Enriching the lives of NC students
through scholastic competition

North Carolina Association for Scholastic Activities

Our three judges will adjudicate the online submissions and live portion of the competition. Andy Beck, Al Sturgis, and Nina Wheeler all have extensive experience in show choir adjudication.

Andy Beck received a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Masters degree in Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University. Following his nine year appointment as Vocal Music Director at Johnson City High School in New York State, Andy joined the editorial team of Alfred Publishing Company where he currently serves as Managing Editor, School Choral and Classroom Publications.

A successful composer and arranger, he has authored several top-selling chorals and children’s musicals for Alfred, as well as co-written the highly regarded method book, Sing at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight-Singing. Andy is in demand as a guest conductor, choreographer, and clinician for music educators and students throughout the country.

A fine tenor voice, he enjoys performing in and directing musical theater, singing with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, and has been an Alfred studio singer since 1992.

Dr. Alfred E. Sturgis was appointed Music Director of the North Carolina Master Chorale in 1993. Under his skilled artistic leadership the NC Master Chorale has made several appearances at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Director’s Association, recorded two Christmas CDs, and been in involved in numerous successful collaborations with the Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Symphony.

In addition to his work with the Chorale, Sturgis serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Carolina Ballet, Music Director of the Tar River Philharmonic, and has just returned to N.C. State as Visiting Artistic Director of Choral Music. Between the numerous festivals and his 11 years as Director of Choral Music at North Carolina State University, he has taught thousands of North Carolina students.

Dr. Sturgis holds degrees from the University of South Florida and the University of Illinois in Voice Performance, Music Education, and Conducting. Sturgis still performs occasionally as a counter tenor or baritone.

Nina Wheeler has been teaching dance for 29 years. She owns and operates Nina's School of Dance. Her dance training includes a Master's Degree from Dance Educators of America with an affiliation with New York University. In addition, she has studied with North Carolina Dance Alliance, Gus Giordano Chicago, East Carolina University, Meredith College, Alvin Ailey, and Jose Meier from Carnegie-Mellon University.

She is a member of North Carolina Dance Alliance and a member of the Jazz Dance World Congress. Her summers are spent at Duke University and the American Dance Festival. She currently is the director of the Miss North Carolina Pageant and is on the adjunct faculty teaching jazz dance at Elon University. She also teaches numerous master classes throughout North Carolina.

Her students have appeared on national television, movies, theater, cruise ships and numerous showcases across America. Many students have won top honors both regionally and nationally. Several former students are working professionally with Philadanco, Las Vegas, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets, Disney World, and Carowinds just to name a few. Others have been accepted into very prestigious dance programs in major universities and conservatories across the U.S. Nina was the 1993 Durham Arts Council Hitchings Award recipient because of her many contributions in dance throughout the community.