Leadership
DON CLEARY, Artistic Director
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Don L. Cleary, Jr., Ph.D., began his choral directing career as Director for the 90 voice Junior High Choir at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, as an undergraduate music major at the University of North Florida. Cleary argues that experience taught him how to work with adult choir members: “If you can control 90 junior high school kids, you can direct just about anybody!” he contends. Cleary went on to direct adult and youth choirs in Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches across Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Ohio over a thirty-year period, having earned a Master of Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. At SWBTS, Cleary studied conducting under Dr. Robert L. Burton, Distinguished Professor of Conducting, where he was introduced to the conducting techniques of Robert Shaw. The year before Shaw’s death, Cleary participated in the Robert Shaw Choral Institute at Furman University (1998) where he had the privilege of observing Shaw’s “every move” for two solid weeks. More recently he studied under the Grammy award winning director of the Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy.
Don returns to Columbia County Choral Society as Artistic Director/Conductor, having served in that capacity from 2014-2018 In 1990, Cleary earned the Ph.D. in Comparative Arts at Ohio University, where he completed graduate work in acting and stage directing having gone on to direct numerous musicals including: Sweeny Todd, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Brigadoon, Oklahoma, Working, Fame, Mahalia, and Ain’t Misbehavin’. He served eleven years as founder, coordinator and director for the Drama Department at Paine College and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Aiken Tech, where he teaches courses in music, theater, and film studies. Past memberships include the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. |
PHILIP HEDGECOTH, Accompanist
Philip Hedgecoth’s first experience as a worship leader came at the age of 13 when he became the organist of the church his father pastored. Later, he graduated from Carson Newman College with a Bachelor of Music degree, and from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Church Music degree. He has completed additional post-graduate work in Christian Education at Southern Seminary.
Hedgecoth has served in music and education ministry for his entire life, including serving as the associate minister for two churches in Louisville, Kentucky. He is active in the local arts community, serving on the board of the Columbia County Arts Council and as accompanist of the Columbia County Choral Society. He is currently the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Evans.
In May 2018, Mr. Hedgecoth was rewarded for his 15 years of service as the Lead Accompanist for the Columbia County Choral Society with an honorarium from the CCCS membership.
Hedgecoth has served in music and education ministry for his entire life, including serving as the associate minister for two churches in Louisville, Kentucky. He is active in the local arts community, serving on the board of the Columbia County Arts Council and as accompanist of the Columbia County Choral Society. He is currently the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Evans.
In May 2018, Mr. Hedgecoth was rewarded for his 15 years of service as the Lead Accompanist for the Columbia County Choral Society with an honorarium from the CCCS membership.
Board of Directors
Executive Officers:
- President: Ron Waagner ron.waagner@gmail.com
- Past President: Judy Kaye
- Treasurer: Dave Iverson
- Secretary: Pat Saylor
- Member-At-Large: Bill Croft
- Founding Member: Earl Williams
- Publicity: Ron Waagner
- Membership: Ann Iverson