Heather B. Hammond, an alumna of Horry County Schools, serves as Choral Director and Artistic Director at the Charleston School of the Arts. She earned a Master of Music Education in Choral Music from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Arts from Coastal Carolina University.

Hammond’s choirs have consistently earned superior ratings at both the state and national levels, with numerous students selected for SCMEA All-State and ACDA Region and National Honor Choirs. She has served as a guest clinician throughout the Carolinas, working with both middle and high school ensembles. Hammond was a member of the SCMEA All-State Committee for ten years and chaired the process for four of those years.

In addition to her choral work, Hammond has extensive dance training across multiple disciplines. She enjoys spending time with her twins, Sadie and Sullivan, serving in her church, and traveling.

Anthony Bernarducci is an Associate Professor of Music at Clemson University, where he serves as the Music Program Director and Director Choral/Vocal Studies for the Department of Performing Arts. Anthony also oversees the new Master of Music Education degree at Clemson. He conducts the Clemson University Singers and is the founding director of Clemson’s chamber choir, Cantorei. In addition to his conducting duties, Anthony teaches courses and private lessons in composition. 

In addition to Clemson, Anthony is thrilled to begin his tenure as the newly appointed Conductor and Artistic Director of the Greenville Chorale and Herring Chamber Ensemble starting October 2025.

Under his direction, Clemson Choirs have performed across the east coast and in many of the great cathedrals across Germany, Prague, France and England. Dr. Bernarducci has conducted several of the great choral-orchestral masterworks, including Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Vivaldi’s Gloria, requiem settings of Mozart, Fauré, Cherubini, and modern masterworks such as Jake Runestad’s Into the Light. He made his directorial debut at Carnegie Hall in 2025 performing Mozart’s Mass in C Major, K. 317, “Coronation” presented by MidAmerica Productions featuring the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

As an author, Anthony has published articles on a variety of topics, ranging from music education to performance practice. His book, Listening Awareness: Build Independent Creative Listeners in Choir, is published by GIA Publications.

Dr. Bernarducci is an active composer with works published by GIA Publications, Gentry Publications, Hinshaw Music, and ECS Publishing Group. In the spring of 2025 an album of his choral chamber music, titled Something Beautiful Remains, will be released through GIA Publications recorded by Clemson Cantorei.