Contemporary Pop A Cappella
Grades: 9-12
Dates: Thursday and Friday, January 7-8, 2027 (Registration 9:00am on Thursday, Concert at 7:30pm on Friday)
Location: Eau Claire, WI (Rehearsals at Lismore Hotel, Concert at Pablo Center)
Coordinator: Dennis Gephart acappellaallstate@wischoral.org
Nominations & Auditions: Teachers can nominate up to 8 students. Teachers will rank students 1-8 with #1 as the top/highest ranked student. Students must also submit a recorded audition (see details below)
Audition Information: CLICK HERE TO VIEW AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS. Auditions are due by Friday, October 2 at 9:00pm
Nomination Form: Nominations open September 1. CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE.
Registration Fee: $335
Guest Conductor-Clinician: Dr. J.D. Frizzell
Dr. J.D. Frizzell is the Director of Fine Arts and Director of Vocal Music at Briarcrest Christian School and Adjunct Choral Faculty at the University of Memphis. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Kentucky. Frizzell earned the double Master's in Music Theory/Composition and Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he also earned the bachelor's degree in Music History and Literature.
In 2024 and 2025, Frizzell was named a Top-10 national finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Frizzell was chosen by the Tennessee Music Educators Association as the 2011 Outstanding Young Music Educator. Additionally, he was awarded the Dr. Clair E. Cox Award for Teaching Excellence in both 2011 and again in 2023. Thousands of ensembles around the world have performed his compositions published by Hal Leonard, Santa Barbara, Lorenz, Choristers Guild, Colla Voce, and Alfred.
As the Director of Fine Arts at Briarcrest, Frizzell leads a faculty of two dozen faculty-artists and is responsible for coordinating curriculum, instruction, and budgets for all of the fine arts programs (K2-12th grade). He also serves as an advocate and school liaison for all of the visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, dance, theatre, and technical production programs. As the Director of Vocal Music, he teaches the Concert Choir, Men’s Choir, Advanced Women’s Choir, and OneVoice.
A leader in the contemporary a cappella movement, he is the co-founder of the A Cappella Education Association, a nonprofit which has served hundreds of thousands of students and teachers around the world. He also founded the National A Cappella and Choral Convention. His high school a cappella group, OneVoice, is a SONY Recording Artist. They were the winners of the Macy’s A Cappella Challenge judged by Pentatonix, contestants on America’s Got Talent, performers at The Emmys, and collaborators with Foreigner, New York Voices, and The Swingles. Their music has been streamed, downloaded, and viewed over 140 million times. Frizzell co-authored the books “A Cappella Warm Ups for Pop and Jazz Choirs” (Hal Leonard) and “Teaching Music Through Performance in Contemporary A Cappella” (GIA).
Frizzell is active as a presenter, adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. As an active member of TNMEA, NATS, ACDA, and WTVMEA, he has served in multiple volunteer capacities. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation named him one of “Memphis’ Finest” for his philanthropic efforts. He is also a professional member of the Recording Academy. He lives in Memphis, TN with his wife, Emily and children Henry, Elliott, and Estlin.
2027 Repertoire: Coming Soon…
Dates: Thursday and Friday, January 7-8, 2027 (Registration 9:00am on Thursday, Concert at 7:30pm on Friday)
Location: Eau Claire, WI (Rehearsals at Lismore Hotel, Concert at Pablo Center)
Coordinator: Dennis Gephart acappellaallstate@wischoral.org
Nominations & Auditions: Teachers can nominate up to 8 students. Teachers will rank students 1-8 with #1 as the top/highest ranked student. Students must also submit a recorded audition (see details below)
Audition Information: CLICK HERE TO VIEW AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS. Auditions are due by Friday, October 2 at 9:00pm
Nomination Form: Nominations open September 1. CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE.
Registration Fee: $335
Guest Conductor-Clinician: Dr. J.D. Frizzell
Dr. J.D. Frizzell is the Director of Fine Arts and Director of Vocal Music at Briarcrest Christian School and Adjunct Choral Faculty at the University of Memphis. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Kentucky. Frizzell earned the double Master's in Music Theory/Composition and Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he also earned the bachelor's degree in Music History and Literature.
In 2024 and 2025, Frizzell was named a Top-10 national finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Frizzell was chosen by the Tennessee Music Educators Association as the 2011 Outstanding Young Music Educator. Additionally, he was awarded the Dr. Clair E. Cox Award for Teaching Excellence in both 2011 and again in 2023. Thousands of ensembles around the world have performed his compositions published by Hal Leonard, Santa Barbara, Lorenz, Choristers Guild, Colla Voce, and Alfred.
As the Director of Fine Arts at Briarcrest, Frizzell leads a faculty of two dozen faculty-artists and is responsible for coordinating curriculum, instruction, and budgets for all of the fine arts programs (K2-12th grade). He also serves as an advocate and school liaison for all of the visual art, instrumental music, vocal music, dance, theatre, and technical production programs. As the Director of Vocal Music, he teaches the Concert Choir, Men’s Choir, Advanced Women’s Choir, and OneVoice.
A leader in the contemporary a cappella movement, he is the co-founder of the A Cappella Education Association, a nonprofit which has served hundreds of thousands of students and teachers around the world. He also founded the National A Cappella and Choral Convention. His high school a cappella group, OneVoice, is a SONY Recording Artist. They were the winners of the Macy’s A Cappella Challenge judged by Pentatonix, contestants on America’s Got Talent, performers at The Emmys, and collaborators with Foreigner, New York Voices, and The Swingles. Their music has been streamed, downloaded, and viewed over 140 million times. Frizzell co-authored the books “A Cappella Warm Ups for Pop and Jazz Choirs” (Hal Leonard) and “Teaching Music Through Performance in Contemporary A Cappella” (GIA).
Frizzell is active as a presenter, adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. As an active member of TNMEA, NATS, ACDA, and WTVMEA, he has served in multiple volunteer capacities. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation named him one of “Memphis’ Finest” for his philanthropic efforts. He is also a professional member of the Recording Academy. He lives in Memphis, TN with his wife, Emily and children Henry, Elliott, and Estlin.
2027 Repertoire: Coming Soon…
