adjudicator Bios

Webb Parker - Scoring

Webb Parker, PhD currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Parker is also the Artistic Director of the Meistersingers Civic Chorus of Hattiesburg and Director of Music at Main Street Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Dr. Parker has sung professionally with Oregon Bach Festival and the Huntsville Master Chorale. His work with ensemble singing and vocal pedagogy can be found from the show choir and musical theater stage to the opera set. Dr. Parker also works extensively with high school and middle school programs in the mediums of concert choir, show choir, and pop/a cappella singing.

Dr. Parker was trained as a singer and church musician at Samford University in Alabama, studied music education at the University of Alabama, and received a PhD in music education and choral conducting at the University of Oregon. He spent five years in the public schools teaching on both the elementary and high school levels, and for eight years was a licensed pharmacy technician. Outside of the classroom and performance stage, Dr. Parker is an avid college football fan and is “dad” to his 165 pound Great Dane named Zeus.

Bret Peppo - Scoring

Bret Peppo is beginning his 11th year as Director of Choral Activities and Music Department chair at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA where he conducts the award-winning Concert Chorale, Chamber Singers, Masterworks Chorale and the Vocal Jazz Ensembles. Prior to his appointment at DVC, Peppo was the Director of Choral Activities at Alderson-Broaddus College, at the University of South Alabama, and at Illinois State University. He also held the position as director of the Old Gold Singers Show Choir at the University of Iowa. His concert, show and jazz choirs have toured extensively throughout the country and have been selected to perform for the Alabama and Illinois All-State Conferences. As a conductor, Peppo has conducted many high school and collegiate all-state festivals for both honor choir as well as jazz choirs and is a frequent adjudicator and clinician with many national music festivals and is frequent judge for show choir, vocal jazz and A cappella competitions. Bret Peppo earned a bachelors degree in Vocal Music Education from Eastern Illinois University, a Masters of Conducting at Illinois State University and doctorate from the University of Iowa in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy.

Natasha Tidmore - Scoring

Ms. Tidmore currently lives in Woodstock, Georgia where she serves as a Music Specialist with Cobb County Schools. Her previous teaching experiences are with Albertville High School, Albertville Middle School and Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, all in Alabama. She is also the former director of Encore (Northeast Alabama Community College) and the College Street Singers (Snead State Community College). Her honors include the 2014 Albertville City Schools Teacher of the Year, 2014 candidate for the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame and 2003 Marshall County Teacher of the Year. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Choral Music Education from Auburn University, War Eagle ! She is grateful to have enjoyed working with many inspiring students throughout her 27 year career. Her favorite teaching experiences involve making students aware of their potential. She enjoys spending time watching silly movies, climbing mountains and adventures with her sons, Will and Tyler.

Lauren Tosh - Critique

Dr. Lauren Tosh resides in Morgantown, West Virginia where she serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Morgantown High School. Lauren has spent most of her career in higher education where she served as assistant and associate professor of music at Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia, Mount Marty College in South Dakota, and right here at The University of Southern Mississippi. She has served as both choral director and professional singer in several churches during her career. In addition, Lauren has been the guest conductor for choral festivals and honor choirs and has adjudicated show choir competitions in Mississippi, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Her choirs have toured in Europe and have premiered in the prestigious venues of The Vatican of St. Peter’s Basilica and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She currently serves as the President-elect of the West Virginia American Choral Director’s Association. She holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Alderson-Broaddus College, a Masters degree in Choral Conducting from Illinois State University and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting Performance and Pedagogy from Southern Miss. She had many wonderful teachers who nurtured and challenged her in her passion for music and teaching. She is so excited to be back in Mississippi for the weekend!

Isaac Mei - Critique

Tyrone Hayes - Solo Competition

Baritone, Tyrone Hayes is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. Hayes is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Southern Mississippi. He received his Masters degree with emphasis in vocal pedagogy from Southeastern Louisiana University and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance aand Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of New Orleans.

Mr. Hayes has an active career in opera, oratorios and recitals. At Alabama State University he serves as voice professor, Director of Opera Workshop, and director of Trebled Soul Vocal Jazz Ensemble.