FOR A SONG. FOR A CHILD. FOR A LIFETIME.
Selina Midkiff,
Founder and Director Emeritus
Selina Midkiff is the founding and artistic director of the Appalachian Children’s Chorus (ACC). She also directs ACC’s premier, touring choir, Concert Choir and founded the Appalachian Festival of Young Voices, a national children’s choir festival hosted by ACC. With bachelors and masters degrees from West Virginia University, she taught in Kanawha County Schools for forty years.
She served as adjunct professor both at the University of Charleston and WV Tech. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, WV Music Educators Association and Chorus America. An experienced singer who has performed leading roles in opera, oratorio, and musical theater, she has also concertized throughout West Virginia. Mrs. Midkiff studied children’s choral technique and conducted with such renowned artists as Henry Leck, Barbara Tagg, Doreen Rao, Sandra Murphy, Janet Galvan, David Brunner, Lee Kesselman and Sir David Wilcox. Mrs. Midkiff served as guest clinician for Kanawha, Putnam, Clay, Roane, Boone and Wood Counties. She received the prestigious Artist-Teacher Certification from the Doreen Rao Choral Music Experience Institute and is serving in her fifth term as a commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on the Arts.
In 2015, she received the Spirit Award from the WV Music Hall of Fame. The Community Music Association awarded her for her service to WV with ACC, she was named “A Woman on a Mission” from the Union Mission and she received her honorary doctorate from the University of Charleston.
Mrs. Midkiff is the wife to Gary Midkiff, mother to Allen, Chad, Andrew and William and grandmother to Aidan, Silas, Everly and Micah. She is also mom to her four legged children, Gizmo and Rudy.
Chris's contact information:
email: chris@wvacc.org
Chris Brown,
Artistic Director -Concert Choir Director and
Cambiata Choir Director
Christopher (Chris) Brown is the Director of Choral Activities at Riverside High School. He is a ’93 graduate from South Charleston High School, and a ’97 Glenville State College graduate with a bachelor’s in K-12 Music Education. He received a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from Eastern Kentucky University. He is a National Board Certified teacher in music education.
For the past 19 years, Chris has taught general, instrumental, and choral music in North Carolina. Most recently, he was the Director of Choral Activities at Alexander Graham Middle School in Charlotte, NC. He has also held various church positions around Charlotte directing handbells, children’s and youth choirs/ensembles, and adult choirs. His past students have made local, state, regional and national honor choirs.
While in Charlotte, Chris has had the fortunate experience to direct community choirs for the Choir School of St. Peters under Ben Outen, and the Young Voices of the Carolinas under Sandy Holland. He most recently directed the Young Men’s Ensemble for the Young Voices of the Carolinas.
Mr. Brown is a member of the National Association for Music Education, American Choral Director’s Association, and Chorister’s Guild.
He and his wife, Amanda, are the proud parents of four children Akira, Akasha, Annika and Sasuke.
Danielle Coleman,
Associate Director - Camerata Choir
Danielle Coleman is a music educator with nearly fifteen years of experience with Kanawha County Schools. Originally from Huntington, she earned her BA in Music Education from Marshall University where she performed with the MU Chamber Choir and other various ensembles. Actively working with schools, her church, and other local organizations throughout her life has provided her the opportunity to help children find their voice and achieve their ambitions. Ms. Coleman feels extremely blessed to have the unwavering support of her parents, husband, and two daughters as they endeavor all of life’s grand adventures.
Dionne Canterbury,
Associate Director - Canzona Preparatory Choir
Dionne Canterbury directs the Canzona Preparatory Choir. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Charleston and is the Children's Choir director at Village Chapel Presbyterian Church. She is a teaching assistant at Charleston Montessori School at the primary level and is a certified Kindermusik educator. She teaches private voice and piano lessons as well.
Dionne has had an active singing history in Charleston, both as a choir member and soloist in such groups as Womansong, OPUS, and the Light Opera Guild. She has also performed as a choir member/soloist in America's longest-running outdoor drama, "The Lost Colony".
Dionne is the proud mother to Vivien, Annabel and Isaiah, and puppy, Albert.
Choir Assistants
Concert Choir
Donna Shamblin
Cambiata Choir
Bart Hodel
email: b.hodel@me.com
Camerata Choir
Liz Bonar
email: liz.bonar@outlook.com
Canzona Preparatory Choir
Sutton Higginbotham
Contact Information for ACC
For general questions, contact the ACC office:
Phone: 304.343.1111
Fax number: 304.720.1508
Email: ACCinfo@wvacc.org
Address:
210 Brooks Street
Suite 309
Charleston, WV 25301
(see Google Map)
For payment questions and general information:
Contact Suzette at the office at 304.343.1111 or ACCinfo@wvacc.org
For public relations, marketing, enrollment, booking the choir, and administrative questions:
Contact Blaine at 304.343.1111 or blaine@wvacc.org
For donations, grant suggestions, and information on sponsoring the choir, an event, or a child:
Contact Blaine at 304.343.1111 or blaine@wvacc.org