• Alyssa J. Cossey

    CONDUCTOR. TEACHER. ARTIST. SCHOLAR.

  • Bio

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    Dr. Alyssa J. Cossey currently serves as Associate Director of Choral Activities at Coastal Carolina University. Before relocating to South Carolina, she was an Assistant Professor of Choral Music at the University of Arizona. During her five-year tenure there, she led three different choral ensembles, in addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate students in both the choral and music education areas.

    As a professional conductor, Alyssa has successfully conducted choruses at the secondary and collegiate levels and prepared choirs at the collegiate and professional levels for national conference performances. She also has prepared choirs to perform choral-orchestral masterworks, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s War Requiem, and several works by Bach, including the St. John Passion. However, her true passion has been to expand the choral canon to include music from around the world with a focus on historically excluded composers.

    As a Los Angeles native, she sang in the premiere women’s chorus, Vox Femina Los Angeles, under the direction of Dr. Iris Levine, and has sung at venues including the Hollywood Bowl, the Pantages Theatre, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall with renowned conductors and composers, including John Williams, Grant Gershon, and James Conlon. She is also an inaugural member of the professional women's choir mirabai, which sings and tours under the direction of Dr. Sandra Snow and can be heard on their debut CD Ecstatic Songs, released in March 2018, as well as their sophomore album, Home in Me, which was released in February 2023.

    In addition to conducting and teaching, Dr. Cossey has a passion for research. She has been published in several state and regional music education journals, including the Choral Journal (the US’s premiere peer-reviewed choral research publication), and is a contributing author for a new choral textbook on women composers edited by Hilary Apfelstadt, D.M.A.

    Alyssa holds a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, an M.M. in Conducting from California State University, Fullerton, and a B.A. from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

    Previously, Dr. Cossey taught middle and high school choir in the L.A. area for nearly a decade. During her tenure, her choirs consistently received Superior ratings at festival, with invitations to perform at the state and national level, and enrollment in her programs more than doubled in size under her leadership.

  • Education

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    Michigan State University

    DMA in Choral Conducting

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    2017

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    California State University, Fullerton

    MM in Performance, Conducting

    Graduate Assistant

    2015

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    California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

    BA in Music, Education Emphasis

    Music Teacher Credential

    2006, 2008

  • Research & Presentation Materials

    Presentations:

    (re)sounding Joy: Shifting Paradigms for DEI Work in Choral Spaces

    North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, Athens, GA (January 26, 2024)

    Eastern ACDA Regional Conference, Providence, RI (March 1, 2024)

    National American Choral Directors Association Conference, Dallas, TX (March 22, 2025)

    Building Better Choirs: A New Approach to Developing Voice Technique (Co-presenter: Amelia Rollings Bigler)

    South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, Columbia, SC (February 9, 2024)

    Yes, And... DEI and the Developing Choir

    AzACDA Summer Workshop, Gilbert, AZ (July 6, 2022)

    Connecticut Music Educators Association Conference, Hartford, CT (March 31, 2023)

    Pennsylvania ACDA Summer Conference, Mechanicsburg, PA (July 31, 2023)

    South Carolina MEA Choral Arts Seminar, Columbia, SC (September 9, 2023)

    Amplifying Womxn's Voices: An Intersectional Approach to Equity in the Choral Ensemble

    Midwestern ACDA Regional Conference, Chicago, IL (February 17, 2022)

    Western ACDA Regional Conference, Long Beach, CA (March 3, 2022)

    Northwestern ACDA Regional Conference, Spokane, WA (March 11, 2022)

    Amplifying Womxn's Voices in the Reimagined Choral Ensemble

    AzACDA Virtual Summer Conference, Mesa, AZ (July 6, 2020)

    Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT (July 15, 2020)

    ChorAmor Webinar (November 2, 2020)

    mirabai Virtual Leadership Retreat (January 10, 2021)

    California All-State Music Education Virtual Conference, (February 20, 2021)

    Western ACDA Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Virtual Series (April 22, 2021)

    NAfME Eastern Division Virtual Conference (April 24, 2021)

    Maryland Music Educator Association Virtual Conference (July 13, 2021)

    The First Ten Minutes: Re-Imagining the Role of Warm-Up Activities in the Choral Rehearsal

    Choral Teacher Share: Practical Resources and Strategies from Coast to Coast, East Lansing MI (July 23, 2016)

    North Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference Winston-Salem, North Carolina (November 6, 2016)

    NAfME Northwest Conference, Bellevue, WA (February 17, 2017)

    California All-State Music Education Conference, San Jose, CA (February 18, 2017)

    New Mexico Music Educators Association Conference, Albuquerque, NM (January 12, 2018)

    Tucson Unified School District Professional Development Day, Tucson, AZ (June 1, 2018)

    Bakersfield City School District Summer Institute, Bakersfield, CA (July 24, 2018)

    Indiana Music Educators Association Conference, Fort Wayne, IN (January 18, 2019)

    Alaska Music Educators Association Conference, Anchorage, AK (January 11, 2020)

    NAfME Eastern Division Virtual Conference (April 24, 2021)

    Choral Music Experience Institute, East Lansing, MI (June 13, 2022)

    Connecticut Music Educators Association Conference, Hartford, CT (March 31, 2023)

    Coastal Carolina Group-Voice Pedagogy and Research Summer Intensive, Conway, SC (July 21, 2023)

    Pennsylvania ACDA Summer Conference, Mechanicsburg, PA (July 31, 2023)

    South Carolina MEA Choral Arts Seminar, Columbia, SC (September 9, 2023)

    Presentation Slides (PDF)

    Warm-up List (w/descriptions)

    Sample Card Game Teacher Master

    Finding Their Space: Re-Inventing The Choral Audition

    California All-State Music Education Conference, San Jose, CA (February 15, 2018)

    Tucson Unified School District Professional Development Day, Tucson, AZ (June 1, 2018)

    Bakersfield City School District Summer Institute, Bakersfield, CA (July 24, 2018)

    North Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference Winston-Salem, North Carolina (November 10-13, 2018)

    Indiana Music Educators Association Conference, Fort Wayne, IN (January 18, 2019)

    Alaska Music Educators Association Conference, Anchorage, AK (January 10, 2020)

    Presentation Slides (PDF)

    Mind the Gap: Strategies and Tools for the Changing Voice/Middle School Singers

    Choral Teacher Share: Practical Resources and Strategies from Coast to Coast, East Lansing MI (July 24, 2016)

    ACDA-Hawaii Chapter, Honolulu, HI (September 2, 2017)

    New Mexico Music Educators Association Conference, Albuquerque, NM (January 12, 2018)

    Bakersfield City School District Summer Institute, Bakersfield, CA (July 24, 2018)

    North Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference Winston-Salem, North Carolina (November 10-13, 2018)

    California Choral Directors Association Conference, San Jose, CA (March 14-17, 2019)

    South Carolina MEA Choral Arts Seminar, Columbia, SC (September 9, 2023)

    Presentation Slides (PDF)

    Finding S.P.A.C.E. Article

    Learning to Listen: Empowering the Individual & the Ensemble (Co-presenter Becky Marsh)

    Choral Teacher Share: Practical Resources and Strategies from Coast to Coast, East Lansing MI (July 24, 2016)

    North Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (November 5, 2016)

    Michigan Music Conference, Grand Rapids, MI (January 21, 2017)

    ACDA-Hawaii Chapter, Honolulu, HI (September 2, 2017)

    Presentation Slides (PDF

    The First Five Years: A Planning & Survival Guide (Co-Presenter Becky Marsh)

    California All-State Music Education Conference, San Jose, CA (February 15, 2018)

    Indiana Music Educators Association Conference, Fort Wayne, IN (January 19, 2019)

    NAfME Northwest Conference, Portland, OR (February 14-17, 2019)

    NAfME Eastern Division Virtual Conference (April 24, 2021)

    Presentation Slides (PDF)

    Google Drive Materials

    Adopt, Adapt, Improve: Utilizing Effective Choral Techniques in the Wind Band Rehearsal

    California All-State Music Education Conference, San Jose, CA (February 15, 2018)

    Midwest Clinic: International Band & Orchestra Conference, Chicago, IL (December 19, 2018)

    Presentation Slides (PDF)

    Grow Where You Are Planted: Recruitment & Retention Strategies for Every Choir

    Tucson Unified School District Professional Development Day, Tucson, AZ (June 1, 2018)

    AzACDA Summer Conference, Mesa, AZ (July 10, 2018)

    Bakersfield City School District Summer Institute, Bakersfield, CA (July 24, 2018)

    Removing Gender: Best Practices for Recruiting Tenor/Bass Singers in the 21st Century​

    Arizona Music Educators Conference, Mesa, AZ (February 2, 2019)

    Fabrications & Folklore: The Genesis of Randall Thompson's Frostiana

    University of Arizona Music Education Colloquium, Tucson, AZ (April 6, 2018)

    Publications

    Cossey, Alyssa, ed. Tre cose, (MusicSpoke).

    Apfelstadt, Hilary, ed. Choral Repertoire by Women Composers. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2025. [Contributing author]

    Cossey, Alyssa. “Making Equity Actionable: Resources & Tools for More Inclusive Choral Practices.” Tactus, (Spring 2022).

    Cossey, Alyssa. "Finding S.P.A.C.E.: Five Essential Steps for Student Success in the Middle School Classroom." Tennessee Musician 74, no. 2 (Winter 2022).

    Cossey, Alyssa. "Building Voices & Community: Vocal Exercises for the Post-COVID Choir." Antiphon 25, no. 1 (Fall 2021).

    Cossey, Alyssa, ed. "Lessons from the Pandemic." Tactus, (Fall 2021).

    Cossey, Alyssa. “Choral Reviews for All Choirs: Repertoire for Virtual/Hybrid Instruction.” Antiphon 24, no. 1 (Fall 2020).

    Cossey, Alyssa. “Best Practices in the Time of COVID-19: Why Getting By is More Than OK.” Antiphon 23, no. 3 (Spring 2020).

    Cossey, Alyssa. “Finding S.P.A.C.E.: Five Essential Steps for Student Success in the Middle School Classroom.” North Carolina Music Educator 69, no. 3 (Winter 2019).

    Cossey, Alyssa. “Tips from the Clinician: A Sneak Peek at the Treasure Trove of Helpful Ideas to be Presented at Midwest.” Instrumentalist 73, no 5 (December 2018). [contributing author]

    Cossey, Alyssa. “Adding Canons to the Canon: Franz Joseph Haydn’s Die Weltlichen Kanons.” Choral Journal 59, no 1 (August 2018).

    Playlists & Podcasts

    Choral Collective Playlist

    Choralosophy Podcast

  • CCU Choral Conducting & Pedagogy Intensive

    July 7-8, 2025

    Description

    The Choral Conducting & Pedagogy Intensive is an interactive workshop focused on accessible, inclusive, and engaging practices in choral settings. Led by Dr. Alyssa J. Cossey (Coastal Carolina University) and Dr. Becky Marsh (Butler University), this two-day intensive will explore essential aspects of the choral arts. Topics include developing musicianship through rote and reading practices, teaching and communicating through conducting gesture, and designing effective and engaging choral rehearsals for singers of all abilities. Teacher-conductors of choral music in school, community, and church settings are invited to attend this intensive, part of the 2025 Summer Choral/Vocal Pedagogy offerings at Coastal Carolina University. Participants will receive group and individual conducting coaching, explore accessible and diverse choral repertoire for various settings, and develop practical strategies for teaching individual musicianship in the group setting.


    *Registration includes a reading packet and digital access to all materials shared during the intensive.

    Tentative Schedule

    Day 1 – Monday, July 7 (9:00 am - 4 pm)

    • Warm-ups with Purpose
    • Rote to Reading: Rhythm
    • Rehearsal Techniques & Strategies #1
    • Group Conducting Masterclass #1
    • Reading Session #1: Harmonic Sequence

    Day 2 – Tuesday, July 8 (9:00 am - 5 pm)

    • Neurodiversity in the Choral Setting
    • Rote to Reading: Pitch
    • Building Group Cohesion
    • Reading Session: (re)sounding Joy
    • Rehearsal Techniques & Strategies #2
    • Group Conducting Masterclass #2

    Clinician Information

    Dr. Alyssa J. Cossey (she/her) is a conductor, singer, educator, and scholar. She is an inaugural member of the professional women’s choir, mirabai, a 2023 Third Place Winner of the Dale Warland American Prize in Conducting, and she is currently serving as Associate Director of Choral Activities at Coastal Carolina University. Before relocating to the East Coast, she was an Assistant Professor of Choral Music at the University of Arizona and prior to that, she taught both middle and high school choir in Southern California for nearly a decade. Alyssa holds a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, an M.M. in Conducting from California State University, Fullerton, and a BA from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

    Dr. Becky Marsh (she/her) is the Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Butler University (Indianapolis, IN), where she teaches music education courses and directs the university’s treble-voice ensemble. Dr. Marsh holds a PhD in Music Education from Michigan State University, and Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro. Prior to her career in higher education, she taught choral music in North Carolina, where she also served as the music director for a K-12 youth theater. Dr. Marsh also sings and tours as a member of the professional women’s choir, mirabai. Dr. Marsh's research interests include music teacher identity development, students’ acquisition of musicianship skills, and inclusive teaching practices. For additional information and resources, please visit www.beckymarshmusic.com.

  • Registration Information

    Click below to register and learn more!

  • Recommended Resources

    Equity-Focused Repertoire Databases:
    Justice Choir Songbook (compiled list of social justice works - free for non-profit organizational use)
    Activist Repertoire Database (list hosted by Gala Choruses)
    Composer Diversity Database (filterable database focused on composer diversity)
    Historic Composers Directory (directory of historic black composers)
    Non-Idiomatic Choral Music of Black Composers (compiled by Dr. Marques L.A. Garrett)
    African Diaspora Music Project (searchable database of scores, recordings, & programmatic works by composers of the African Diaspora)
    Castle of Our Skins (comprehensive resource/repertoire list about the music of Black composers from the African Diaspora)
    Sacred Music By Women Composers (purchasable anthologies)
    Database of Women Composers (Orange County Women’s Chorus - Eliza Rubenstein)
    Women Composers (non-exhaustive list of women composers for all ensembles/instruments)
    Sacred Music from the Convents of Seventeenth-Century Italy: Restoration Practices for Contemporary Women’s Choruses (research by Dr. Meredith Bowen)
    A Modern Reveal (information and links to repertoire from early women composers)
    Gala Choruses Repertoire Resources (links to repertoire lists including LGBTQ+ composers, Activist Repertoire List, Trans Composer Reading Session, etc.)
    Latin American Choral Music List (compiled by Ahmed Anzaldúa of Border CrosSing & Liza Calisesi Maidens)
    Aepex (list of historically excluded composers with links to repertoire)

    Historical Repertoire Databases:

    Medieval/Renaissance/Baroque Composer List (links to repertoire)

    Bach Vocal Music Index (filterable catalogue of Bach cantata, masses, motets)

    Mozart Music Catalogue (Bärenreiter-Verlag scores available for study/research)

    Polyphony Database (links to repertoire)

    Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL)

    Petrucci Music Library (IMSLP)

    Classroom Resources:
    ChorAmor (repertoire, lesson plans, & advocacy tools)
    Decolonizing the Music Classroom (comprehensive list of resources, research, podcasts, etc.)
    Cult of Pedagogy (music education resources, blog, & podcast)
    Girl Conductor (classroom resources & instructional videos by Maria A. Ellis)
    Being Human Together (community-centered resources by Coty Raven Morris)
    The Choral Commons (podcasts, community events, & resources on justice-centered praxis)
    We Rise: A Movement Songbook (from the Poor People’s Campaign - social movement music)
    Repertoire to be Removed (list of minstrel songs & supporting documentation for its removal)
    Music & Peace Building (podcasts & resources for peace-building through music)
    Everyday Musicality (practical applications of music education research for the secondary classroom)
    Classroom & Repertoire Resources (curated by Dr. Derrick Fox)
    Music Theory Examples by Women (music theory examples, repertoire lists, and bio info)
    List of Women Composers by Time Period (list by Oxford Music)
    Boulanger Initiative (promotes music composed by women)

    Contemporary Women Composers:
    Artemisia
    Elizabeth Alexander
    Ysaye Barnwell
    Abbie Betinis

    B.E. Boykin
    Michael Bussewitz-Quarm
    Andrea Clearfield
    Reena Esmail
    Emma Lou Diemer
    Melissa Dunphy
    Jocelyn Hagen
    Elaine Hagenberg

    Rosephanye Powell

    Andrea Ramsey
    Zanaida Robles

    Diana V. Saez

    Kamala Sankaram

    Caroline Shaw

    Moira Smiley

    Joan Szymko

    Dale Trumbore

    Mari Esabel Valverde

    Gwyneth Walker

    Chen Yi

    Playlists:
    Music Theory Examples by Women
    Black Choral Musicians
    Choral Collective Playlist
    A Trans Composers Playlist

    Podcasts:
    Celebrating Women Composers
    Choral Commons Podcast
    Engender
    They Do Exist
    Girl Conductor
    Silent Canon
    Heritage Choir

  • Media

    Coming soon...

  • Drop Me A Note...

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