Senior Division

NCC Associate Artistic Director 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 of all ages to achieve the highest level of excellence in musicianship, performance, vocal technique and artistic creativity. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Blackstone began her training as a pianist, violinist, singer and dancer. Exemplifying unique musical and technical mastery, she obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and graduated valedictorian from the School of Fine Arts at the University of Kansas (KU), under the tutelage of Dr. Jack Winerock and Claude Frank. During her time at KU, Dr. Blackstone attended the Aspen Summer Music Festival and School, studying piano and chamber music with Rita Sloan. Dr. Blackstone’s love for the choral art form led her to pursue a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from the University of Missouri- Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, under the direction of Dr. Eph Ehly. Following her passion for teaching, Dr. Blackstone became the Director of Choral Activities at Westark College in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and emerged as one of the Midwest region’s most sought-after choral clinicians, judges, and show-choir choreographers. Completing her formal education, Dr. Blackstone received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of California Los Angeles with Dr. Donald Neuen. As part of her tenure, she won various competition and scholarship awards from organizations such as the American Choral Directors Association and the Choral Conductors Guild. Dr. Blackstone has served as the Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles-based Angeles Chorale, and has taught vocal and choral music at UCLA, Santa Ana College, and church organizations across the nation. Her conducting appearances include concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Royce Hall and The Broad Stage, with international appearances in Oxford and London, England; Beijing and Xian, China; and Rome, Florence and Venice, Italy, including the Vatican City; as well as Berlin, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. This summer’s performances will include Korea and Japan. Throughout her career, her long-standing philosophy has been “performance excellence through personal excellence.” 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’s awe-inspiring energy revered as “positively contagious” has established her as an invaluable vocal instructor and in-demand performance coach on both coasts. Recent students have been accepted with scholarships at top-level programs across the country, including Indiana University, University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, Stanford, Harvard and the Manhattan School of Music. Her pupils have also enjoyed noteworthy success in the areas of film, theatre and the recording studio.

Julia Morris is a conductor, vocalist, and flautist native to the San Francisco Bay Area, and is thrilled to be working with the students of the Debut Ensemble at the San Francisco Chapter of the National Children’s Chorus. Ms. Morris currently works as Assistant Conductor with Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra (BCCO), and serves as Conducting Scholar at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco. Seeking additional growth and feedback as a choral director and educator, she has participated in two summer Choral Artistry Institutes at Eastman School of Music under the direction of William Weinert. Choral singing has always been the focal point of Ms. Morris’ life, and she continues to nurture her love of singing as a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.

Ms. Morris graduated Cum Laude from Kenyon College in Ohio, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in music with departmental distinction, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She plans to pursue higher education in choral arts in the future.