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February 23-26, 2022 Raleigh, North Carolina

Voices of the Valley Children's Chorus Western Branch Middle School

Sola Voce Choir Concert Choir

The Western Branch Middle School Concert Choir is
the premiere choral ensemble at WBMS and comprises
7th- and 8th-grade students. In addition to their annual
performances, the Concert Choir hosts an annual ben-
efit concert for Title I schools, collaborates with various

Founded in 2007, the Voices of the Valley Children’s community and school arts organizations, performs
Chorus serves over 70 children from multiple cities, throughout the Hampton Roads community, and was
counties, and schools in Georgia and Alabama. Our vi- named a 2019 Virginia MEA Conference Performance
sion is to inspire young singers to become life-long learn- Choir. The choir has also been featured on television
ers of music through choral experience and communi- broadcasts and is regularly invited to perform for events
ty engagement. Voices of the Valley has collaborated across the region. Members regularly earn placement
with professional, collegiate, and local ensembles and is into local, state, and national honor choirs.
proud to be in residence at Columbus State University’s
Schwob School of Music. Voices of the Valley has par- Kyle Cook is the director of the Western
ticipated in local, national, and international tours, and Branch Middle School Choirs and the
performed at the 2019 Georgia MEA Conference. Sola Outer Banks Chorus. He holds a BME
Voce is Voices of the Valley’s advanced ensemble. from West Liberty University (WV) and
an MM from Ohio University (OH). Cook
Michelle Folta is the artistic director for began teaching in Currituck County, NC, in 2013 be-
the Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus fore moving to Chesapeake, VA, in 2017. He has been
and associate professor of choral/general named Teacher of the Year at Currituck County Mid-
music education at Columbus State Uni- dle School and Western Branch Middle School and is
versity. She earned her PhD and MME a quarter-fi nalist for the 2022 Grammy Music Educa-
at the University of North Texas, and a BM from the tor Award. Cook has guest conducted all-city, district,
University of Texas at Austin. Prior to graduate study, and community choral events throughout Virginia and
Folta taught chorus in Austin, Texas, where she was in- North Carolina and has also presented professional de-
strumental in transforming her campus into a Fine Arts velopment seminars at local and state conferences.
Academy. Under Folta’s direction, Voices of the Valley
has been selected to collaborate with professional, col-
legiate, and community ensembles. The choir has per-
formed internationally and at the 2019 Georgia MEA
Conference.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5 73