Board of Directors

The Georgia Children’s Chorus has been able to “Keep Athens Singing!” for over 25 years, guided by a 15-member Board of Directors, lead by President Ellen McLemore. Through fundraising efforts, they help to secure funds to support the staff and operations of the organization as well as to provide scholarships for chorus members in need of financial assistance.

  • Ellen McLemore

    PRESIDENT

    Bio

  • Chris Griner

    PRESIDENT ELECT

    Bio

  • Greg Settineri

    SECRETARY

    Bio

  • Avery Mason

    TREASURER

    Bio

  • Teresa Andrews

    MEMBER AT LARGE

    Bio

  • Sarah Bunnell

    MEMBER AT LARGE

    Bio

  • Daniel Chamberlin

    MEMBER AT LARGE

    Bio

  • Will Divers

    MEMBER AT LARGE

    Bio

  • Emily Gertsch

    UGA LIAISON

    Bio

  • Tara Maxwell

    PARENT REPRESENTATIVE

    Bio

  • Alex McDonald

    MEMBER AT LARGE

    Bio

  • Margaret McDonald

    MEMBER AT LARGE

    Bio

Ellen McLemore

President

Ellen McLemore joins the GCC board with over 30 years of experience in all areas of choral music, piano pedagogy and as a collaborative pianist. She received a Bachelor’s in Music Edication, vocal performance from Wesleyan College, Macon, GA. As co-founder of Chorale des Amis, Youth Choirs of Acadiana, a non-profit children's community choir in Lafayette, Louisiana, the choirs were invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in their first year and with the Acadians Symphony Orchestra on several occsssions as well as performed throughout the community. Ellen and her husband live in Athens where she is a realtor at 5Market Realty.  She continues to accompany for schools and churches, and fill in as director of church choirs where needed. As an avid supporter of the performing arts, Ellen is a past member of the American Choral Directors Association, Southern Division planning committee, currently serves as president-elect for the Athens Symphony Orchestra and is most excited to serve as president of the Georgia Children’s Choir.

Chris Griner

President Elect

Chief Financial Officer, Clarke County School District

I am originally from Valdosta.  I graduated from Valdosta High and Valdosta State University with a degree in accounting.   I have 31 years of accounting experience that is split between public accounting, banking and education finance.  My wife and I moved back to Clarke County in July 2023 when I accepted the role of Chief Financial Officer with Clarke County School District.  My wife, Laura, works for Books for Keeps as the School Literacy Coordinator.  I have twin boys that will be in their third year at the University of Georgia.  My step son is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia and works for a logistics company in Denver, Colorado and my step daughter is a paralegal with Truist Bank in their Atlanta office.

I am proud parent of a former GCC member.  My son Jacob spent 5 years in GCC.  I am a member of the 2024-2025 LEAD Athens class and I am currently involved with several non profit agencies in Athens.

Greg Settineri

Secretary

Greg moved to Athens from Charleston, SC in 2022 for a career opportunity and to be closer to his family. He is an experienced financial professional for almost 20 years, providing investment planning services through a previous firm in NJ and SC. Currently, Greg is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Athens where his team provides financial planning to individuals and local, small businesses. His practice specializes with retirement planning, investment management, and college savings strategies. Greg received an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in finance and a B.A. from the University of Delaware. During his free time, Greg enjoys exercising, sports, and exploring Athens with his family.

Avery Mason

Treasurer

Avery graduated from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia in 2020 after transferring from the University of Oregon—her mom always joked that "ducks fly south!" Instead of returning to Charlotte, Avery chose to stay in Athens, GA, where she built a strong and supportive community. After four years of serving small business owners as an accountant, she decided to take the leap and start her own firm. In July 2024, Erm Accounting was born.

Teresa Andrews

Member at Large

I've been married to my best friend, Todd, for 41 wonderful years. Together, we've raised two amazing daughters and are now proud "Mimi and Papa" to four beautiful grandbabies. Our 7-year-old granddaughter, Aubree Durden, joined the Georgia Children's Chorus last year-and it quickly became a joyful experience for our whole family.

Todd and I have owned and operated several businesses since the late 1990s and have always enjoyed working together. I'm excited to bring my creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and strong community connections to support the chorus, particularly through fundraising and engagement efforts. It's an honor to serve on a board that nurtures such incredible young talent.

Sarah Bunnell

Member at Large

Sarah’s lifelong passion for music has taken shape across countries and communities.  She taught choir and music education classes for various grades at the International  Academy of St. Petersburg, Russia, and studied privately at the St. Petersburg State  Conservatory. She has also accompanied or led children’s choirs in Tallinn, Estonia, and  London, UK. 

Alongside her musical work, Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Business  Administration from Mississippi State University. She runs a London-based consultancy  advising on accessible digital and financial technology platforms. An entrepreneur at  heart, she also develops specialty travel experiences and has long been active in the  charity sector helping start a charity with programs for underprivileged children in  Croydon, UK. Committed to service, Sarah currently volunteers as a development  specialist for Compassion Medical, a global humanitarian aid initiative, where she raises  funding and leads trips for current projects. 

Now based in Athens with her family, Sarah is a travel enthusiast and busy mother of  three who loves playing her piano, reading, and spending time with her family outdoors especially when it includes skiing.

Daniel Chamberlin

Member at Large

As a founding member of the Georgia Children Chorus in 1997, Daniel Chamberlin sang with the Chorus through 2006. His time in GCC generated his continued involvement in choral groups such as the First Presbyterian Church Youth Choir, Athens, GA; Concert Choir and the Compulsive Lyres Men’s Ensemble, Young Harris College; Milledgeville Singers Guild; Athens Master Chorale; Choir of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah, GA; Parish Choir of Christ Church Episcopal, Savannah, GA; and the Savannah Symphony Chorus. Since returning to his hometown of Watkinsville in the fall of 2023 he has rejoined the Athens Master Chorale and has become a new member of the Sanctuary Choir at First Baptist Church in Athens. 

As an art and cultural historian Daniel Chamberlin has worked both in the museum field and as an independent scholar and researcher within the state of Georgia for the past ten years. His research has focussed on African American populations and histories of enslavement within Georgia and the American South from the time of earliest European settlement through the late 19th century, and has published papers on these topics as they relate to the artistic, cultural, and historical landscapes of his home state. He holds degrees from Georgia College & State University (BA) and The Bard Graduate Center (MA).

Will Divers

Member at Large

Emily Gertsch

UGA Liaison

Dr. Emily Gertsch serves as Director of Graduate Studies and Senior Lecturer of Music Theory at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, where she has been a faculty member since 2012. She earned her Ph.D. from Florida State University, with research focusing on prolongational analysis and musical narrative. At UGA, she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses and was honored with the school’s inaugural Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017. Her daughter, Charlotte, is a sophomore at North Oconee High School and a second-year member of GCC’s Concert Choir and Lyric Ensemble. Dr. Gertsch previously served on the GCC board in 2020–21 and is delighted to return as the School of Music faculty representative and a proud GCC parent.

Tara Maxwell

Parent Representative

Alex McDonald

Member at Large

I am a music lover, graduate of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music (BA, ’10), graduate of Georgia Law (JD, ’14), and partner at Fortson, Bentley & Griffin in Athens. My practice as an attorney is focused on civil litigation. I am not currently connected with GCC, but I was recommended to you by my partner/current GCC Board Member, Emily Escoe. If your board believes I will be a good fit, I will happily serve and do my part to support your mission in music and our community. 

Ellen’s addition taken from his bio online: Alex has been recognized as a “Rising Star” byGeorgia Super Lawyers and a “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”.

Margaret McDonald

Member at Large

Margaret McDonald is in her ninth year serving as an elementary music teacher. She currently works at Bramlett Elementary in Barrow County and previously worked at Gaines Elementary in Clarke County. Margaret holds a Bachelors in Music Education and a Masters in Music Education from the University of Georgia. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree, Margaret played trumpet in the Redcoat Band.

Margaret is a member of First Baptist Church in Athens where she has served on the Board of Deacons, sings in the sanctuary choir, and directs one of the children’s choirs. In her free time she enjoys watching UGA football and running.