About

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All Children's Chorus of Annapolis is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Maryland corporation. ACCA has a Managing Artistic Director, Assistant Director, Accompanist and Business Manager. 

 

The members of ACCA are deeply passionate about music. We offer four levels tailored for children aged 6 to 18: Training Chorus, Treble Chorus, Concert Choir, and Chorale. Our artistic directors meticulously curate our repertoire, ensuring it combines artistic excellence, challenges for our choristers, and a diverse range of styles. From traditional Welsh folk songs to timeless classics and contemporary compositions, our music transcends cultural and theological boundaries.

Recognized for our commitment to excellence and diversity, ACCA has received accolades from the County Executive. Our choristers have earned spots in prestigious All-State Choruses, and Honor Choirs at American Choral Directors Association conferences, and secured roles with leading regional theater companies, including the Washington National Opera.

Located in Annapolis, ACCA takes pride in welcoming children from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, representing various neighborhoods, places of worship, and schools across the region. Our choristers embrace the opportunity to sing in different languages, celebrating cultural and theological diversity through music.

Membership in ACCA is by audition, and we sustain our operations through tuition, fundraising efforts, an annual concert, and generous support from private and corporate donors. ACCA stands as a beacon of musical excellence and community pride in Annapolis.


Our Team

 

Managing Artistic Director, Lauren Walker 


 

Lauren Walker earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Maryland and her Master of Kodaly Music Education from Loyola University. Mrs. Walker currently serves as the Lead Vocal Teacher at Broadneck High School in the Performing and Visual Arts Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County. She previously taught at Southern and Central Middle Schools and managed the Anne Arundel All County Middle School chorus and the Maryland Junior all-State Chorus. 

In 2020, Mrs. Walker was a semi-finalist for the Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year. Her choirs have received Superior and Excellent ratings at County and State Choral Adjudications. Mrs. Walker is a sought-after clinician and guest conductor in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania conducting Elementary, Middle, and High School honor choirs.  She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Maryland Music Educator’s Association.  She resides in Annapolis with her husband Grant and her children Jackson, Caroline, and Patrick. 

 

 


Assistant Director, Emily James

 

      Emily James holds both B.M. degrees in Music Education and Voice Performance from Alderson-Broaddus (College) University, and her M.M. degree in Voice Performance from the University of Maryland, College Park. 

Mrs. James has over 15 years of experience in Music Education, teaching Band, Strings, Treble Chorus, Private Studio, Adult Church Choir, and General Music.  She currently holds of General Music & Chorus Teacher at Central Elementary School in Anne Arundel County, as well as an and rector for All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis.


Emily James is also an active member of NAfME, MMEA, ACDA, and MCEA, acting as manager of the MMEA Elementary Demonstration Chorus, in which elementary-aged children from all over Maryland participate in an honors chorus experience. 

Mrs. James brings a passion for rigorous music learning experiences, whole child development, and vocal excellence, as well as a diverse toolbox of instructional methods. She is a recipient of the Maryland Music Educators Association’s 2019 Outstanding Music Teacher Award and a national board-certified teacher.

 


Accompanist, James Turk

 

James Turk, Accompanist for ACCA, is currently the Director of Choruses at DeMatha Catholic High School where he has taught since 1997. Mr. Turk holds three degrees (composition, music education, and choral conducting) from The Ohio State University, and has achieved A.B.D. status at the University of Maryland. Formerly the Leader/Director of the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters in Washington D.C., and Director of the Women’s Glee Club at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, he has conducted choruses in venues from the White House to Hawaii, and in five European countries. He currently serves as Director of Music at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Annapolis. 

With over thirty-five years of experience in music education and performance, Mr. Turk is in frequent demand as a guest conductor, clinician, announcer, church organist, and cocktail pianist. He is the private school representative to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Choral Educators Association. 


Business Manager, Molly Cahlink

 

 

Molly, originally from Annapolis, Maryland, has a strong background in music education and choral leadership. She spent seven years with the All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis before earning her bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a Voice concentration from James Madison University. As president of the JMU American Choral Directors Organization, Molly helped foster a vibrant choral community on campus.

After graduation, Molly taught Music and Drama at a K-7 Charter School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she founded the school's choir program and served as the inaugural guest conductor for the Saxophone Quartet of East Baton Rouge Parish in January 2023. Returning to Maryland in 2023, she joined Southgate Elementary as a music and choir teacher and music direct productions for Penguin Project with Talent Machine.

Outside of work, Molly enjoys outdoor activities and cultural events with her fiancé and dog, grateful for her enduring passion for singing sparked by her early experiences in Annapolis.


Meet Our Board Members

Sarah Coster, Board President

A museum consultant specializing in small museums and historic homes, Sarah Coster brings 17 years of non-profit management experience to the All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis.  Mrs. Coster has a bachelor’s degree in History from Boston University and a master’s degree in Museum Studies from George Washington University and was previously the Director of Carlyle House in Alexandria, VA.  

A passionate choral musician, Mrs. Coster is currently a member of the St. Anne’s Choir and Live Arts Maryland, and has also performed in the Alexandria Choral Society, the National Cathedral Choir, and the Boston University Treble Singers.  Mrs. Coster lives on the Annapolis Neck with her husband of twelve years and their three sons.  When not singing, she enjoys tennis, hiking, and reading books.  

“What drew me to the All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis,” she says” was the chance to give back to young singers and support the dedicated professionals who are helping foster a love of music in our city.  Mrs. Walker and her staff are incredibly talented and I love watching them create a passion for singing in these children.”

 

David Taylor, Vice President

Mr. Taylor is an aerospace professional with over 30 years of experience leading businesses in the NASA and NOAA markets.  He began his career as an aerospace engineer supporting the development of the space station and was involved in numerous manned spaceflight initiatives.  For the last 20 years, he has supported the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, focusing on spacecraft and communications infrastructure. David is currently the Program Director for the GSFC Safety and Mission Assurance Services (SMAS II) contract with Millennium Engineering and Integration Company. 

For the past twelve years, David has supported STEM initiatives from grades K-12 as a board member of the Maryland Space Business Roundtable, where he has also previously held positions as Vice President of Operations and Executive Vice President.

David has a daughter, Savannah, who is in her fifth year with the ACCA and is in the Treble Choir.

 

 

Lauri Lindgreen, Treasurer

Bio coming soon!

 

                                                          

Karen Jennings, Secretary 

Mrs. Jennings is a highly experienced training analyst with more than 20 years of expertise in training and development across various industries, including healthcare, law, education, and software. She received a B.A. in Information Systems and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Instructional Systems Development from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Mrs. Jennings is also certified in Microsoft Outlook and PowerPoint.

Karen likes to solve jigsaw puzzles and often relates this passion to her work in identifying a root cause and skill gaps in training and development. Karen is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

Currently, she resides in Glen Burnie with her husband and daughter. Her daughter used to sing with ACCA for seven years and is now a third-year architecture student at the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL).

 

Vincente Parker, Marketing Committee Chair

Vincenté has been passionate about serving the community from a young age, starting with his involvement in his church’s children’s choir, where he sang solos, duets, and harmonies. He also performed in numerous Christmas productions.

Building on these early experiences, he served as the Business Team Leader for his high school robotics team, honing his leadership and organizational skills. Additionally, Vincenté was president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at Howard Community College. He later earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Maryland, graduating with high honors, and was inducted into the American Marketing Association.

Currently, Vincenté works as a Video Producer and Marketing Associate at the Center for Vein Restoration, managing social media efforts and videos for large events. His community commitment includes being the marketing chair of the All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis board and Assistant Coach of the Irrational Engineers High School Robotics Team.

Outside of his professional and volunteer work, Vincenté enjoys singing at church, writing music, and spending time with his fiancé, family, and friends. He is grateful for the opportunity to help students in the community find their place in the world. 

 

Nancy Cahlink-Seidler, Nominating Committee Chair 

Nancy Cahlink-Seidler comes to us from MSDE, Office of Child Care. She has been an educator since 1997. Nancy has been an Infant/Toddler Teacher, K-8 Teacher, Parent Educator, Early Childhood Advocate, Educational Director at a Resource and Referral, Consultant at Johns Hopkins CTE, Adjunct Instructor at Community Colleges, worked in two Judy Centers in Anne Arundel County and has been at the state level since 2017. Nancy has a BA in Communications/English, K-8 Teaching Certification, Masters in Education and Business, Certified in CLASS, as well as, a 0-3 Mental Health Certification from the University of MD.

Nancy has three wonderful children, 25, 15, and 11, who have various special needs. Nancy has been their advocate because she wants all children's voices to be at the table when decisions are being made. Nancy has a true passion for teaching, helping others, and helping all children find their superpowers. In Nancy's free time, she loves teaching her children a love for the arts, singing
herself, and spending time with her animals! 

 


  

Liz Barrett, Founding Director

 

Liz grew up in Boston with a musical family.  She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a B.A. in Mathematics, and, after moving to Annapolis, an AACC CS degree with honors helped her move into a career of IT in DC.

Foreigner is active in choral music and community life, she performed with ASGT and Colonial Players for many years. She served on the boards of the Children’s Theater of Annapolis, The Colonial Players, and Annapolis Opera, and was an active member of the American Choral Directors Association.   For too long Liz had seen vocal programs available only to the wealthy, so after she retired, she founded All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis in 2001.  She auditioned local children for an intentionally diverse, free children’s chorus.  They held their first rehearsal on “9/11” which understandably bonded those kids with cement!  An all-volunteer-run organization, it soon became an important part of the community which included relationships with Anne Arundel Community College, Annapolis Symphony, Annapolis Opera, and the Martin Luther King, Jr, Breakfast at AACC.   

Over the years she received many citations and awards including: the TWIN Award from the YWCA; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the Human Relations Commission of the City of Annapolis;  citations from Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, and The Honorable John Sarbanes for her contribution to the Loretta Scott King Memorial Gardens; Excellence in Voluntarism Merit Award from the Junior League of Annapolis; Executive Citations from County Executive Janet Owens, The Honorable Dutch Ruppersberger, and Chris Van Hollen for her work with the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Breakfast Committee and ACCA.

She has been married to Bryan for 31 years, and they have a blended family of four married children and 6 grandchildren living in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, England, Paris, and Dubai.  Liz still sings with her church choir (with Bryan) and AACC Chamber Singers, plays an active part in Mount Holyoke Alumnae Association and makes beautiful pottery on the wheel.  Bryan is a cellist with Londontowne Symphony and loves fixing things.

Liz still loves hearing the children sing and watching the Chorus improve and grow.  “I will always take pride in being the Founding Director of this wonderful organization”.