Hello Choral Division!
We hope you are enjoying a great break from the classroom and finding time to travel, rest and recharge for the upcoming year!
I am honored and humbled to move into the role of President of the Choral Division of the South Carolina Music Education Association for the next two year as we continue advancing the choral arts in South Carolina’s schools and communities. I am humbled to work alongside such a passionate and talented community of music educators, students, and advocates for whom I have so much respect. Furthermore, as a product of South Carolina schools, it is an incredible honor to give back to the communities who have poured so much into me as well.
I would like to thank Past President Maurice Burgess for the job he has done during his presidency. Maurice’s leadership has been exceptional, and we’ve made significant gains for choral music education in our state under his guidance. Attendance at our state conference has grown over this time and we have expanded offerings for teachers and students across the state. Additionally he has been, and continues to be, a source of wisdom and guidance for me over these past 2 years (and many years before that as well!). I also want to express my gratitude to David Richardson and Lisa Pecarina for their invaluable advice and encouragement as I prepared to step into this role. We would also like to welcome our new President-Elect, Millie Shiflett. Millie has been a great leader in the choral community since coming to our state and I know that her passion for the choral arts will help move us forward in the coming years.
Our conference in February was amazing and we are busy planning for 2026 as we speak! From elementary ensembles to collegiate groups, the performances demonstrated the outstanding teaching and musicianship taking place in classrooms across South Carolina. Please save February 5-7th, 2026 for our next conference featuring our headliner Dr. Andrew Crane from Brigham Young University, engaging reading and interest sessions, and of course, amazing performances by choirs from across our state!
Also save the date for our Fall Choral Arts Seminar on September 5-6, 2025. We will have workshops by Dr. Shannon Jeffreys from Georgia Southern University as well as other great opportunities to meet with other colleagues from across the state!
As always, please check out choraldivision.org for the most up to date information about events across the state.
As we prepare for a new school year, all of our committees are working hard to prepare for our upcoming events. It takes many hands to keep the Choral Division running smoothly, and I invite each of you to be part of that collective effort. Please encourage new teachers in your area to get involved and help build the future of music education in our state.
If I can be of service to you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can also assure you—I’ll be calling on you, too. It’s through collaboration and shared commitment that we’ll accomplish our goals for music education in South Carolina.
Thank you again for your dedication—and welcome to another exciting year with the SCMEA Choral Division!