Greg Doss, assistant choir director at Granbury High School, has been selected as the new artistic director of the Granbury Civic Chorus.“Greg has a unique opportunity to reach out to young people to join our chorus, and he brings with him years of experience at putting together programs of all kinds,” said Patsy Morgan, president of the chorus executive board. “We believe that GCC will greatly benefit from Greg’s years of experience but also from his eagerness to help us grow as musicians individually and as a chorus.”
A native of Georgia, Doss has been at GHS since 2008. He previously served in Granbury at Acton Middle School (2001-2008) and Meadows Middle School (1997-1998). Doss also taught at Cleburne Middle School (1998-2001); Stone Mountain High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia (1995-1997); and Towers High School in Decatur, Georgia (1983-1985). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Shorter College and completed graduate work in music education at Georgia State University.
“As a youth, Greg took piano lessons, played in the school band, and took an active musical role in his church,” commented Morgan. “He thought he would be a band director when he went to college, but a voice teacher changed his mind and steered him toward vocal studies.”
Morgan also credited Doss’s vast teaching experience and the high praise that he has received from present and past co-workers – including former long-time GHS choir director Duncan McMahan. “Greg . . . works side by side with [current GHS director] Joy Hope to turn out some of the finest young singers in the state,” she stated.
Founded in 2001, the chorus is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to bring high quality choral music of all styles and periods to the people of the Lake Granbury area. Membership is open by audition to all qualified adult singers, and high school students may also join at the discretion of the director. Chorus members must attend 80% of rehearsals. There are annual dues, but assistance is available if an applicant is in need.
Doss will be the third artistic director in the group’s history. He will succeed Bert Johnson, former minister of the First United Methodist Church who led the chorus beginning in 2010. Founder Suzanne Cate, pastor of music and worship at Acton United Methodist Church, was the director prior to that.
The chorus holds two annual concerts in the spring during the first week of May and at Christmastime during the first week of December. The group also performs at the Acton Celebrates the Fourth patriotic celebration, the People Helping People benefit concert, and the National Day of Prayer breakfast.
Rehearsals will begin at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, September 12, 2011, at the Concert Hall of Tarleton State University’s Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center.
