SIDNEY — Sidney High School junior Delaney Wilson been selected to perform in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) All-State Choir at the upcoming 2019 OMEA annual conference.
The OMEA works to promote music education in elementary schools up to colleges and universities statewide. Each year, the OMEA holds a conference in Ohio that showcases several high school and university ensembles and performances and offers special focus sessions for educators. The 2019 OMEA Professional Development Conference will be held on January 31 – February 2, at the Cleveland Convention Center.
The selection process for the All-State Choir includes submitting an online application and several recording requirements including a vocalization warm up and a solo from the OMEA Class list. Selection to be in the choir holds some prestige as only 150 students state-wide are selected.
Wilson will spend three days rehearsing with the choir under the direction of guest conductor Kellori Dower, Ed.D. (aka “Mama D”). She and the choir will then perform Saturday afternoon with the other all-state ensembles. The performance serves music teachers across the state of Ohio to gain ideas for their own choirs.
Dower is the dean of Arts & Letters in the San Bernardino Community College District. She was the director of two award-winning high school choral music programs and chair of performing arts prior to serving as director of choral activities at Rio Hondo College. She was also the Director of Choirs at Moreno Valley College after serving as the district arts administrator in Riverside Unified and Vice Principal of Lincoln High School and Lead Administrator at the Center for the Arts. Artistically, she has written several published choral works including performances of her work with the San Diego Symphony. Her choral ensembles have performed in some of the most distinguished venues in the country, including Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and New York’s Lincoln Center. She serves as a choral adjudicator and clinician in southern California for the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), Forum Music Festivals, World Strides Heritage Performance Festivals, Festivals of Music/Music in the Parks and several local area choirs.
SHS junior Jenna Allen, daughter of Robert and Tina Allen, was selected as an alternate singer in the same choir.
Wilson is the daughter of Stephanie and Charles Wilson.
Wilson and Allen are choir students at Sidney High School under the direction of John Young.
