Megan McCormick Boyd is the new choral director of the Battle Creek Boychoir. Boyd graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education and vocal performance. While in Boston, Boyd studied voice with Frank Kelley and advanced choral conducting with Ann Howard Jones. Boyd maintained Dean List status for all four years of college and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, a prestigious national music honor society. Boyd has taught general music and chorus for grades five through twelve in the North Carolina Public School System. Boyd's choirs have been invited to national and international choral festivals, and consistently earn Superior Ratings at the North Carolina District Choral Festivals. Boyd’s choirs have worked with noted choral conductors Anton Armstrong, Lynn Gackle, Weston Noble, and André J. Thomas.
As well as conducting, Boyd is an active choral singer and soprano soloist, previously placing 3rd in the Professional Category of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Boyd is an active member of NCMEA and ACDA, and has been inducted into the last two editions of Who’s Who Among American’s Women. Boyd is beginning graduate studies in choral conducting at Michigan State University in the fall of 2010.
When not rehearsing or performing on stage, I spend my time… reading and being outdoors.
The last book I read was… The Blind Side – a fascinating look into football (huge NFL fan)
Most people would be surprised to learn that… I love to go deep sea fishing.
The craziest thing I have ever done is… crossed the Massachusetts State Turnpike, yes, on foot.
My dream is… to conduct on the Carnegie Hall stage
What is your guilty pleasure? Cereal – I could eat it every day, all day
Have you been told you look like someone famous, and who? Rachel McAdams (the girl from The Notebook)
My favorite vacation is... anywhere with a beach, lots of sun, and a great book
To prepare for a performance, I… listen to Renee Fleming and eat peanut butter
If I could choose to play another instrument, it would be the…piano, I can already play, but I would love to be really good.
I also play the… flute and piccolo
An extremely positive musical experience I have had was… conducting on the John F. Kennedy Center’s stage in Washington DC. I will never forget stepping onto the same podium as so many great conductors before me.
A profound experience, musical or otherwise, that has shaped or deeply influenced my approach to music would be… being a public school teacher. I love being able to show children the power of choral music, and to open their eyes to a world of music they have never seen before. It’s incredible when my students realize for the first time just how amazing choral music is, and I feel blessed that I can share this music with not just the professionals, but everyone.
If I could spend a day with any composer, it would be… it’s a toss up for me between Rachmaninoff (his 2nd piano concerto changed my life) and Verdi (his Requiem was my first big time performance as a music major)
