UACC

Director Carla Summers began her choral teaching career in 2008 at Oak Ridge High School of Conroe, Texas. During her tenure, she was the associate choral director for six years and head choral director for three years, conducting non-varsity and varsity levels of treble and mixed ensembles. She also collaborated with local schools in Region 9 as a choral and instrumental pianist for solo and ensemble competitions and musicals. She played piano for University of Miami voice and instrumental students, as well as taught private voice and piano to middle school and high school students around Miami-Dade County. Currently she teaches private lessons and accompanies in piano with schools in the Northwest Arkansas region, regularly rehearses and conducts the St. Paul’s Episcopal adult choir, and collaborates with voice and instrumental studios at the University of Arkansas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Music in Music Studies in 2008 under the guidance of Dr. Suzanne Pence. She studied voice with David Small and sang with the University of Texas Chamber Singers and Choral Arts Society under the direction of Dr. James Morrow.

Director, Shannon Wicker received her Bachelor’s in Music Education with double principles in piano and voice from Henderson State University. Upon graduation, she was hired by Bentonville Schools and moved to northwest Arkansas to pursue her dream to teach choir. Mrs. Wicker taught general music and choir at Ardis Ann Middle School for nine years and this fall begins her seventh year of teaching at Lincoln Junior High. On May 5, 2018, Mrs. Wicker graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with her Masters in Music Education. Under the direction of Mrs. Wicker, Lincoln choir students have been 7A champions at the World’s of Fun Music Festival, have been accepted into ACDA regional and national honors choirs, and received superior ratings at choral performance assessments. In the past three years, Lincoln Junior High has had 139 students make the Region 6 All Region Choir. In 2019, Mrs. Wicker was chosen as the Arkansas Choral Directors Association Region 6 Junior High Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Wicker teaches private piano and voice lessons, is an active member of the Arkansas Choral Directors Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and for three years served as secretary for Region 6 Arkansas Choral Directors Association. She has served as pianist for various choir concerts in the region and state. Mrs. Wicker lives in Bella Vista with her husband, Brian, and their two daughters Kayla and Reagan. In her spare time, she likes to garden, kayak, read, run nature trails, and travel.