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BIOGRAPHY &
EXPERIENCE
I began singing at the age of 4
years old in a little country town called Bells Fork, right
outside of Greenville, NC. My mother recognized
the gift and did all she could to
make sure I had access to every possible avenue
I needed to exercise my voice.
Even at the age of 89, she is still is my biggest fan. We later
moved to Greenville, NC - where I attended
Elementary through High School. I was involved
strongly in chorus in every school I attended, taking on
the position of soloist in each group. I was
greatly inspired by my oldest sister Dorothy Joyner "Dot." Her "angelic" voice
carried her as far as New York. She is still my
most precious mentor.
As I grew older I studied under professional voice
teachers who helped me develop my instrument.
One being, Mrs. Alice Clemons (now deceased) who was my vocal
coach/teacher from late elementary and junior high
school
on thru high school.
Mr. Steven Koch, my voice
teacher and choral instructor trained and worked with me
until I graduated high school. He prepared me for
Governor’s Honors. He also involved me in various
community functions, such as singing a garden parties,
school choruses, etc; performing in opera performances, on balconies in large
churches, singing in foreign languages, country music
festivals, gospel music workshops and festivals. I honor and appreciate Mr. Koch "today"
for all he exposed me to in training me to vocalize. My destiny was being made
at that time in ways I didn't even know.
I accepted Christ at the age of
17, in February of 1977. To serve, honor, and love
Him with my life is my sole desire. For well over 30 years
now, I’ve
directed choirs, groups and ensembles, lead worship,
coached vocals and done solo performances and concerts. I am currently a
resident of Columbus, GA and have been now for over 20
years.
Married to Timothy Childree. I have 3 fine sons:
Tony (17), Duane (22) and Ty (24) years, all of whom love music. I
have worked many recording projects with other artists.
At some point in the near future, I plan to do my own
personal project.
I firmly believe that everyone has been given a special
gift of some sort. It is up to that individual to
find out what their gift is, perfect it and use
it to benefit mankind. It is my challenge to help
achieve that goal as it applies to singing.
I tell all my students that I cannot give them something
they don’t have. I can only help them improve on
what they do have. I charge them to take care of
their voices properly if they want it to serve them and
sound good a long time. This is my passion and I
strive very much to be an example of what I teach.
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EXPERIENCE
I have served on full-time staff now for over 10 years at North Highland Church,
Columbus, GA as Music Assistant to Music/Fine Arts
Pastor, John D. Skipper and as Administrative Assistant to Robert French,
Church Administrator. I
hold a degree in Business and thoroughly enjoy working
in business as well as in the area of my gifting. I have and will
continue to work faithfully at my home church (North
Highland) as long as the Lord permits me to. I
love my job and serve very passionately in what I do.
Yet I look forward to what God has destined for me in
His kingdom. He holds my future in His hands.
-I
have been a soloist in the North Highland Assembly Sanctuary
Choir now for over 15 years and currently coach
other soloists, groups and quartets at North Highland; namely,
the McWilliams Quartet, a Ladies Trio, a Male gospel quartet and a Ladies Quartet (of which I
have been a part now for over 8 years).
MY MOST RECENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
-Thursday, May 8, 2008 - present. Gateway
Church, of Columbus, Georgia. Pastors Loyd & Pat
Johnson. This is a fairly new church. Let's
Vocalize is helping this ministry initialize a worship
team with the hopes that this group will be the
beginning of a sanctuary choir. The energy an
enthusiasm of this group os singers is awesome.
Their desire to perfect the gift of vocalizing draws
much out of me; but this is good. They have just
purchased their new building and are anxiously awaiting
the grand opening. God has great things in store
for Gateway Church. Visit them on the web at:
www.gatewaychurchag.org
-Saturday, February 16, 2008. (A One-Day
Workshop) Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, Phenix
City, AL. This group consisted of children, young
adults and adults. It was a wonderful mixture of
enthusiasm, passion and experience. This church
has at least 4 choirs, Children, Young Adults, Male
Chorus and the Sanctuary Choir. Their Minister of
Music is James Barton, who relocated here
from the Atlanta/Marietta, Georgia area. James is an old friend and very talented musician. He is excited
about having the opportunity to help take this music
department to the next level. Kudos to you James.
-Thursday, November 29, 2007 - January, 2008. Life
Changing Church, 4605 Langdon Street, Columbus, Georgia.
I am thoroughly enjoying each week with this group of
singers. Their passion, commitment and desire to
give God their best is soooo evident. Pastor Tony
Banks is a humble, precious man of God and is actively
involved in each session. He truly is an adamantly
"leading by example." Contact: Anita
Lawrence.
-Friday & Saturday, November 9-10, 2007: I
performed a Children's Vocal Workshop at The Rock Family
Worship Center in Huntsville, Alabama. (Pastors
Rusty & Leisa Nelson.) This
workshop was in the words of the children "AWESOME."
We had over 40 participating in this workshop. We
learned new music and challenged every child to commit
and re-commit their lives to Christ so they can give him
back an even greater gift.
Click
Here
to see
recent pictures and even video footage of that workshop.
David & Jackie Smith (Children's Pastors).
Contact: Sonya Merritt, Children's Music Director.
www.therockfwc.org
-October 20 - November 24, 2007: County Line Baptist Church,
Upatoi, Georgia. This beautiful county church is
full of singers who want to offer God their best gift.
I eagerly looked forward to working with them every
Saturday afternoon. I continually pray God's best
and His will for this precious church. There are
truly some special people there. Contact: Jeanette Bunkley
-March thru September of 2007. "Seasonal" Private
Vocal Coaching. In a private studio, I
coached a total of about 15 students privately in the
evenings from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
This session ended as I launched back into weekend
workshops in October 2007.
-February 24th - April 7th: Iglesia de Dios, Nuevo
Pacto (Hispanic Church). 4421 Primrose Road -
Columbus, GA, Pastor Harry Rodriguez, Jr. 7-week
workshop to help install and provide structure for their
beginning worship team/choir. Contact: Diana
Torres. Visit their website at:
www.nuevopacto.org
-February 3 -April 21st: 6-week Workshop
New Hope Revival Ministries, 3668 Lee Road, 379, Smith,
Alabama. Pastor: Steven Shelley.
Contact: Marybeth Weems. Website:
www.revival.org
-January 6-February 10th: 6-week Workshop with
Oasis International Church, 800 Martin Luther King, Jr.
Parkway, Phenix City, Alabama. Pastor: Wayne
Babbs. Contact & Worship Team Director Ernestine
Wells. Website:
www.oasischurchint.org
-Fall of 2006: Small Group Coaching with NuBeginnings Gospel Ensemble, Director Brian
Roberts. I formerly coached NuBeginnings in 2004 when I
taught private voice at the Greater Columbus School of
Music. Website:
www.nubeginning.org
-Fall/Winter of 2004 - Taught Private Voice Lessons at
The Columbus School of Music, 3803 Macon Road, Columbus, GA.
Founded and operated by
James & Amy Gosnell. Website:
www.gcsmusic.com
-1999 Served 5 months at North Highland as interim Choir
Director until present Music Pastor, John D. Skipper was
hired. (May -September)
-1997 Prepared a group of students from Woodall Psycho
educational Program together to form “Voices of Unity”
to perform for a Partners in Education Ceremony and a
Muscogee County School Board function.
-1993-1997. Joined staff at Columbus State
University, Schwob Department of Music as secretary to
the Music Faculty. Sang for various university functions
and non-university functions held at the University.
Served on various committees. Many letters/notes
of thanks were given by Dr. Frank Brown and other
constituents. I also had the privilege of working
very closely (even vocalizing) with the voice
instructors; namely, Dr. Jon Bartlett (deceased), Dr.
William J. Bullock, Meg Stecker-Runde and Dr. Shirley
Brumbaugh. During this timeframe I was also a
member of the Columbus Chorale directed by Dr. Bullock.
-1995-1996. Coached large ladies ensemble and
other soloist(s) at North Highland for Statewide Fine
Arts Festival. This same group of young ladies rated
superior and went on compete at a National level in
Springfield, Missouri. This trip was very educational
for us all.
-December 1995. Coordinated a joint
concert combining the North Highland Sanctuary Choir and
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra during the Christmas
Season performing Handel's Messiah "A Soulful
Celebration" Directed the NHC Sanctuary choir for
this special performance held at the Three Arts Center.
Special Solo Performance: "And He Shall Purify,"
by Tramaine Hawkins.
-1994-1995. Worked for about a year for international recording
artist (Vernessa Mitchell) as personal assistant. Ms.
Mitchell relocated to Atlanta, GA. I learned much
about the recording industry and business while working
with Vernessa. She and I are very good friends and still in touch today.
-1970. I’ve sang and directed a host of choirs,
groups and ensembles over the years. I began directing
choirs at the age of 18. I served in this capacity in
every church I worked with. (Tabernacle of
Victory-Greenville, NC; Philippi Church of
Christ-Greenville, NC; Maranatha Christian
Center-Kinston, NC; PTI Chorale (during my college
years, I directed the chorale.) Cuthbert Youth
Revival Ministry-Columbus, GA; North Highland
Assembly-Columbus, GA.
-1996 - present. I continue to serve as Vocal Judge
in the Statewide Georgia District Assembly of God Fine
Arts Festival. I generally have students I
personally coach involved in this event also.
-1997 Joined staff in the Music Department at NHA under
Gregg Kennard, former Music Pastor. Acted as
mediator to orchestrate with George Del Gobbo in doing a
concert with Columbus Symphony Christmas Concert singing
Handels Messiah (new messiah & soulful messiah
renditions). I directed the sanctuary choir during this
concert.
-1992-1994 Columbus Redsticks
Baseball Games - singing National Anthem.
-1987-1989. Choir
Director and Worship Leader at Cuthbert Youth Revival
Ministries, Buena Vista Road, Columbus, Georgia.
Pastor: Tommy Cuthbert.
-1983-1987. Choir Director and Worship Leader at Maranatha Deliverance Center, Kinston, North Carolina.
Pastor Willie S. Darden. Relocated thru military
to Fort Benning Military Base in 1987.
-
1980-1983. Youth Choir Director at Phillippi
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Farmville Blvd.
Greenville, North Carolina. Pastor Randy Royal.
During this timeframe I also traveled extensively
coaching vocals and working with groups, soloists and
choirs and workshops throughout the state of North
Carolina. I married into the military and moved to
Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station (Havelock, NC) in
1983.
-1978-1980. Choir Director, one of the lead
soloists and worship leaders for
Tabernacle of Victory Interdominational Church,
Greenville, North Carolina. We made our first live
recording in the late 1979 singing lead on "Jesus Paid
It All."
-1974-1977. High School student and Student
of Voice under Dr. Steven
Koch, Greenville, NC
-1975-1977. Sang with a Ladies Gospel
Quartet called "The Gospel Emblems." This group
gave me my boost into performing on the church stage.
We traveled and ministered almost every weekend for at
least two years. I thank God for Ms. Peggy Cox,
Jackie Cox and Carolyn Cox for allowing me to use my
vocal gifts to the max. They will always be
"family" to me.
-1974. Governors Honors Candidate (Winston Salem, North Carolina)
-1967-1973. Sang in Elementary school choruses,
performed lead solos in junior high and high school
chorus and in my church choir.
I still sing for various occasions (weddings,
funerals, prisons, nursing homes, Veteran’s Day
Memorials and other holiday and community events) on an
as-needed basis, based on my availability.
RECORDING PROJECTS
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-1978.
First Recording with The Voices of Victory Choir -
Greenville, NC
-1987. Studio Recording with
Nadine Coker - Columbus, GA
-1994-99.
Performed numerous studio recordings with Gregg Kennard,
former Music Pastor of North Highland, (laying down
background vocals for various projects he was working on, as well as
recordings for the North Highland Sanctuary Choir.)
-1996. TIC Federal Credit Union -
TV Commercial Music under the
production of Robert Carr of Carr Studio Productions,
Front Avenue,
Columbus, GA
-CB&T Jingle. (to the tune of
Aretha Franklin’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T).
Produced by Gregg Kennard.
-1993-1996. Three (3) North Highland
Sanctuary Choir recording
projects
SANG ON THESE RECORDING PROJECTS
between 1993-1998
-Sarita Miller Project
-Mike Murdock Project
-Sandra Wansley Project
-Jake Hess Project
-Keith Davis Project
-Christina Pritchard Project
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* MUSIC PORTFOLIO AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING
Catherine singing lead
with North Highland
Sanctuary Choir
EMAIL:
cdchildree@hotmail.com |
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