Our Staff
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Dr. Michelle Folta, Artistic Director
Dr. Michelle Folta is an associate professor of choral/general music education at Columbus State University and the artistic director for the Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus. Dr. Folta earned her Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Previous degrees include a bachelor’s degree in Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas.
Prior to graduate work, Dr. Folta taught middle school choir for eight years in Austin, Texas, where she was recognized as “Teacher of the Year.” While teaching in the public schools, Dr. Folta was instrumental in transforming her campus into a Fine Arts Academy, preventing the school from possible closure. Her choirs received consistent superior ratings in festivals and contests during her tenure as well as many opportunities to perform with community choruses and religious organizations. The Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus at Columbus State University has achieved excellence under Dr. Folta's direction. Voices of the Valley has been selected to perform for the West Georgia Choral Society’ Choral Festival in LaGrange, Georgia as well as the Columbus Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. In addition to local performances, Voices of the Valley collaborated with the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble in the spring of 2017. In the summer of 2018, Voices of the Valley performed their first international tour in Norwich and Cambridge, England and performed a the Georgia Music Educators Association conference in 2019. Sola Voce, Voices of the Valley’s advanced ensemble, will perform at GMEA and the ACDA Southern Conference in 2022. Dr. Folta has served as the guest clinician for the GMEA Muscogee County Middle School Chorus as well as local middle schools and high schools in the Chattahoochee Valley. In 2017, she was the guest clinician for the GMEA Statewide Sixth Grade Honor Chorus in Athens, Georgia. In addition, she has served as an adjudicator for state-wide festivals and contests and as a guest lecturer at Iowa State University, the University of North Texas, and Georgia State University. Dr. Folta served as the guest clinician for the Georgia Music Educators Association Sixth-Grade Honor Chorus, and was the guest clinician for the West Georgia Choral Society's Choral Festival in the spring of 2018. In February of 2019, Dr. Folta was the guest clinician for the Region XIII Tenor Bass All Region Choir in Austin, Texas. Dr. Folta has presented research in a variety of state, national, and international venues, including Texas Music Educators Association conference, the Florida Music Educators Association conference, the Georgia Music Educators Association conference, the National Association for Music Education conference, the Society for Music Teacher Education conference, the Race, Ethnicity, and Place conference, and the Narrative Inquiry in Music Education conference. Additionally, she has published research articles in state, national, and international music journals. Dr. Folta was recently named a finalist for the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Award and Columbus and the Valley’s “Rising Star” award. She was also the recipient of Columbus State University's Faculty Service Award in 2021 and named Columbus and the Valley's 5 Under 40. Dr. Folta and her husband, Zach, reside in Columbus, Georgia with their daughter, Lena. |
Olivia Fortson, assistant Director
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Olivia Fortson is a recent graduate of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University where she received a degree in music education. Olivia was a student at the Schwob School of Music for four years where she performed in multiple vocal ensembles, recitals, vocal competitions, and played principal roles in two operas.
Olivia has been active in her community through music education including being a guest clinician for the Wynnton Arts Academy's Fine Arts Day in 2018, leading performances with Voices of the Valley such as Keyboards for Kenya, and performing in musical community outreach experiences with Schwob's Opera Theatre.
Olivia has been with Voices of the Valley since August of 2015 where she worked alongside Dr. Folta to build the program. She started as a volunteer and has been promoted through Undergraduate Assistant, Senior Staff Member, and is now proud to be the Assistant Director of Voices of the Valley. As Assistant Director, she directs the newest choir, Prima Voce. She will direct them on their upcoming tour in May throughout the Atlanta area.
Olivia is from LaGrange, Georgia but currently resides in Columbus, Georgia with her husband Brandon and her two dogs, Roxy and Valerie.
Olivia has been active in her community through music education including being a guest clinician for the Wynnton Arts Academy's Fine Arts Day in 2018, leading performances with Voices of the Valley such as Keyboards for Kenya, and performing in musical community outreach experiences with Schwob's Opera Theatre.
Olivia has been with Voices of the Valley since August of 2015 where she worked alongside Dr. Folta to build the program. She started as a volunteer and has been promoted through Undergraduate Assistant, Senior Staff Member, and is now proud to be the Assistant Director of Voices of the Valley. As Assistant Director, she directs the newest choir, Prima Voce. She will direct them on their upcoming tour in May throughout the Atlanta area.
Olivia is from LaGrange, Georgia but currently resides in Columbus, Georgia with her husband Brandon and her two dogs, Roxy and Valerie.
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James Camp, Accompanist
James Camp is a LaGrange native and a 2013 graduate of LaGrange College with a degree in vocal performance. James currently serves as a staff pianist and singer at the First United Methodist Church of LaGrange. He has also served as music director and pianist at FUMC Pine Mountain, as worship pianist at Loyd Presbyterian, LaGrange, and as a cantor in the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey. At Rider University, James worked as a staff accompanist and sang in Kantorei, the early music ensemble of Westminster Choir College. Growing up, he sang for seven years in what is today the Young Singers of West Georgia. As he now pursues a degree from Columbus Technical College, James is glad to be representing the community alongside these Voices of the Valley.
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SIERRA REIS, UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANT
Sierra Reis is currently a freshman at Columbus State University, majoring in Music Education with a concentration in voice. Sierra was born and raised in Columbus, GA and graduated from Columbus High School. Her accolades include being a vocal major at the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program as well as the local Page One Scholarship winner in the area of music. She has participated in choir and solo singing since she was a child, and is excited to begin working with Voices of the Valley to share her love for music with the singers and staff. |
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NATALIE CROSBY, UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANT
Natalie Crosby is a freshman music education major at Columbus State University. She recently graduated from Howard High School where she was a student of theater, chorus, and guitar. She formerly attended the Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts in Columbus, GA, where she was a classical guitar major and earned the school’s top award for high schoolers, the Rainey Award, as a freshman. Natalie was a member of the Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus in Columbus where she participated in both the Bella Voce and Sola Voce ensembles and earned the director’s choice award, giving her an opportunity to conduct the choir during a performance. She performed as a soloist with the choir and toured England with the ensemble where they sang in some of the world’s finest cathedrals. She has been active in both traditional choirs and contemporary worship music throughout her high school career. Natalie is looking forward to a career in music education. |