Director, Rachel Cornett is a graduate of Green Forest High School and the University of Arkansas with a Bachelors in Choral Music Education and Masters in Music Education. During her time at the U of A she studied classical voice, sang in Schola and Inspire, and played percussion and piccolo in the UA Marching Band. After graduation, Rachel taught Middle School Choir for ten years in Bentonville, Arkansas (2003 Teacher of the Year) and was the co-director of the Bentonville Children’s Choir before moving to New York City in 2011.  In NYC, Mrs. Cornett taught music and served in leadership at TEP Charter School in Manhattan. Rachel is currently teaching 8th and 9th grade Choir at Lakeside Junior High in Springdale, Arkansas and is the director of the University of Arkansas Children’s Choir. She is National Board Certified Teacher, recently earned her ESL Certification (teaching students for whom English is their Second Language) and serves on the Arkansas Choral American Choral Directors Association Board as the Children & Community Youth Choirs Chair. Rachel was the invited choral clinician for both the Region 2 and Region 3 Jr High All-Region Choirs in Central Arkansas in 2017 and Region 5 in 2018 and continues to be invited to clinic choirs across the region. Rachel has presented choral education workshops at The NWA Teach Music Conference and for The Arkansas ACDA Choir conventions each summer. Mrs. Cornett was voted by her regional colleagues as The 2020 Outstanding Jr High Choir Director of the Year. She has sung professionally in Vocalis, The Link, and the Arkansas Gospel Chorale. Mrs. Cornett lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her husband, Jamie, and their two children Audrie and Annie.

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. 

Braden Sanford, UACC Intern

Braden Sanford, UACC Intern, is a senior at the University of Arkansas from Springdale, Arkansas and is studying Vocal Music Education. Braden is a member of the Inspirational Chorale, one of the top Chorale ensembles at the University. Braden studies under Dr. Jeffrey Allen Murdock and Dr. Jonathan Stinson, to which he values their vast knowledge in both music and music education tremendously. In 2023, Braden served as a guest conductor/performer in Springdale Har-Ber High School’s Choral program’s tour of Italy! Braden is beyond excited to be working with UACC this year!

UACC Assistant Director