Martha Weathers Brown is founder and artistic director of Voices in the Laurel, a regional community choir program based in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. In addition, she is the chorus and drama teacher at Central Elementary School. Brown began her work with community youth and children's choirs as Assistant Director of the Carolina Children's Chorus in Greensboro, North Carolina; and later the director of the Prep Choir for the University of Cincinnati Children's Choir; and the director of the Lexington Children's Chorus in Lexington, Kentucky.

A native of Kentucky, Brown is a graduate of Asbury College, and holds a Masters of Music in Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In addition to directing Voices in the Laurel, Brown is the music and drama specialist at Central Elementary, an A+ school (focus on arts integration across the curriculum), in Waynesville, North Carolina. Brown is frequently invited to conduct music and choir workshops and clinics throughout the southeast.

Brown has taught all levels of music education from Kindergarten through college-level music theory. However, Brown has found that her passion for teaching is in directing young choirs. "My goal is not only to work to produce beautiful choral music, but to provide a music education in which young people experience all styles of music through performance. Many of my best memories and learning experiences are of choirs that I have been a part of."

Brown has sung with the Cincinnati International Chorale and the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee on international concert tours. She is active in the American Choral Director's Association, where she has served as the North Carolina Chapter Secretary. She is a frequent vocal soloist for regional events, and choral clinician for church, school, and state organizations. Martha, along with her husband Robert,and her children Liam and McLain reside at Lake Junaluska.

 

Robert Cooper, Assistant Director, is church planter for The Gathering in the Mountains, a mission in the Jonathan Creek area. He is Program Director for Camp New Life, a Christian camp located at the Haywood County Test Farm. At Camp New Life, he directs a Summer Day Camp for grades K – 8, and provides other programs for all ages year round.

Cooper began his musical career singing with the Texas A&M University Singing Cadets, including performances on the Ed Sullivan Show, Miss Teenage America Pageant, on a recording with Sergio Franchi, and a command performance for a White House Worship Service. In conjunction with his studies for a Master of Church Music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Cooper served as a Children's Lab Assistant and Church Children's Choir Assistant Director under Evelyn Phillips, a Director of Choristers Guild.

Cooper has served as Minister of Music at churches in Texas, and sang with the Singing Men of Texas, and two of their satellite choirs. He sang nine seasons as a professional chorister with the Choral Arts Society of Chattanooga, and made many appearances at schools and preschools in Tennessee and North Carolina, often singing his own compositions.

 

Mary Ann Cooper, Accompanist for Youth Choir, is in her tenth year as accompanist for Voices in the Laurel.

A native Texan, Cooper holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Organ Performance from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. For many years she worked full time as a church musician and has played for conferences in Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

In addition to her work with Voices in the Laurel, Cooper is Choral Assistant at Tuscola High School. She is also organist at First Baptist Church in Waynesville. Ms. Cooper and her husband Robert have two daughters, Amy and Kristen.

Anna Watson, Accompanist for Children's Choir, is on the official music staff of Voices in the Laurel, and was one of the aids in organizing Voices in the Laurel in 1996.

Watson earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. She has taught private piano for 24 years. Watson is the pianist at Rehobeth Baptist Church.

Anna and her husband Rob reside at Lake Junaluska. Two of their three children have participated in Voices in the Laurel. Rob Watson has accompanied the choirs on drums.

Sharon Flushing, our new operations managaer, is originally from Murphy, North Carolina. She has lived in Haywood County since 1980 with the exception of a year spent in Guadalajara, Mexico from 1985-86. She attended Mars Hill College and Western Carolina University obtaining two degrees, Elementary Education and Child Development/Family Relations. Sharon is currently employed with the North Carolina Division of Child Development as a Licensing Consultant for Child Care Facilities. She was previously an adjunct teacher at Haywood Community College teaching Early Childhood Ed., ESL and GED classes.

Sharon speaks conversational Spanish fluently and has been an interpreter for building teams from the Methodist Church in both Cuba and Mexico. “I was involved in music as a child and teenager, taking piano lessons, with youth choir and hand bell choir at church, high school band and choral groups, and have participated in many choral competitions in my youth. I gained such confidence and self esteem as a choir member at that time; I hope that these children participating in Voices will have the same experience.”