2010 AFA Faculty - Choral & Vocal Studies Click on each name for a biography
High School Choral & Vocal Studies
Lynne Gackle, Featured Clinician
Amy Lewis, Choir Conductor
Jed Ragsdale, Choir Conductor
Carole Nelson, Voice
Christopher Michel, Voice
Kimberly Tobola, Voice
Catherine Schaefer, Accompanist
Holly Wilson, Accompanist
Middle School Choral & Vocal Studies
Deidre Douglas, Featured Clinician
Jason Carson, Choir Conductor
Kimberly Tobola, Choir Conductor & Voice
Catherine Schaefer, Accompanist
Holly Wilson, AccompanistJason Carson
Choir Conductor, Middle SchoolMr. Carson is beginning his third year as Director of Choral Activities at Westside High School. Under his direction, the choir students have created a new standard of excellence at Westside High School. Most impressive was the successes of his choirs at the annual UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Competition where two of the three participating choirs earned “Sweepstakes” trophies.
Mr. Carson holds a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA), and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Baylor University (Waco, TX). He is also certified in Kodaly (Level I).
Before accepting a position at Westside High School, Mr. Carson started the Vocal Music program at Pin Oak Middle School in 2003. A year prior to this, he had the great opportunity to teach at the Spence School, one of the premier girls’ schools of New York City. His teaching experience also includes a position at Pasadena High School, and opening a new high school, Sandra D. O’Connor High School, in Helotes, TX. He has studied conducting and score study with Dr. Kenneth Fulton, Dr. Robert Young, Dr. Stephen Hyde, and Michael Haithcock.
Mr. Carson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Society.Deidre Douglas
Featured Clinician, Middle SchoolBiography coming soon!
Lynne Gackle
Featured ClinicianDr. Lynne Gackle is an active clinician, conductor, and adjudicator for various choral clinics, honor choirs, workshops, and festivals throughout the United States. She has conducted All-State Choirs in 19 states and has served as conductor for several Divisional ACDA Honor Choirs and one National Junior High Honor Choir. In 2002, she served as conductor of the Australian National Choral Association's High School Women's Choir in Brisbane, Australia and the Alberta Choral Federation's High School Honour Choir in Calgary, Canada. She has conducted various workshops, honor choirs and All-State Choirs in Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in recent years.
Dr. Gackle has taught at all levels, elementary through college in Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi. She is also the Founder/Artistic Director of the Gulf Coast Youth Choirs, Inc., a community choral arts organization in Tampa, Florida where she also serves as the conductor of the advanced touring ensemble, Le Petit Choeur. Previously, she served as the Vocal/Choral Coordinator at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL, Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Mississippi and Adjunct Professor, Music Education at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL.
She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University and her Master of Music Education as well as her Doctorate of Music Education from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
Her choirs have performed at the State and Divisional Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association as well as the Music Educators National Conference Bi-ennial Convention. She served as President of the ACDA Southern Division as well as ACDA - Florida. Lynne received the Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Service Award from the Florida ACDA Chapter for dedicated service, leadership, and excellence in choral music in Florida. In addition to ACDA, she holds memberships in the Florida Music Educators Association, MENC, the Florida Vocal Association, and NATS.
Dr. Gackle was a contributing author to the MENC publication, Music at the Middle Level: Building Strong Programs, and has had several articles published in the Choral Journal. Additionally, she is the editor of the Lynne Gackle Choral Series for Colla Voce Music, Inc. and of Choral Artistry for the Singer with Walton Music.Amy Lewis
Choir Conductor, High SchoolAmy M. Lewis has been a choral music educator for fifteen years, fourteen of which have been spent at Spring High School as the associate choral director. Amy co-conducted the Chorale in 1997 and 2004 at their TMEA performances and in 1998 at their Southwestern ACDA performance. Additionally, she co-conducted the Chamber Choir in their four Honor Choir performances at the American Classic Madrigal and Chamber Choir Festival. Choirs under her direction have consistently received superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-reading competitions in addition to local and regional competitions. A product of Sam Rayburn High School in Pasadena, Texas, Amy sang in choirs under the direction of Norris Blevins and Denise Eaton and was a two-year member of the Texas All-State Mixed Choir. Amy earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University where she was a member of the Chamber and A Cappella Choirs under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Fulton. Her professional affiliations include TCDA, TMEA, TMAA and the honorary fraternity Pi Kappa Lambda. Known for her exuberant and innovative teaching styles, Amy is often asked to serve as a clinician for both middle and high school choirs. She has conducted over 15 Region choirs throughout the state. Amy also serves frequently as an adjudicator for UIL events. Amy resides in Spring with her husband Greg and their twin daughters Abigail and Ella.
Christopher Michel
Voice, High SchoolLyric baritone, Christopher Michel, is Assistant Professor of Voice in the SHSU School of Music, where he teaches applied voice, vocal pedagogy and assists with the Opera and Musical Theatre Programs. A highly regarded performer in opera, oratorio, orchestral concerts, and art song, Mr. Michel covers a broad spectrum of repertoire. He has appeared on the operatic and concert stages throughout Alabama, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Indiana. Upcoming Engagements include Haydn's The Lord Nelson Mass and Mendelssohn's Elijah. Highlights from his operatic roles include the title role in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the Count in both Le Nozze di Figaro and The Secret Marriage, Danilo and Count Cascada in The Merry Widow, and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers.
Mr. Michel has served as Vice President of Workshops, Secretary, and is the current President of the Greater Houston Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. His students have consistently won NATS competitions at the district and regional levels and is often a guest clinician and adjudicator for voice competitions. Prior to joining the faculty at Sam Houston State University, Mr. Michel held an appointment at the University of Alabama as Director of Opera Theatre. While at UA Michel was awarded a generous grant from the Alabama Council on the Arts aiding in the production of The Old Maid and the Thief, The Medium and An Afternoon of Operatic Vignettes. While pursing a Doctoral Degree in Vocal Performance, Mr. Michel was a Graduate Teaching Associate of Voice at Florida State University, where he continues working on his DMA. During his residency at FSU, Mr. Michel received the Outstanding Teaching Associate of 1999-2000 Award.
Mr. Michel holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Baylor University. Mr. Michel has studied with Standford Olsen, Roy Delp, Jack Coldiron, Robin Rice, and Karen Peeler. He is currently studying with Joyce Farwell.Carole Nelson
Voice, High SchoolCarole Nelson is the Director of Voice Studies at the High School for the Performing And Visual Arts and is devoted to developing the young singer. Her teaching is nationally recognized by the Arts Recognition and Talent Search (ARTS). Her students are consistently accepted to top schools and conservatories such as Juilliard, Eastman, Cincinnati, Boston University and New England Conservatory to name a few. In addition to HSPVA, Ms. Nelson serves as Associate Director of Houston Boychoir where she has prepared the choir for work with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera and Opera in the Heights as well as performances with the chorus and orchestra of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Ms. Nelson is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing as well as TMEA. She has conducted numerous clinics on the developing voice around the city and for the Arizona Music Teachers Association conference.
Catherine Schaefer
AccompanistA native of Spokane, WA, Catherine Schaefer holds a B.M. and a B.A. from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She recently moved to Houston to pursue her M.M. under Abbey Simon at University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she also teaches music theory and aural skills, and works as an accompanist.
Kimberly Tobola
Choir Conductor & Voice, Middle School/Voice, High SchoolKimberly Tobola is in her 8th year as Director of Choirs at Lanier Middle School in HISD. Under her direction, Lanier Choirs have consistently received Sweepstakes awards at UIL Contest and Sight Reading and Splashtown Choral Festival. In addition to her teaching, Ms., Tobola also sings with the professional vocal ensemble, VOX.
Holly Wilson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, and a Performer's Certificate from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She also has a Certificate of Performance from the Russian School of Piano, in Freiburg, Germany. Her teachers have included: Ruth Tomfohrde, Dr. Robert Weirich, Abby Simon, Dr. Vitaly Margulis, and Sergei Babayan. She has been a medalist in the San Antonio Music Club Competition, the Ruth Burr Competition, the Missouri MTNA Competition and the UMKC Concerto Competition. Upcoming performances this fall include: recital engagements in Houston, Fort Worth, and Shreveport; and, an orchestral engagement in Kansas City, Missouri.
