National Collegiate Choral Organization selects MSU State Singers’ video performance for national conference

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The National Collegiate Choral Organization is highlighting a video performance by ��ɫ��Ƶ’s State Singers during NCCO’s 2022 national conference.

The NCCO selection of MSU’s performance of “Ah, Holy Jesus” recognizes the video’s “ingenuity and innovation” and cites it as one of the country’s “most creative, impactful and musical choral videos created during the pandemic.” With music by Roger T. Petrich and text by Johann Heermann, the piece was one of several choral performances recorded by MSU’s Choral Activities during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Gary Packwood, MSU professor of music and director of choral activities, said he is grateful for the opportunity to show off MSU talent from the university’s choral area.

“To be recognized through blind refereed jury of my peers is a tremendous honor,” Packwood said. “Over the past 12 years, the MSU choral area has created one of the fastest growing and vibrant groups of vocal musicians in the United States.”

The State Singers, founded in 2011, have performed at national and international venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, the White House, and in other countries such as France, Czech Republic, Austria and Spain.

The video performance will be presented in January at the organization’s ninth biennial conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with the video, a presentation will detail musical, analytical and philosophical concepts of the work.

For more information on MSU’s Department of Music, visit .

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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