Dr. Matthew N. Russell is the Virginia Children’s Chorus Chamber Singers Director. He is an Assistant Professor of Music and Music Education at Norfolk State University. At NSU, Dr. Russell interacts with both undergraduate and graduate students, supervises student teachers, and teaches courses in music education, conducting, music history, and music theory. His research interests include generative music learning, choral repertoire, and conducting pedagogy. Dr. Russell earned his DMA in conducting at The Ohio State University and the BS and MM (choral/vocal music education and conducting) from The Pennsylvania State University. Matthew also serves as Minister of Music at the New Horizons Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, VA.

Sarah Evans is the Virginia Children’s Chorus Training Choir Director.  She is a full time chorus teacher at Great Bridge Middle School in Chesapeake, VA. In addition to teaching, she is also an accomplished vocalist. Sarah performs throughout the Hampton Roads area, has released an album on Spotify and Apple music, and sings in weekly services at Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, VA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in music, as well as a Master’s degree in teaching from Christopher Newport University. Sarah is very passionate about music, teaching, and inspiring young people to find their voice through creative expression.

Taylor Walkup-Amos is the Virginia Children’s Chorus Choristers Director. Taylor is the author of Creating Inclusive Music Classrooms Through Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (TEACHING Exceptional Children, 2020) and a contributing author for Aligning Music to STEM (GIA Publications, 2020), Winding it Back: Teaching to Individual Differences in Music Classroom and Ensemble Settings (Oxford University Press, 2016), and Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs: A Practical Resource (Oxford University Press, 2017). She is the Chair of the Council for Creativity and Innovation for the Virginia Music Educators Association, serves on the board of the Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators, and has served on the board of the Kodály Organization of New York. Taylor completed her Kodály certification at Midwestern State University in Texas and Early Childhood Level I Certification from the Gordon Institute for Music Learning at Temple University. She holds the degrees of Master of Arts in Teaching and Bachelor of Music from Christopher Newport University and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Music Learning Theory from the University at Buffalo.  Taylor is the music teacher at Yorktown Elementary School in York County, where she was recently named Teacher of the Year.

Keaton Whitehurst teaches solfège and is the Concert Choir rehearsal assistant for the Virginia Children’s Chorus. She was a VCC student for 11 years and enjoyed tours to Carnegie Hall in New York City and Great Britain. Keaton holds a BA in Music (Vocal Performance) from Shenandoah University’s Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music Education from Old Dominion University. 

Keaton is currently the K-5 music teacher at Christopher Academy, Portsmouth. She sings with the Christ & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church choir in Norfolk, under the direction of Kevin Kwan and with the Virginia Chorale under the direction of Charles Woodward. She teaches private voice lessons and “Prezuki” for children 18 months to 4 years old with the Academy of Music in Norfolk and also teaches voice through her private studio.

Jeanie L. Baird is the Accompanist for the Virginia Children’s Chorus Training Choir, Choristers and Concert Choir. She has been active as an elementary school music teacher and church pianist in Hampton Roads for over forty years. She is currently the keyboard player / pianist at Harvest Fellowship Baptist Church in Smithfield, VA and is a substitute teacher in Isle of Wight County.  Mrs. Baird holds a BS in Secondary Education with Music Concentration for grades K-12 from Old Dominion University.

Mrs. Baird has training in the Orff Schulwerk method of teaching and has been a member of the National Orff Schulwerk Association and the local Tidewater Chapter in Virginia Beach for over 25 years.  She is also a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association.  During her first year of retirement, Jeanie traveled to Niger and shared her love of music with the patients and families at Cure Children’s Hospital.