Kimberly Waigwa

Kimberly Waigwa is a conductor and educator with a focus on social justice music, community building through and within music making, and queer and BIPOC advocacy. As a result of their interests, they have worked with the Tucson Commission on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Issue, GALA Choruses, and Temple University to facilitate dialogue practice and interpersonal, intentional educational practices.  

Prior to moving to Philadelphia, they served as artistic director of queer choruses, the Phoenix Women’s Chorus and Desert Voices. Additionally, they served as music director of Mountain Vista Unitarian Universalist Congregation and held a variety of other musical positions including Interim Director of the St. Nicholas and After School Music Program Choirs, private vocal and piano instructor, and guest conductor with multiple ensembles in southern Arizona.  

As a conductor, Waigwa has studied with many preeminent conductors in the field including Jerry Blackstone, Jason Max Ferdinand, Ann Howard Jones, James Jordan, Arian Khaefi, and Eugene Rogers. Additionally, Waigwa has been selected by national audition for both the undergraduate and graduate masterclasses at the American Choral Directors Conference.  

Waigwa received their masters student in Choral Conducting at Temple University, a student of Dr. Paul Rardin. They received their Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, from the University of Arizona.