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.
Chris Griner
President
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.
Emily Gertsch
Vice-Presiden and 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.
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.
Alex McDonald
Secretary
Alex is a graduate of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and litigation partner with the law firm of Fortson, Bentley & Griffin in Athens.
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).