The Chattanooga area is rich in vocal talent and performance quality among its young people. Dedicated to achieving and performing at their best, young men and women vocalists have earned great accomplishments. Most have been surrounded here by a nurturing and supportive musical community. The numbers of those involved throughout the musical community are significant; their abilities are great; and their contributions, which have enriched the quality of life for the artist and the audience, are impressive.
“In Chattanooga, I would estimate that more than 500 people take part in weekly community-based chorus rehearsals, related Vic Oakes, director of the Chattanooga Boys Choir and of the choral program at the Baylor School, “and many of these are children. Most of these people and others also participate in an extraordinary number of church and school choirs in the area. This is an impressive and significant representation of people involved in singing for a community this size.”
Among the active community choral groups are the Chattanooga Boys Choir, the Chattanooga Girls Choir, Choral Arts, the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African-American song, Chattanooga Bach Choir, Scenic City Chorale, and various barber shop and other groups.
“Singing is an activity which bridges people and communities like no other,” Oakes continued. “The rehearsal room is a place where race, background, economic status, and other divisive factors are left at the door and people come together for a common goal.”
A native of the Washington, D.C., area, Nicole Knauss accepted the newly created position of executive director of the Chattanooga Girls Choir in 2006. For more than 20 years, the Girls Choir has showcased the talent of over 150 participants annually. In 2005, the choir performed at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, in 2006, the group sang in San Francisco, and last year the choir visited Dublin, Ireland.
“Generally, I give people my background so that they understand that I grew up in a very culturally diverse area,” remarked Knauss. “I have lived in several places across the country that were not as diverse and want people to understand when I say that I am very proud of Chattanooga. For the size of our wonderful scenic city, we have so much going on not just artistically but specifically in terms of the choral arts. Even growing up just outside of Washington, D.C., there was not the abundance of resources for youth wanting to be involved in the choral arts as there is right here.”
Given the level of community support and the array of opportunities, young people across the area are making the most of their vocal talents and the avenues of expression available. Many have been recognized locally or across the country for their vocal skills. While clearly not a complete summary of the many talented young vocalists, seven local artists recently recognized for their vocal talents, are featured below.
Rudy Foster
A senior at Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences, Rudy received the highest score for 1st Tenor during the 2007 East Tennessee Vocal Association auditions. He began his singing career as a fourth grader with the Chattanooga Boys Choir and remains a member. Among other locales, Boys Choir performances have taken Rudy to Carnegie Hall in New York and Dvorak Hall in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and he credits Mike Lees of Arts & Science and Boys Choir director Vic Oakes with support and direction.
“They have helped me through the whole voice changing stage,” said Rudy. “First, I sang soprano, and then changed to tenor. They explained the process and helped me to figure out that it takes time.”
At 17, Rudy, the son of Rudolph and Pamela Foster of Hixson, plans to attend college and pursue a career in theater management and administration. “I would say that I will continue to perform and major in something related to music,” he said.
In addition to musical activities, Rudy has been involved with volunteer work at the Tennessee Aquarium, has participated in Model United Nations and the Science Olympiad, and serves as president of the student government at Arts & Sciences. He recently appeared in a school production of Smokey Joe’s Café and in a local stage performance of Finian’s Rainbow.
“He is one of the most talented young people I have had in 30 years of teaching,” commented Mr. Lees. “He is very creative with vocals, plays the cello, and even choreographed one medley for my show choir.”
Caitlin Hammon
A freshman at Lee University, Caitlin graduated from Chattanooga Christian School in 2007. She has been a member of the Chattanooga Girls Choir for several years and sings regularly with the praise band at Abba’s House, her church located in Hixson. She has also appeared in numerous musical and theatrical productions.
In 2007, Caitlin won the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association (CSOA) vocal competition, which awakened an interest in opera. “I had been singing all my life but had never done opera before,” she remarked. “It ended up being something I really enjoyed. When I went to the competition, I really didn’t know what to expect, and it ended up confirming what I wanted to do as a career. Now, I am pursuing a degree in vocal performance and may work in music education and teach English also.”
Caitlin is firm in the assertion that her primary reason for singing is to glorify God. She said, “God has given me this gift, and I want to give back what He has given to me. I really love to perform and am thinking about performing for the first few years and then teaching after that.”
The daughter of Dr. Jim and Jill Hammon of Hixson, Caitlin acknowledges their tremendous support and thanks Mr. Paul Faulkner, her choral teacher at Chattanooga Christian, for excellent instruction during her high school years. She also credits Robert Regal, with whom she began taking lessons prior to the CSO competition. “Working with him made me discover my passion,” she reasoned, “not just about technique, but why you are doing it. I came away wanting to work harder.”
Kyle Vradenburgh
“They listen to me and critique and compliment my performances. I have used them as a sounding board whenever I am singing a song or practicing,” said Kyle Vradenburgh of his parents, Barry and Debby. A 2007 home school graduate, Kyle is currently taking voice lessons from Michael Mays at Tennessee Temple University and contemplating getting involved in choral activities with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. During the 2007 CSO competition, he placed second overall.
“I just love singing opera,” commented the young tenor. “My favorite piece is Nessun Dorma from Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot. I have also done three plays with the home school community. They were all Gilbert and Sullivan works: Princess Ida, The Gondoliers, and The Pirates of Penzance.”
Among those who have influenced Kyle’s vocal career and supported his efforts are Mays and his initial voice teacher, Robert Regal. “I would say Robert Regal is at the top,” he remarked. “I started taking voice lessons about five years ago, and after I graduated, he suggested that I take lessons from another voice teacher to get experience with different methods of teaching. He recommended that I take lessons from Mr. Mays, and that is why I started working with him.”
Kyle continues to enjoy performing on stage and in recitals. He regularly sings the national anthem at basketball games involving the Chattanooga Home School team.
Mallory Ledford
At the tender age of 11, Mallory Ledford has already accomplished a great deal during a highly publicized vocal career. With three CDs already produced, plans are moving ahead for an exciting live project. Mallory has been featured in Power Source Magazine, and her song That’s How Much I Love You has been released commercially.
The daughter of Wade and Kelly Ledford, Mallory has twin younger sisters, Morgan and Madeline, who enjoy her performances tremendously. “She is home schooled and wants to sing Gospel,” related her father. “That is her heart’s desire. The folks at radio station WDYN in Chattanooga call her their sweetheart, and they have been wonderful to her.” Mallory has also participated in a number of charitable events with the radio station.
Remarkably, the young singer has never had a voice lesson. “She started picking up on music at about the same time she tried to start talking,” continued her father, who runs the sound board during her performances. “Her timing was rock solid, and she matched pitch super well. She has a passion for it and sings constantly. So, at about 18 months we noticed that she caught on to music like someone who wants to draw or paint. Everything she has is a gift straight from God. We know it is not something that can be taught.”
Mallory has performed at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga and has sung for three consecutive years with the Singing Echoes at the Blue Springs Valley Gospel event in Cleveland, Tennessee. The upcoming live project is expected to include performances with the Singing Echoes and well known Gospel performer Karen Peck and New River.
Mallory has performed several times at Unity Baptist Church, which is attended by Hamilton County Commissioner Curtis Adams, who subsequently invited her to sing for the commission. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Adams also sponsored a resolution proclaiming November 21, 2007, as Mallory Ledford Day in Hamilton County. The proclamation reads in part, “…As the public hears this outstanding voice, she becomes more in demand. Mallory has been nominated for the MOST GIFTED ARTIST at the Annual Fan Fare by the Southern Gospel Music Association at their annual week-long convention at the Trade Center. She has also been recommended for induction in the Tennessee-Georgia-Alabama Gospel Music Hall of Fame.”
Already a rising star, Mallory Ledford looks forward to a future with tremendous promise – and proper perspective.
Kamille Chamberlain
After only a few months in the Chattanooga area, Kamille Chamberlain is already feeling at home, particularly when it comes to vocal performance and activities. Living in Utah and Texas previously, Kamille and her family relocated to this area last year. A junior at Soddy-Daisy High School, she placed second as an Alto II at the 2007 East Tennessee Vocal Association auditions.
Her vocal talents became apparent early, and she has avidly pursued performance opportunities as long as she can remember. “When my mom would sing lullabies to me as a child, I learned to sing them before I could even talk,” she smiled. “Back in Utah, I started singing with a group called the Sunshine Generation. They usually accepted children ages four to 17, but they took me when I was only two years old.”
Kamille’s father Jeff, who works in hospital administration, and her mother, Karla, have actively supported her musical endeavors. Since the age of five, she has taken piano lessons, while also honing acting skills. “I have always wanted to perform, and my mother helped to plan all of that, also helping me to find music that I could perform well,” she remembered. “My dad is also very talented. He did a lot of acting in school.”
Growing up in Lake Jackson, Texas, south of Houston, Kamille became a familiar performer at numerous events, including the rodeo and regular appearances at a local theater. “In Texas, I developed more musically and started by auditioning when I was eight years old. At the theater, we performed ‘Opry’ songs and that kind of thing. They had a talent contest, and I won in my age category. Then, I won the contest overall. They kind of adopted me to perform, and I entertained with them from the age of about 8 to 13. That was just about every week, and I was doing that along with school and church choirs and other programs.”
Among the top academic performers in her class, Kamille may well be on track for valedictorian honors. “I really believe that involvement in the arts helps people academically,” she added.
Her creativity extends to musical composition, and she has written numerous songs in the Celtic style. She often plays the recorder along with tracks of her performances. One day opportunities at the Grand Ole Opry or on Broadway may well materialize for this talented young lady.
David St. Charles
Since graduating from Baylor in 2006, David has continued his musical study at Middle Tennessee State University. As a senior, he won the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition held at Carson-Newman College. That year, he was also a winner of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera vocal competition. He is now focusing on opera at MTSU and hopes to have a career in live opera performance.
“My love for singing came about with the Chattanooga Boys Choir,” he reflected, “and I developed through that. Then, I took private voice lessons from Penny Tullock. I focused on solo singing and realized that I had a strong solo voice. Now, I am taking private lessons at MTSU.”
A member of the Chattanooga Boys Choir for five years, David visited Canada, San Francisco, and Hawaii. His parents, Tony and Nancy St. Charles, recognized his talent early and have helped him to cultivate it through the years. He also appreciates the influence of Ms. Tullock, Ed Huey during his time at Baylor, and Stephen Smith, his voice teacher at MTSU.
“The pinnacle of opera is to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and, of course, it is extremely competitive. I hope to have a good career at MTSU and work really hard there. After graduate school, I would like to be with a traveling opera company. Ultimately, you have to have a really strong voice and prove that you can do it.
“Being patient is important,” he reasoned, “because the voice takes time to develop and matures with age. It isn’t really mature until you’re in your 30s, and I have realized that you can’t always force yourself to get better. Some things will happen naturally. A good deal of practice goes into it, and it is hard to be patient. Performing is really a thrill, and to see an audience respond well – making people feel great – is what I love the most.”
David is now preparing for a lead role in the Mozart opera The Magic Flute. He has learned a great deal during his years of study and has come to recognize the rewards of perseverance.
Kaitlyn Swicegood
A sophomore at the College of Charleston with a double major in philosophy and political science, Kaitlyn graduated from the Baylor School in 2006, after finishing as first runner up in the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association vocal competition that year. Currently, Kaitlyn is considering pursuing a law degree but intends to sing regularly. She has been active with the select choir at the College of Charleston and has sung on numerous occasions at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga, where she attends.
Mr. Ed Huey, a former choral teacher at Baylor, encouraged Kaitlyn, a 1st Soprano, to perform often. “It started off with family weddings,” she said, “and actually when I was in elementary school I sang with another girl at a wedding. Mr. Huey got me into it further because he had been contacted by someone who was looking for a singer at her wedding.”
Parents Butch and Susan Swicegood have supported her along the way, and Kaitlyn admits that performing on Broadway has been something of a family dream for her. “We’ll see. Who knows?” she laughed. “I do musicals at the Chattanooga Theater Center a lot. Annie was my favorite, and I won an Annie award for playing one of the orphans. The first play I did at the Theater Center was Snow White.”
Currently, Kaitlyn is engaged in private study with a vocal coach at the College of Charleston. The regimen involves an appearance before a jury, which evaluates progress and performance for those majoring or minoring in vocal performance or involved in independent study. Requirements include the performance of a classical piece and a piece in a foreign language.
For Kaitlyn, the satisfaction of a strong performance is one of the most positive aspects of singing. “I guess the hard part was that I would practice and stuff but just wanted to perform instead of practicing all the time. To get on stage and do it is really fun,” she commented. “It is a different kind of experience for me since I wasn’t the athletic one. I have a sister who played soccer, but I found dance, and singing, and acting and fell in love with it. People ask why I am not majoring in music. It has always been something I enjoyed but that I didn’t have to do. It has not been my only interest. I’m not completely sure about law school yet, but I definitely know that I will always sing.”
________
The members of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association have tirelessly promoted the arts in this city. In 1994 Mary Earl, then president of the CSOA Guild, began the annual vocal competition which has become a major event. “I felt there needed to be a competition for high school students,” she remembered. “We accept applications from any school in our support area, and each school can send one contestant. They have to be a junior or a senior, but the school decides the one to send. One thing that I think is important about our competition is that having this on their applications to college has helped students to be accepted at the college of their choice. Most winners have been awarded some type of scholarship to the college they attend.” According to Ms. Earl, most of the previous winners returned for the observance of the competition’s 10th anniversary in 2004, expressing the fact that winning had changed their lives and enhanced their music careers.
Along with the CSOA, dedicated performers, parents, and teachers of music are joined by organizations such as Cadek Conservatory, Allied Arts, and the Chattanooga Theater Center to provide a thriving environment for young music talent in Chattanooga. The proof of its positive impact is readily apparent in the personal development of young vocalists: men and women, and the quality of their performances.