Voices in the Laurel is a non-profit choir for young people ranging from 1st grade through 12th grade. Voices in the Laurel is an authentic program that focuses on providing young people quality choral education in fun and innovative ways. The Voices in the Laurel staff prides itself on combining classic choral instruction with an extensive assortment of categories of music to a great appreciation for all aspects of choral art. The mission of Voices in the Laurel is for choristers to develop skills and confidence that will stick with them for life.
Click here to download the
Patrons and Friends Document
Click here to download the
Voices in the Laurel Policy Book
Voices in the Laurel is a non-profit choir for young people ranging from 1st grade through 12th grade. Voices in the Laurel is an authentic program that focuses on providing young people quality choral education in fun and innovative ways. The Voices in the Laurel staff prides itself on combining classic choral instruction with an extensive assortment of categories of music to a great appreciation for all aspects of choral art. The mission of Voices in the Laurel is for choristers to develop skills and confidence that will stick with them for life.
Click here to download the
Patrons and Friends Document
Click here to download the
Voices in the Laurel Policy Book
Ranging from all reaches of Western North Carolina, Voices in the Laurel choristers have the opportunity to participate in a wonderful choir experience starting in the first grade. The choirs of Voices in the Laurel develop healthy singing habits through rehearsals which focus on teamwork, leadership and introduces choristers to history and to the culture of the music they sing. Read on to learn about our choirs!
Treble Makers is for 1st and 2nd grade singers. This choir is designed to instill a love of music at a young age and have fun in the process.
Concert Choir expands to include singers in 3rd through 5th grades. This choir focuses on teaching choristers how to read music and appreciate choral literature in a fun and exciting way.
Chamber Choir encompasses the talents of 6th through 12th graders and encourages the growth of their voices and an exposure to classic choral music as well as fostering a knowledge and appreciation for music of all cultures.
Martha Weathers Brown is the founder and artistic director of Voices in the Laurel. In addition, she is the chorus and drama teacher at Central Elementary and Jonathan Valley Elementary Schools. Brown began her work with community youth and children’s choirs as Assistant Director of the Carolina Children’s Chorus in Greensboro, North Carolina, later the director of the Prep Choir for the University of Cincinnati Children’s Choir, and also as the director of the Lexington Children’s Chorus in Lexington, Kentucky.
A native of Kentucky, Brown is a graduate of Asbury College and holds a Masters of Music in Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as well as a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Brown has taught all levels of music education from Kindergarten through college-level music theory. However, Brown has found that her passion for teaching is in directing young choirs. “My goal is not only to work to produce beautiful choral music, but to provide a music education in which young people experience all styles of music through performance. Many of my best memories and learning experiences are of choirs that I have been a part of.”
Brown has sung with the Cincinnati International Chorale and the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee on international concert tours. She is active in the American Choral Director’s Association, where she has served as the North Carolina Chapter Secretary. She is a frequent vocal soloist for regional events and choral clinician for church, school, and state organizations. Brown is frequently invited to conduct music and choir workshops and clinics throughout the southeast. Martha, along with her husband, Robert, and her children, Liam and McLain, reside at Lake Junaluska.
Mary Ann Cooper is the accompanist for Chamber Choir and has been playing for Voices in the Laurel since 1997. A native Texan, Cooper holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Organ Performance from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. For many years, she worked full time as a church musician and played for conferences in Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee and North Carolina.
In addition to her work with Voices in the Laurel, Cooper is the Choral Assistant at Tuscola High School. She is also organist at First Baptist Church in Waynesville. Cooper and her husband Robert have two daughters, Amy and Kristen, both of whom are alumni of Voices in the Laurel.
Anna Watson is the accompanist for Concert Choir and was one of the aids in organizing Voices in the Laurel in 1996.
Watson earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. She has taught private piano for 24 years and is the pianist at Rehobeth Baptist Church in Waynesville, NC.
Anna and her husband, Rob, reside at Lake Junaluska. Two of their three children have participated in Voices in the Laurel.
Suzy Bernardi is the Operations Manager. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, lived in Florida for 30 years and has been a resident of Haywood County since 1999. Suzy attended the University of Florida and graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy. She has owned and operated West Asheville Physical Therapy and Mountain Ergonomics since 2006.
Suzy has been involved in music her entire life, singing in and directing church choirs as well as being a member of a duo performing contemporary acoustic music. She feels the arts, especially music, are critical to the formation of a well rounded person and has supported Voices in the Laurel for a number of years.
Gina Kinder, Chair
Bill Staib, Board Consultant
Steve Bernardi
Chris Forga
Jackie Hess
Dwayne Hooks
Andrea McClure
Jessica Redd
Kathy Sheppard
Florie Takaki
Jim Thurman
Voices in the Laurel provides choristers the opportunity to participate in performance tours all over the world. Voices has traveled to Australia, London, Paris among others, as well as various places in the United States including Hawaii, Colorado and Nashville, TN. Voices in the Laurel choristers also have the exciting privilege of singing the National Anthem at an Atlanta Braves baseball game each year.
Voices in the Laurel is currently in planning stages for the summer 2012 performance tour in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. Voices in the Laurel will be participating in the Rhapsody Music Festival and will have the opportunity to learn from world class conductors as well as be immersed in rich history and culture.
In addition to traditional performance tours, Voices in the Laurel choristers have the opportunity to participate in state-wide choral workshops and festivals such as the North Carolina Summer Institute of Choral Art at Warren Wilson College.
Voices in the Laurel provides choristers the opportunity to participate in performance tours all over the world. Voices has traveled to Australia, London, Paris among others, as well as various places in the United States including Hawaii, Colorado and Nashville, TN. Voices in the Laurel choristers also have the exciting privilege of singing the National Anthem at an Atlanta Braves baseball game each year.
Voices in the Laurel is currently in planning stages for the summer 2012 performance tour in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. Voices in the Laurel will be participating in the Rhapsody Music Festival and will have the opportunity to learn from world class conductors as well as be immersed in rich history and culture.
In addition to traditional performance tours, Voices in the Laurel choristers have the opportunity to participate in state-wide choral workshops and festivals such as the North Carolina Summer Institute of Choral Art at Warren Wilson College.
SummerVoice is a week long summer day camp put on by Voices in the Laurel. The mission of SummerVoice is for campers to have a fun and exciting week where they have the opportunity to work with professional choreographers and musicians. In addition to choral music art, campers learn guitar, piano, as well as world drumming and dulcimer. SummerVoice is a great way to learn what it is all about!
Join Voices in the Laurel for the 3rd Annual
Summer Music Quest Camp
For Rising 1st - 9th grade aspiring musicians!
Location: First Baptist Church in Waynesville
July 30 - August 3, 2012
8:45 - 12:45
First Baptist Church, Waynesville
Join the fun!
Sing GREAT music!
Learn to play mountain dulcimer with Anne Lough!
Take group lessons in piano or guitar!
Jam with the percussion ensemble!
Move to the music in choreography class with Sheila Sumter.
Apply online at www.voicesinthelaurel.org
OR call 734-9163 for registration information!
Campers say SummerVoice is...
"Entertaining"
"Awesome!"
"It's a really fun experience and you should try it."
"It's fun, but you learn something."
"You can express yourself."
"You can learn really cool stuff like playing a new instrument in one week."
"The best week of the summer!"
Registration fee of $85 includes all music, snacks, professional instructors, a tee shirt...and 5 days of fun music-making!
In 1996, Martha Weathers Brown had a vision of bringing a regional children’s choir to Western North Carolina. Sixteen years later, Voices in the Laurel has grown into an internationally acclaimed organization which has sung by invitation around the world. With three choirs ranging from first through twelfth grade, Voices provides quality choral education in fun and innovative ways.
Voices in the Laurel is currently preparing for the summer 2012 Kingsway International Performance Tour to Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. The choir will have the opportunity to learn from internationally recognized choral director, Henry Leck, as well as be immersed in Spain’s rich history and culture.
Of course, in today’s world, nothing comes cheaply. It is only through the generosity of our patrons that we are able to continue the great work Ms. Brown began all those years ago. That is why we are excited to announce the 2nd Annual Voices in the Laurel Great Car and Truck Give Away! With your help, this fund raising effort will provide the necessary funds to operate, give scholarships, and begin an endowment fund for future generations of Voices members, as well as contribute to the chorister’s tour accounts.
Please review the enclosed information carefully and give serious consideration to helping us in our efforts to keep this valuable institution alive and well for many years to come. Thank you for your continued support.
Some of the places Voices in the Laurel has performed are:
• With the Asheville Lyric Opera at the Diana Wortham Theater
• Charleston’s "Little Spoleto" Festival
• Opened for Dolly Parton in her Christmas show at Dollywood
• With Ronnie Milsap at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
• The National Anthem, annually at Atlanta Braves games
• The Pacific Rim Children’s Choir Festival in Hawaii
• The National Cathedral in Washington DC
• The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan
• Westminster Abbey in London
• Chartres Cathedral in France
• The Sydney Opera House in Australia
Donations to Voices in the Laurel help provide important funds to our organization so that we may instill a love for the choral arts in our young people and with our community. Your donations are necessary so that we may share our gift with you!
Donations via check should be made out to: Voices in the Laurel
And sent to:
PO Box 1581
Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
One of the many ways that you can help support Voices in the Laurel is by purchasing ad space in our Guidebook. This Guidebook is printed at the beginning of the concert season and is handed out at each of our events. This is a great way for you to market yourself or your business to the members of our community. Please, take some time, and download the following PDF contract of our Guidebook Ad Space. Fill out the form and send it in along with your ad and continue to help Voices in the Laurel grow!
Please select an event below to purchase tickets.
If you would like more information regarding Voices in the Laurel Children's Choir or would like to book us for an event. Please contact Operations Manager Suzy Bernardi at 828-335-2849.
