Artistic Director

Richard Waters is in his second season as Artistic Director of The Mississippi Chorus, after having served for two years as Assistant Artistic Director. He is Associate Professor of Music and Director of
Choral Activities at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, where he directs the university's three choral ensembles and teaches courses in conducting and choral methods. He received the Bachelor of Music degree in music education from James Madison University, the Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the Hartt School of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has studied conducting with William Carroll, Welborn Young, Richard Coffey, Michael Yachanin, and David Watkins, and has conducted in master classes led by Rodney Eichenberger and Dennis Keene.

Dr. Waters received the 2008 DSU Foundation Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Choirs under his direction have performed in several notable national and international venues, including Carnegie Hall, Washington National Cathedral, York Minster, Christ Church Cathedral (Oxford), St. Bride's Church (London), Kollegienkirche (Salzburg), Karlskirche (Vienna) and St. Nicholas Church (Prague). In addition, his choirs have been invited to perform at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, including the 2010 ACDA Southern Division Conference in Memphis. His article on the carol settings of Harold Darke was published in the October 2007 "Choral Journal," the national monthly journal of ACDA. Dr. Waters is President-Elect of
Mississippi ACDA and is past R&S chair for College & University Choirs. In addition to his university responsibilities, he is Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Cleveland.

A native of Virginia, Dr. Waters began singing as a treble in the All Saints Choir of Men and Boys in Richmond. While in Hartford, he sang in CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), the region's first all-professional choir. Dr. Waters maintains an active schedule as an adjudicator, clinician, and composer. His compositions are published by
Colla Voce Music and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. He holds memberships in ACDA, ASCAP, Chorus America, College Music Society, MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Accompanist

David O’Steen, pianist, has played the piano from the age of three and has played for church since age six. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was elected into the Alpha Zeta chapter of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda and winner of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association’s Piano Concerto Competition. He received his Master of Music degrees in piano performance and vocal performance from the University of Alabama. His teachers include Claude Cook, Paul Andersen, Warren Hutton, George Imbragulio, Mary Ann Stringer, Amanda Penick, Alfred Anderson and Edward White. While at the University of Alabama, he accompanied Opera Workshop, Tuscaloosa Community Singers, and numerous singers and instrumentalists. In addition to playing the piano, he has sung for the University Opera Theater (Count Almaviva/The Marriage of Figaro, Frank/Die Fledermaus, Mr. Kofner/The Consul, Rev. Hale/The Crucible), for The Alabama Shakespeare Festival (Colline/La Boheme, Banco/Otello) and was the winner of the regional competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing’s graduate voice division. He has also performed as soloist for Requiem/Durufle, Requiem/Faure, The Christmas Story/Nelson, Magnificat/Bach, Messiah/Handel and the CD recording Wind of Heaven with the K. Lee Scott Singers. Currently living in Jackson, Mississippi, he serves as Principal Parish Musician for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and a private instructor of piano and voice. He serves on the Leadership Program for Musicians National Board, the Diocesan Music and Liturgy Committee, Chorus Master for the Mississippi Opera and as staff accompanist for the Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy.

Board of Directors

Robert Shivers ... Chairman
Mary Helen Bowen... Chairman-Elect
LaFawn Gilliam... Vice-Chairman
Greg Evans... Secretary
Montell Watkins... Treasurer
Richard Waters ... Artistic Director
Sherry Harfst ... Executive Director
Maria Garris... Chorus President
Royce Boyer ... Immediate Past Chairman
Stephen Travers ... Immediate Past Council President
Robert Calhoun, Sr.
Gordon Christy
Sara Christy
Pamela Evans
Greg Evans
Patricia M. Harper
Victor LaGarde
Glenda LaGarde

Chorus Council

Richard Waters ... Artistic Director
Sherry Harfst ... Executive Director
Maria Garris ... Chorus President
TBA ... Chorus Vice President
Montell Watkins ... Treasurer
TBA ... Soprano Representative
TBA ... Soprano Representative
TBA ... Alto Representative
TBA ... Alto Representative
TBA ... Tenor Representative
TBA ... Tenor Representative
TBA ... Bass Representative
TBA ... Bass Representative

 

A quote from the past:
"Te Deum," Mozart -- "... sung impeccably, with a perfect balance." Glenn Gentry, Continuo