Barbara is the Founder and Artistic Program Director for the Heartland Youth Choir, a civic organization that serves over 300 central Iowa singers in seven ensembles and short-term offerings. Prior to her work with the Heartland Youth Choir, Barbara was the Artistic Director of the Iowa Youth Chorus, the Des Moines Children’s Choruses, the Anderson Area Children’s Choir of Anderson, Indiana, and the Lakes Treble Choir of Minnesota. Barbara also served as an adjunct professor at Drake University where she taught a music ed course, observed student teachers, mentored choral interns and served as the director the Drake University Women’s Chorale from 2004-2012. Under her direction, choirs have performed for National Kodaly and Orff Conferences, regional Music Educators National Conferences, and American Choral Director’s Association divisional and state conferences. In addition, Barbara was a featured clinician for the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati.
As a specialist in treble voices, Barbara frequently serves as a guest conductor for high school and elementary festival choirs and honor choirs. She has guest conducted for numerous All-State choirs throughout the United States including; Alabama, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Georgia, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas. In addition, she has served as the guest conductor for various summer choir camps including; the International Music Camp, the Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic, the Indiana Choral Director’s Summer Music Institute, the University of St. Thomas Kodaly Choral Camp, the Virginia Kodaly Summer Music Camp, the Drake School of Music Summer Camp, the Heartland Choral Camp, and the International Music Institute.
Barbara completed her Masters of Arts in Music Education with a Kodaly emphasis from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is also trained in Orff and Dalcroze methodology. She is a frequent clinician for music educators throughout the United States and has taught Kodaly certification course at both Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Barbara has fourteen published and commissioned works for treble choirs including commissions for Iowa and Indiana All-State choirs. Her compositions are published with Colla Voce Publishing, Hal Leonard, and Alliance Publishing Company. Barbara has served on the Board of Directors for numerous music organizations including: the National Organization of American Kodaly Educators, the Midwest Kodaly Music Educators of America, the Indiana Choral Directors Association, the Indiana Music Educators Association, and the Iowa Choral Director’s Association.
Barbara and her husband, Tom Sletto, have recently relocated to Naples, Florida and are enjoying life in the sunshine state! She is continuing to work remotely with the Heartland Youth Choir on a part time basis and is enjoying having more time to compose and perform again.