Jean Hickman

Educator, Conductor, Mentor...

 

Dr. Jean Hickman, Professor of Choral/Vocal Music at Daytona State College, conducts the DSC Singers and founded the a cappella contemporary/jazz ensembles Shades of Blue and Blue Latitude.  Dr. Hickman has used her research in blended and online learning platforms to develop new pathways for learning in ensemble, aural skills and common core music courses.

  

Previous appointments include Assistant Professor of Music Education at Morningside University from 2014-2017, where Hickman taught undergraduate courses in music education and conducted Bel Canto, a women's chorus, and co-directed the Morningside Master Chorale. While at Morningside, Hickman developed a music education strand for the university's online Master of Arts in Teaching degree; she continues to teach the strand courses.  As a Doctoral Fellow at the University of Florida, Jean directed the Women’s Chorale, founded and directed the Mixed Vocal Jazz and Women's Vocal Jazz Choirs and served as a vocal jazz coach.

 

Prior to moving to Florida, Dr. Hickman served as Humanities Assistant Division Chair and Director of Choral Activities at Western Iowa Tech Community College, where she built a music program from the ground up to include performing ensembles, musical theater performances, applied instruction and music core courses.  Preceding her tenure at WITCC, Hickman taught in the public schools of Sioux City, Iowa. Jean’s work in the Sioux City Schools led to her selection as Teacher of the Year.

 

Jean holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Morningside College and a Master of Music degree in Voice from the University of South Dakota, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degree with an emphasis in Choral Conducting from the University of Florida.

 

Dr. Hickman's choirs have received top honors in regional, national, and international festivals, including the University of North Texas Jazz Festival, the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, and Music Festivals International.  Additionally, her choirs have performed throughout the world, from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City to Central and South America, Greece and Italy.

 

Hickman's voice students have consistently placed in the finals of the NATS student auditions; with several having moved to successful performance careers. Professional honors include the Morningside College Distinguished Alumni Award and the University of Iowa Outstanding Educator Award.

 

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