Board of Directors
Paula Carter, President
Penny Sanders, Immediate Past President
Angela Warren, President-Elect
Marilyn DeLong, Treasurer
Amanda Latona, Secretary
Travis Kern
Artistic Director
Travis Kern is the husband of Robin Kern and the father of two sons, Kellen and Aidan Kern. Travis has been a choral director for 28 years. He has been fortunate enough to have taught at all levels from K-12 and beyond to include community choirs over the course of those 28 years.
Currently, Travis is the Director of Choral Activities for Colquitt County High School, where he directs 5 choirs. Those 5 choirs include the nationally award winning A Cappella choir. Recently the A Cappella choir toured Italy and performed in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican as well as performances in the Cathedral of St. Francis in Assisi as well as Il Duomo at St. Marco’s Square in Venice. Over the last 20 years, the A Cappella choir has been invited to perform at the Notre Dame Cathedral, The Washington National Cathedral, Carnegie Hall and the famous Kawai ‘ ahao church in Honolulu.
Travis is also an accomplished musical theater director and has directed more than 30 musical to include such titles as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, and most recently, Disney’s Tarzan. An accomplished Actor as well, Travis has performed such roles as Adam from Seven Brides, Henry Jekyll from Jekyll and Hyde, Danny from Grease and Daddy Warbucks from Annie, to name a few.
Meri Beth Hillard
Accompanist
Meri Beth was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She began her piano studies at an early age, began playing for church services in 8th grade, and studied music at both The University of New Mexico and Calvin College.
As music assistant at First United Methodist Church in Albany, she plays for the sanctuary choir, assists in worship services, and has 20 years experience directing their youth choirs and taking them on annual tours. She accompanied music majors as well as the college choir at Darton State College for almost 20 years and she has accompanied The Albany Chorale for the past 15 years. She continues to play for programs and recitals in the community.
Meri Beth lives in Albany with her husband Claire Fox Hillard; they have three married children (Tim & Jessica Morris, Blake & Kelsey Davis, and CJ & Ann Marie Hillard) and six grandchildren (Sadie, Sally, Hudson, Jack, Milo & Riggs).
