LOUISVILLE YOUTH CHOIR STAFF*
Scott Burress is in his third season as an accompanist and conductor for LYC. He has previously been a Teaching Artist for the choir. Before joining our staff, Scott taught music and directed middle school choirs for 13 years. During his time as an educator, Scott served as the Choral Division Chair for the Kentucky Music Educators Association as well as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Middle School Choirs for the Kentucky Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Scott is highly sought after as a soloist, guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician. He has performed all over the world, including performances for two US Presidents and the Pope. He is currently the Director of Adult Music Ministries at Middletown Christian Church.
Email: info@louyouthchoir.org
Terri E. Foster* is currently in her 28th season with the Louisville Youth Choir (LYC), and is in her 18th season in the role of Artistic/Executive Director for LYC. The 2017-2018 season marked her 25th anniversary as a choral conductor. Terri is also a Lecturer of Music Education at the University of Louisville School of Music. She is the former conductor of LYC’s Bella Voce, Girls’ Choir, and The Louisville Children’s Choir, which performed at Carnegie Hall and received national and international performance invitations. She has directed LYC’s Chamber and Aria Choirs, the LYC Ambassadors and the soprano/alto adult choir, Lascito Coro. Mrs. Foster is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education (vocal emphasis), and has completed master’s studies in vocal performance at UofL. Mrs. Foster’s conducting experience includes public and private schools, grades K-12. She is a former voice teacher at Sacred Heart School for the Arts, and previously maintained a private voice studio–La Voce Studio. She is a former choral director at St. Patrick School (1993-1995), Bullitt Central High School (1995-1997) and Sacred Heart Academy (1997-2003), and choirs under her direction received superior ratings at district, state, and national competitions. Her choirs have toured extensively, including Toronto, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Orlando and New Orleans, to name a few. Under her direction, The Louisville Children’s Choir was selected and performed for the 2005 Kentucky Music Educator’s State Conference, and the Louisville Youth Choir, under her direction, has performed with the Moscow Ballet in their U.S. touring production of The Great Russian Nutcracker, MO5AIC–a cappella vocal sensation, the Louisville Orchestra for Carmina Burana and Bernstein’s Mass, Music Theatre of Louisville’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and guest performances for Stephen Schwartz and the Royal Highnesses King Charles and Queen Consort of England. Mrs. Foster is an active member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) and the Kentucky American Choral Directors Association (KY-ACDA), where she served as the Repertoire & Standards Chair for Children’s Choirs and currently acts as Lifelong Coordinator. She was also the coordinator for the 2005 and 2006 KY-ACDA Elementary All-State Choruses. She is a past chair for the KMEA SSA All-State Choirs, and is a judge for the KMEA All-State auditions. Mrs. Foster currently holds the choral seat of the KMEA Assessment Commission and 12th District Assessment Manager position for KMEA. She has been conducting since 1993, and has worked with Z. Randall Stroope, Charlotte Adams, Dr. Meg Hulley Frazier, Dr. Sandra Willets, David Harman, Kimcherie Lloyd, Frank Heller, Gina Epifano, David Brown, and Bill Lathon among others. Mrs. Foster is a past Assistant Guest Choral Conductor of the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp at Eastern Kentucky University, as well as past conductor for the Jefferson Co. SSA All-County Choir. She has been the guest conductor for the KY-ACDA SSA All-State Choir, the Northern Kentucky Middle School Honor Choir, Lafayette High School Women’s Honor Chorus, the All-County Elementary Choir for Jefferson County, the KMEA 4th District Elementary Honor Choir and the KMEA 9th District Junior High Honor Choir. Mrs. Foster is often called upon as an adjudicator and clinician. Her other professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Assn., and Delta Omicron. Her professional vocal career includes performing with the Kentucky Opera, the Stephen Foster Story, community theatre groups and various solo engagements with churches and private events. She is married to Scott Foster, and they have a son, Aidan Rhys.
Email: info@louyouthchoir.org
Rhonda Hibdon,* in her 19th season with LYC, holds a BA in Music with an emphasis in Organ from Judson University in Elgin, IL. She has worked extensively in church music as a choir director for preschool, children, youth and adult choirs; has directed youth, adult and senior adult handbell choirs; and has served as organist, pianist and an accompanist for many ensembles. For the Louisville Youth Choir, Rhonda is a conductor and accompanist. Rhonda currently teaches music at the Louisville Collegiate School and taught at the Highlands Latin School as the K-6th grade general music teacher and director of 3rd-6th grade choirs for sixteen years. She also has held the position of Interim Director of Ministries for Children and their Families at Highlands Presbyterian Church. Rhonda has been teaching private piano since 2005.
Email: info@louyouthchoir.org
Margareth Miguel begins her 7th season with the Louisville Youth Choir as a teaching artist. Originally from Brazil, she holds a Bachelor of Music from Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (Brazil) and a Master of Music from Campbellsville University. She has performed throughout the region and in Brazil, has conducted various choirs, has classroom teaching experience and has taught extensively as a private instructor of piano and voice. She currently maintains a private studio at Sacred Heart School for the Arts. Ms. Miguel is a member of NATS and sings currently with the Kentucky Opera.
Email: info@louyouthchoir.org
Dennis O’Donoghue* begins his 11th season with the Louisville Youth Choir as an accompanist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music (vocal emphasis, piano applied minor) from Bellarmine University and a Master of Music in organ from the University of Louisville. He has performed throughout the region as pianist, organist and singer, has conducted such groups as the Louisville Bach Society and the Bellarmine Chorale, and recently served as Events Coordinator for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians’ national convention. Mr. O’Donoghue is currently the Director of Music Ministries at St. Michael Catholic Church in Jeffersontown.
Email: info@louyouthchoir.org
Reagan Schatz is in her 3rd season as the Primary Singers Director. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Campbellsville University. Reagan is an Alumni of the Louisville Youth Choir and the Youth Performing Arts School. She sings currently with LYC’s Lascito Coro ensemble. Ms. Schatz is currently the Choral Director at Parkview Middle School in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Email: info@louyouthchoir.org
*Photos courtesy of Drew McMurtrie