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. |
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Andrew harry, AccompanistAndrew Harry is a pianist and collaborative artist from Columbus, Georgia. Andrew is an assistant professor of music in piano and music theory at Point University in West Point, Georgia, and is the director of music and worship at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Midland, Georgia. He also serves as the artistic director of the Csehy Summer School of Music in Langhorne, PA. He holds an artist diploma and master’s degree in piano performance from Columbus State University where he studied with Alexander Kobrin. Andrew works regularly with the Choral Society of West Georgia and Voices of the Valley Children's Chorus as their rehearsal pianist, helping to engage community members in making music. Andrew and his wife, Amanda, have three sons and a daughter.
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Olivia Fortson, assistant Director
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. |
BRANDON THARP, UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANT
Brandon Tharp is a 4th year tenor voice student of Dr. Michelle DeBryun at Columbus State University, The Schwob School of Music. Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis and Atlanta, Brandon graduated high school in Griffin, GA, before pursuing a B.M. in Music Education with Dr. Michelle Folta. He is a student assistant with the Voices of the Valley Children's Choir and active Xi Gamma chapter President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Since coming to The Schwob School of Music, Brandon has been heavily involved with the opera/musical theater scene, performing roles under Dr. Joshua May such as Gusseppie Naccarelli (The Light in the Piazza), King Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), and Monostatos (Die Zauberflöte) with Music On Site Inc., and Pippin understudy and ensemble (Pippin) with the CSU Theater Dept. Brandon has also had success in the Georgia, Southeastern Regional, and National NATS competition placing 1st in the 10A Third Year College Musical Theatre TTB until finishing in the top 14 on the National level. Brandon looks forward to teaching and singing after completing his undergrad and eventually completing a Masters in Vocal Performance.
Brandon Tharp is a 4th year tenor voice student of Dr. Michelle DeBryun at Columbus State University, The Schwob School of Music. Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis and Atlanta, Brandon graduated high school in Griffin, GA, before pursuing a B.M. in Music Education with Dr. Michelle Folta. He is a student assistant with the Voices of the Valley Children's Choir and active Xi Gamma chapter President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Since coming to The Schwob School of Music, Brandon has been heavily involved with the opera/musical theater scene, performing roles under Dr. Joshua May such as Gusseppie Naccarelli (The Light in the Piazza), King Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), and Monostatos (Die Zauberflöte) with Music On Site Inc., and Pippin understudy and ensemble (Pippin) with the CSU Theater Dept. Brandon has also had success in the Georgia, Southeastern Regional, and National NATS competition placing 1st in the 10A Third Year College Musical Theatre TTB until finishing in the top 14 on the National level. Brandon looks forward to teaching and singing after completing his undergrad and eventually completing a Masters in Vocal Performance.
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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. |