Conference Choir Concert
Conference Program
SSA Conductor: Kent Jue
Kent Jue is the Artistic and Executive Director for the GRAMMY-award winning Ragazzi Boys Chorus, Silicon Valley, the largest boys chorus in the San Francisco Bay Area. An energetic teacher, adjudicator, guest clinician, workshop presenter, and mentor, he is known for building high-level musicianship skills through his engaging style and rapport with students. Kent has conducted Ragazzi in performances with the San Francisco Symphony and has prepared ensembles and soloists for organizations such as Symphony Silicon Valley and Opera San Jose. Under Kent’s direction, Ragazzi received invitations to perform at the 2025 National American Choral Directors Association Conference, the 2024 Western Region American Choral Directors Association Conference, and the 2023 Chorus America Conference. In 2024, Kent made his Sydney Opera House conducting debut with two of Ragazzi’s most experienced ensembles, winning two gold medals at the Australian International Music Festival. Kent continues to advocate for new choral music from women composers, composers of color, and composers from the Bay Area, and has recently commissioned new works from Andrea Ramsey, Eric Tuan, and Katerina Gimon. He has conducted youth choruses at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and sung with the Golden Gate Men’s Chorus and the Gay Men’s Choruses of San Francisco and Boston. Kent earned a Master of Music Education, with a Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names University, a Bachelor of Music, Music Education from the University of the Pacific, a certificate in the Orff-Schulwerk method of music education, and holds a CA teaching credential. Kent currently serves as the Children and Community Youth Chair for the California Choral Directors Association.
SATB Conductor: Shelley Durbin
In her 35th year as an educator, Shelley Durbin has conducted a wide range of ensembles, including choir, musical theater, orchestra, band, and jazz band. She is currently the director of choirs and orchestras at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, where her ensembles have consistently earned high ratings and state-wide recognition. Amador Valley’s choir was selected to perform at the State CMEA Festival in 2024, and the top orchestra will perform at the State CMEA Festival in 2025. She was the director of choirs and musical theater at Kennedy Middle School in Cupertino for 15 years, and during her tenure there, she led Kennedy’s Dynamics on three East Coast tours, including stops at Carnegie Hall, Curtis Institute, and Westminster Choir College. Dynamics won top honors at many festivals and was also selected to perform at the ACDA Western Regional Conference.
In tandem with her regular music activities, Mrs. Durbin researches and presents best practices related to metacognition and motivation in the large ensemble, and she has been a guest speaker at the Bay Section Music Conference, the CMEA state music conference (CASMEC), at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and at the Michigan Music Conference.
Mrs. Durbin is passionate about helping younger generations of all kinds of teachers and served for many years as an induction coach and classroom lab host for a wide range of disciplines in the Cupertino Union School District. At Kennedy Middle School, she served on the leadership team, was department chair, and was a Site Support Provider. She is currently a University Supervisor for San Jose State University, working with up-and-coming music teachers in their student teaching placements. Mrs. Durbin is active as a clinician, guest conductor, and mentor throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
When she is not busy with her music activities, Mrs. Durbin enjoys spending time with her husband James and daughter Echo, along with their many pets. She also enjoys hiking, reading, painting, and baking. She is very honored to guest conduct this wonderful ensemble in the area she considers “home.”