Youth and Concert Choir Director - Denise Gilliland

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A nearly lifelong resident of Texas, Denise began her teaching career in the Houston area in 1982. Her earliest experiences were rich with multiethnic students who helped to shape her appreciation for the uniqueness of each and every child. Denise has always been “in love” with children’s choir; her close proximity to the Lafayette Children’s Choir and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir inspired her to complete her master’s degree in choral conducting in 2006. Having studied privately with renowned conductors Henry Leck and Eric Stark, she further enriched her choral experience by singing with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir.

Denise currently teaches music at Rossville Elementary School in Rossville, Indiana. In addition to teaching public school music, Denise is choir director at the Unitarian Universalist Church in West Lafayette. Past coordinator and clinician for Indiana’s Circle the State with Song festival, she is a member of Indiana Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association and the Kodály Educators Association.

Her arrangement of “And the Angels Sang” by local singers/ songwriters, Lisa Drake and Sharon McKnight, was premiered by the Indianapolis Children’s Choir in 2006 and is now published by Hal Leonard.

Prelude Choir Director - Leeann Ashby

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A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Leeann grew up singing for eight years in the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and Youth Chorale and also performed in various concert choirs, show choirs, and musicals in her school and community.  In 2008, Leeann graduated summa cum laude and as Presser Scholar from Taylor University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.  Since then, she has taught K-5 music/choir with the Tippecanoe School Corporation and First Steps in Music with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.  She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Choral Conducting at Butler University, where she studies with world renowned conductors Henry Leck and Eric Stark.

Leeann is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Indiana Choral Directors Association, American Orff Schulwerk Association, and the Indiana Orff Schulwerk Association.  She serves on the board of IOSA and ICDA and is certified in Orff Schulwerk, Conversational Solfege and First Steps in Music with John Feierabend.