The short answer is talented directors, dedicated students, supportive parents and a community willing to support the arts.

Our directors, Vernon Huff and Eric Wilkerson, are responsible for classroom instruction, evening rehearsals, competitions and the performances of our choral students.

Huff holds an undergraduate degree from Furman University and earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The Ohio State University in 2000.

He joined the Wando faculty in 2002 and became our choral director in 2007.

Wilkerson joined our staff this year after serving for seven years as the choral director at Sumter High School.

He attended the University of New Hamp-shire for his undergraduate degree and then earned a Masters of Choral Con-ducting from the University of South Carolina in 2001.

In 2007, Wilkerson was named as the National Educator of the Year by the Milliken Foundation which is one of the nation’s highest honors for educators.

Both instructors are talented musicians and skilled Nationally Board Certified teachers who often lead choral clinics and judge competitions at the state and national level in addition to their work with the Wando choirs.

The Wando Choral program consists of 250 students and boasts six performance ensembles: Con-cert Choir, Advanced Con-cert Choir, Wando Singers, Ladies Honors Choir, Show Choir, and the Urban Contemporary Choir.  

Based on auditions, students are placed in the various choral groups.  

Each of these choirs meets as a regular school class.

Choir members are often highly involved students who participate in athletics and school clubs and excel academically.

Many of our top choral students earn college scholarships to continue their choral studies at the next level.

Each year the Wando chorus program prepares students to compete on local, state and national levels.

This year the Wando chorus had 69 students selected to participate in All-County chorus, 27 in All-State chorus, and four in the National Choir.  

Various Wando choirs perform regularly at local churches and at civic and community events, including the town’s annual tree lighting, children’s day festivals, sporting events and the Memorial and Veteran’s Day ceremonies.  

In addition, the entire chorus performs in fall, winter and spring concerts at the Wando Performing Arts Center.

The honors choirs also have special community performances each spring.

Funding for the operation of the Wando High School choral program comes primarily from student fund-raising, sponsorships and community donations.

Each year the Choral Boosters must raise thousands of dollars in order to provide the music, production costs of performances, competition fees, supplies and travel expenses.

The Choral Boosters is a 501c3 organization with a volunteer board overseeing financial management, fundraising, volunteers, and pr/communications.

Without the wonderful support of the East Cooper community, this top-notch choral program at Wando would not be possible.

In addition to providing the financial resources needed, volunteers are also a key component of maintaining a high quality choral program.   

From setting up and assisting back stage during performances, to chaperoning,  to selling tickets, to providing food for students, more than 500 volunteer hours are logged annually for work in addition to fundraising.

Each year our entire Fine Arts Department works as a team to produce a school musical.

This year’s presentation of 42nd Street was absolutely incredible and showcased the wonderful talent of our students.

One of our choirs, the Wando Singers, served as the chorus for this musical.

Community members are invited to attend our “Girls Night Out” show, performed by members of our Ladies Honors Choir, which will be held at 7 p.m., April 16, 17, and 18 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church Ministry Center.

Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults.  Call 881-8255 for tickets for this event

Our Spring Choral Concert will be held on May 4 at the Wando Performing Arts Center and is open to the public.

Our final choral production of the year will be Cabaret, a fast-paced show where our seniors display their talents.

The Cabaret show will be on May 21, 22, and 23. For ticket information, go to our Wando choral Web site,  www.wandochorus.com.