Joanne J. Ward received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Montclair State University and a Master of Music in Voice from West Chester University. She has studied voice with Benjamin Wilkes, Larry Dorminy and Katherine Madole and has been a soloist and lead performer with area churches, choral ensembles and theatrical companies. Ms. Ward formerly served as the director of choral activities for the Pennsville School District in Pennsville, N.J., where she maintained five choral ensembles. Under her direction, Pennsville High School choirs received numerous awards at various state and regional choral festivals and competitions. Ms. Ward is the founder and director of the Wilmington Youth Chorale and the Delaware Children’s Chorus at the Music School of Delaware, retiring from that position in 2004. She currently serves as the conductor and music director of the Delaware Women’s Chorus, also in residence at the Music School of Delaware. Under her leadership the chorus has tripled in size and regularly receives high praise at festivals and concerts.

Mrs. Ward is currently the director of middle school choral music at the Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pa., and maintains a large private voice studio that serves students from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Her students are annually selected for regional, state and national honor choirs. She continues to be in demand as a choral conductor and adjudicator as well as a soprano soloist. Ms. Ward was honored as Teacher of the Year in 1996, and she currently serves as vocal/choral master faculty at the Music School of Delaware. ​