Dr. Darla Eshelman

Dr. Darla Eshelman has taught all levels of music education including PK-5 elementary music, middle school choir, high school choir and university music education. Most recently she was Founder and Artistic Director for the Central Oklahoma Solfa Youth Choirs and conductor of Voce Spiritus, an auditioned choir for girls in grades 8-12. She recently moved back to Arizona, her home state where she earned her BME from Grand Canyon University, MME from Arizona State University, and began her teaching career as K-8 music and choir teacher in the Peoria School District. 

Dr. Eshelman has been guest conductor and clinician for numerous festivals and conferences around the country for the past 40 years. She left college teaching in 2019 as Emeritus Professor of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma where she was coordinator for graduate and undergraduate vocal music education, and conductor for the university women’s choir. Prior to that she served 13 years at Oklahoma Baptist University where she was vocal music education coordinator and women’s choir conductor. She earned her Ph.D in Music Education, with Kodaly Emphasis from the University of Oklahoma. 

Darla is a composer of choral music and her work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, International Children’s Choir Festivals, National and All-State Treble Choirs. She is currently composing full-time and accepting guest conducting and commission invitations. Darla is passionate about sharing the gift of choral music with any age group.