Musician in Residence

The mission of our Musician in Residence program is to provide space for local musicians to create (teach, write, and practice) and showcase (in worship, outreach/concerts, and educational workshops/masterclasses) their music in exchange for “in-reach” and “out-reach,” resulting in bringing people together through a common love of music in a safe and sacred space.

• The MiR program enables South Church to:
  Enhance music and the arts for people of all ages in a welcoming environment
• Expand and diversify musical and artistic offerings to engage listeners on a deeper level
• Promote musical and artistic offerings as an outreach to the greater community
• Foster unique communication and expression among those who love music
• Provide spiritual and educational experiences through sacred music

• The MiR program enables South Church to provide support to local artists by:
  Providing space to create, teach, rehearse, and showcase their work
• Offering access to instruments (e.g. Yamaha S7X concert grand piano & Bozeman pipe organ)
• Giving opportunities to collaborate with musicians and artists of various levels and experiences
• Sharing news of events and projects to our congregation and the greater community
• Mentorship by our professional musical staff

Questions? Contact Cathy Meyer, Minister of Music.

MiR 2021-2022 Jessica McCormack, soprano, holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto. She was selected as an Emerging Leader by the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has presented for the National Opera Association and the Pan-American Vocology Association on issues related to vocal health. She served as Coordinator of Voice Studies and Associate Professor of Voice at Indiana University South Bend (tenured in 2017), and Assistant Professor of Music at Wittenberg University. She held visiting positions with the Conservatory at Baldwin-Wallace University, West Texas A & M University, the University of Notre Dame and she enjoyed teaching at the Interlochen Center for the Arts for three summers (2015-2017). Internationally, Dr. McCormack has lectured and presented masterclasses in Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, the Czech Republic and France. She has performed in over a dozen countries and has been a featured soloist with the Fort Worth, South Bend, New Brunswick, and Springfield (Ohio) symphonies as well the Bach Society of Dayton. She is also an avid recitalist and devoted church musician. Since moving to New England, Dr. McCormack has redirected her career to work with pre-collegiate musicians. She is the Coordinator of the Music Department at Phillips Academy and she maintains a private voice studio.