South Carolina Elementary Honor Choir

Comprised of auditioned singers in grades 4, 5, and 6 from across South Carolina, the SCMEA Elementary Honor Choir convenes annually at the SCMEA Professional Development Conference.  Past clinicians have included Laura Brundage,  Herbert Washington  Lynell Joy Jenkins, Henry Leck, Andrea Ramsey, Rollo Dilworth, Ken Berg, Christi Cary Miller, and many others.

 Dena Byers is the director of the Durham Children's Choir since its founding in 2004. She currently teaches at Hillandale Elementary School and serves as the lead elementary music teacher for Durham Public Schools. She has taught in Durham for 22 years and is National Board Certified. She has been honored by being a top four finalist for District Teacher of the Year and receiving the NC Symphony’s Jackson Pankhurst Award for Special Achievement in music education. An active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, Mrs. Byers has been a guest conductor for the All-State Honors Choir (MS) as well as District All-County Choirs in NC, GA, FL and AL. She has presented workshops for Orff Schulwerk chapters throughout the US and at National AOSA Professional Development Conferences. She received BA degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota and holds Level III and Master Level Orff Schulwerk Certifications from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of Memphis, respectively. 

Tammy Lorick is a retired choral director, music educator, and piano instructor. While at Lexington School District One she served as Co-Director of the Lexington School District One Children’s Honor Choir, was Assistant Choral Director/accompanist/music theory instructor for Tri-District Arts Consortium, and has been a participant in the SC Curriculum Leadership in the Arts program, writing both choral and general music curricula for the district and state. The choirs have performed at SCMEA Conferences, SC ACDA Conferences, the Annual SC Governor’s Carolighting, and also with the Lexington County Choral Society. She was selected Teacher of the Year at her school and was twice selected as Parent-Teacher Association Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Lorick received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with choral emphasis and a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. She achieved her Master’s plus 30 in music education through the College of Charleston, Appalachian State University, and the University of South Carolina. Her additional music studies and training were received from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina and the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Lorick is a vocal adjudicator and also serves as piano accompanist for many ensembles and choral clinics/events.