Featured Musicians
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J.D. Frizzell, Baritone and Composer, graduated from Berkmar High School where he sang in the choral program under Alison Crossman He began his musical studies at the age of 15. Currently a music composition major at The University of Southern Mississippi, J.D. studies voice, piano, and composition. He sings with the Southern Chorale, Chamber Singers, and plays with Carillon, one of the top handbell choirs in the country. J.D writes music for choir, orchestra, symphonic band, voice, handbells, and solo instruments. Accomplishments include published music with Red River Music, published composition articles in Catalyst, a journal for undergraduate research, and 4th place in the Southern Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition.
Todd J. Ferguson, Conductor, majored in organ performance at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. . He completed further studies in music education and choral conducting at The University of Georgia and Georgia State. Todd is the head of the Choral Department at Central Gwinnett High School and the Director of Music Ministries at Pilgrimage Presbyterian Church. He also teaches voice and piano at Buford's New School of Music. Mr. Ferguson has conducted performances of The Messiah, Faure's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria, and the world premiere of J.D. Frizzell's Mass in C.
  Rudy Gatlin, Counter-tenor, is a 6-time finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition. After receiving his Bachelors in Music Education at William Carey College and Masters in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Southern Mississippi, Rudy taught high school chorus. He is now the Music Director at Mount Vernon Congregational Methodist Church, teaches private voice and piano, and is working on his PhD in Music Education at USM. Mr. Gatlin has performed as a tenor soloist in Mozart's Requiem, Frizzell's Mass in C, and Mendelssohn's Elijah. He has also performed the counter-tenor solo in Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms.
  Amy Cross, handbells, is a senior from McKenzie, Tennessee and in her fourth year with USM Carillon handbell choir. A Hospitality Management major with a minor in flute and piano, Amy also sings in the USM Southern Chorale and Hattiesburg Choral Union.
  Mary Thrash, handbells, is from Collierville, Tennessee. She earned her BMed from The University of Southern Mississppi. As a sixth-year member of Carillon handbell choir, Mary is student conductor, a member of the USM Southern Chorale, Chamber Singers, and Hattiesburg Choral Union.