Christopher Brown, diretor
Daniel Bellamy, accompanying pianist

The city of Charleston, West Virginia, is the birthplace of the Appalachian Children’s Chorus (ACC). ACC began in 1990 with the fundamental desire to be a community-based children’s chorus that would provide opportunities for children to experience music in ways that are unusual and rare in their offerings. The choir began under the baton of its founding director, Selina Midkiff, as the University of Charleston Children’s Chorus. Whether performing for heads of state or local audiences, the choir’s notoriety is not only for musical excellence but for its ability to touch the hearts of their audiences. The chorus changed its name to the Appalachian Children’s Chorus in 1996 to better represent the geographical location. ACC has performed all over the country and internationally, including performances in New York, New Orleans, Austria, Czech Republic, England, Hawaii, Italy and the Vatican City (at St Peter’s Basilica). In 2022, under the new Artistic Direction of Christopher Brown, ACC has expanded into offering choral workshops, clinics, and training sessions to promote healthy vocal training throughout the region. ACC has also developed more collaborative projects between the local youth Arts organizations.

A graduate from the South Charleston High School, Mr. Christopher Brown holds a Bachelor’s degree in K-12 Music Education from the Glenville State College, a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance from Eastern Kentucky University and he is a National Board-Certified teacher in Music Education with a vocal emphasis. Besides being the Artistic Director of the Appalachian Children’s Chorus, Mr. Brown is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Charleston, Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church of Charleston, and Choir Director at Horace Mann Middle School. He has been recognized as a 2015 & 2016 Grammy Foundation Music Educator quarter finalist, 2015 Kiwanis International Spiritual Recognition Award recipient, 2013 finalist for the NCMEA Elementary Music Teacher of The Year, and 2010 Harris Teeter Teacher of Excellence Award recipient.

Mr. Daniel Bellamy graduated from Carson-Newman University with his Bachelor of Music with an Outside Field in Business Administration, where he studied piano and trumpet. In 2021, Mr. Bellamy graduated from Illinois State University with his Master of Music in Piano Performance and Jazz Performance. Mr. Bellamy has taught and accompanied at the University of Charleston and West Virginia State University while maintaining an active teaching, accompanying, and performing presence in the area.