Courtney Rowley is in her seventeenth year as Director of Choirs at Ballard High School, where she directs the Concert Choir, Advanced Chorale, Treble Choir, Vocal Jazz, Chamber Choir, and Tenor Bass Ensemble, vocal directs the annual musical theatre production and teaches AP Music Theory. Originally from Michigan, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Choral Music Education from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University.  Under her direction, the Ballard choirs have grown from 36 students to over 120 members strong, and have consistently received Superior ratings at both regional and national choral festivals.

The BHS Concert Choir was invited to perform at Lincoln Center in 2010 and at Carnegie Hall in 2016 and 2023, as part of the Choirs of America Nationals for Top Choirs Festival.  They were also honored to perform by invitation for the NW American Choral Directors Association Conference in 2014.  In addition, the Men’s Quartet won 1st place in 2013 and the Choir Concert won 2nd place in 2019 at the WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Contest.  Ms. Rowley was honored by the 5th Avenue 2012 Musical Theatre Awards with nominations for Best Musical Direction and Best Chorus in the state of Washington, and is a past recipient of the Ballard High School Outstanding Educator Award (2010), the Washington State ACDA Outstanding Emerging Choral Director Award (2014), and the Elliott Bay Music Educators Association Outstanding Music Educator of the Year (2017). 

Jay Gillespie is in his 4th year of directing at Ballard High School where he directs 3 concert bands, a jazz ensemble, a New Orleans style brass band and a percussion ensemble. Originally form Eagle River Alaska, he graduated high school from Interlochen Arts Academy where he earned a fine arts award for saxophone performance and graduated with honors. He attended the University of Michigan as a classical saxophone performance and jazz and improvisational studies major studying under Donald Sinta and Donald Walden. Upon his departure from Michigan, Mr. Gillespie spent 9 years in the Navy Band playing for audiences exceeding 1.5 million as a clarinet and saxophone instrumentalist. Mr. Gillespie performed in, arranged for, and led multiple ensembles in the Navy Band including jazz combos, jazz ensembles, rock bands, concert bands, marching bands, and brass bands.  

After the Navy, Mr. Gillespie attended the University of Washington in Seattle where he earned his degree in music education Magna Cum Laude. Mr. Gillespie was honored with the PTSA teacher of the year award in the 2021-2022 school year and the Ballard bands were featured in a multiple page Seattle Times article that same year. The Ballard Marching Band won best musical/drill entry in the 2021 & 2022 Auburn Veterans Day Parade and the newly formed New Orleans style brass band, Ballard Brass, is the only such group in the Seattle area and is a crowd favorite. Mr. Gillespie lives on the Kitsap peninsula with his wife and two children and performs professionally with multiple ensembles throughout the region.  

Daniel Valdez is the Ballard High School Director of Orchestras. In addition to directing orchestras he plays double bass and guitar in a variety of styles. Mr. Valdez has been directing orchestra programs for over 10 years. He has led successful programs in the San Francisco, Austin, Houston, and Chicago areas. Each orchestra he has led demonstrated musical excellence in a variety of competitions, festivals, clinics, and concerts. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a Master of Music and Human Learning degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Daniel is originally from Northern California, where his first introduction to performing music was playing electric bass in a garage band with his friends. Immediately falling in love and wanting to learn more, he began studying jazz with a private tutor, eventually transitioning to the double bass and focusing more on performing classical music with orchestras. He has a deep passion for all forms of music and loves nothing more than sharing that with others.

Miller Shor is the Director of Theatre and is in her first year teaching and is so grateful to have landed in such a warm and welcoming community for the beginning of her career. Before arriving at Ballard, Ms. Miller worked at Global Arts Plus in St. Paul, Minnesota, and at the Northwest School of the Arts as an educational assistant. At Global Arts Plus, she also worked extensively in the after-school program, working with her mentor and friend Eliza Rasheed to produce and direct shows like Mary Poppins and Seedfolks. Ms. Miller is glad to be continuing the work of her mentors, Ms. Rasheed and Nicole Brewer, in bringing anti-racist theatre curriculum to Ballard High School. Ms. Miller completed her undergraduate training at Macalester College, where she graduated with honors in theatre, as well as receiving an advanced playwriting credential from the National Theatre Institute. She completed her Masters in Teaching at Seattle University, where she was awarded the St. Ignatius award for education. Ms. Miller maintains a professional life as a playwright. Her plays have been produced internationally, and in 2019 she was a semi-finalist for the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. 

As we begin the new year, I want to provide you with an update on our theater director position. I am pleased to share with you that Miller Shor is now officially the drama director at Ballard HS. I am confident that Miller will ensure that the Ballard theater program continues to operate at a high level while also prioritizing the needs and wellbeing of students. ~ Ballard HS Principal Abby Hunt

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Miller to the Ballard community! If you wish to contact her, her email address is mashor@seattleschools.org