Debra Atkinson received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music Education with Choral Emphasis from Delta State University. She received a Doctor of Arts in Music Education with Choral Emphasis from the University of Mississippi.
In 2006 she became Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music Education at Mississippi University for Women. In 2011 she became the Director of Choral Activities and Instructor of Music at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gulfport. After retiring in May of 2021, she and her husband moved to Oxford to be closer to children and grandchildren.
Believing in community involvement, Debra has served as accompanist and choral director for numerous choral and theater groups throughout her career. In her hometown of Greenwood, she was musical director and accompanist for many Greenwood Little Theater productions. She was also director of a women’s community choir for 20 years. In Columbus, she was on the Board of the Columbus Girl Choir and the Columbus Arts Council. While on the Coast, she was the accompanist for the USM Gulf Coast Civic Chorale and musical director for Center Stage Theater.
After moving to Oxford, she was accompanist and director of the Oxford Children’s Chorus. She is an adjunct instructor in the music department at the University of Mississippi, as a collaborative pianist and class piano instructor.
Jayden Cox Collaborative Pianist
Jayden Cox, a native of Forest, Mississippi, is a current student at the University of Mississippi. From an early age, he began taking piano lessons from his grandmother and is now a pianist and organist in academic, community, and church settings throughout northern and central Mississippi.
Jayden was named Collaborative Pianist of the Oxford Civic Chorus in the spring of 2026. Additionally, he is a member of the University of Mississippi Concert Singers and University Chorus and is the Collaborative Pianist for Men’s Glee. Locally, he serves as the Music Ministry Intern at First Baptist Church Oxford. Beyond Oxford, he continues to play the organ and piano at his home church, Forest Baptist Church, and at Brandon First Methodist Church. Beyond his work as a pianist and organist, Jayden also plays the French horn and served as band captain of his high school band.
Aside from his musical endeavors, Jayden is pursuing a Bachelor of Accountancy with a minor in Political Science, before planning to attend law school. He is a Luckyday Scholar and a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. From the piano bench, Jayden looks forward to continuing to support the Oxford Civic Chorus and helping bring meaningful music to life for singers and audiences alike.
