17th Annual First Coast Honors Choir Festival
Saturday, January 25, 2020
First Coast Baptist Church | 7587 Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32244
Now Registering!
The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus's (JCC) one-day event to honor local fourth through seventh grade children who have been recognized by their music educators for their singing ability, musical aptitude and strong work ethic. The children spend the day rehearsing with a nationally recognized clinician and conductor. The event culminates in a performance of the newly-formed Honors Choir. This year, in celebration of our 25th Anniversary, we will welcome back two very special former artistic staff members of the JCC.
Held in conjunction with the Honors Choir Festival, JCC holds the Midwinter Music Workshop with our guest conductors to provide enrichment and continuing education to area music educators. This free breakfast and education seminar is open to all Florida public and private school music teachers.
For participating singers (recommended by music teacher), the registration fee is $40.00. The fee includes the music, t-shirt and lunch.
Please note: The First Coast Honors Choir Festival is not intended for current members of the Jacksonville Children's Chorus.
Vocal Range Form (for music teachers to complete for each singer)
Example of Honors Choir Festival Day Schedule for participants:
10:15-10:45am Check-in
11:00am-12:30pm Rehearsals with Guest Conductor (songs that singers have been practicing)
12:30-1:30pm Lunch and Break
1:30-3:30pm Rehearsals
3:30pm-4:45pm Stage Walk-Through/Rehearsal
5:00pm Concert
The doors will open for general admission seating at 4:45 pm. The concert will begin at 5:00 pm. Admission is $10. Parents will be able to purchase tickets upon singer check-in at 10:15 AM or at the door in the afternoon.
About the Guest Conductors
Boy's Ensemble Conductor
Jim Taylor
Founding Artistic Director of the Jacksonville Children's Chorus
Associate Professor of Music and Director of Fine Arts, LeTourneau University
Jim Taylor is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Fine Arts at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX, a Christian polytechnic university, where he conducts two choirs, teaches classes, and oversees the department. Prior to this appointment, he was Director of Choral Activities at Kilgore College, also in East Texas. He founded the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus in the fall of 1995 and directed it until 2000, leading the JCC in performances at DisneyWorld, Jaguar Stadium, the Florida ACDA convention, and other locations.
His degrees are from the University of Alabama and the University of Miami, and his choral music is published by Oxford University Press, Hinshaw Music, Roger Dean, Choristers Guild, and other music publishers. Dr. Taylor has conducted the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Ukraine on four occasions, and last year conducted his Cambridge Songs Suite No. 2 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
He is absolutely delighted to have seen the continuing success of the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus and its life-long impact on the lives of its members!
Girl's Ensemble Conductor
Virginia Dickert
Former Artistic Staff Member of the Jacksonville Children's Chorus
Music Specialist, Jacksonville Country Day School
Virginia Dickert has lived in Jacksonville her entire life. She has both of her music education degrees from Jacksonville University, where in 1995 she first became involved with the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus as a volunteer. When the conductor, Jim Taylor unexpectedly couldn’t accompany the chorus to sing in New York, Virginia took the group on their very first choir experience to sing in Carnegie Hall.
Virginia has taught nearly 40 years in both the local private and public school systems as well as in several local churches. She has been the music specialist at Jacksonville Country Day School for 24 years and still teaches there today. Her JCDS Chorus has won first place awards and received superior ratings at the Music USA Festival in Orlando for 16 years straight, they were chosen to perform at the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa in 2004, and have been chosen to sing in the Florida Elementary All-State Chorus every year for over ten years.
Virginia joined the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus as a conductor in 2005 and conducted the Lyric and Treble Choirs for eight years. Virginia now enjoys helping the Chorus as a substitute conductor, helping wherever she can.
In 2018, the University of North Florida chose Virginia to be one of four teachers recognized with the Gladys Prior Award For Career Teaching Excellence. This is an annual award given to only four local teachers who have proven over the years to give tremendous inspiration to their students.
Contact Information:
Honors Choir Performance Coordinators
Adam Hooper, Email
Phone: 904.353.1636, ext. 1