Senior Division

Dr. Pamela Blackstone is a renowned and respected conductor on the national and international choral scene, where her expertise and innovative approach to singing have empowered performers to achieve their highest levels of musicianship, vocal technique, and creative artistry. Currently, she serves as Associate Artistic Director and Chief Programming Officer of the GRAMMY® Award-winning National Children’s Chorus. For over three decades, Dr. Blackstone has devoted herself to the art of performance and music education with passion and awe-inspiring energy. Her concert appearances have included Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Royce Hall, and The Broad Stage, with international appearances in London, Oxford, Wales, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Oslo, Rome, Florence, Venice, Vatican City, Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Beijing, Xi’an, the Korean DMZ, Seoul, Tokyo, and Kyoto. Her recent musical collaborations include projects with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Grant Gershon and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, VOCES8, Sharon Farber, Nico Muhly, Caroline Polachek, and Meredith Monk. As a college educator, Dr. Blackstone held the position of Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Studies at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, and emerged as one of the Midwest region’s most sought-after choral clinicians, judges, and choreographers. She also served as the Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles-based Angeles Chorale, and has taught choral and vocal music at the University of California Los Angeles, Santa Ana College, and church organizations across the nation. Dr. Blackstone obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of California Los Angeles. Combined with her expertise in the healing arts profession, Dr. Blackstone has advocated for an integrated, holistic approach to music education that embodies an eclectic array of modalities and methodologies, enriching her students mentally, emotionally, and kinesthetically. In addition, Dr. Blackstone has established herself as an invaluable vocal instructor and in-demand performance coach across the nation. Recent students have been accepted with scholarships at top-level programs including the University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Mannes School of Music, Northwestern University, Boston Conservatory, Berklee, Oberlin, University of Michigan, Peabody Institute, Indiana University, Stanford, and Harvard. 

Julia Morris is a conductor and vocalist native to the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her musical journey with the flute at age 7 and has since found her niche in song and the choral art. Julia recently completed her Master of Music degree in choral conducting at the University of Michigan, where she studied under Dr. Eugene Rogers. While at Michigan, Julia served as co-conductor of Orpheus Singers and as assistant conductor for the Women’s Glee Club and Michigan Youth Chamber Singers. Prior to her graduate studies, Julia served as assistant conductor for Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra for three years, where she conducted masterworks including Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and a segment of Dvorak’s Spectre’s Bride. Working as an educator, she was an Artist-in-Residence in the vocal department of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, where Julia enjoyed directing the treble ensemble Anacrusis, coaching vocal performance students, and mentoring student conductors. She is ever grateful to composer/conductor Eric Choate and the community at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco who offered Julia her first opportunity to study choral conducting as their Conducting Scholar. Seeking additional growth as a conductor and leader, Julia participated in Chorus America’s 2023 Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy as a Scholar, and she has participated in two summer Choral Artistry Institutes at Eastman School of Music. She is delighted to have sung with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus from 2018-2021 where she continued to nurture her love of singing. Julia graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in Ohio where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in music (departmental distinction) and psychology. Among her mentors and teachers are Dr. Eugene Rogers, Daniel Washington, Ming Luke, Eric Choate, and Dr. Benjamin Locke. Julia currently serves on the conducting team with the National Children’s Chorus, and as artistic director of Vallejo Choral Society.

Julia Morris is a conductor and vocalist native to the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her musical journey with the flute at age 7 and has since found her niche in song and the choral art. Julia recently completed her Master of Music degree in choral conducting at the University of Michigan, where she studied under Dr. Eugene Rogers. While at Michigan, Julia served as co-conductor of Orpheus Singers and as assistant conductor for the Women’s Glee Club and Michigan Youth Chamber Singers. Prior to her graduate studies, Julia served as assistant conductor for Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra for three years, where she conducted masterworks including Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and a segment of Dvorak’s Spectre’s Bride. Working as an educator, she was an Artist-in-Residence in the vocal department of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, where Julia enjoyed directing the treble ensemble Anacrusis, coaching vocal performance students, and mentoring student conductors. She is ever grateful to composer/conductor Eric Choate and the community at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco who offered Julia her first opportunity to study choral conducting as their Conducting Scholar. Seeking additional growth as a conductor and leader, Julia participated in Chorus America’s 2023 Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy as a Scholar, and she has participated in two summer Choral Artistry Institutes at Eastman School of Music. She is delighted to have sung with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus from 2018-2021 where she continued to nurture her love of singing. Julia graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in Ohio where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in music (departmental distinction) and psychology. Among her mentors and teachers are Dr. Eugene Rogers, Daniel Washington, Ming Luke, Eric Choate, and Dr. Benjamin Locke. Julia currently serves on the conducting team with the National Children’s Chorus, and as artistic director of Vallejo Choral Society.

Dr. Kristen Simpson was originally trained as a licensed civil engineer before pursuing advanced music degrees in choral music to facilitate a career change to music. She has taught courses at Santa Ana College, Texas State University and the University of Southern California. Prior to joining the NCC, Simpson was the assistant director and collaborative pianist at Villa Park High School, director of music at La Canada United Methodist Church, director of the Ebell Chorale, and co-conductor of choir at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). In addition to her work as a conductor, Dr. Simpson is well-known for her keyboard skills and has performed as a collaborative pianist at regional and national conventions for the American Choral Directors Association, as well as for the undergraduate and graduate student conducting competitions at the 2015 American Choral Directors Association national convention. In addition to her work with the NCC, Simpson served as assistant conductor for Tonality, a professional choral ensemble based in Los Angeles that focuses on using music to encourage conversations on social justice topics. She also performed with Tonality as a collaborative pianist and completed a term serving on its Board of Directors. Most recently, she prepared singers for collaborations with the Kronos Quartet for Michael Abels’ At War With Ourselves, and participated in a private performance for the Second Gentleman of the United States as well as administrators of the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. Simpson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Cornell University, a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Texas State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music from the University of Southern California. While at Cornell, Simpson was one of two students selected as a chimesmaster to play the Cornell Chimes and continues to serve on its alumni advisory council to shape the future of this 150+ year musical tradition on campus.

Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake works as an award-winningconductor, composer/arranger, vocal contractor, singer, and music activist. Named Musical America’s 30 Professionals of the Year in 2019 and the Louis Botto Award for Innovative Actions and Entrepreneurial Zeal from Chorus America, Blake was featured in both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times for work in diversity and anti-racism within classical music. Blake is the Founding Artistic & Executive Director of Tonality, a GRAMMY® Award-winning choral ensemble focused on spreading a message of unity, peace, and social justice through a culturally diverse choral setting. His arrangements of Deep River and Poor Wayfaring Stranger are published by Alliance Music Publishing and Walton Music Publishing, respectively. Blake has also created arrangements for Kelly Clarkson and hip-hop artist, Big Sean. Other musical activities include an opera conducting premiere at the 2019 Prototype Festival in New York City and preparing choirs for the 2020 GRAMMY® Awards and the 2022 MLB All-Stars game. He also performed at the 92nd Academy Awards as well as in performances with Björk and Tiёsto. Recent film and TV credits include singing on the soundtracks of Jordan Peele’sUs, Disney’s Lion King and Marvel’s Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever, and wrote arrangements for HBO’s The Time Traveler’s Wife and Hulu’s The Other Black Girl. Blake also worked as the choral contractor and vocal arranger for Andy Grammer’s performance at the 2019 Radio Disney Awards. Blake completed the Doctorate in Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California in 2019. He completed the Master of Music degree at the University of California Los Angeles in 2014 and the Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in vocal performance at Wake Forest University in 2010.