2026 All-State Middle Level Chorus

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS

What is the All-State Middle Level Chorus?
Students in sixth through eighth grades (whose teachers are NMEA members) are offered a chance to work with acclaimed conductors during even-years of the Nebraska Music Education Association Conference/Clinic. This is a one-day event with the final performance on the Lied Center for Performing Arts main stage. The 2026 All-State Middle Level Chorus will take place on Wednesday, November 18. Auditions will be held in the fall.

Who can attend?

• Students attending must be registered and attending the school or home school listed on the registration
• Students must be under the direction of an NMEA member
• Students must be in the sixth - eighth grades during the 2026-2027 school year
• The director MUST be registered and attend the Conference with their student(s).
• If you wish to become a member of this organization, visit: www.nafme.org

2026 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS CONDUCTOR

Dr. Derrick Fox is the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors and a Professor of Choral Conducting at Michigan State University. Prior to MSU, he was the Director of Choral Activities and Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Ithaca College. Dr. Fox has taught at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels. His conducting experiences have included singers from upper elementary choirs through collegiate and community choirs. He was awarded the 2021 Bryan R. Johnson Service Award by the Nebraska Music Educators Association and the 2022 University of Nebraska Omaha Award for Distinguished Research/Creative Activity.

He has conducted all state and honor choirs and has been in residence at universities across the United States and abroad. He also leads professional development and organizational change initiatives for music focused organizations throughout the United States. His professional educational workshops focus on assessment in the choral classroom, building classroom community and culture, rehearsal strategies, choral conducting techniques and shape note singing in the African American community. Dr. Fox conducted the 2019 National ACDA Middle School/Junior High Mixed Honor Choir and traveled to South Africa as a 2019 ACDA International Conductor Exchange Fellow where he led choral workshops and rehearsals in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Potchefstroom.

As a baritone soloist, Dr. Fox has collaborated with various organizations; among them are the Arkansas Symphony, Lansing Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Columbia Chorale, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha Symphonic Chorus, University of Missouri, Michigan State University, Webster University and the Espaço Cultural (Brasilia, Brazil). He can be heard singing selections from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess on the compact disc In This Hid Clearing, available on the Naxos Classical Music label. He most recently the baritone soloist in Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony with the Michigan State University Symphonic Orchestra and Choral Union. https://www.drderrickfox.com/

2026 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS REPERTOIRE

MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS REPERTOIRE PACKETS

Popplers Music has all the music for this year's ensemble compiled on their website. Below is the link where you can place your order. Please note, this landing page also includes the High School All-State Chorus music, so be sure to only select the pieces for the Middle Level Chorus.

Middle Level Chorus Music 

2026 ALL-STATE MIDDLE LEVEL CHORUS RESULTS

The 2026 All-State Middle Level Chorus has been selected, and the list is available for the public to view!

View the Middle Level Chorus Participants

The final concert will be held Wednesday, November 18 at 4:30 pm at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. We’re looking forward to the 2026 All-State performances and to working with dedicated young musicians from across Nebraska.

DIRECTOR INFORMATION

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS & DUE DATES

• Participation fees ($50 per student) are due by November 2nd. All invoices are handled through Festival Scores. Access links and payment instructions can be found in the Auditions Manual.
• Signed Image Release and Code of Conduct forms are due to [email protected] prior to the event. (All student participants must have a signed image release consent form and code of conduct emailed before check-in on the day of the event.)

Please see communications emailed by [email protected] for further details!

PARENT & LEGAL GUARDIAN INFORMATION

TICKET PRE-SALE

Ticket pre-sale must be completed online. Please read the following instruction documents carefully. Ticket pre-sale does not begin until October 26.
You will not be able to order tickets until the pre-sale starts.

Middle Level Concert Ticket Instructions (English)

Middle Level Concert Ticket Instructions (Spanish)

ALL-STATE MEMORABILIA

Thank you to the following businesses for providing All-State memorabilia for participating students and their families!