Artist Profile: Dr. Donald Stafford

Cherokee Chorale's Co-Founder & Artistic Director

By Paige Gardner

Experts suggest that to figure out the kind of work you should do, remember what brought you joy as a child. Dr. Donald Stafford is a living example of that idea.

Don began singing in the choir at church when he was in elementary school, and by 11th grade, he was directing the choir at his church. He earned his Bachelor of Church Music degree from Shorter College in 1971.

After five years as Choir Director with the First Baptist Church of Canton, Don returned to school, earning his Doctorate in Chorale Music Education at Florida State University. I came back to Cherokee County and went to work for the school system, Don said. At that time, middle schools and high schools had chorale and other music programs, but there was no formal program for music in the elementary schools. He went on to establish the elementary school music program in the Cherokee County School System in 1988.

In 1987, Genevieve Miller, who had performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw, had an idea about establishing a community choir. She approached Judye MacMillan, who was the Director of Choral Activities and Chairperson of the Music Department at Reinhardt College. I was sort of the music supervisor for the county, Don said. Judye and I met at the county office to talk about this. You see, it was Gen Millers idea, but she quickly brought Judye and me in to do the work!

He conducted the groups first performance, the Christmas piece from Handels Messiah, in 1988.

The Chorale is comprised of all kinds of people: lawyers and housewives, teachers, dentists and doctors... Its a nice cross-section of the community, Don said.

Currently, the group has about 140 members on the roster, but only about 50 people participate in a typical performance. Thats a good thing, because if everyone showed up, we wouldnt get them all on stage! he said.

Don believes music is an important part of the human experience. Sometimes things happen that we cant easily express, so music allows us a way to do that, he said.

With his long history in the Cherokee County musical community, Don said it is exciting to see former students who have chosen to pursue a career in music.

Dr. Martha Shaw, Director of Choirs at Reinhardt University, is a former student, as is Wes Stoner, the Choral Director for Music Education for the State of Georgia. Another former student is in charge of the Music Therapy program at the University of Georgia.

I ran into a student I had in the 1970s. She belongs to a small community church, and she came up to me and said, I am the choir director in that church, and I still do the warm-ups you did with us back when I was in your class, Don said.

It makes you very proud, he said. You just never know who youre influencing.