Children’s Worship University

Karen Gosselin

Karen Gosselin has been employed by the Alabama State Board of Missions since 2007 and serves as coordinator of Worship Resources. She is responsible for serving the needs of the local church and associations through the ministries of worship and music. Equipping leaders in these ministry areas is her primary focus. Local church consultations, associational workshops, and statewide conferences help meet this goal. 

She regularly teaches at various children’s choir conferences across the country, and she directs the Alabama Baptist Children’s Honor Choir for 4th – 6th graders. She also teaches weekly children’s choir for 3rd – 6th graders in her church. 

Karen received her Bachelor of Music Education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and her Master of Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Karen and her husband, Greg, are members at Crossroads Community Church in Elmore, AL where Greg serves as the Children’s Pastor. They have three adult children.

Whitney Head

Whitney Head teaches K-5 music at Elizabeth Elementary School in Shelby, North Carolina.  She is passionate about shining God’s light in the public-school setting and enjoys working to provide a loving, joy-filled space for her students. Whitney is certified in Orff-Schulwerk I and II and strives to create engaging curriculum that promotes student creativity. She has written for Growing in Grace and Chorister’s Guild and has presented at conferences in Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas. She particularly enjoys creating original activities and resources that help foster a joyful and engaging environment, whether in a school or church setting.

Whitney earned her bachelor’s degree in Church Music from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and earned her Master’s degree in Music Education from Samford as well.

Whitney directs the music and worship at South Marietta Street Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC. Prior to teaching, Whitney served in full-time music ministry in Alabama and on the mission field in El Salvador. In her free time, Whitney enjoys finding coffee shops, playing tennis, biking, board games, and spending time with family and friends.

Kelly Jo Hollingsworth

Kelly Jo Hollingsworth holds degrees from the University of Mobile and Auburn University, and has 17 years of experience in early childhood and elementary music classrooms. She was chosen as Teacher of the Year at three schools and made it to the Sweet 16 for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year in 2014. She teaches elementary music methods courses as an Assistant Professor of Elementary Music Education at Baylor and won Baylor’s university-wide 2021 Tenure-Track Teaching Award. Kelly also serves as the master teacher for Baylor’s Oso Musical, a general music class for children with disabilities in grades K-12. She has completed Kodály Level I and Orff-Schulwerk Levels I, II, III, and Master. Kelly is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and the Texas Music Educators Association. Her research is found in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, GIA’s Assessment in Music Education book series, and Texas Music Education Research.

Angela Irby

Angela has served on the worship staff at The Heights Church in Richardson for over 27 years.  She directs the Worship, Children’s, and the Senior Adult choir programs, along with leading the traditional service each week.  Previously, Angela served at Fielder Church in Arlington, TX,  Westwood Baptist in Cleveland, TN, and First Christian Church in Cleveland, TN. 

She has a B.A. in both Music and Communications from Lee University (Cleveland, TN), and a Masters of Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, TX).  She serves on the planning team for Worship Arts Leadership for Kids (W.A.L.K.) and Children’s Worship University with the Texas Baptists.  She has been a clinician for children’s music, and has also written children’s choir resources for LifeWay, Kathie Hill Music, and Master’s Music Company (Chris Machen). 

Stacy Porter

As Children’s Worship Arts Coordinator, Stacy Porter serves a program of over 100 children and 45 adults.  Stacy is in her 14th year as Children’s Worship Arts Coordinator and Fine Arts Academy Director for First Baptist Church of Keller located in Keller, Texas.   She completed her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Sam Houston State University in 1990.  Stacy has over 33 years teaching experience in the church, public schools and in private instruction. Married to Matt Porter for more than 31 years, she is the mother of 3 sons and 1 daughter-in-love. The Porter family resides in Trophy Club, Texas.

Marti Reavis

Marti Reavis holds a degree in Vocal Music Education from Oklahoma Baptist University. After college, she spent five years in Russia, teaching music and English to both children and adults. For over two decades, Marti has poured her heart into teaching music, leading worship, and directing choirs of all ages. She has been serving as the Music Associate at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City for 10 years, where she currently directs both the children's and senior adult choirs. Marti has been married to her husband, Clinton, for 16 years, and they have two children—Norah (12) and Luke (9). As a family, they enjoy traveling, biking around the neighborhood, watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and spending time with their fluffy Pomeranian, Ruby.

Yancy Richmond

Yancy is a worship leader, songwriter and author. Her Dove Award winning music that makes Jesus loud is used globally. She is a passionate advocate of raising disciples to worship. She authored the book “Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship” and coaches Next Gen worship leaders through her program, Chorus. Yancy and her family live in Nashville, TN.

David Talaguit

David Talaguit often writes music for Mesquite ISD of which the most recent was a commissioned piece, “Light Shines Brightest”, performed by MISD teachers to uplift students during the 2020 lockdown. His works have been featured in many of MISD’s Elementary Fine Arts Festivals. One of his passions is conducting Orff-based Music Seminars which he has been privileged to do in Dallas, Amarillo, Alabama, Honduras and most recently, back to his roots, the Philippines. His latest work includes being the guest conductor of Wylie ISD’s 4th Grade All City Choir virtual concert, which featured his composition “Por La Vida”. He has been the general music teacher at Motley Elementary School and Music Director for Biblical Community Church since 1998.

David studied Music Education with Voice concentration at SMU Meadows School of the Arts. He also finished his Orff Levels certification from the same institution.

Tom Tillman

Tom Tillman is the Director of Music & Worship for Texas Baptists (Baptist General Convention of Texas). Originally from New Mexico, Tom has enjoyed being in Texas for over 40 years. He has a Bachelor of Music in Church Music from Wayland Baptist University and a Master of Arts from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to February 2016, he served 22 years at First Baptist Church, Conroe as Music & Worship Pastor. He directed and produced the multi-performance “A Christmas Evening” with a 100-voice choir, full orchestra and special guest artists each year including Sandi Patty, David Phelps, Wintley Phipps, Guy Penrod, Point of Grace, Fernando Ortega and many others. A pianist and organist, Tom has choral anthems published with Word Music and Shawnee Press. Tom is enjoying his role working with Texas Baptists churches across the state, leading training events for worship pastors and music ministries, consulting with music pastors, senior pastors, music search committees, as well as doing supply work. He administers the six chapters of the Singing Men of Texas and the eight chapters of the Singing Women of Texas comprised of over 1,000 Texans. Tom is married to Marcia, a Municipal Judge with the City of Dallas and adjunct professor at the University of North Texas School of Law. Tom and Marcia have two daughters and two granddaughters.

Terrie Turner

Terrie Turner holds degrees from Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University with a certificate in Gifted Education through the University of North Texas. She has been involved in education throughout her adult life as a member of her local school board of trustees and as a classroom teacher.

Combining education and a passion for children's music ministry, Terrie has extensive experience directing choirs and serving as Children's Choir Coordinator in churches both large and small. She has led workshops in children's music as well as gifted education and has published numerous articles on both subjects. An area of fascination and extensive study for Terrie is the effect of music on the brain.

Her many hobbies include painting, writing, copper enamel, cake decorating, and hosting luncheons and teas for friends. Terrie and her husband Dan, a retired minister of music, live in Amarillo, Texas, where they are active members of First Baptist Church. They are the grateful parents of two adult children and proud grandparents of four gifted musicians.

Keith Watson

Keith Watson is the Associate Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Columbia, South Carolina, where he works with music groups of all ages from preschool through senior adult. Keith has served as a writer and clinician for children’s choir leaders, as a consultant for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and as the early morning chorus teacher for his neighborhood elementary school. Originally from Montgomery, Alabama, Keith holds music degrees from the University of Montevallo and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Leigh, a championship cheer coach and high school teacher, have two sons—an Ole Miss Rebel and a South Carolina Gamecock.