The SIU Concert Choir rehearses for the SIU School of Music’s high school choral festival, which is on Oct. 23. (Photo by Russell Bailey)
October 20, 2025
SIU School of Music choral festival showcases high school vocalists Oct. 23
CARBONDALE, Ill. — More than 200 high school students from throughout the region will hone their choral skills in workshops this week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale before performing as part of the School of Music’s high school choral festival.
The workshops begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in Altgeld Hall, with a free, public performance beginning at 4 p.m.
“We are fortunate to be able to have so many wonderful educators here in Southern Illinois who not only have their choirs participate in this festival, but also volunteer to lead sectionals and make this festival a success,” said Emerson Eads, a professor and director of choral studies in SIU’s School of Music.
Media availability
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the high school choral festival workshops and performance, though organizers request video cameras remain unobtrusive during the performance. For more information or assistance in arranging interviews, contact Emerson Eads, assistant professor and director of choral studies, at emerson.eads@siu.edu, or call the SIU School of Music office at 618-536-8742 the day of the event.
The festival will feature three choir directors, including Eads, a composer and conductor who is in his first year at SIU Carbondale. Eads will serve as treble choir director for juniors and seniors.
Scott Johnson, who studied under SIU’s retired Director of Choral Studies Susan Davenport, will serve as tenor-bass director. A former elementary and middle school general music and choir program teacher, Johnson is conductor of Tesserae: Southern Illinois Queer+ Choir and regularly serves local churches as a singer and conductor. He is also active as a tenor in Paducah Singers, a Kentucky-based professional ensemble.
Sara Alstat-Sanders, also an SIU Carbondale School of Music alumna, will be the treble choir director for freshmen and sophomores. Alstat-Sanders is professor of music for Rend Lake College and director of the RLC Concert Choir and annual spring musical.
The concert will include performances from each of the choirs as well as a performance from the 25-member SIU Concert Choir. The final number will include a combined choir, Eads said.
Eads expects students from:
- Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.
- Carbondale Community High School.
- Carterville High School.
- Christopher High School.
- Frankfort Community High School.
- Hamilton County Senior High School.
- Herrin High School.
- Litchfield High School.
- Murphysboro High School.
- Pinckneyville Community High School.
- Sparta High School.