WHO WE ARE
Meet the Artistic Director
Jennie Nolan, Founder and Artistic Director of the South Hills Children's Choir, loves inspiring kids to sing! She holds a BMusEd, Voice from Biola University, an MM in Choral Conducting from Messiah University, is Kodály-certified and Suzuki trained. After teaching music and English in the public school Mrs. Nolan joined the staff of the San Diego Children's Choir and fell in love with it. She has led various church choirs in addition to teaching band, classroom music, writing, Rhetoric, and homeschooling her girls. Jennie has sung with and conducted under Drs. William Lock, Caron Daley, Susan Medley, Kathy Hickey, Rachel Cornacchio, Joy Meade, and Mr. Loren Wiebe. Formerly a soprano with the Pittsburgh Camerata, Jennie still sings locally. She attends and assists with music activities at View Crest Church, teaches voice at Pittsburgh Music Academy, and teaches music and writing to 3rd through 11th graders at Blackburn Study Center. She loves to run, bake, travel, and sing for and with her husband and four daughters.
Meet the CONCORDIA Director
Alexis Graves is a passionate and accomplished vocalist, holding a Bachelor of Music in Vocal
Performance and a minor in German from Belmont University. Her principal instructors have included Mr. Joseph Helinski, Dr. Ted Wylie, and Ms. Hilerie Klein Rensi. Since starting her teaching career in 2022, Alexis has discovered a profound joy in mentoring young musicians. Alexis has performed with the Nashville Symphony, appeared on PBS, and collaborated with the Berlin Opera Academy in Germany playing “Gertrud” in Hänsel und Gretel, working with world-class coaches, conductors, and directors and deepening her understanding of operatic performance. With a strong belief in the transformative power of music, Alexis is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians! |
MEET OUR CLINICIANSSHCC brings in excellent clinicians and soloists to extend the concerts’ musical impact on participants and community. In previous years we have been privileged to work with the following:
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Meet the Accompanist
Laura Roberts grew up in Virginia, starting piano lessons in third grade. Wanting to use her love of music to help others, she received a degree in Music Therapy in 1997 from Charleston Southern University. She moved to western Pennsylvania in 1999 where she now teaches piano lessons and plays for church choirs. Laura became a Kindermusik educator in 2011, after attending classes with her three children. She moved to McMurray in 2013 and began teaching piano lessons at Kathy’s Music. Additionally, she serves as the pianist for two United Methodist Churches, and plays the string bass in her husband’s bluegrass band. She loves reading, walking, geocaching, eating outside, and spending time with family.
Meet the Office Administrator
Heather Black graduated from Geneva College with a BS in Sociology. While there, she sang with The Genevans. She continues her vocal studies with our former board member, Melanie Catana, has sung with the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, and is currently a member of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. Heather has assisted Mrs. Nolan in teaching various music camps and classes for children in Pennsylvania and Latvia and enjoys being her general Girl Friday. Heather also serves as secretary to the board.
Meet the CHORAL INTERN
Amber Willis is a former SHCC singer and is thrilled to be returning as an intern. She recently graduated with a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Grove City College where she was a member of the Touring Choir, as well as winning the 2024 Concerto/Aria Competition. Performances include Musetta in Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme at the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia in Mexico and Mother Superior in The Sound of Music at Grove City. She enjoys studying foreign languages, swing and ballroom dancing, paper quilling, birdwatching, and spending time with family and friends.