JH Choir

scjhchoir@gmail.com

Vice President of Junior High Choirs - Michal Dameron

Michal is the choir director at Reed Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in the Springfield Public Schools District. This is not only her third year at Reed Academy, but also her third year of teaching. Michal earned her Bachelors in Vocal Music Education at Missouri State University in 2023, and also completed the Instrumental Education Endorsement. While at MSU, she served in various leadership roles, and performed with the Chorale, Women's Chorus, and Choral Union under the direction of Dr. Erin Plisco and Dr. Cameron LaBarr. Her time with Chorale included performances at SWACDA, ACDA, MMEA, and tours across Spain, South Africa, Canada, France, and various regions in the United States. Outside of the classroom, Michal remains active in the Springfield music community by performing with the Queen City Chorale, MSU Choral Union, Missouri Choral Artists, and various other ensembles and organizations. She also hosts a summer private lesson studio, teaching private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones (especially her new niece), reading, painting, exploring the outdoors, and loving on her dog and cat, Oliver and Penny. 

SCMMEA 7-8 Grade HONOR CHOIR EVENT - 2027 Information

 Event Information and Deadlines:

• • Saturday, February 20, 2027 

  • Southwest Baptist University (1600 University Ave, Bolivar, MO 65613) 

  • Registration Formula: 

    1. Take the total number of 7th and 8th graders in your district

    2. Divide that number by 50

    3. Round to the nearest whole number

    4. Adjust the number to at least 4 but no more than 16

    5. If your school’s number from the formula is less than 4, then the maximum number of students that school can bring is 4.

    6. If your school’s number is more than 16, then the maximum number of students that school can bring is 16. However, they are not obligated to bring 16 students. See the audition process below.

  • Audition Process:  To maintain a standard of excellence within the overall choral ensembles, an audition process is encouraged to bring students who can adhere to audition guidelines. 

    1. The following audition guideline is highly encouraged to be used when selecting students. Use this link to view audition guidelines. 

    2. The primary objective is to uphold a standard of musical excellence across the SCMMEA Honor Choirs, ensuring an enriching yet rigorous experience for our vocalists.  

    3. Try to bring equal voice parts: SATB

       1. An exception can be made if two schools (smaller/rural) with an exact number of students can collaborate where one group does Part 1 and the other group does Part 2 (or whatever combination of voicing that works best for both groups to create equal voicing combined).

• Cost Per Student: $26

• • Includes: 

    1. Clinician/Accompanist Fees

    2. Event T-Shirt (to be worn at the performance with BLACK Pants or Skirt/Shoes)

    3. Lunch with SBU Food Service

    4. Non-Refundable in the event of cancellation

• Director Deadlines for Honor Choir Event:

  • Fill out the 2027 Registration Form ; this form will close at midnight on December 18, 2026 

    1. I will send out money totals/invoices over Winter Break 

  • T-Shirt Orders and Student Names for the program will be due by January 15, 2027 

    1. T-Shirt Orders will be made by the directors through Creator Designs. A discount code will be sent through email during Winter Break

    2. A Google Form for Student Names will be sent out during Winter Break

    3. Any names or shirt sizes not received by this date will not be ordered or put into the program

  • All money will be due by February 5, 2027 

    1. Pay via credit card on Katie Pressor's (our SCMMEA Treasurer) page on the SCMMEA website

    2. Please plan ahead for checks so they can be approved at the January Board Meeting 

• 2027 Repertoire: 

  • 1. "Hine ma tov"   -arr. Allan Naplan (2-Part)

    2. "Hope Lingers On"  - Andrea Ramsey (SATB) 

       • Available on Andrea Ramsey's website or MusicSpoke

    3.  "Niska Banja" - arr. Nick Page (SATB)

    4. "Does the World Say" - Kyle Pederson (SAB)

    5. "I'll Sing Because I'm Happy" - arr. Rollo Dilworth (SATB) 

  • Our clinician is requesting additional instruments for several pieces. It would be fantastic if we could have choir directors in our group who would be willing and comfortable volunteering to take on an instrumental role to help out at the concert. The following instruments are needed. If you are interested in helping out, please contact me! 

    1. "Hope Lingers On" - Percussion (Egg shaker, Djembe ((or low drum)) 

       • From Dr. Sengin - A select group of students will do the body percussion - if you have a student who excels at rhythm and percussion, you can have them learn a body percussion part). 

    2. "Niska Banja" - Tambourine, Clarinet 

       • From Dr. Sengin - A small group who knows the music will sing the 2-part verses, so it will only be SATB in the chorus sections) 

    3. "I Sing Because I'm Happy" - Drumset and Bass (someone with gospel experience) 

  • Note: you are invited to contact Liz Loudis at Ernie Williamson at loudis@erniewilliamson.com or at (417) 832-1665 x112 who would be happy to help order any music you need year-round.  She can provide, on average, a 20% discount off the cover price. With some smaller publishers, that is not possible, but they will cover shipping.  

  • Practice Recordings: 

    1. Click here to open the 2027 JH Honor Choir Google Folder 

       • Here you will find recordings for all pieces. 

       • Recordings for "Does the World Say" will be posted soon. 

• Check these links for additional questions:

  • 26-27 JH Honor Choir One Pager  

  • JH Audition Guidelines 

2027 SCMMEA Junior High Clinician: Dr. Jennifer Sengin

Jennifer Sengin is the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory (UMKC) where she leads the graduate choral conducting program and conducts the flagship ensemble, Conservatory Singers, and the Choral Union. In addition to ensembles, Dr. Sengin teaches graduate choral conducting and choral literature. She has mentored multiple graduate students who have been successfully placed in professional positions, admitted to graduate programs, accepted to invited conference presentations, and selected to participate in conducting master classes. In the summer of 2024, Dr. Sengin received the inaugural Newcomer Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association.

Prior to coming to UMKC, Dr. Sengin most recently served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Georgia State University (GSU). Under her direction, the GSU Treble Choir (formerly Women’s Chorus) won first place in The American Prize and Dr. Sengin received 2nd place in conducting. The Treble Choir has been invited to perform at the National Collegiate Choral Organization Conference (2023) and twice at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference (2020 and 2023). While at GSU, Dr. Sengin received two university-wide awards –the 2022-2023 Non-Tenure Track Faculty Achievement Award and the 2021-2022 GSU Instructional Effectiveness Award.

An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Sengin has conducted honor choirs throughout the country and recently conducted the 2025 Georgia All-State Treble Choir, 2025 Wisconsin Treble-Clef Choir, 2024 South Carolina American Choral Director’s Association TTB Honor Choir, 2023 Texas All-State Treble Choir, and additional regional honor choirs. Future engagements include guest conducting the Duruflé Requiem at Carnegie Hall with National Concerts and all-state and honor choirs in Florida, New York, California, Mississippi, and Missouri among others.

She recently participated as a Conducting Fellow with the American Choral Directors Association International Conductor Exchange Program to Germany where she led workshops at the Hochshule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover and the Hochshule für Musik, Universität der Künste Berlin. Dr. Sengin has presented sessions and served as a panelist at international, national, regional, and state conferences. In 2024, Dr. Sengin traveled to Helsinki, Finland to co-present at the International Society for Music Education World Conference. She currently serves on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and as the Repertoire and Resource Chair for Youth and Student Activities for the ACDA Southwestern Region. She also sings in the award-winning professional ensemble, mirabai.

Dr. Sengin holds degrees from The College of New Jersey (BM Music Education), Ithaca College (MM Choral Conducting), and Michigan State University (DMA Choral Conducting).