member of KMEA, MENC,
KCDA, ACDA, Guitar Society of Kansas City, NEA and Pi Kappa
Lamba He has served as northeast Arkansas Choral Directors
Association president, President of Arkansas Music Educators
Association, and KMEA State Festival Choir Chair. An active
choral conductor, adjudicator and clinician, Mr. Ballard has made
music with choirs all over the United States. The Shawnee Mission
Northwest Choir performed for ACDA, Southwest ACDA, and
KMEA In-Service Workshops. Jack has received numerous awards
and honors including KMEA Kansas Music Educator of the Year
and KCDA Harry Robert Wilson recipient in 1998. He is known for
not wasting a minute of rehearsal and his ability to create excellent
choral ensembles never over-shadowed the development of each
individual singer in his care. Many students have gone on to
become professional singers, actors, and music educators.