Senior High Chorus
Welcome to the ACE Senior High Choral Department! Our choirs include scholars in the 9th-12th grades and those who have little to a plethora of experience. We are excited to offer three choirs- Women’s Choir (I-IV), Men’s Choir (I-IV), and the auditioned choir, ACE Singers. In each choir, choristers will learn music theory, conducting patterns and skills, solfege, sight-reading, independent singing, small group singing, a variety of music in different genres, and much more.
During the school year we prepare for four concerts (Fall, Winter, LGPE, and Spring) as well as offer each scholar an opportunity to audition for Georgia All-State Choir, Literary, and apply for the Tri-M Music Honor Society. (More information on these events/auditions are in the Choir Handbook that will be emailed out the first week of school and is attached on the front page of the lesson plans on D2L.) We also offer choral trips of different types each year. When the opportunity arises, our choirs have the opportunity to attend and participate in choral days throughout the state.
The Senior High Choral Department is under the direction of Mrs. Tammara Shipes.
Mrs. Tammara Shipes is a native of Washington, NJ. Her musical education began as a tyke at the ripe age of 6, when she began taking voice and piano lessons from the church organist in NJ. After high school, Mrs. Shipes attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and performed numerous times at Lincoln Center under fabulous conductors like Dr. James Jordan, Kurt Masur, and Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt. She was also a member of the world-renowned Westminster Concert Handbell Choir under the baton of Kathy Ebling-Thorne with whom Mrs. Shipes toured nationally for four years and can be heard on various CD’s. After Westminster, Mrs. Shipes transferred to Valdosta State University and graduated with her Bachelor (2010) and Master (2012) Degrees in Vocal Performance. Mrs. Shipes has sung a diverse number of title roles in operas, but her dream and favorite role she performed was Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
Mrs. Shipes came to ACE in January of 2019 and previously was the Director of Music Ministries at Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins for 6 years. While at CUMC, she worked with composer and director Pepper Choplin who rehearsed her church choir for a performance under his direction. Due to this experience, Mrs. Shipes’ choir was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall under Choplin’s baton. In addition to being a church musician, Mrs. Shipes served as Adjunct Professor of Music (courses taught: Music Appreciation, Piano, Music and Society, Freshman Seminar Course) at Middle Georgia State University. She also maintained a private voice and piano studio in Perry and Valdosta for 13 years which she recently closed. Currently, Mrs. Shipes is the Music Assistant at Perry United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Shipes is a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan and lives in Perry, GA with her husband, Erik, daughter, Clara Diane, and beagle, Sir Henry Preston Shipes of Perry.
