Program Manager

Melodie Dickerson, soprano, is Director of Choral and Vocal Studies and Music Program Manager at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, where she conducts Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Music Theatre Ensemble while also teaching private voice and music appreciation. At SCF, she has directed productions of The Boyfriend, Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Gondoliers, and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also co-wrote and directed the 2007 premiere of a new musical, In Ybor City. Dickerson has initiated the SCF Honor High School Honor Choir and SCF Gospel Choir, Voices of Praise. SCF choral ensembles have received high praise for their music and performances.

Locally, she has appeared as a soloist with the Northport Symphony, Anna Maria Island Symphony, and Venice Symphony as well as performing in numerous music series concerts. Dickerson also performs as part of the duo, Solea Musica, as both singer and pianist. After a successful tour in the Czech Republic, she and partner Rex Willis, classical guitar, released a Solea Musica CD of original improvisational music entitled Into the Sky.

Prior to coming to SCF in 2004, Dickerson taught classes and served as Choir Director and Drama Advisor at Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts. Additionally, she was the director of the 75 voice Medfield Community Chorus as well as the Director of Music at Millis Church of Christ, U.C.C. Dickerson also maintained a full private voice studio and created Enchanted Evenings, which provided musical entertainment for a variety of corporate and private events in the Boston area.

Dickerson also spent three years in Cincinnati, where she was a private voice instructor in the Preparatory Department at the College Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. She founded the Summer High School Musical Theatre Workshop there. While in Cincinnati, Dickerson was soprano soloist at the Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church.

In addition to her work teaching and directing, Dickerson appeared in numerous musicals throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Texas. One of the highlights of her career was singing for Leonard Bernstein during a tribute performance at the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Her directing credits include H.M.S. Pinafore in Ft. Worth, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Bye Bye Birdie, Kiss Me Kate, Some Enchanted Evening, The Curious Savage, The Would Be Gentleman, and Tom Jones in Boston.

Dickerson holds a Master's degree in Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and a Bachelor's degree in Music from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Dickerson is an active member of NATS serving as the President of Tampa Bay NATS, ACDA, MTNA and Actors' Equity Association. Currently Dickerson is the State Coordinator for the FCCAA Music Symposium, and last but not least, Dickerson is the proud mom of Gabi and Griffin.