Hannah Cook

Hannah Cook is a senior at Ozark High School. She has been a member of the Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri for ten years. Her many wonderful experiences with the choir include singing Mahler’s Eighth Symphony in 2007, performing with the Oak Ridge Boys, and traveling to New York with the choir. She also sang with the choir at the Governor’s Mansion and in Branson. in 2008, she was awarded the Outstanding Singer Award. She studies voice with Paula Patterson, and she sings many times with the choir at Grace united Methodist.

She is also an avid flautist. As a freshman, Hannah made District band, as well as getting a 1 rating on her solo and ensembles. Since then, she has continued to get 1’s on everything she has taken to Districts and State, as well as one 2. She is the Administrative Leader of the woodwinds in the Ozark Tiger Pride marching band and has been first chair flautist for most of her high school career.

Hannah has above a 4.0 GPA and is involved in many school activities, including band, National Honors Society (of which she is secretary), National Art Honors Society (of which she is an activities officer), Foreign Language Club, Link Crew (a club for helping new students and freshmen adjust to high school), and unchained (an organization that raises money to help end domestic violence).

Hannah has greatly enjoyed her time in CCSM and will miss it. Her future plans involve going to a university to study language and other cultures. Music is a huge part of her life that will continue to be present for many years to come.

Hannah Cook

Emily McCormick began singing with Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri in the second grade with the Carolers. She has also been involved in

school honor choirs since the fourth grade and has truly enjoyed making music such a big part of her life.

Emily is currently a junior at Nixa High School. She studies voice with Paula Patterson and is excited to be a member of the Young Artists Showcase.

in addition to singing with the Lyric Singers and the Young Artists, Emily also serves as a student intern. She loves working with Mr. Gutierrez and the Cherubs and Carolers.

Emily hopes to attend Drury university and continue to study music throughout her college career.

Steven Nerness

Steven Nerness has been singing with CCSM since the fifth grade in the Ensemble. Because of his involvement with the choir he has been very privileged to be a part of

many local productions here in Springfield, MO. He’s also been able to go on CCSM trips which has afforded him opportunities to learn and see some wonderful works of art in music, perform in, as well as see major cities of the country.

Steven is a junior at Hillcrest High School and sings in the Varsity Choir and Madrigal under the direction of Deborah Futrell. He studies voice with James Billings.

This is Steven’s second year as a Young Artist. He is enjoying this year very much and really enjoys working with the new director of the YA, Leah Jenkins.

This year is Steven’s third year serving as a student intern, and he is enjoying working with Daniel Gutierrez the new director this year of the Cherubs and the Carolers. He really enjoys working with the children and seeing their faces light up as they sing.

Steven’s goal is to attend the Air Force Academy after graduation from high school.

Juliana Beatie

Juliana is a sophomore honor student at Aurora High School and has participated in the Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri since she was in the 4th grade. She has many wonderful memories of her involvement in the choirs, her favorite being the trip to New York City.

In 2010 she was awarded the Outstanding Singer Award as an eighth grader. Juliana is very involved in her school music programs and received a Superior rating for her vocal solo last year at State Music Festival. She enjoys playing lead tenor saxophone in the very competitive Aurora Marching Band and also plays in the concert and jazz band.

Another interest of Juliana’s is the dramatic arts. She has been very involved in her high school drama department having played ursula in Bye Bye Birdie, Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes and Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. She is also a part of her church drama team, Rock Troupe, and sings and plays keyboard for the youth praise team. Juliana has studied voice with Duane Harris and Kevin Williams and currently enjoys working with Jane Berg. Juliana, or “Jewels” as she is often called, loves music with a passion and is thankful to God for the abilities and opportunities He has given her.

Keely Brannan

Keely Brannan has enjoyed singing with the Children’s Choir’s of Southwest Missouri for 12 years, and is a member of both the Young Artists Showcase and Lyric Singers. Keely studies voice with alumni Drury university professor and former CCSM director, Duane Harris. Additionally, Keely has played viola with the Springfield Play His Praises Bach Orchestra under the direction of Kathy Love, and has been a member of the Sing His Praises Concert Choir and Bel Canto Chamber Choir under the direction of Krista Smith.

As a former student intern for CCSM, Keely enjoyed assisting Jennifer Stone with the Cherubs and Carolers. CCSM has offered Keely many memorable opportunities including performing Mahler’s Eighth Symphony on the Missouri State university President’s Concert in 2007, the Springfield Symphony “Home for the Holidays” concert in 2006, and the Shrine Ladies’ Ceremonial Luncheon in 2005. in her free time, Keely enjoys piano, reading, writing, and she hopes to study Choral Music Education, Secondary Education, and French in college.

Charissa Paschke

Charissa Paschke is currently a junior at Lighthouse Christian Academy and music has played an important role in her life since she was able to talk.

She has enjoyed singing with CCSM these last two years and has had rich experiences that have shaped her love of music. Charissa has enjoyed singing with various choirs throughout the past ten years, and has especially enjoyed getting to sing at the state capitol with HSCOS, under the direction of Kelly Sapp in 2003, and singing in “The Mass of the Children” with the Evangel university Chamber Choir.

Other inspirational teachers she has had are Michael Burnett and Julie Harrison. Charissa is currently studying under the direction of Duane Harris, and Leah Jenkins. While traveling two years ago to ukraine and this past summer spending two months in Rome and Jerusalem with Reign Ministries she did many street performances along with ministering to refugee children and serving those communities.

She enjoys competing in speech & debate tournaments around the state throughout the school year and has achieved first place in Humorous interpretation. Charissa hopes to study Music Education in college and become a music teacher sharing her love of music with others.