Eric Elliott is the choral director at Chestatee Academy in Gainesville, Georgia where he resides with his wife, Jana.  Mr. Elliott earned a bachelor's of music education from the University of North Georgia and is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association and National Association for Music Education. His career as choral director has spanned nineteen years, and his choirs have participated in the GMEA In-Service Conference and in multiple festivals and competitions throughout numerous states where they have received numerous awards.  His peers voted him Chestatee Academy Teacher of the Year in 2007.

The Chestatee Academy Chorus is based in Gainesville, GA and is composed of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Over the past nineteen years, the chorus has consistently received superior ratings at annual Large Group Performance Evaluations. The chorus has also won multiple awards from Heritage, Southern Star, and Carowinds Festivals of Music as well as other festivals throughout the Southeast. In addition, Chestatee Academy Chorus has a significant number of students participating each year in the George Music Educator’s Association All-State Chorus. The Chestatee Academy Chorus is proud of the high caliber students it produces.

Nick Wammack is in his 15th year of Music Education and is currently in his 10th year at Appling Middle School in Bartlett, TN. His Honors Choir competes nationally each year and they consistently receive Superior ratings, including Best Overall recognitions. During the 2017-2018 school year, Mr. Wammack was selected as Teacher of the Year for Appling Middle School and was awarded the Middle School Teacher of the Year for Bartlett City Schools. Nick Wammack is an assistant director at the University of Memphis summer choir camp and also directs choirs during the Arkansas Choral Connection summer choir camp.

Mr. Wammack’s Honors’ Choir is an auditioned group composed of students from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. They compete nationally each year and consistently receive Superior ratings, including Best Overall recognitions. The Appling Middle School Honors Choir also competes in local area festivals where they receive Superior ratings in performance and sight-reading.

This is Ms. Manuel's 17th year teaching middle school choir in Greenville County Schools and her fourth year at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School. She earned her BM from the University of Southern Maine in 2002 and her MA in School Leadership from Furman University in 2008. When Ms. Manuel is not at school, she enjoys traveling with her mother, competing in equestrian dressage, spending time with friends and playing with her dog.

The Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School Singers were born in 2015 a year after the STEAM school opened. The group has performed at various venues such as Dollywood, Southern Star Music Festival and Carowinds all receiving Superior Ratings and in 2017 the PJFMS Singers were awarded the Sweepstakes Award at the Southern Star Music Festival for receiving the highest score out of all choirs competing. It is an amazing honor to perform at Carnegie Hall for which we are extremely grateful!

Sara Gross has been teaching musicians in Washington state for the last 15 years, including band and choir in the Selah School District for 11 years. Teaching alongside with her husband, Nathan Gross, the music department at Selah Middle School continually receives Superior ratings at contests and festivals. Sara has three beautiful children and enjoys spending family time outdoors in the great Pacific Northwest.

The Selah Middle School 8th grade choir, from the apple capital of the world, Selah, Washington, loves to sing and perform. Their performance calendar is full each year with concerts, contests, parades and sporting events. They received a Superior rating at their local festival and will compete later this month with choirs from Oregon, Washington and Idaho at Music In the Parks Silverwood.

Sharon K Wade has been the Director of Choral Activities at Galaxy Middle School since its inception in 1991. She earned a BA in Music Education from Fairmont State College in West Virginia. She has pursued graduate degrees earning her Master's Degree from West Virginia University and Educational Specialist Degree from Stetson University in Central Florida. Mrs. Wade is completing her 37th year in Public Education.

Galaxy Vocal Ensemble hails from Deltona in Central Florida. Galaxy Middle School, grades six through eight, celebrated their 27th anniversary in October 2018. The chorus participates in many community events and school concerts throughout the year. For ten years, they have been invited to sing the National Anthem prior to an Orlando Magic (NBA) basketball game. GMS Vocal Ensemble consistently earns Superior ratings at MPA festival. They are truly honored and excited to return to Carnegie Hall for this prestigious event.

Vanessa Rhodes is in her 35th year teaching choral music and theatre in Greenville, SC. She is the Middle School Music Lead Teacher for Greenville County Schools. She is Director of Choral Activities at Mauldin Middle School, where she serves as Department Chair. She is also SCAMLE Entertainment Conference Chair, the former President of South Carolina Foothills Chapter-AOSA, and has served as a local Committee Chair for AOSA National Conference, 2007. She is an active member of FBC-Simpsonville Proclaim Worship Arts Ministry. She holds a BA in Music Education from Newberry College, M.Ed. from Converse College, and National Board Certification in Music for the Early Adolescent and Young Adult.

Mauldin Middle Mustang Choir is an auditioned group of 80 singers from Greenville County, South Carolina. Singers are selected for their focus, dedication, and willingness to work towards excellence, performing up to ten times per year. MMS Mustang Choir scored consecutive superior ratings at Festival Disney National Choral Competition with each visit to Disney. Mauldin Middle School singers have been invited to perform numerous times for the South Carolina Association of Middle Level Education annual conference in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Holly Traynham Hill, Choral Director at Ralph Chandler Middle, graduated in 1998 with a BA in Music Education from North Greenville University. She also currently serves on the board of the Music Alumni Association at North Greenville. She has been teaching for 20 years and is a member of MENC, ACDA, and the SC Middle School Association. She has had many students who have participated in the Honor’s Choir at USC, the ACDA Junior All-State Choir, and the Greenville All County Chorus. Mrs. Hill proudly served as Teacher of the Year in 2004-2005 and is a recipient of the “Who’s Who among American Teachers’ Award for 2003, 2004, and 2005. She has been at this present school for two years to start a new choral program. It now consists of 84 advanced voices and 60 beginner voices.

The Panther Choir is comprised of 84 voices. The ensemble here tonight is comprised of 18 auditioned voices for this event. They have participated in the Six Flags Music Showcase Festival (where they have received superior ratings and superior overall) community events, and the Greenville All County Chorus. Her choir served as the guest choir for a YouTube video for an upcoming and riser singer/songwriter, Shane Ericks, from Greenville County. The chorus is also the proud winners of the 2018 Overall Award from the Six Flags Music Festival. They perform at the school including PTSA programs, Veteran’s Day programs, spring musicals, and much more.