Artistic Staff
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Alex Underwood is a choral conductor and music educator originally from Russell, Kansas. He is all-but-dissertation in his doctoral program in choral music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studies with Andrew Megill and served as the conductor of the University Women's Chorus. He earned an undergraduate degree from Sterling College (Kansas) in music education and voice performance before teaching vocal music at Ruppenthal Middle School and Russell High School from 2008 to 2012. He is the recipient of the 2011 Young Director Award from the Kansas Choral Directors Association and the 2010 Horizon Award for first year teachers from the Kansas Department of Education. Alex completed a Master of Music in choral conducting at Westminster Choir College in 2014 where he studied with Joe Miller and James Jordan. He founded the Ad Astra Music Festival in 2014.
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR John Irving is director of choral studies at Christopher Newport University (CNU) where he conducts the Chamber Choir and University Chorale, teaches courses in conducting, choral literature, music education, vocal pedagogy, and supervises student teachers. In addition to his responsibilities with Ad Astra and at CNU, he is a chorister with the Virginia Chorale and Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and director of choral ministry at First Baptist Church Newport News. John served as interim music director of the Denton Bach Society and men’s chorus director of Westminster Choir College's Vocal Institute. Previously, he was director of choral music at Fordham High School for the Arts in New York City and founding choral workshop director to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute Count Me In program. He has prepared choruses for performance with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The New York Times praised his choirs in performance as “not just exuberant but polished and precise.” As a countertenor and bass chorister, he has appeared in performance with Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Daniel Barenboim, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Vladimir Jurowski, Jane Glover, Andrew Manze, Gary Thor Wedow, Alan Gilbert, Nathalie Stutzmann, and JoAnn Falletta. John earned a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of North Texas. He holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College and a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Texas at Austin. His musical training began as a treble with the Texas Boys Choir.
PRODUCTION and TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Terrance Volden is a Kansas native. They were born in Liberal, KS and graduated from Sterling College in 2008. In their years of freelance design work, they helped with several productions at Russell High School, Russell Arts Council, and most recently designed the set for the 2021 Ad Astra/Prairiesta production of Our Trudy. Terrance worked as a Technical Director and Scenic Designer in Indiana for seven years. During that time, they received the Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction award from the Kennedy Center American Collegiate Theatre National Festival in 2017 and Excellence in Technical Direction in 2020. Terrance is currently a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production candidate at UMKC focusing on Technical Direction and Production Management.
FESTIVAL MANAGER Shelby Laird is from Hays, Kansas and was a Young Artist for the Ad Astra Music Festival in 2015. She graduated from Northern Arizona University in December 2018 with a degree in choral music education. While at NAU, she performed with Shrine of the Ages Choir, High Altitude, Handbell Choir, Women’s Chorale, and student conducted University Singers. Shelby served as NAU’s Student Chapter President of ACDA and planned the Student Symposium for the state of Arizona in 2017. She was awarded the Outstanding Future Choral Educator of the Year for the state of Arizona in 2018. Shelby also performed the role of Countess in Fort Hays State University’s production of The Marriage of Figaro. She and her husband, Micah Laird, currently live in Independence MO. Shelby taught choir in the Independence School District at William Chrisman High School for three years. Next year, Shelby is heading to the University of Oregon to pursue a masters degree in choral conducting.
ORCHESTRA MANAGER Micah Laird is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where he obtained a degree in Instrumental Music Education as the Outstanding Senior of the School of Music. During his time at NAU, Micah performed with the Shrine of the Ages Choir, Northern Voices Jazz Choir, The Highlanders All-Male Acapella Group, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz band, and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra where he played trumpet. While in college, Micah also toured the country with the World Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 2015 and 2016. Micah currently lives in Blue Springs, Missouri where he is the assistant director of bands at Brittany Hill Middle school and an associate director of bands for the Golden Regiment Marching Band from Blue Springs High School. In addition to his public school teaching, he is on the instructional staff for the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps as well as the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps for the current 2022 season. He will be attending the University of Oregon in the fall to start a graduate degree in Wind Conducting.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAD Hanna Dannar is entering her junior year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she is pursuing a degree in Music Research with a minor in English Literature. While at UNL, she has been involved in Chorale and All-Collegiate Choir. She has previously performed with the festival as part of the multiple High School Honor choirs. During the academic year, She works for the Sylvan Learning Center where she helps students K-8 learn Math and Reading. Her hobbies include reading, painting, and hanging out at the local coffee shop. Hanna’s crowning achievement was getting called out by Miz Cracker at one of her shows.
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Katy Hertel is an accomplished fundraiser and Russell native. Katy earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance from Fort Hays State University and currently works at Russell Regional Hospital. She previously led the Russell Regional Hospital Campaign for Continuing Excellence to expand the hospital campus and add healthcare services for patients. Katy lives in Russell with her husband and four children, and she is excited to oversee the continued growth of Ad Astra as the festival increases its presence both regionally and nationally.