Holly A. Steed, Founder & Artistic Director

  For the past 10 years I have been intimately involved in choral conducting in Clark County.  In 1999, immediately after receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Choral Education from Utah State University, I moved to the Las Vegas Valley.  For over three years I worked as a choral director in the Clark County School District : first at Basic High School in Henderson, and finally at the Las Vegas Academy where I served as the head of the Choral/Vocal Department.  In addition to full time teaching I also served as a choral director for my church, a private music instructor, and a guest adjudicator at many local and state events.  I also sat on the executive board of Nevada ’s Chapter of Music Educator’s National Conference (MENC) for over 2 years.  Since resigning from full time instruction I have dedicated my time to realizing my dream of the Clark County Children’s Choir.
 

The dream begins:

While teaching high school I had the opportunity to attend the American Choral Director’s Association Convention in Hawaii .  While there I was privileged to attend performances of some the nation’s finest choirs.  I watched the collegiate choirs in amazement for they were so refined and musical; the high school choirs impressed me with their mature sound and repertoire.  However, it wasn’t until the Sacramento Children’s Choir performed that I was moved in a way I will never forget.  There was something powerful in those young musicians I have rarely felt with other choirs.  It is from this experience, coupled with my experience with Cache Children’s Choir during my undergraduate work, that I have developed the dream and belief in the power of children’s voices.

Clark County is an ideal location for such a program to exist and thrive.  Not only do we have over 300 public schools within a 45-minute radius, but private schools and home-schooled students abound.  What better way to combine the strength of each of these types of students than through an all-encompassing community music ensemble?

The Clark County Children’s Choir is an amazing opportunity that brings talented youth of all backgrounds throughout Clark County together to develop musicianship and experience musical excellence in a creative, professional, and positive environment.     

Assistant Director, Kelli McElvany  
 
Kelli was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Singing became an important part of her life when she was 10 years old and began participating in her church's choirs.  That led her to participation in All State and All County Honor choirs from 5th grade through her senior year of High School.  She received a vocal scholarship from Greensboro Music Academy when she was only 15 years old and sang at the White House with her Madrigal Choir in High School.   After graduation she studied music in college until she got married.  After having her 2nd child and moving to Las Vegas she decided to continue her passion for teaching music.  She gained experience teaching piano to young beginners, teaching music to preschool aged children in Joy School and Our Music Time Playgroups.  In 2003 she received her Kindermusik certification and taught it within the Spring Valley community for 2 years.  She looks forward to joining forces with the CCCC and assisting in bringing music to young children all over the Las Vegas Valley!

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• Immediate Goals

• Develop, encourage, and strengthen children's musical education and creativity based on the brilliant principles and philosophy of Zoltán Kodály. 
  
  • To see more about Zoltan Kodály (1882-1967) click here.
  • To see more about Kodály's Philosophy click here.
  • To see a Kodály classroom in action click here.      

• Provide professional choral training and repetoir for young people by studying a variety of superb choral literature including sacred, secular, and ethnic music from all musical eras.

• Demonstrate knowledge through performance by performing independently as well as with other established ensembles as frequently as possible

• Enrich the cultural life of Clark County through frequent performances and community events

• Offer a venue for young musicians to associate with other talented musicians through weekly rehearsals

• Long-term Goals

• Develop a program that extends to all kids of all ages and backgrounds to develop their creativity and musicianship through a choral experience.

• Through donations, grants, and sponsors the program will be accessible to all youth, regardless of financial background.

• Promote the cultural image of Clark County and the State of Nevada by:

• Performing at regional, national, and international competitions under the name "Clark County Children's Choir"

• Performing music composed by Nevada residents

• Commissioning works by local composers specifically for the Choir

• Commission new works suitable for young singers

• Works will be appropriate and healthy for young developing voices

• Promote an appreciation of choral music through workshops and clinics

• Participate in and host Conventions and Festivals that encourage the art of choral music and demonstrate its influence on young musicians

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DeAnna McBrayer, President (Public Relations)

1.    Concert Invitations Committee

2.    Concert Advertisement Committee

3.    Registration Awareness & Advertising Committee

4.    Community Event Calendar Contacts Committee

5.     Preside and Conduct monthly Executive Board Meetings

6.     Accountable to Board of Directors for State of Choir
 

DeAnna is the mother of 5 children, and all of them love to sing. She has homeschooled her children from the beginning, and is active in the homeschool community,
serving on the board of Southern Nevada Homeschool Advisory Committee for the Nevada Department of Education.  DeAnna is working towards her degree in Statesmanship
with a minor in Education.   She and her husband, Todd, have lived in Las Vegas for 10 years.

Tracy Knowles,  Vice President of Tours (Tours/travel/special performances)

                  1.    Calendaring & Arrangements Committee

2.    Transportation & travel details Committee

3.    Tour Financing Committee

4.     Steps in when President can’t fulfill responsibilities

Jennifer Rowland, Vice President of Concert (Concert Preparation)  

1.    Facilities Committee 

2.    Performance Venue arrangements & Scheduling

3.    Risers & Shell Committee

4.    Recording (Audio & Visual) Committee

5.    Program Design & Printing Committee

                  6.    Decorations & Reception Committee

7.     Uniform and folders Committee

8.     Weekly Rehearsal committee

1.     Music Library Committee

2.     maintain appropriate number of musical staff… conductors, pianists, and other musicians

                  3.     Selects music and programs to be performed

Holly Steed’s choral experience started when she was very young and would sing in her mother’s church choir.  She then joined as many Middle and High School ensembles as she could.  These experiences lead her to study Choral Directing in college.  During her four years of college she participated in her school’s ensembles and had the opportunity to assistant direct many of the college’s choirs.  During her collegiate years she was granted a scholarship to serve as an assistant conductor to the Cache Valley Children’s Choir in Logan, Utah .

After graduating she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and has served as choral director for Basic High School,  the Las Vegas Academy, and her church.  She has also continued to guest conduct and adjudicate throughout Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming .  It is her dream and privilege to work as the Director for the Clark County Children’s Choir.

In addition to her passion for music, Holly also enjoys financial bookkeeping and other organizational tasks.  She is one of the few people who actually enjoys balancing her check book each month.  When she moved to Las Vegas she was nominated by her colleagues to serve as Treasurer of the Nevada State Music Educator’s Association (NMEA).  She served in that position for 2 years as the organization went through its initial incorporation process to obtain non-profit status.  When Holly resigned from full time teaching she also resigned from that position in order to help run the finances for her husband’s Optometric Practice www.DrSteed.com. 

   
Diane May, Vice President of Fundraising

1.       Corporate Sponsorship Solicitation Coordinator

2.       Public Fundraising Committee

3.       Private Fundraising Committee

4.       Scrip Coordinator

5.   Advertisement Sales Committee

6.   Grant Writing Committee

   
Jessica May, Secretary  

      1.   Phone Parent Awareness/Contact Committee

                  2.   Historian Committee

                  3.   Helps prepare Agenda with President for Executive Board Meeting

                  4.   Keep minutes of the monthly Executive Board Meetings

                  5.   Disperses Correspondence to boards and members

                  6.   Maintains copies of all Contracts

                  7.   Web Maintenance & Revision/Design (webmaster)

Holly Steed, Treasurer

1.   Controller (accounts payable and receivable)

2.   Registration and Folder allocation Committee

3.   CCCC Merchandise Committee

4.   Report preparation for Monthly Executive Meetings

5.   Responsible for Liability Insurance

6.   File Local, State, and Federal Taxes & participate in Yearly Audit

7.   Maintain Bank Records

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