Julie Haydon

Julie Haydon loves creating works of beauty that uplift the world and connect people of diverse life experiences. Julie has worked with Cantare Con Vivo since 2000, currently serving as director of Cantare Children’s Choirs, a tuition-free program providing weekly in-school and after-school choral music education for over 2000 underserved students in Oakland, CA. Julie oversees the after-school choir program and is the founding director of Nova, a citywide choir for 6-12 graders. Under Julie’s direction, Cantare received Chorus America’s Education and Community Engagement award in 2005 and 2014.

Beginning in 2010, Julie has also shaped a thriving music ministry as Director of Music Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alameda, directing choral music from diverse traditions and major works, including Mozart's Coronation Mass and Vivaldi's Gloria. Julie works with adult and youth singers, and the hand bell choir. In 2015, Julie founded Your Song Designs to share her visual art. Using fine papers from around the world and sheet music excerpts, she creates meaningful keepsakes and designs custom greeting cards for organizations to connect with their stakeholders.

Julie grew up in Lafayette, CA, benefiting from outstanding music education opportunities. She earned a Bachelor of Music in flute performance at Northwestern University and her master's degree in music education at Holy Names University in Oakland, specializing in Kodály music education. She is currently president of the board for the Northern California Association of Kodály Educators. Julie was a mentoring conductor in Distinguished Concerts International New York's orchestral conducting program.