Honors Choir Directors
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High School Honors Choirs |
| Julia Jenkins Holt serves as the Vocal Music Director at Eisenhower High School and Malow Junior High School in Shelby Township, MI. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from Michigan State University and holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Oakland University. Julia received the honor of being named the MSVMA Teacher of the Year in 2025 and the Macomb County High School Teacher of the Year in 2014. Actively engaged in MSVMA, she currently holds the roles of Treasurer and State Scheduling Coordinator. Julia has been the conductor of the Session 2 SSA Choir at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp since 2014 and led the 2016 MSVMA 6-7-8 SA State Honors Choir. Under Julia’s direction, the choirs at Eisenhower and Malow consistently achieve top ratings at MSVMA festivals since her arrival in 2003. They have showcased their talent in many venues including the MSVMA All-State Festival, Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Julia’s teaching philosophy emphasizes achieving the highest technical performance level across multiple genres, while creating a deep emotional connection to the music and fellow performers. Julia lives in Troy with her extremely supportive band director husband, Gregory, and their two budding musicians, Anna and David. |
| Dr. Derrick Fox is the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research and Creative Endeavors and Associate Director of Choral Programs at Michigan State University. He has taught at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels, and his conducting experience includes singers ranging from upper elementary ensembles to collegiate and community choirs. An active conductor and clinician, Dr. Fox has led all state and honor choirs and has served as a guest conductor, clinician, and artist in residence at universities, conferences, and music organizations throughout the United States and abroad. He regularly works with educators and ensembles on topics including assessment in the choral classroom, rehearsal design, conducting technique, building classroom culture and community, and shape note singing in the African American community, and he also leads professional development and organizational change initiatives for music focused organizations. As a baritone soloist, Dr. Fox has collaborated with numerous orchestral and choral organizations and can be heard on the Naxos recording In This Hid Clearing, featuring selections from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. An author, composer, and editor, his works are published by Hal Leonard, Music Spoke, Brilee Music, Hinshaw Music, and Carl Fischer. Dr. Fox is the past President of the Midwestern Region of the American Choral Directors Association. |
| Dr. Brandon Ulrich has been teaching at Stoney Creek High School since 2002, where he currently teaches Choir and Orchestra. Additionally, he serves as Artistic Director of the Madrigal Chorale, Director of Music Ministries at Northminster Presbyterian Church and Choirmaster at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Ulrich completed the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting from MSU in 2013. Ulrich’s service to MSVMA began in 2005, and he has held numerous positions on the full and Executive Boards. He was previously selected to conduct the 2011 TTBB and 2019 TTB State Honors Choirs. Dr. Ulrich has served on the MSU College of Music Alumni Board of Directors. His school ensembles have been selected to perform at the MMC, ACDA Conventions, The Intercollegiate Men’s Chorus National Convention, and frequently perform with the Detroit Symphony, and the Detroit Chamber Winds. His ensembles have performed abroad in Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, and Spain. An active composer, Ulrich is frequently commissioned by ensembles such as the Detroit Chamber Winds, and his extended works for chorus and orchestra/brass ensemble have earned critical acclaim. His own compositions and scholarly editions are published through Boosey and Hawkes, MusicSpoke, Colla Voce Music Inc., and Musicatus Press. |
All-State High School Honors Choir
(click to visit All-State Honors Choir page)
2027-2028 Honors Choir Directors
6789 SA Ryan Dawley TTB Jonathan VanEck SSA Natalie Smith | High School SSAA Megan Sinclair TTBB James Pecar SATB Matthew Callaghan |
Honors Choir Director Qualifications & Selection Process
With the exception of the All-State Choir, Honors Choir Directors are selected through the annual election process using the following criteria:
- Potential candidates must be MSVMA members and can be from any educational level.
- Potential candidates must have taught a minimum of seven years with two years at the same academic level.
- The choirs of potential candidates must have received a large proportion of Excellent final determinations at district or state festivals.
Brief overview of the process:
- Nominees from DMs/Membership at fall and spring district meetings, submitted via Nomination Form
- MSVMA Board of Directors Past President reaches out for acceptance of nomination, bios, and vetting
- Honors Choir Directors Nomination Review Committee selects up to three candidates for each choir for consideration by the Honors Choir Directors Final Selection Committee
- Honors Choir Directors Final Selection Committee selects Directors
- Directors are chosen, presented to the Board of Directors, and announced at MSVMA Annual Meeting and Reception at MMC
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6789 HONORS CHOIR DIRECTORS
| HIGH SCHOOL HONORS CHOIR DIRECTORS
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Michigan School Vocal Music Association
P.O. Box 1131
Big Rapids, MI 49307-1131
(231) 592 - 9344
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