Jo-Michael Scheibe knew he wanted to teach music from a young age.  In his role at the University of Southern California, he is proud to share his passion for music education.  He is also a champion of contemporary music in his work with up-and-coming composers.

Jo-Michael Scheibe oversees the Department of Choral and Sacred Music at the University of Southern California at USC Thornton in Los Angeles. He has also resided as National President of the American Choral Directors’ Association. In addition to acting as chair of the Department at USC Thornton, Dr. Scheibe conducts the USC Chamber Singers. The USC Thornton Chamber Singers were established in 1939 by Max T. Krone and originally called the “Madrigal Singers.” The group performed with Sir Elton John at USC and the 2013 Emmy Awards. They also were one of only 25 choirs invited to the World Symposium on Choral Music in Seoul, Korea in 2014.
Read more about the Chamber Singers.

Jo-Michael Scheibe

Jo-Michael Scheibe, USC

In addition to teaching choral methods and conducting and supervises both the graduate and undergraduate choral program, Scheibe proudly commissions new works of choral literature. The Chamber Singers perform pieces from these emerging composers. The new music is exposed to the public, thus launching the careers of promising young composers. Jo-Michael Scheibe even works on promoting music from relatively unknown international composers in the United States.

On July 1st, 2011, he assumed the post as National President of the American Choral Directors’ Association. Scheibe previously served as the organization’s Western Division President, as well as National R & S Chairperson for Community Colleges. Ensembles under his leadership performed at six National ACDA Conventions, as well as two National Conventions of the Music Educators National Conference, and various regional and state conventions.

Jo-Michael Scheibe’s artistic collaborations include performances with Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, Salvatore Licitra, Maria Guleghina. Jennifer Hudson, the Rolling Stones and Kenny Loggins, as well as preparation of choruses for Helmuth Rilling, Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, and conductors Jahja Ling, Jeffrey Kahane, Edoardo Müller, James Judd, Max Valdez, Thomas Sanderling, and Alain Lombard, among others. Recordings of ensembles under Scheibe’s direction have been released on the Albany, Cane, Naxos, and ANS labels. Walton, Santa Barbara Music Press, Pavane, and Colla Voce Music publish choral music in his series.

Jo-Michael Scheibe returned to USC in 2008 after a fifteen-year tenure as Director of Choral Studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, as well as previous faculty appointments at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Long Beach City College, Vintage High School in Napa, California, and Huntington Beach High School.

Dr. Scheibe received his D.M.A. from the University of Southern California and his B.A. and M.M. degrees from California State University at Long Beach, where he was presented with the Distinguished Alumnus award. Jo-Michael Scheibe is in frequent demand nationally and internationally as a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator for choruses at the university, community college, community, and secondary levels.

Jo-Michael Scheibe’s USC Profile.

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