Stephania Abell, Director
Stephania Abell is currently in her 17th year of teaching in Oklahoma and since 2008 has been at Norman High School. She is active as both adjudicator and clinician in the state, judging concert contests as well as solo and ensemble and serving as clinician for several regional festivals and honor choirs. She was a performing member of Canterbury Choral Society (OKC) for 10 years and also served as interim director of Canterbury Children's Chorus in 2004-2005.
Mrs. Abell received her Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Music Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1999, where she was a member of the University Choir, University Chorale, and Academia Filharmonica. Prior to completing her degree at OU, Mrs. Abell served in the United States Air Force as a computer programmer and performed with the elite troupe "Tops in Blue", traveling to 45 states and 17 countries, including Cuba, Guam, Turkey, and Japan on the 9 month tour. She has served on the Executive Board of the Oklahoma Choral Director's Association as Southwest Representative and Junior High All-State Chair and Jazz All-State Chair, and also served Ok Music Educator's Ass'n. as Vocal VP. She holds active memberships in the National Ass'n for Music Eduction, American Choral Directors Association, the National Education Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Stephania and her husband Chuck live in Norman and have two sons. She is starting her fourth year of directing the Norman Singers in Fall 2019. |
Susan Babcock, AccompanistA native of Oklahoma City, Susan received both her bachelor's and master's of music degrees from the University of Oklahoma and has accompanied the choral society for more than five years. She also accompanies Norman High School North choirs and has provided keyboard support for various instrumentalists, choirs and vocalists at the university and high school levels.
Joshua Chism, OU Conducting Intern
Joshua Chism (b. 1987) is a native of Southwest, MO. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Bachelor of MusicComposition degree from Missouri
State University in Springfield, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2010. It was there that he studied conducting under Guy B. Webb. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri—Columbia, graduating in 2019. At MU, he served as a Teaching Assistant for the School of Music, assistant conductor for the MU Men’s Chorale and Concert Chorale, and conductor of the MU Outreach Choir and Ars Noa Vocal Ensemble. There he studied conducting under R. Paul Crabb. From 2010-2017, Joshua taught in the Missouri public school system. During these seven years, he taught a wide variety of music courses and led numerous ensembles ranging from kindergarten to high school, both vocal and instrumental. Joshua currently serves as the Director of Music at Harrah United Methodist in Harrah, OK. He conducts the adult choir and adult handbell choir in addition to serving as the congregational worship leader. Previously, he has held similar positions serving the Lord with congregations in Missouri. Joshua is currently a student at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a PhD in Choral Pedagogy. In addition to his academic endeavors at OU, Joshua is a Teaching Assistant for the Music Department and an Experiencing Music Instructor. He is also the Conducting Intern for the Norman Singers. In his spare time, Joshua likes to compose, travel, garden, eat sushi, and play card games. |
