Staff

Gabrielle “GG” Pierle is a conductor and educator and has always dreamed of working with a non-profit choral organization! GG completed her Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Missouri State University and holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Murray State University. GG was the choral director at West Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska for 6 years where she received the Exceptional Teacher Award in 2018 and 2022. In 2022, West Anchorage High School was awarded the NFHS Performing Arts School of Excellence. Alongside her work at West Anchorage High School, GG was Interim Artistic Director and Conductor of the Alaska Chamber Singers (2021-2022). Additionally, GG sang with the Alaska Chamber Singers for five seasons and was frequently heard as a soloist in various concerts including Mozart’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, and others.

At Missouri State University, GG served as graduate assistant and performed at the 2023 National ACDA Conference, 2023 NCCO Conference, 2023 MMEA Conference, toured Canada, South Korea, Chile, and Argentina. GG currently enjoys singing soprano with the Queen City Chorale in Springfield, Missouri and the Bach Society of St. Louis.

Originally from Fenton, Missouri, GG enjoys hiking with her two dogs, cooking, and traveling with her husband, Sam.

Curtis has been associated with Crescendo in a variety of roles since his oldest child joined the organization in 2000. Both of his children are KCC alums. Curtis has been a member of various Crescendo committees and served on the Parent Board. He has filled a number of volunteer roles from stuffing envelopes to ushering concerts. He has helped plan and produce concerts, national and international choir tours and has chaperoned several tours. He has been the “official” photographer for Crescendo since 2004. His current position involves working with and reporting to the Administrative Board, working closely with the Artistic Staff and Artistic Director, pursuing grant and other funding opportunities and promoting Crescendo in the community. Curtis has had a lifelong love of singing and was a member of several singing ensembles in college. He also participated in stage performances in high school and this contact form college appearing in several plays and musicals. In addition to Crescendo, Curtis has served on boards and committees in the community for such organizations such as the Kirkwood School District and the St. Louis Civil War Round Table.  He also coached and managed youth sports teams while his children were growing up. Curtis has worked for Washington University Medical School since 1987.

Anna Brummell is thrilled to join the Crescendo team! Anna is a Kirkwood native and has been singing in choir since she was eight years old. She currently teaches choir and general music to grades 6-8 at Hazelwood North Middle School. Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in K-12 vocal music education from Missouri State University (2019-2023), where she sang in the Missouri State Chorale, Women’s Chorus, and Choral Union. She served as an assistant section leader, social chair, and recruitment chair of the Missouri State Chorale and as chairperson of the choral studies grand committee. She has performed at the 2021 International Tolosa Choral Contest, 2023 National ACDA Conference, and 2023 MMEA Conference; been a part of commercially recorded albums Easter 1906 (2022), The Song We Sing (2022), Fever Dreams (2024), and Radiance Untethered: The Choral Music of John Wykoff (2024); and toured Spain, South Africa, Canada, and France. Anna is a member of the Missouri Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the International Federation for Choral Musicians. She sings with the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, and enjoys trail running, cooking, exploring the outdoors, and (occasionally) West Coast Swing dance!

Beth Curtiss is excited to be directing Carolers this year! She currently teaches in Fort Zumwalt, where her classes and extracurricular ensembles over the past several years have included K-5 general music, 6-8 adaptive general music, handbells, and choir. She holds a K-12 vocal music teaching certificate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a master’s degree in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor’s degree in music from Bryn Mawr College. She is also fully certified in both Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly. Beth is an active volunteer in her Kirkwood congregation’s music program, as a member of the vocal choir, acting director of the handbell choir, and occasional soprano soloist & recorder player. In her spare time she likes to cook, read, travel, spend time with friends & family, and spoil her cat absolutely rotten.

Shannon McFarland is so excited to join the Crescendo team as the director of Cantando. Ms. McFarland is a K-5 music teacher at Kratz elementary in the Ritenour school district and also conducts summer children’s choirs with the No-Name Chorale in Belleville, IL. Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State Univeristy in K-12 vocal music education. She is also a certified level 1 teacher in both Kodaly and Orff music teaching philosophies. Alongside her teaching, Ms. McFarland also sings with professional choruses in the St. Louis area. When she’s not making music, you can catch Ms. McFarland outside hiking, running, or riding her bike. You might even see one of her cats in her backpack!

Kevin Nicoletti currently serves as Teaching Artist Coordinator for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis where he gets to travel to classrooms all over the area and help students write, produce, and perform their own original operas. Prior to this position, he spent 11 years teaching vocal music at the middle and high school level which included many triumphs and accolades. He completed his undergraduate work at Washington University in St. Louis where he served as assistant director of the Concert Choir and music director of the Stereotypes, a nationally recognized all-male a cappella group. He has also earned a Master of Music Education degree through Central Methodist University. An avid composer, he is passionate about writing and arranging choral music and has had several pieces that have been published. Additionally, he has served as an accompanist for local choirs for nearly 20 years. He is thrilled to be returning to Crescendo as an accompanist for Concert Choir after having served as director of Cantando for 2 years.

Kurt has been an increasingly avid supporter of Crescendo since his daughter joined Choristers in 2007. Now an ambassador, she’s had such a wonderful experience he wants to do all he can to see other children get the same opportunity. An active singer during his school days and a lifelong lover of all musical forms, he’s currently content listening to others. Kurt has worked as a software engineer at McDonnell Douglas – now Boeing – for 30 years and keeps busy with his wife Julie, their daughter Amanda and their extended families, all fortunate enough to live close to the Kirkwood area.

Dr. Beverly Fears, has been active with Crescendo in a variety of roles since her eldest child joined KCC in the fall of 2000. She is the mother of two KCC alumni and has served on the Parent Board and various committees. She has the pleasure of traveling on numerous tours with KCC including Austria & Germany, England, Hawaii, China, Italy and Ireland. Dr. Fears is a Clinical Specialist for Advanced Bionics, LLC. Bev is a life long musician and she has a passion for KCC that is unmatched. She joined the Crescendo board in February of 2012.

Brett is a KCC alum full of fond memories of his time performing with the concert choir as near as the Kirkwood Community Center and as far as Norway!  He has spent the last 13 years as an elementary school teacher in the Ladue School District. In his down time, he finds joy in playing guitar, indulging in sports of all kinds, and spending time with his beautiful wife and remarkable three kids.

Vinnie is a retired Parkway educator who is an advocate of the arts for children. In her education career Vinnie has been a classroom teacher and curriculum coordinator, as well as Barretts Elementary School Principal for 23 years. She has enjoyed being on the Crescendo board since 2008 and has served as both Parent & Volunteer Coordinator during that time.

Heather Bond has been a Board Member since September of 2021. Heather is a lover of all things musical theater and understands the importance of quality music education. Heather joined the Board as parent representative after watching her son’s growth as a member of the choir. Her goal is to support the growth and stability of the program in order to increase the opportunities for Crescendo singers. Heather holds a Masters in Social Work from UMSL, and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Missouri. She works for Comtrea, Inc. as a therapist at Jefferson College. Her hobbies including reading, traveling, enjoying theater, and being a mom-Taxi for her son’s activities.