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LuAnn Holden became the first female Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Girls Choir when she took over the leadership of the choir in Fall 2004. Mrs. Holden directs the main choir of the CGC, the Concert Choir, composed of girls in grades 7 through 12. Mrs. Holden is an assistant professor of Music Education at Lee University and for the past seven years was the director of the Lee University Children's Chorale, a group of approximately 70 children from 3rd-8th grades. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Wesleyan College and her Masters Degree in Music Education from Georgia State University. She has been an adjudicator at numerous choral competitions in the Southeast, and she received an Outstanding Teacher award from the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts as well as recognition in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. Mrs. Holden may be reached by e-mail at lholden@leeuniversity.edu. |
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Joan Tonkinson became an Associate Director with the choir in August 1999, when she began directing the Cantilena Choir. Mrs. Tonkinson later directed the middle school choir, and in 2004 she became the director of Bella Voce, the new 5th and 6th grade intermediate choir. Ms. Tonkinson has an extensive background in vocal music. She earned her Masters degree in Music Education from Southwest Missouri State University and sang with the Mid-America Singers and with the Springfield (Missouri) Regional Opera. She has directed several youth choirs and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She sings with Choral Arts Society in Chattanooga, and she has appeared in productions at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. Ms. Tonkinson is the music teacher at McConnell Elementary School, and she is also the piano accompanist for East Ridge United Methodist Church.
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Delores Beery-Norwood joined the CGC as the director of the 5th-grade choir in the fall of 2003. In 2004, she took over as director of the Cantilena Singers, a choir of 4th and 5th graders who are new to the Girls Choir. A mezzo-soprano, Ms. Beery-Norwood has performed on stages across the United States and Europe. During her 15 years in Europe she sang in most of the major opera and concert halls from Belgrade to Berlin. Ms. Beery-Norwood holds a Magister Degree (the European Doctoral equivalent) from the Hochschule fuer Musik and Darstellen Kunst in Salzburg, as well as a Masters in Vocal Performance from Wichita State University. She is a past winner of the Austrian Ministry for the Arts Grand Prize for Singing and has coached with international opera stars Elizabeth Schwartzkopf and Samuel Ramey. Ms. Beery-Norwood has taught internationally and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music at Bryan College, in addition to maintaining a studio at the School of Fine Arts at First Baptist Church. She is the alto soloist at Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain.
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John Wigal stepped down as Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Girls Choir in July 2004 after serving in that role since August 2000. However, the CGC is very pleased that Mr. Wigal remained with the choir organization as the first director of the new 3rd grade choir that was formed in January 2005. Mr. Wigal came to Chattanooga from the Chicago area. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Wittenburg University and his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. He taught vocal music for seven years at Elgin Academy and served in two large churches as director of music and organist. Mr. Wigal is also the music director for the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. |
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John Dyer founded the Chattanooga Girls Choir in 1987 and served as its director until his retirement in 1997. Under his leadership, the Chattanooga Girls Choir grew from a small group of talented young singers to a large internationally recognized choir. Mr. Dyer was a teacher of choral music at junior and senior high school and university levels, and in 1997 he was designated an outstanding teacher of music in the state of Tennessee. Mr. Dyer also served for fifty-two years as organist and choir director for a number of churches. With the creation of the Chattanooga Girls Choir, Mr. Dyer was able to pass on his deep love of music to thousands of girls and share the gift of music with the entire community. |
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Ed Huey was the Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Girls Choir from 1997-2000. During his years as director, the choir benefitted from his expertise, his high standards, and his strange and wonderful sense of humor. Mr. Huey recently retired as Choral Director of the The Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is now sharing his talents as an accomplished blues singer and guitarist, as evidenced by his two CDs, "Talkin' Back to the Night" and his latest, "A Slice of Yellow Moon". If you'd like to hear selections from his CDs, you can visit Mr. Huey's very own web site at www.edhuey.net. |
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Bonnie Bryant was the director of the Concordia Singers (5th grade) from 1988-2003. Ms. Bryant enriched the choir with her years of experience as a music teacher and performer, and her special connection with her young singers was always evident. Ms. Bryant currently sings in the Chattanooga Bach Choir and the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Choruses.
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The late Mary Ann Lowe was the director of the Cantilena Singers (4th grade only at that time) from 1992-1999. Mrs. Lowe was a well-known and well-loved music educator in the Chattanooga Public Schools for many years. As the director for the youngest members of the Girls Choir, she helped prepare her girls for the more difficult work ahead while still emphasizing the joy of singing. |
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