Ms. Sherri Matthews, Choral Director
Sherri A. Matthews has been the Choral Director at Mills E. Godwin High School since 1989. After graduating from VCU with a Bachelor in Music Education, she set to work to build the program at Godwin. In 22 years, the program has grown from 23 students to over 250, and Ms. Matthews oversees 9 performing ensembles which perform over 50 times a year. Her choirs have performed for gubernatorial events, have represented Virginia in International Music Festivals, performed at the VMEA State Convention, the ACDA DC Voices United Convention, the National School Board Association, and many other events around Richmond. The choral groups at Godwin have received commendations from Governors Allen and Gilmore, and performed for Governors Allen, Warner, Kaine and the Virginia State Supreme Court. Ms. Matthews also musically directs the Short Pump Players Musicals each school year and has done such shows as The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Working, Hello Dolly, Mame, Les Miserables, and Sweeney Todd. In 2001, Sherri completed her Masters in Music Education at VCU.
Ms. Matthews has been a teacher at the School for the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC), has served as a judge for music festivals and competitions, and has musically directed the Henrico County Public Schools Teacher Convocations which were held at the Landmark Theater, the Richmond Convention Center, and the Siegel Center. She has received 11 commendations from the Governors School for the Performing Arts, was awarded commendations from the Mayors of Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna, and she has received the Godwin High School PTSA Educator of the Year Award, Virginia Senate Commendation for Excellence in Teaching, West End Jaycees Young Teacher of the Year Award, was a REB award Finalist, and she has been listed in 6 editions of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” As a celebration for Music in our Schools Month, she was named Henrico County Music Teacher of the Year for 2006. Ms. Matthews musically directed the Richmond All-Star High School Musical (Grease and High School Musical) which was sponsored by Barksdale Theatre. She also musically directed the Richmond concert premiere of Ragtime. Ms. Matthews is a member of MENC, ACDA, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and is a founding member of the VCU Music Alumni Board. Ms. Matthews currently serves the Virginia Choral Director’s Association as Vice-President.
The student directors for 2011-2012 are:
Eagles Combination—Alex Smith & Mark Isaacs
Musical Illusions—Becky Westin and Kathryn Wesson
Madrigals— Aaron Todd
Debut— Holly Boyle & Yasir Afzal
Acapella— Emma-Claire Polich
Eagles Combination—Alex Smith & Mark Isaacs
Musical Illusions—Becky Westin and Kathryn Wesson
Madrigals— Aaron Todd
Debut— Holly Boyle & Yasir Afzal
Acapella— Emma-Claire Polich
About the Choreographer:
This year Ms. Amy Farley serves as our choreographer.
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Click on the link below to visit the director's "Quia" site where you can see class announcements, find internet resources, view the choir calendar, or send an email to Ms. Matthews
Notes from Ms. Matthews
Well, in spite of earthquakes and hurricanes, we are finally ready to get started with the 2011-12 school year. I am definitely ready to go, and I am really excited to start working with the students.
Last year, the combined choirs and band performed at Lincoln Center in New York City. It was truly a wonderful experience, and I am sure no one who was on that stage (or in the audience) will soon forget it. Madrigals was once again named the best Chamber Choir, and received the highest overall score at the Hanover/Lee Davis Choir Competition. Most Wanted, our barbershop quartet, received the coveted Superior rating at the Barbershop Harmony Adjudication, and was only the 5th quartet in history to do so. (4 of the 5 quartets who have received the rating have been from Godwin!)
This past summer, current and former students performed in our Fourth Annual Summer Concert. As always, we had a tremendous crowd of about 350 people. I was especially proud of the freshmen who got up to perform in front of their peers. That takes guts, and they all did a fabulous job!
I look forward to a wonderful year, and I hope I get to meet each of you soon!
Sherri A. Matthews
VCDA, President
Choral Director
