SICC 2024

S OUTHERN INVI TAT I ONAL CHORAL CONFERENCE

SEPTEMBER 16 -17, 2024

SICC

We invite you to the 21st year of the Southern Invitational Choral Conference at Southern Miss to be held September 16 and 17, 2024. This year’s conference will feature clinicians Brett Peppo, John Stafford II, and Matthew Swope.

• no audition required

• performance t-shirt and music provided

• opportunity to audition for scholarships from Southern Miss

• new friends and interaction with colleagues

• great choral music

• continuing education units for teachers

Students will take part in intense rehearsals and highquality performances, meeting fellow musicians from all over the Southeast. Also, at SICC, students have an opportunity to audition for choral scholarships at Southern Miss. Teachers can earn continuing education units (CEUs) by attending the various sessions. We are enthusiastic about meeting and working with you and your students. Please contact us with any questions.

• reading sessions and master classes for teachers (music provided)

• final concert on Tuesday afternoon by all singers

Sincerely,

Gregory Fuller, PhD, Director of Choral Activities

The University of Southern Mississippi

601.266.4092 | Gregory.Fuller@usm.edu

SOUTHERN MISS

STUDENT ACDA CHAPTER

COMMUNITY COLLEGE CLINICIAN

JOHN

John Stafford II is professor of music, director of choral activities, and coordinator of the music department at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). Previously, he was appointed at Millikin University, Eastern Illinois University, and Danville Area Community College teaching composition, theory, orchestration, history, and vocal jazz. He holds degrees from Millikin University (music business), Bowling Green State University (composition), and has done additional doctoral studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (choral conducting).

Professor Stafford currently serves as the National Repertoire and Resources Vocal Jazz Chair of the American Choral Directors Association. He is also a member of the National Association for Music Education, Jazz Educators Network, and American Choral Directors Association. He also has arrangements published by the Lorenz Corporation and Anchor Music Publications. Professor Stafford directs “The Standard”, the award-winning contemporary vocal jazz ensemble from Kansas City Kansas Community College. Within the last eight years, The Standard has won twelve Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards and has recorded two studio albums avaiable on all digital platforms.

STAFFORD II

HIGH SCHOOL CLINICIAN

MATTHEW SWOPE

Matthew Swope is an assistant professor and the director of choral activities at the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University. Dr. Swope has taught at the University of Cincinnati, Rollins College, and Winter Park High School. He was also previously appointed as a May Festival Choral Conducting Fellow.

Dr. Swope embraces a diverse array of musical styles and is equally at home in the choral, contemporary a cappella, and musical theatre repertoires. Ensembles under his direction have performed for state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Florida Music Education Association (FMEA), International Championship of High School A Cappella Finals, and National A Cappella Convention. Dr. Swope has presented at conferences of ACDA, National Association for Music Education, FMEA, and Ohio Music Education Association.

He earned a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting with a cognate in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In addition, he received his M.M. in Voice Performance & Pedagogy and B.A. degrees in Music and Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies from The Pennsylvania State University.

TEACHER CLINICIAN

BRET PEPPO

Bret Peppo is in his nineteenth year as director of choral activities at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA. He conducts the Concert Chorale, Chamber Singers, Masterworks Chorale, and coaches Vocal Jazz Ensembles and acapella ensembles. Previously, Peppo has held positions as the director of choral activities at Kent State University, Alderson-Broaddus University, the University of South Alabama, and Illinois State University. He has also served as associate director of choral activities at the University of Northern Arizona and as director of the University of Iowa’s Old Gold Singers, amassing over 30 years of collegiate choral instruction experience. His concert, jazz, and show choirs have toured extensively throughout the country and have been selected to perform at numerous All-State and ACDA State and Regional Conferences. As a conductor, Peppo has led many high school and collegiate all-state festivals for both honor choirs and jazz choirs. He is a frequent adjudicator and clinician with many national music festivals and is a regular judge for show choir, vocal jazz, and a cappella competitions.Peppo received his B.M.E. from Eastern Illinois University, M.M. in Conducting from Illinois State University, and is ABD from the University of Iowa in Conducting

SCHEDULE

10 a.m.– Registration begins on the second and third floors of the Thad Cochran Center.

HIGH SCHOOL

MONDAY

Noon – Rehearsal/sectionals with breaks –Thad Cochran Center Ballroom 1

4 p.m. – Dinner

5:30 p.m. – Rehearsal – Thad Cochran Center Ballroom 1

7 p.m. – Dismiss

7:15 p.m. – Southern Miss Concert – Bennett Auditorium

TUESDAY

9 a.m. – Rehearsal – Thad Cochran Center Ballroom 1

12:30 p.m. – Lunch

2 p.m. – Rehearsal – Main St. Baptist Church

3:30 p.m. – SICC Concert – Main St. Baptist Church

TEACHERS

MONDAY

12:15 p.m. – Session 1

1:15 p.m. – Session 2

2:15 p.m. – Visit Exhibits

2:45 p.m. – Session 3

3:45 p.m. – Dismiss

6 p.m. – Session 4

7 p.m. – Dismiss

7:15 p.m. – Southern Miss Concert – Bennett Auditorium/Session 5

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MONDAY

Noon – Rehearsal/sectionals with breaks – Cook Union B

4:30 p.m. – Dinner

6 p.m. – Rehearsal – Cook Union B

7 p.m. – Dismiss

7:15 p.m. – Southern Miss Concert – Bennett Auditorium

TUESDAY

9 a.m. – Rehearsal – Cook Union B

11:30 a.m. – Lunch

1 p.m. – Rehearsal – Main St. Baptist Church

3:30 p.m. – SICC Concert – Main St. Baptist Church

TUESDAY

9:15 a.m. – Session 6

10:15 a.m. – Session 7

11:15 a.m. – Lunch

1:15 p.m. – Session 8

2:15 p.m. – Session 9

3:30 p.m. – SICC Concert/Session 10 – Main St. Baptist Church

Choral scholarship auditions for The University of Southern Mississippi will be held during the conference. Rehearsalsandbreaksareatthediscretionoftheclinicians.

SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS

STUDENT SELECTION PROCESS

Each high school and community college is invited to bring three or four balanced SATB quartets. Students should be excellent sight-readers, have good vocal technique, and display exemplary rehearsal behavior. If possible, priority should be given to students who will continue to sing in college. Please limit selection to those students who read music well and work hard in rehearsal.

If you have a need to bring a group that is not balanced with voice parts, permission must be sought from Dr. Gregory Fuller (gregory.fuller@usm.edu).

SCHOLARSHIP AUDITION

At SICC, students have the opportunity to earn choral scholarships to The University of Southern Mississippi for the 2024 - 25 academic year. Auditions are open to all high school seniors and community college students who attend SICC. Students planning to be music majors should prepare two songs—one of a fine art (or classical) nature and one from any style. Those planning on being music minors, or who do not plan on majoring in music at all, should prepare one piece of a fine art (or classical) nature. An accompanist will be provided.

FAQ

STUDENT ATTIRE School-appropriate clothing should be worn for all rehearsals, and the SICC T-shirt and jeans, or khakis, should be worn for the concert (no shorts for performance).

REHEARSALS To help us make SICC a successful conference, we ask that any deviation from the schedule be cleared with Dr. Fuller. It is important that all conference attendees help our productivity by being present and keeping distractions at a minimum. Please consult with us before allowing any student to arrive late or depart early from any rehearsal or event.

PARKING PASSES Parking passes will be available prior to SICC on the web at usm.edu/sicc.

CEUs CEUs are not included in the teacher registration fee but are available at an additional cost. Teachers must attend all CEU sessions in order to receive their credits.

STUDENTS BEST SUITED FOR THE SICC EXPERIENCE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES IN THIS ORDER: strong work ethic, musicianship skills (sight-reading) and choral singing experience.

HOTELS

CONFERENCE CODE SICC

COST DEADLINE

*All rates and info subject to change

When making your reservations, please use the conference code SICC to receive special rates. Remember that most of the rooms have two double beds and can accommodate four students. Make sure to specify if you want double/double rooms or kings. Monday night is the only required night; however, some schools may want to arrive Sunday evening.

SICC

Imprinted items such as T-shirts cannot be guaranteed for registration occurring after September 3, 2024.

LIABILITY

Southern Miss does not take responsibility for students when they are not attending an SICC event. The remainder of the conference, including travel, downtime, dining breaks and overnight lodging, is monitored by teacher, chaperone or other responsible adult named on the SICC registration form.

Early Payment Option

$65 per student/teacher/chaperone

Paid in full by September 3, 2024

High Schools and Community Colleges may bring up to 16 students

Payment Option

$75 per student/teacher/chaperone

Paid in full after September 3, 2024

Students without a school affiliation must be at least 14 years of age, exhibit strong musicianship skills, have some choral singing experience, and possess a strong work ethic.

Please make check or money order payable to Southern Miss Choral Activities and mail to Dr. Gregory Fuller

The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive #5081 Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Designed to make SICC accessible for homeschool students and students whose schools are not participating in the conference

CHORAL ACTIVITIES

118 College Drive #5081

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

SI CC

THE NO WORRIES CONFERENCE No audition No pre-purchase of music No pre-conference preparation

Nonprofit Organization

US Postage Paid

Hattiesburg, MS 39402

Permit No. 148

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