Heather Williams Potter, Artistic Director of the Charlotte Children’s Choir of Community School of the Arts, holds degrees in music education and choral conducting from Furman University, Arizona State University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Additionally, she has completed Level III in the Choral Music Experience certification course and holds Choristers Guild Children’s Choir Leadership certification. Dr. Potter has trained singers in the middle school, high school, and college classroom, and she has taught music education methods courses for undergraduates. In addition to her work with the Charlotte Children’s Choir, Dr. Potter serves as the Director of Music with primary responsibility for children at First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina. In this role, she works weekly with kindergarten through fifth grade children. As an active clinician, Dr. Potter frequently conducts treble ensembles for music conferences, festivals, and honor choirs. She is often invited by churches and organizations to provide training for children’s choir directors and volunteers. Dr. Potter is President of the Choristers Guild National Board and serves on the advisory board for the Choristers Guild Institute. She has served ACDA as the North Carolina and the Southern Division R&S Chair for Children and Youth Community Choirs. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Kenney, and their children Syl and Calvin.

The Charlotte Children’s Choir of the Community School of the Arts provides choral music education focused on artistic excellence. Serving children between the ages of 8-18 from all religious, ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds, the Choir seeks to inspire, educate, and enrich its members by instilling a lifelong love of singing. The performance-based music education program promotes self-esteem and corporate responsibility while contributing lasting value to the Charlotte community. Throughout its thirty-year history, The Charlotte Children’s Choir has enjoyed unique performance opportunities with professional organizations like the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Opera Carolina, Carolina Voices, American Boychoir, and Canadian Brass. The Choir has performed at state, regional and national music educators’ conferences, appeared on NPR’s “From the Top” and performed at the White House. The Choir has toured nationally and abroad, enjoying performances in landmark locations in Washington, DC, New York City, France, Italy, and Scotland. Find out more at www.csarts.org

Kelsey D. Burkett lives in Columbus, Ohio. Raised in Solon, OH, she is a 2006 Graduate of Capital University, where she majored in Music Education and served as the alto section leader in the renown Chapel Choir. She has been teaching choir at the middle school and high school level for the past 10 years. Currently she serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Memorial Middle School and Assistant Director of Choirs at Hilliard Bradley High School in Hilliard, OH. Choirs under her direction have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings and Grand Championships at the District, State, and National Contest levels. Since her residency in Hilliard, membership in the Memorial Jaguar Choir program has tripled. She also serves as the Theater Director for Hilliard Bradley High School, directing three to four large scale productions a year. She maintains an active singing career, performing with professional ensembles around the city of Columbus. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Choral Conducting.

The Hilliard Memorial Middle School choirs have established a tradition of excellence over the last several years. Over 200 students participate in the Memorial Choirs. The Choirs perform a variety of repertoire in contrasting styles and genres. They have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at OMEA Large Group Contest and have been crowned Grand Champion at the Music in the Parks Competition at Cedar Point for several years. They have also been the recipient of the distinguished Esprit de Corps award through Music in the Parks in both 2012, 2013, & 2014. In 2016, the Hilliard Memorial Choirs have the honor of being invited to sing at Carnegie Hall with Distinguished Concerts International.

 Ms. Kameron T. Crutcher, musician, educator, and conductor, is a native of Mableton, Georgia. Ms. Crutcher received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 2013 from Valdosta State University. During her time at Valdosta State, she studied with Dr. Tamara Hardesty and Dr. Paul Neal. She was president of the Chamber Singers and American Choral Directors Association for college students. Currently, she is the Orchestra and Choral Director for Lindley Sixth Grade Academy in Mableton, Ga, where she has served her local community for three years. Kameron is the first full time fine arts teacher the school has had since it’s opening in 2008. She also teaches voice, strings, and acting privately. She is an active member of Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Atlanta Jazz Chorus, Church Chancel Choir, and adjudicator for Governor’s Honors Program and All-State. 

Ms. Crutcher has shared the stage with many talented musicians and organizations such as, Ken Ford, Rev. Dr. Dwight Andrews, Joseph Joubert, The Morehouse Glee Club, Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society, Still Waters Youth Sinfonia, and other Atlanta based musicians. In 2011, she performed at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in a performance called Life and Remembrance in Honor of Memorial Day- The Music of Faure And Singh with Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Chorus Concerts Singers International. Her Honors include; Berkshire Choral Festival Scholarship Recipient 2011, Teacher of the Month for November 2015, Grammy Music Educator Award Nominee 2015, and several school Fabulous Falcon recognitions. Ms. Crutcher has also been recognized for marching in the Presidential Inauguration for President Barack Obama 2009 and publishing a winning student essay in School Band and Orchestra Magazine in, 2014, Kameron is thankful to share this amazing opportunity with her students for a concert they will remember for a lifetime. 

Lindley Sixth Grade Academy Chorus is under the direction of Ms. Kameron T. Crutcher. Since the opening of Lindley Sixth Grade Academy, the choir has increased from 40 members to over 100 in 2013 and has been on the rise since. LSGA Chorus has performed at community events such as talent shows, black history programs, honors events, Mableton Day, and was recently invited to sing for the second time with Clark Atlanta Philharmonic Society. The chorus was one of three sixth grade choirs to attend Large Group Performance Evaluation this year.  Ms. Crutcher’s years at LSGA has resulted in several students being accepted into the Pebblebrook High School Performing Arts Program, performing in Honors Chorus’ at Spivey Hall, and becoming members of the Georgia Youth Choir. Students under the direction of Ms. Crutcher know and understand their position as a musician. Daily, they recite their Musicians Creed which reminds them they are “talented, intelligent, disciplined, a team player, and a hard worker”.  This is the first time the school has been recognized for their excellence in the arts and is honored to be asked to perform at a venue as grand as Carnegie Hall. For that, they are thankful.

Lori Loftus is a dynamic and familiar figure in the music world. Having received her education at California State University, Fullerton, she has conducted and worked under some of the most noted batons in the world. These include such musicians as Dr. Howard Swan, Helmuth Rilling, Dr. Harold Dekker, Zubin Metah, Carlo Maria Giulini, John Alexander, Dr. William Hall, Dr. Doreen Rao, and Carl St. Clair. Lori and her husband John, founded the Southern California Children’s Chorus (SCCC), in 1996 as a means to enhance children’s lives through choral music education and world class performance. Mrs. Loftus is also a pianist and organist, and frequently performs with the Pacific Symphony, the Pacific Chorale, and has held church positions all over Southern California. Lori has been honored to play at the Sydney Opera House, and also on many great organs throughout Europe. Her abilities and excitement for children have taken her around the world, conducting performances and leading workshops. Children are her passion. In March, 2007, Lori received the ‘Outstanding Alumni Award for Excellence in Choral Music’ from her alma mater, California State University at Fullerton. “Miss Lori” continues to bring intense and quality education to hundreds of young singers. Many of her students and graduates attend fine Universities throughout the nation and are giving back to the world of art and music. Lori’s musical schedule includes overseeing seven choruses in SCCC, preparing them for TV work, movie scores, operas, cantatas, ballets and local performances for the community. A deep love for people and for music fuel Lori’s success in many other areas of her life. With three children out of the nest, Lori resides with her husband John in Newport Beach with an entertaining cat and their tropical fish. They are the proud grandparents of three little girls.  Lori's favorite moments are when she is working with children, performing music, enjoying her family or playing a fine round of golf. She is very honored to conduct over 300 children from around the US on the stage of Carnegie Hall with Distinguished Concerts International New York

The Southern California Children's Chorus (SCCC), Orange County's only chorus dedicated exclusively to meeting the educational and performance needs of children, seeks to do more than introduce youth to music and singing. It strives to enrich the lives of its members through programs stressing musical aptitude, teamwork, discipline, self-confidence and personal growth. Currently there are more than 300 young singers affiliated with SCCC, ranging from 5 to 21 years of age, and encompassing seven levels of sequential vocal and choral instruction. The children come from a wide geographic area of Southern California, sometimes traveling over an hour to attend weekly rehearsals. The SCCC has an outstanding faculty of six choral directors who are highly skilled in their chosen field of children's choral music. They provide the young singers with a caring, nurturing environment in which a full range of music can be learned. The choristers are immersed in compositions in multiple languages from many cultures, with themes ranging from the classics to folk and contemporary music. Choristers perform locally throughout the year at private and public concerts as well as participating in choral invitationals and their own Spring and Holiday Concerts. The SCCC has provided singers for Touchstone films, MGM films, music videos, commercials, symphony concerts, operas, television specials for Disney, the Academy Awards and many musical productions. The SCCC has received many awards including their third Emmy for their work in the television program E:60 honoring the Boston Marathon victims. They have also been privileged to present concerts at world renowned venues, including Westminster Abbey, the White House, the Washington National Cathedral, the Lincoln Center in New York, the Basilica San Marco in Venice, Italy, and Australia’s Sydney Opera House. Today, they are honored and excited to be in New York City performing with DCINY on the prestigious stage of Carnegie Hall..

Amanda Ferguson is a 2014 graduate of Capital University, with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Her time at Capital singing with the Chapel Choir gave her numerous performance opportunities, the highlight of which was performing in Ireland. Post-graduation, Amanda has been working at University Park Elementary School teaching general music classes to grades PK – 6, directing two choirs, as well as directing and producing their spring musicals. Amanda will begin working toward her master’s degree in Kodály Music Education at Loyola University this summer.

The University Park Elementary School Choir is thrilled to make its second appearance on the stage of Carnegie Hall in three years. Normally comprised of sixty-five students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, twenty-seven of those students are ecstatic to be performing in DCINY’s Songs for Inspiration and Hope. Located in Hyattsville, Maryland, the University Park Elementary School Choir performs throughout the year at school functions, local events, and on special request. Their dedication and love of the arts is an inspiration to their families, teachers, and community members every day.

Martha Shaw is founding director of the Spivey Hall Children's Choir Program and Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. 

Under her direction, the Spivey Hall Children's Choir and Spivey Hall Tour Choir have been featured in performances for state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, for the national conference of the Orff-Schulwerk Association, and for the 2010 national conference of Chorus America. Because of the artistry and mature vocal sound exhibited by her choirs, Dr. Shaw has received numerous invitations as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States, in Canada and in Korea. 

For thirteen years, Dr. Shaw served on the faculty at Shorter University, which honored her as the 2008 recipient of its President's Award for Teaching and Scholarship. She also taught at the University of South Carolina, where she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting with Larry Wyatt. Prior to her collegiate teaching, she was a music specialist for Atlanta's Fulton County for 15 years. Studying with Donald Neuen, she earned a Master of Science in Music Education from the University of Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Shorter College.

Located on the campus of Clayton State University and dedicated to excellence, the Spivey Hall Children's Choir Program offers professional-level instruction in vocal technique, music theory, sight singing, ear training, and presentation as well as exposure to a variety of choral styles. Involvement also enhances young people's lives, helping them to develop self-reliance, personal integrity, responsibility, compassion, teamwork, and confidence in their abilities. The formation of the Spivey Hall Children's Choir Program is another successful endeavor by The Walter & Emilie Spivey Foundation, the Spivey Hall Education Committee and Clayton State University to provide supplementary music education programs to metro-Atlanta youth from seventeen different counties.

Founded in fall of 2002, the Spivey Hall Young Artists features students ages 10 through 13. Under the direction of Craig Hurley, the Young Artists serves as the preparatory choir equipping singers with the skills they need to participate in the Sppivey Hall Children's Choir. 

One hundred twenty voices strong, the Spivey Hall Children's Choir was founded in the spring of 1994 and features singers ages 10-18. Dr. Martha Shaw, artistic director of the program, conducts this ensemble as well as its more advanced counterpart the Tour Choir.

Singing with unmistakable spirit, refinement, and remarkable beauty of tone and expression, the Spivey Hall Tour Choir is the select group of the organization. These outstanding young musicians proudly represent Spivey Hall's dedication to music education and commitment to artistic excellence.

As cultural ambassadors of the State of Georgia, the Tour Choir has recorded four professional CDs and performed to acclaim throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Sweden, Norway, England, Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Scotland and Spain. February of 2015 they performed to standing ovations at the American Choral Directors National Conference in Salt Lake City. Next summer they will be on a performing tour in the San Diego, California area.

For more information or to schedule a performance, please contact us at 678-466-5566 or sing@spiveyhallchildrenschoir.org