Success - It Takes a Village!

The success of our students is grounded firmly in the teaching of solid vocal technique, the development of music literacy, and the exploration of the diverse elements music has to offer. We have a strong team of GPFAA faculty at the middle and high school levels that believe in empowering the students to grow into the musicians they want to become. We also bring in adjunct vocal faculty to help refine and develop a strong understanding of the individual voice.

Joel Duarte, High School Director

High School Director & Middle School Tenor-Bass Singers Director

Mr. Joel Duarte is in his 12th year in Grand Prairie ISD and 10th year at GPFAA. He graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education and recently completed a Master's degree in Music from Southern Methodist University. He brings a wealth of experience to the stage empowering his students through producing large-scale choral productions, participation, and placement in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions, and traveling the globe performing as a choir and personally with the Dallas Symphony Chorus. At GPFAA, Mr. Duarte directs all high school vocal ensembles and the middle school tenor basses. Mr. Duarte is a sought-after vocal clinician throughout Texas and the nation, having served in preparatory clinics for choir contests and festivals and as a guest clinician for honor choir performances. He has presented sessions on choral pedagogy across the state of Texas in different school districts, at Texas MEA, Oklahoma MEA, Southwestern American Choral Directors Association, and International Society of Music Educators (Ireland).

Mr. Duarte's professional affiliations include the International Society for Music Education and Music in Schools and Teacher Education Commission; American Choral Directors Association; National Association for Music Education; National Association of Teachers of Singing; Texas Music Educators Association; Texas Choral Directors Association; Texas Music Adjudicators Association.

Beyond his credentials as a performer and director, Mr. Duarte is tremendously passionate about teaching, mentoring, and empowering middle and high school students, the musicians of tomorrow. Mind, Heart, and Soul!

Alexis Galindo, Middle School Director

Middle School Director

Ms. Alexis Galindo is a native of Grand Prairie, Texas. She is in her second year in Grand Prairie Independent School District and her first year at the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy. She directs the Middle School Mixed, Treble Varsity, and Treble Junior Varsity Choirs while assisting with the High School Choirs. Ms. Galindo holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Choral Music Education from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).

At UTA, she studied voice under Jing Lin-Tam and Dr. Jennifer Ciobanu. During her undergraduate studies, she performed the role of Zita in Giacomo Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi under the direction of Dr. Anne Healy and Dr. David Grogan. She also performed with the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Cliff Evans. Since 2020, she has been a member of Awaken Ensemble, a non-profit chamber choir based in Arlington, Texas, under the direction of Sean and Mary Hale. She was also a member and music director of the award-winning A Cappella group RISE and performed at The Beacon Theatre and Carnegie Hall. Since the Fall of 2021, she has been singing with the Fort Worth Chorale of Schola Cantorum under the direction of Dr. Karen Kenaston-French. In April 2022, she appeared as the Mezzo-Soprano soloist in Maurice Duruflé's Requiem alongside the Fort Worth Chorale Schola Cantorum. In April 2022, Ms. Galindo had her Dallas Symphony Orchestra debut as Larina in Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky. Ms. Galindo has started her line-up of teaching excellence, with many of her middle school students placing in the 2023 Middle School All-Region Choir and as musical director of GPFAA’s MS productions of Addams Family Jr. and Matilda Jr.

Along with preparing for the upcoming year, Ms. Galindo will be playing the role of 3rd Lady and 3rd Spirit,in Mozarts, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), this Summer 2023 in Morelia, Mexico. 

Dr. Yeo-Hun Chun, Accompanist 

Accompanist

Dr. Chun has been the accompanist for the GPFAA Choir since 2024. A classically trained pianist, she earned her degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas. Over the years, Dr. Chun has accompanied a wide variety of choral performances, ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary works. She has played for numerous choral concerts, as well as university auditions and state competitions. In addition to her work with the GPFAA Choir, she enjoys teaching piano and collaborating with vocalists and instrumentalists on various musical projects.

Mr. Chris Schoppe

Piano Teacher

Chris Schoppe has a life-long love for music in all its forms. He holds two degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University, Master of Arts with an emphasis in music theory and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance. While at SFA, Chris ventured into areas of composition, performance, and music theory. During his time at SFA, he performed with all major performing groups in the School of Music as well musical productions for the College of Fine Arts. He also regularly performed for numerous solo/chamber recitals throughout his university experience. During his graduate assistantship, Chris had the honor of teaching undergraduate music theory. 

Mr. Schoppe has been a sought-after collaborative pianist since moving to the DFW metroplex in 2013. He performs for various concerts, recitals, juries, and contests in addition to his current position at the Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy each year. Mr. Schoppe currently teaches music theory alongside his collaborative pianist position for the choral strand at GPFAA.  

Mr. Schoppe has held a church pianist position at Alliance Methodist Church in Fort Worth for the past decade. Chris also enjoys composing and arranging for all mediums. His compositions/arrangements have seen performances at GPFAA and Fort Worth locations.  

Private Vocal Teachers

Mrs. Paula Dial

Dr. Katie Mersch

Mrs. Jennifer Townsley