The Virtual School of Gospel Music is excited to bring some of the finest gospel music educators from across the American Southeast directly to you.
Scroll down to get acquainted with them. More faculty may be added as needed.
B.M. Music Education
B.M. Vocal Performance
B.M. Music Education
Ph.D. Education
B.S. Nursing
B.A. Music
Seth graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2014 with a Bachelor's in Vocal/General Music Education. He has taught at the Do Re Mi Gospel Music Academy, the North Carolina School of Gospel Music, and the West Virginia School of Gospel Music. Seth has been teaching music in Rutherford County for six years and is now the Music Specialist and Director of Choirs at Stewarts Creek Middle School in Smyrna, TN. He was inducted as an honorary member of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 2018 and named as one of Tennessee's Govornor’s School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher of Excellence in 2019. His choir students have earned spots in mid-state, regional, and national honor choirs through MTVA and ACDA and earned superior ratings in performance and sight-reading in the MTVA Choral Festival. Seth is currently pursuing his Master's in Educational Leadership at Carson-Newman University.
Derek attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he studied Vocal Performance. While at MTSU, Derek performed all over Nashville and even sang with the Nashville Opera. He had the opportunity to work with many well-known folks in the classical music industry such as Stephen Schwartz, Mark Adamo and John Corigliano. He also worked in the southern gospel scene with artists such as Wayne Haun, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, and Janet Paschal. Derek works extensively in gospel music schools including the Alabama School of Gospel Music, the North Carolina School of Gospel Music, and currently serves as Director for Ben Speer's Stamps-Baxter School of Music.
Brianna was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee, and now calls Nashville home with her husband Derek. She is grateful for her heritage and involvement in Convention Music. She spent years traveling and singing with her grandfather, Charles Towler, and traveled many miles to promote convention music. Brianna graduated from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, with a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Music Education. She currently teaches over 600 children at Lakeview Elementary in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Brianna began attending singing schools at 10 years old, and she was eventually offered a position to teach at the North Georgia School of Gospel Music. Since that time she has taught at schools in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, West Virginia and North Carolina. She and her husband serve in the music department at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. Brianna loves watching children build confidence and grow in their faith while learning music and singing praises to honor and glorify God.
Heather Dillard is a lifelong student of education. She began teaching middle and high school Social Studies in 1997. In 2013, she moved to higher education as a professor in the College of Education at Middle Tennessee State University. Her music training came from the Cumberland Valley School of Gospel Music. From 1999-2001, as an extension of CVSGM, she traveled on music mission trips to Alaska, Trinidad, and Jamaica. She has been teaching beginner level music classes at the Do Re Mi Gospel Music Academy since it was formed in 2002.
Tess resides in Nashville, where she stays active in various music roles and projects. She has taught in several music schools and is a skilled vocal arranger. She is also a registered nurse, and is currently pursuing her masters degree in nursing education with the intention to eventually teach nursing on the collegiate level.
Tracey attended Georgia State University, and later, Middle Tennessee State University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music. She began working in Nashville in 1994, and has been featured in many different venues, including the popular Gaither Homecoming videos. In addition, she has recorded and/or arranged for a number of well-known Southern Gospel artists, including The Speers, The Perrys, The Nelons and Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. She received a Dove Award for her own Christmas CD in 2014, and has been nominated for Dove Awards for her work on Daywind's instrumental series. She has recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic, and she composed and performed original music for Billy, The Early Years, a full-length feature film recounting the early life of Billy Graham. She has also taught in music schools in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.