Eight State Fair Community College music students were selected for the Missouri All-Collegiate Honor Choir that performed Jan. 25 at the 81st Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. The students were Sarah Casey of Jefferson City, Nathan Hedglin of Holden, Brian Oliphant of Cassville, Jana Osborne of Pleasant Hill, Trace Rodriquez of Windsor, and Chris Strout, Kirstin Weller and Macey Hoover all of Sedalia.
Guest conductor Eliza Rubenstein, director of choral, vocal activities and Music Department chair at Orange Coast College in Long Beach, California, held two days of rehearsals with the 123-member honor choir before giving a concert for more than 400 educators and guests at the MMEA conference.
In an email to all the students and their directors, Rubenstein expressed her appreciation for the experience of working with the students and praised their performance. She wrote, “Your performance was terrific—a true apotheosis of the work and the wonder we shared during our time together, with a handful of moments of spontaneous collective creation that thrilled the whole length of my spine.”
Students from Central Methodist University, Culver-Stockton College, East Central College, Lindenwood University, Missouri Baptist University, Missouri Southern State University, Missouri State University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Charles Community College, and St. Louis Community College also were selected for the honor choir.
At the same event, Sandy Cordes, SFCC adjunct music instructor, was honored with the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Distinguished Service Award for her many years as an adjudicator, trainer and music committee member. MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Davine Davis presented the award to Cordes.
