She is the conductor of the UMM Concert Choir, Chamber Choir and professor of conducting. She earned a Doctorate of Music Arts in Choral Conducting with a cognate in Instrumental Conducting from North Dakota State University, a Masters of Music in Music Theory with a related field in Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas, a second Master in Music from Texas Christian University in Choral Conducting, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, Morris in trumpet and vocal performance with a cognate in composition. Armendarez has studied choral conducting under Ken Hodgson, Henry Gibbons, Jerry McCoy, Joni Jensen, Ronald Shirey, and JoAnn Miller. Prior to joining the University of Minnesota, Morris faculty, Armendarez taught at the University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, North Dakota State University, and Mountain