ariel alvarado

Ariel Antoinette Alvarado is a conductor, vocalist, and 'scholartist' dedicated to restorative justice and student empowerment through culturally responsive pedagogy. Ms. Ariel's work centers on community building, musical diversity, and accessibility as a foundation for excellence. Ms. Alvarado is the Assistant Director of the Wilmington Children’s Chorus, the Assistant Conductor and Director of Community Programs for the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, a member of the Delaware Academy of Vocal Arts flagship ensemble 'Elevation', and the Early Years Music Teacher of Wilmington Friends School.

Ms. Alvarado earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Ms. Alvarado makes meaning with the world around her through music and is journeying to leave the world a more beautiful place than she found it. 

Rick Mckee

Richard E. McKee holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Shorter College, and a Master of Music Degree in Music Composition, and Educational Specialist Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. He has studied Composition with Peter Dewitt, John Corina, Lewis Nielson, and Michael Hennigan. Rick has completed the Level I, II, III, and master levels in Orff-Schulwerk, studying at Memphis State University. Additionally, he completed Levels I and II of Choral Music Experience training at Elon University and graduate classes in composition at Oklahoma University.

Rick has thirty years of experience as a public-school elementary school music specialist. In 2011, he was selected as Elementary Teacher of the Year for the Cobb County School District in Georgia. He has also received multiple Teacher of the Year accolades at schools in Cobb, Floyd, and Whitfield Counties. Early in his career, he taught general music classes in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Additionally, he taught class guitar class and handbells at Shorter College, and classes in music education at Kennesaw State University. Under his direction, the Garden Lakes Elementary School Chorus performed at the 1992 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. Rick has served as director of the Rome Children’s Choir and performed as a bassist with the Clocktower Jazz Ensemble in Rome, Georgia. Rick has served as a clinician for large choral events throughout the state of Georgia, including the Georgia Music Educators Association Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus in 2000 and 2012, and numerous district and regional honor choruses. He has an extensive background in church music, having directed children’s, youth, adult, and handbell choirs in churches in Georgia and Oklahoma.

An accomplished composer, Rick’s compositions have been performed throughout the country. His choral works have been featured at multiple ACDA state, regional, and national conference sessions. Rick lives in Cartersville, Georgia with his wife, Angee, who is also a lifelong music educator. He is also a singer-songwriter and hosts a monthly singer-songwriter showcase at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Cartersville, where he is a member of the Canterbury Choir. Rick is currently publishing his work through his own publishing company, Cosmic Possum Music. McKee is a member of the National Association for Music Education, and the American Choral Directors Association.