Southern Mix Chorus 
A men's barbershop chorus on the La Plata Campus of the College of Southern Maryland.
Musical Director - Matt Odell
Mr. Odell grew up singing and playing music in Western New York. Earning music scholarships in secondary school, he was cited as one of New York's best young musicians. He continued to study towards a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music Performance at the State University of New York at Buffalo. His major area of study was percussion with a minor in voice.
He relocated to the Washington, DC area in 1986. Showing his musical versatility, Mr. Odell performed with symphonies, theatres, big bands, and country bands both as singer and percussionist. From 1987-1990 Matt performed with the Corcoran Arts Players and earned lead tenor rolls in many Gilbert & Sullivan operettas including: The Mikado, The Gondoliers, Iolanthe, and Pirates of Penzance. Before entering the barbershop world Matt toured the east coast with the popular band “Bay Country”. The group was received numerous awards and recorded a full length CD commissioned by Wal-Mart. Matt also recorded solo in Nashville, TN. and received airplay of several songs.
Matt joined the Bowie Chapter, Knights of Harmony Chorus, of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) in 2000. During his first year, he was asked to take on the roll of assistant musical director for the chorus. Matt gained valuable knowledge directing many rehearsals and performances. Meanwhile he held positions as Program Vice President and Lead Section Leader. In 2004 Matt received the Knights coveted, “Barbershopper of the Year” award. He also was involved with music and show committees as right hand man to the musical director, Mr. Mike Kelly.
In 2002 Matt's company, Chesapeake Star Records (CSR) was contracted as the audio contractor for all of the Mid-Atlantic District BHS contests and conventions. CSR has continued to provide these services and has also recorded many Mid-Atlantic District and Sweet Adelines quartets and choruses.
Matt's barbershop quartet experience includes singing lead in his very first group “Mischief!” and subsequently “Hang Time” and “Gambit”. In 2006 Matt's quartet "Direct Hit" of which all members are chorus directors, won the Southern Division Mid-Atlantic District quartet contest. The southern division includes quartets from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC and parts of West Virginia.
The Southern Mix Chorus asked Mr. Odell to take over as musical director in October of 2005. Since that time, the chorus has benefited from his energy and attention to detail; and as a result, they have continued to improve their onstage performances. The chorus achieved its highest scores ever in last year's Mid-Atlantic District Southern Division contest, and Matt hopes to have the chorus score even higher during this year's contest. Mr. Odell also serves on the adjunct music faculty of the College of Southern Maryland.
Matt continues to work toward his certificate as Master Director. Because of this distinction, Matt was asked to direct a 300 plus barbershop chorus for the finale of the Mid-Atlantic District Convention in October 2006.
Contact: modell@chesapeakestar.com
