Cheryl Coker

Cheryl Coker, Emerita Associate Professor of Music was on the faculty of Millsaps College in Jackson, MS, from 1984 until her retirement in August 2022, teaching voice, Vocal Pedagogy, Vocal Literature, Voice Class for Theatre Majors, Opera History, and a course titled Women in Music.  Prior to joining the faculty at Millsaps she taught private voice and piano in addition to serving on church staffs where she directed Children’s Choirs, continuing the latter for over thirty years.  Degrees in Music Education (1969) and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance (1982) from the University of Southern Mississippi were augmented with a DMA in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota (2001), studying with Clifton Ware.    A three day conference named Voices of Women in the Arts was co-chaired by Dr. Coker at Millsaps in 2002 during which she premiered duets written for her and mezzo Lester Senter by composer Judith Lang Zaimont.  She has served as Mississippi Chapter President (1993-1995), Mississippi Governor (2007-2012), and as Registrar and Secretary for Southern Region NATS (2006-2020).  She has presented and performed during a national NATS Conference, Southern Region NATS Conferences, Mississippi State NATS Conferences and in concert during a summer NATS Workshop in Minnesota.  She was Collegiate Vocal Area Chair for Mississippi Music Teachers Association (1989-1992 and 2005-2007), giving presentations for state and national conferences.  Her students have been recipients of numerous vocal awards and many of them are professional musicians.  She has continued to submit proposals and perform for the past eight years during the International  Music by Women Festival at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS.  Currently she is serving as Co-President of The Chaminade Club (founded in 1903) of Jackson….an organization which continues to support its members in performance and serves the community in presentation of programs and scholarships for students.

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Her first experience with the McClosky Technique was in 1971 when she spent a major portion of a year working with a student of McClosky, Bob Mesrobian, who introduced (specifically and slowly) breathing, posture, and relaxation techniques.  The benefits of this initial practice remained a part of her performances and teaching throughout her career and sparked the desire to be more deeply informed by the certification process.  Singing with pre-schoolers, public and private school students of all ages, retirement home residents, community choir members……or performing as soprano soloist on stage or with choral/orchestral works…..all of these opportunities have served to reinforce the belief in the value of the McClosky approach.