In addition to serving as our Artistic Director and Conductor, Andy Waggoner is also the full-time director of Worship Arts at St. John United Church, a 1500 member congregation in St. Charles, Missouri. Before St. John, Andy taught music at St. Louis Charter School in downtown St. Louis from 2000-2005. In 2005 Andy became Director of Music and Development at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo, Illinois, where he led a five-member music staff and a music program of over 100 volunteers.

Under Andy's direction, choirs have performed numerous concerts at such venues as the Cathedral Basilica, the Sheldon Concert Hall, Powell Symphony Hall, and have participated in two residencies at Carnegie Hall in New York City, performing John Rutter's "Requiem" and "Feel the Spirit." Andy has been invited to be a feature conductor at Carnegie Hall in November 2008 as well.

In addition to conducting, Andy's solo credits include a CD in 2003 of his live performance at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, several church solo concerts and as tenor soloist with the St. Louis Symphony for the Holiday Pops Concert in 2003, performing Holts' "Christmas Day."

Community theatre has long been a passion for Andy, and he has participated in over 20 shows as an actor, director and musical director. Andy was nominated twice by Arts for Life for his role in "Jekyl and Hyde" and for musically directing "Suessical," both with the Rockwood School District's Spotlight Productions. Andy's favorite role was playing Schroeder in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" with Take Two Productions.

Andy is an active member of the American Choral Director's Association, the Conductor's Associations of Missouri, Illinois and Texas, and the Fellowship of United Methodist Worship Arts.

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Gary Humphrey is the Executive Director and founder of the Collinsville Chorale. A lifelong Collinsville resident, Gary currently serves as the music director at Friedens United Church of Christ in St. Charles, Missouri, and has been active in church music for over 25 years.

Gary resides in Collinsville with his two children, Kevin and Lauren. Gary also continues to make use of his talents at the piano, and can be found most Saturday evenings playing at Neruda, a fine dining establishment in Edwardsville.

Gary has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Business from Bradley University and an MBA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. The Chorale is Gary's passion and something he considers to be one of his greatest treasures.