Jr. High/Middle School Choir Spotlight: Conductor Insights
Charles M. Owens, Jr. High/Middle School Choirs Resources & Repertoire Chair
Welcome to our Middle School/Jr. High Choir Spotlight! We'll hear from three dedicated music educators: Melissa Richardson from National Cathedral School, Ocie Banks from Thomas G. Pullen K-8 Creative & Performing Arts School, and Liam Jones from Dumbarton Middle School. The following questions give a glimpse into their classroom strategies, memorable student moments, and favorite resources.
Interesting or Professional Experiences from the Year
Melissa: I have been a Senior Associate Conductor with the National Children's Choir DC Chapter (Premiere ensemble).
Ocie: I was the conductor for the Prince George's County Public Schools Middle School All-County Honors Chorus. I was the guest conductor for the Alexandria City Public Schools 5th Grade All County Choir and the PMEA District 8 Northern Elementary Choral Fest.
Liam: I volunteered with the Baltimore Children's Choir to help with rehearsals leading up to the Maryland Young Voices Festival.
Special Events, Concerts, or Activities
Melissa: King's Dominion Festival of Music.
Ocie: My students performed with Samara Joy in December 2024 at the Bowie State University Community Messiah Sing-A-Long. They received SUPERIOR ratings at the PGCPS District Choral Performance Assessment. We just performed for Music in the Parks at Hershey can came with 2nd place with SUPERIOR ratings; one of my students received OVERALL BEST SOLOIST.
Liam:
We put on a production of "James and the Giant Peach Jr." this past fall.
We had a successful run of winter concerts in January and are looking forward to the same in May for our Spring Concerts.
Our Honor Choir was selected to sing the National Anthem at an Orioles game in April.
Our Honors Concert will feature our Honor Choir and Show Choir.
"Out of the mouths of babes" (funniest/oddest question or statement)
Liam: "I have probably the most ketchup packets of anyone in the world. My next goal is mustard."
"It actually worked" (teaching tip that changed your class)
Ocie: I give my students opportunities to lead rehearsal and class. I give them moments to lead and teach. It helps their ear-training and conducting skills and also helps them to learn how to teach. My students are at the level where they do not need me in the room. This also increases their musicianship skills.
Liam: Starting class immediately with warm-ups and saving sight-reading for mid-rehearsal once we had already worked on a piece or two. It breaks up the schedule nicely especially for a 90-minute period.
"Not doing THAT again" (something new you tried that didn't work)
Liam: Sitting baritones in the front row in the middle. The goal was to help with focus issues, but when they stand up the rest of the choir cannot see me. My altos ended up being way less focused over to my right because they felt so disconnected.
"Teaching Tech" (favorite online tech)
"Strength and Conditioning" (favorite warm-up)
Melissa: Rollo Dilworth's Warmup book.
Liam: Any solfege exercises. Repetition of these solidifies intervals and relationships between notes so when we get to sight-reading, students are prepared.