Who We Are
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Gina McKeown, GNCC Founder and Music Director
Gina McKeown is a Music Educator and Music Therapist that currently runs a private music studio in Newburyport teaching piano and voice to all ages of students from young - adult and is a Music Educator at Bradford Christian Academy (BCA) in Haverhill MA, where she directs the BCA High School Chorus and teaches general music to grades 2-6. Gina holds a Masters of Music from Illinois State University with an emphasis in Music Therapy and a Bachelors of Music Education, with a choral and piano emphasis, from Illinois Wesleyan University. She was the Founder and Director of the after school Molin School Children’s Chorus from 2011-2014 and has been Music Director for the after school Molin Drama Club for 6 years. In March of 2014, Gina was the recipient of the Newburyport Youth Services Beacon Coalition's Asset Award for her work with the youth in Newburyport. Gina resides in Newburyport with her husband, their four children, giant dog and tiny cat! Allison Balentine, GNCC Founder & Assistant Music Director Allison Balentine is a Music Educator and Reading Specialist at Bradford Christian Academy in Haverhill MA. She has worked from 2011-2014 at the Molin Upper Elementary School in Newburyport in the after school chorus and was the Founder and Principal Director of the Molin Drama club for 6 years. She is also a vocalist at the Hope Church in Newburyport. Allison holds a BA in music from Bucknell University and a Masters in Education from Gordon College. In March of 2014, Allison was awarded the Newburyport Youth Services Beacon Coalition's Asset Award for her work with the youth in Newburyport. Allison resides in Newburyport with her husband and their four children and two energetic dogs! Christina Bauer, GNCC Juniors Director Christina Bauer is a vocalist that currently studies with Martha Peabody in Amesbury. She attended Friends University in Wichita KS and Wichita State University and studied voice with Linda Starkey. and has completed coursework at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Christina has previously worked as an instructional support staff member with early elementary students in Rowley. She resides in Newbury with her husband and their two children and her kitten! YuChing Fass, Accompanist Yuching Fass was born and raised in Taiwan. She obtained her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Longy School of Music, Cambridge MA (1997)and Bachelor of Music degree, Gordon College(1994). Her teachers included Fang-Lin Chen, Mia Chung, Michel Block, Sally Pinkas, Randal Hodgkinson and Eda Mazo-Shlyam. She has participated in master classes with Manhann Pressler, Richard Goode, Lily Dumant and Tong-Il Han. Her collaborated performance includes New England Philharmonic, Newton Symphony, Granite State Ballet, Longy Chamber Orchestra, North Shore Symphony and The Reading Singers. She also has been the music director of First Baptist Church in Bedford and of Greater Boston of Taiwanese Church of Christ. She has been on the piano faculty of Indian Hill School of Music and Gordon College. She is currently a music director at Immanuel Baptist Church in Ipswich, MA. She is a staff accompanist of Masconomet regional school in Boxford MA and an accompanist of the community chorus at Salem State University in Salem MA. She has also been in many juries for student auditions and evaluations for colleges and other organizations. She and Ayuko Kobayashi had a series of performances for Steinway at both Steinert (Boston)and Steinway hall (New York) as piano Duo. |
History of GNCC:
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Volunteers Needed!
GNCC is looking for interested, supportive volunteers. Please contact us if you have interest in pursuing a volunteer position with us. This may include, assisting at weekly rehearsals, working behind the scenes in the organization, helping at concerts and performances, organizing fundraising opportunities, assisting with purchasing shirts/uniform accessories for students, and other areas of need that the GNCC may have. Email: info@gncchorus.org |