From the audition process to hours of practice, students from across the county had been preparing to perform during the Mississippi American Choral Directors Association state conference.

Unfortunately, the event, which was to be hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi and scheduled from March 26-28, had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nancy Robertson, president of the Mississippi Music Educator Association, said the conference would have included workshops for teachers as well as a day-long concert from the honor choirs.

This year, 46 students from the Vicksburg Warren School District were chosen to be part of these honor choirs at the conference.

Prior to the scheduled MMEA/ACDA Conference, Robertson said, the students who had been selected as honor choir members were rehearsing the selected musical pieces with their respective music teachers in preparation for the event.

Once at the conference, Robertson said, “The students would have then rehearsed together with a clinician on Thursday and Friday and then performed on Saturday.”

Following the conference, Robertson said, “Students would have then received a professional recording of the concert.”

In a letter Robertson sent out in late March, she thanked all who had been helping prepare for the conference that would have included showcasing the talents from students around the state.

“The conference would have been amazing because so many people worked together so diligently to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students, teachers, parents, and all who would have attended,” she said.

 

Elementary Honor Choir

For the All State Elementary Honor Choir, Robertson said, approximately 400 students were chosen and those who made the cut locally were:

Beechwood Elementary

Seth Cochran

Jonah Graham

(Francis Hassell, music teacher)

Bovina Elementary 

Alan Lee

Tye Moseley

Mary Madisyn Harper

(Jennifer Tillotson, music teacher; she would have been the accompanist for the All State Elementary Honor Choir)

Bowmar Avenue Elementary

Jaidyn N. Pedyfoot

Ellie Tennison

Shaun Michael Archer

(Nykkoa Morris, music teacher)

Redwood Elementary

Sera Watts

Ethan Noble

Addi Wilson

(Wyn Pratt, music teacher)

South Park Elementary

Michelle Kleinman

Leandrew Drake

(Clarissa Walker Horner, music teacher)

Vicksburg Intermediate

Ka’Daysha Buchannan

(Larry Reaux, music teacher)

Warren Central Intermediate

Dylan Bracey

Ratavia Butler

Samuel Ross

Christy Thompson

(Marcia Cochran, Music Teacher)

 

Junior High Honor Choir

The All State Junior High Honor Choir is comprised of 517 students and those, locally, who made this year’s honor choir all attend the Academy of Innovation.

Junior High SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and base) Honor Choir

AnneMarie Jeffers
Chloe Barnard
Lauren Flagg
Marleigh Williams
Mia Portillo Sagastume
Morgan Rouse
Katie Wallace
Bo Campbell
Jaden Hughes
Jaiden McGloster
Jamari McGloster
Jack Bond
Jackson Lafferty
Jaylen Smith
Shayne Thompson

Junior High SSA (soprano one, soprano two and alto) Honor Choir

Alyssa Kindhart
Kynnade Washington
Harmony Coleman
Kyra McCullum
Lauren Kilroy
Sarah Cameron Fancher
(Katherine Hoitt, director)

All State High School Honor Show Choir

Warren Central High School

Brandon Heggins

Elijah Prevot

Parker Waites

(Eric Johnson and Sam Lovorn, directors)

 

High School Honor Choir

More than 600 students signed up to audition for the high school honor choir, Robertson said.

All State High School SSA Choir

Warren Central High School

Abigail Spires

(Eric Johnson and Sam Lovorn, directors)

Vicksburg High School

Kameren Batty

Randy Barnes

Abigail Hughes

(Angela Chapin, director)