Jeanne Wohlgamuth

Artistic Director


Throughout her four-decade career, Jeanne Wohlgamuth has been an unwavering advocate for children’s music education of all ages. In 2012, Wohlgamuth was named Artistic Director of Columbus Children’s Choir and has since led the organization to extraordinary heights, including six national and international tours, eleven competition victories, and a performance with the renowned Vienna Boys’ Choir.

A lauded conductor and educator, Wohlgamuth received the Professor Veneta Vicheva Conductor’s Mastery Award from the XXVI Dobri Voinikov International Children and Youth Choral Gala in Shumen, Bulgaria (2021), the Best Conductor Award from the Rimini International Choral Competition, Rimini, Italy (2021), the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Royale Music Competition (2023), and the National Teacher of the Year Award from the Organization of American Kodály Educators (2020). In June 2023, Wohlgamuth led her inaugural choral residency at Carnegie Hall and will return to Carnegie Hall in 2026 to conduct Mulholland’s Missa Romantica for treble choir with the New England Symphonic Orchestra.

During her tenure as the director of choirs and performing arts chair at Dublin Jerome High School, Wohlgamuth’s Class A middle school and AA high school choirs achieved an unparalleled record of twenty-four consecutive years of superior ratings in the main stage and sight-reading evaluations at the Ohio Music Educators Large Group Adjudicated Events.

Wohlgamuth is dedicated to elevating the field of choral education through service, mentorship, and hands-on experiences for children and educators. She serves as President of the Ohio Choral Directors Association and regularly shares her expertise as a guest clinician for events such as the Organization of American Kodály Educators National Women’s Concert Choir, the Indiana Elementary All-State Honor Choir, the Georgia All-State Middle School Treble Honor Choir, and various district high school, middle school, and elementary honor choirs.

Other honors and accolades include the Teacher of the Year Award, Dublin Jerome High School (2006), Teacher of the Year Award, Karrer Middle School (2003), Teacher of the Year Award, Wright Elementary (1994), and Teacher of the Year Award, Bowen Elementary School (1988). Wohlgamuth is a recipient of the distinguished Golden Shamrock Award for Educational Excellence, Dublin City Schools (2001), and the Community Champion Award, presented by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce (2008). In 2021, her contributions led to her induction into the Dublin Jerome High School Hall of Fame.

Tammy Gebara

Program Manager


Dr. Tammy Gebara has been involved with Columbus Children’s Choir since 2007. For nearly ten years Tammy actively volunteered as Choir Manager during the years her two daughters, Rachel and Isabel were in the program. In December 2016 Tammy joined the office full time. Now, as Program Manager, Tammy is a passionate advocate of the program’s mission and vision. Tammy is also a life-long educator with over 25 years teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Baylor University, a Master of Education in Teaching from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a PhD in Psychological Perspectives in Education from The Ohio State University.

Molly Rule

Vivace Director


Molly McCorkle Rule received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education and Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály emphasis from Capital University. She completed a portion of her master’s degree at The Kodály Institute in Hungary. Growing up in central Ohio, she was part of all-state choirs, bands, and a trombonist with the Columbus Youth Symphony. She taught music for several years at Fairfield Elementary School in Pickerington, where she was chosen Teacher of the Year for 04-05. She has also taught early childhood music classes for WeJoySing, preschool music classes in an under-resourced neighborhood, and she spent four years as a lecturer for the Ohio State University School of Music. In 2013, Molly was selected as a soprano to sing under the direction of John Rutter for the Music In Worship Festival Chorus at the American Choral Directors’ Association National Conference. She currently works at Cityview Church and hosts the Columbus Symphony’s Link Up concerts each spring. She is a member of the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, where she had the honor of conducting the Vivace choir at the national conference, and the American Choral Directors’ Association, where she served on the Children’s Honor Choir team for several years. When she isn’t busy singing or working, you may find Molly chasing her three kids on the soccer field or track.

Chad Baker

Accompanist


Chad Baker currently serves as the Director of Worship & Music at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley, Ohio. As a faculty member of the Capital University Conservatory of Music his assignments have included teaching organ and class keyboard as well as serving as an accompanist in the vocal area and assisting with weekly Chapel services as University Organist. In addition he also teaches in the Sacred Music program at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Baker is a 2004 cum laude graduate of Capital University with a bachelor of music degree in keyboard pedagogy with an emphasis in church music. Chad accompanies CCC’s New World Singers.

Kerry Haberkern

Managing Director


Dr. Kerry Haberkern’s work with Columbus Children’s Choir brings her full circle to the music and theatre education programs she enjoyed while growing up in Columbus, Ohio. As an active performer, educator, and administrator, she is devoted to reaching new audiences. Dr. Haberkern is the faculty instructor of bassoon at Otterbein University and second bassoonist for the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra. She has held positions with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and frequently performs with local ensembles. In 2013, she earned the doctor of musical arts degree from The Ohio State University, where her research focused on bassoon pedagogy. Dr. Haberkern also served as a facilitator for the university’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching, where she worked with artists to translate their skills into tools for the classroom. She was a resident artist of the Music and Sound Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts, and holds degrees from the Louisiana State University and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Canada, as well as The Ohio State University.

Dameon Jones

Presto Director


Dameon D. Jones, an accomplished performer, singer, and music educator with 15 years of experience. He is passionate about helping students grow and develop their craft. Jones holds a Bachelor of Music from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master of Music in Education with Kodály emphasis from Capital University. Currently, he serves as the music teacher at Hopewell Elementary in Dublin, Ohio.

Prior to Hopewell Elementary, Jones was the director of Choral Activities at Thomas Worthington High School. During his tenure, his students had numerous outstanding experiences, including performing masterworks like Mozart Regina Coeli and Schubert Mass in G with the Thomas Worthington Chamber Orchestra. The choirs also had the opportunity to perform alongside the Singing Men of Ohio, The Alliance Choir, and the Ohio Wesleyan University Chamber Choir. In February 2018, the Thomas Worthington Women’s Chorale performed for the OMEA Columbus Professional Development Conference. Outside of his professional life, Dameon enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Heather Bowen-Jones, an optometrist, and their two daughters, Avery and Brynn.

Jessica Zmith

Allegretto Director


Proud to direct Columbus Children’s Allegretto Choir and be Granville Middle School’s Choir Director & General Music teacher, Jessica, has worked with students of all ages in many different parts of the United States including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia, and, of course, Ohio. She graduated with a degree in Music Education from Elon University, a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and completed her Kodály Certification at Capital University in 2023. Mrs. Z has directed community children’s choirs of many ages including the IUP Community Music School Crimson Children’s Choirs and the Milwaukee Children’s Prelude Choir. She also enjoys assisting Granville High School choirs, working with a cappella groups, Blue Notes and Ace-appellas, and music directing GMS musical productions.

Mrs. Z’s classroom teaching focuses on healthy vocal technique, ear training, and music literacy leading to superior and excellent contest ratings. In addition to a focus on choral excellence, her teaching philosophy emphasizes life skills such as perseverance, collaboration, and effective communication to have fun and make meaningful music. In addition to loving her work as a choral director, Mrs. Z also hot yoga, cuddling with her dog Bowser, and spending her free time laughing with her husband, son, friends and family.

Eliza van Kan

Accompanist

Eliza van Kan holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Towson University and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida. In her home state of Maryland, Eliza began accompanying her friends and middle school band as a 7th grader and never stopped. She served as an accompanist and coach for instrumental students and choirs of Baltimore County Public Schools and Towson University until moving to Japan in 2017. Additionally, she has held the role of musician, music director, and occasionally actor, with community musical theater groups, including Tokyo International Players. Eliza taught elementary and middle school music at international schools in Tokyo for seven years. Recently returned to the U.S., she currently accompanies the Allegretto and Vivace choirs.