Contemporary Pop A Cappella
Grades: 9-12
Dates: Thursday and Friday, January 15-16, 2026 (Registration 9:00am on Thursday, Concert at 7:00pm on Friday)
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: Coming soon…
Registration Fee: Coming soon…
Guest Clinician-Conductor: Wilson Smith
Wilson Smith is an arranger, composer, vocalist, music director, and freelance educator based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from the Indianapolis area, Wilson graduated from Belmont University in May 2022 with a degree in Commercial Music (Voice/Composition/Arranging). While at Belmont, Wilson music directed and arranged for the all-male identifying a cappella group “Pitchmen:” The 2x International Champions of Collegiate A Cappella (2025, 2023)! Wilson has spent the past few years working as a full-time arranger, composer and clinician for dozens of music education programs around the country. He spends his summers as a Group Director at A Cappella Academy, one of the nation's top summer intensives for developing vocalists. In addition to his music education work, Wilson is an accomplished, multi-genre vocalist. He has sung background vocals at the Academy of Country Music Awards twice (Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton), he opened up for “Lawrence” at their Nashville show with his band, Will Rosedale and “the lowly entourage,” he has sung live backgrounds for several emerging Nashville artists, and he takes on both in-person and remote session vocal projects. Wilson is thrilled to be directing the Contemporary A Cappella Ensemble at this year's Wisconsin ACDA All-State Festival, and feels truly privileged to work with some of the state's top young voices.
Dates: Thursday and Friday, January 15-16, 2026 (Registration 9:00am on Thursday, Concert at 7:00pm on Friday)
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: Coming soon…
Registration Fee: Coming soon…
Guest Clinician-Conductor: Wilson Smith
Wilson Smith is an arranger, composer, vocalist, music director, and freelance educator based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from the Indianapolis area, Wilson graduated from Belmont University in May 2022 with a degree in Commercial Music (Voice/Composition/Arranging). While at Belmont, Wilson music directed and arranged for the all-male identifying a cappella group “Pitchmen:” The 2x International Champions of Collegiate A Cappella (2025, 2023)! Wilson has spent the past few years working as a full-time arranger, composer and clinician for dozens of music education programs around the country. He spends his summers as a Group Director at A Cappella Academy, one of the nation's top summer intensives for developing vocalists. In addition to his music education work, Wilson is an accomplished, multi-genre vocalist. He has sung background vocals at the Academy of Country Music Awards twice (Kane Brown, Mickey Guyton), he opened up for “Lawrence” at their Nashville show with his band, Will Rosedale and “the lowly entourage,” he has sung live backgrounds for several emerging Nashville artists, and he takes on both in-person and remote session vocal projects. Wilson is thrilled to be directing the Contemporary A Cappella Ensemble at this year's Wisconsin ACDA All-State Festival, and feels truly privileged to work with some of the state's top young voices.
