2026 Award Recipients

Dr. Damion Womack
The Thomas R. Smith Award for Excellence

​Dr. Damion Womack, a GRAMMY Music Educator Award semifinalist, has dedicated his career to inspiring excellence in choral music education as a conductor, educator, and administrator at the elementary, middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional levels. He currently serves as Director of Arts at The Montgomery Academy, where he oversees the school's comprehensive K–12 arts program and conducts the award-winning Upper School Chorus. During his tenure, he was honored with the McLemore Award for Excellence in Teaching. Prior to his current role, Dr. Womack served as Director of Choral Activities at Mississippi College and Chair of the Department of Music at Huntingdon College.
Choral ensembles under Dr. Womack’s direction have been selected through a juried process to perform at regional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
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A sought-after guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Womack has presented workshops and lectures at regional and national ACDA and NAfME conferences. His research interests include choral tone, expressive and unified singing, and the role of word stress in choral performance. He has conducted honor choir festivals throughout the United States and is recognized for his commitment to developing singers and advancing choral artistry.

Dr. Womack begins his term as President of the ACDA Southern Region in July 2026 and has contributed to numerous conference planning committees within the organization. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina and earned degrees in Music Education from Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University.

Meredith DeVore
​The Robert Wright Award for Exceptional Service

Meredith DeVore has been the music specialist at Shades Mountain Elementary since 2016. At SMES, her singers have performed in the community and for state, local, and school board officials at school and community programs. In 2024, Shades Mountain Singers were the only elementary school choir selected to perform at the Alabama Music Educator’s Association Conference. Shades Mountain students participate in state festivals such as AMEA Elementary Music Festival and ACDA Young Voices Festival. She is certified in Orff-Schulwerk, Level I. Her music program includes instruction in vocal technique, ukulele, recorder, barred instruments, drums and unpitched percussion, music literacy, composition, and improvisation. She has served as a clinician for regional honor choirs, and she has presented at state conferences.

Mrs. DeVore earned her Bachelor's of Music Education from Auburn University, graduating summa cum laude in 2008. She taught middle school choir for eight years, where her choirs consistently earned superior ratings at state and regional festivals. 

Mrs. DeVore coordinates the ACDA Young Voices Festival, and she has directed the Intermezzo Choir of the Birmingham Girls Choir since 2011. Mrs. DeVore is active in the music ministry at her church, Hunter Street Baptist. She is married to Elliott, and they have two children. She is a member of NAfME/AMEA, ACDA, and ACOE. ​

The Thomas R. Smith Award
For Excellence

Nominees for the Thomas R. Smith Award for Excellence must have been active in choral music for a minimum of 25 years, distinguishing themselves in the field of choral music and consistently demonstrating the highest musical standards. They must also have provided leadership in the choral arts and earned the respect of colleagues and students.


Prior Recipients:
William Powell
​Allen Gillespie
​Heather Cantwell
​John Kincaid
​Diana Mayhall
Milburn Price
Glinda Blackshear
Robert Wright
Ken Berg
Gayle Smith
Lester Seigel
Terre Johnson
John Baker
Kathy Hughes
Marvin Latimer
​Tim Banks

The Robert Wright Award
​For Exceptional Service

Nominees for the Robert E. Wright, Jr. Award for Exceptional Service must have been active in choral music in Alabama for a minimum of 15 years. They must have contributed exceptional service to Alabama ACDA, going above and beyond the call of duty. And the nominee must be nominated by a member in good standing of Alabama ACDA, though it is not a requirement that the nominee be a member of Alabama ACDA.

Prior Recipients:
Dan Cater
​​Ginny Hughes
​Meg Rudolph
​Brent Coleman
​Lisa Latham
Pat Blackwell
Carl Davis
​Shirley Ellison
Patricia Corbin
​Gene Davis