2024 North Carolina Elementary Honors Chorus
November 9-12, 2024
Winston-Salem, NC
2024 Elementary Honors Chorus Audition Piece
“Sing For Joy” by Handel/arr. Spevacek
JW Pepper #3073079
Audition Section – Measures 11-24 (beat 2), Part 1
Audition Deadline: Friday, September 20, 2024
Registration Information
Further detailed information on the audition registration process can be found on our Honors Chorus FAQ page.
For future planning
- Audition piece 2025: Ombra Mai Fu by Handel/arr. Leck
- Audition piece for 2026: Et Exultavit by Vivaldi/arr. Leck
Our 2024 Honors Chorus guest clinician is Maria Peña.
Maria Peña is a vocalist and educator currently serving as Associate Conductor and Director of Community Choruses at the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.
We are very much looking forward to hearing beautiful music by our youngest singers led by the amazing Maria Peña!
* PLEASE NOTE!
All plans are subject to change based on CDC and NAfME guidelines at the time of the event.
Greetings From The 2024 NCEHC Chair
Hi friends! My name is Sarah Gray and I have the honor of serving as the NCEHC chair! I currently teach PreK-5th Grade music at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, NC after spending the first three years of my career teaching in Myrtle Beach, SC. I have a B.A. in Music Education from Southern Wesleyan University (‘15) and a Master of School Administration degree through Appalachian State University (’23). My experiences as a student in NC Honors Chorus inspired my career as a music educator and I am thrilled to have a small part in those experiences for many other students!
If I can be of any assistance at all, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]!
Our NCEHC co-chair for 2023-2024 is Janae Copeland. Janae has been a music educator in NC for 25 years and currently serves as the K-5 music specialist at Meadowlark Elementary in Winston-Salem, NC. She earned her BM in Music Education in 1999 and her MM in Music Education in 2006, both from East Carolina University. She received her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification in 2008 and completed all levels of Orff-Schulwerk certification at Appalachian State University in 2017. She is the proud wife to Bryant, who had also been a music educator and school leader in NC for 25 years, and proud mom to her daughters, Jayda, Brynn, and Clark, who also happen to be her favorite musicians and dancers. NC Honors Chorus has always been one of the most special musical experiences for her each year and she is honored to get to serve the amazing teachers and students who make it such a memorable event.
2024 NC Elementary Honors Chorus Conductor
Maria Peña is a vocalist and educator currently serving an Associate Conductor and Director of Community Choruses at YPC. Inspired by YPC’s work with children and the community, Maria joined the organization in 2012 and enjoys using her past experiences to help the young choruses grow and find their own voices.
In her position, she co-conducts the Intermezzo division and oversees the after-school community choruses in Washington Heights and at Goddard Riverside. Additionally, she is a conductor for the School Choruses program, which brings YPC’s unique music curriculum into New York City schools. In 2019, Maria was awarded the PASEsetter Award for her commitment to children’s afterschool education.
Originally from Colombia, Maria came to YPC after conducting with the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus. She also served as the conductor for a retirement community chorus in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2019, Maria was invited to conduct overseas at a summer choral camp in the Canary Islands, Spain.
In addition to completing three levels of the Choral Music Experience Institute with Doreen Rao, Marie holds a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, in voice performance from the University of North Florida (UNF), where she was the assistant conductor for the UNF Chorale, the UNF Chamber Singers, and co-conductor of the Women’s Chorale. Maria also has training in the Kodaly methodology. In her free time, Maria enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and young daughter, Emilia.