Chris Greene holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Austin Peay State University and a k-12th grade teaching certificate in the State of Tennessee. Chris also took Master’s Level courses in Voice. Chris’ music career began as the Music Minister at Dickson First Methodist Church where he has served over 17 years. Chris’ solo music career began in 2000 when he released his first Christian Music CD entitled “When Mountains Don’t Move.” Two of his songs were released on National Christian radio. Chris’ first original composition, a song co-written by he and his mom was featured on this CD detailing his mother’s battle with cancer. (To purchase the CD go to the Store/Payment page.)
Since the release of the CD, Chris has performed numerous concerts in churches all over the US as well as other countries. He and his wife Cherie were also featured musicians on a Christian Cruise outlining the Journeys of Paul in 2005.
Chris began his tenure as the Director of The Renaissance Center Choral program in 2008. In 2015, when the Renaissance Center was gifted to Freed Hardeman University, Chris started Chris Greene Music in order to continue the choral program. Chris renamed the choirs the Dickson Community Choirs and now serves as the Owner and Choral Director for the program. Chris’s church choirs and Dickson Community Choirs have travelled all over the US, on cruises and in Europe singing in many churches, cathedrals, and mission venues.
Chris opened the Private Lessons studio in 2016 offering private lessons in many instruments and voice. Lessons are offered at Dickson First Methodist Church in Dickson, TN and at The Bibb Center in White Bluff, TN.
Chris’ wife Cherie helps with all aspects of the business and they have two wonderful children, Charlie and Chase, who also like to help out whenever possible.
Staff Members
Neil Brock
Neil obtained his BS in music education from Austin Peay State University. He has 30 years’ experience in teaching elementary music in Dickson County. He has performed regionally and nationally with various rock and pop bands as well as recording and performing original songs. He is available to teach guitar and Ukulele lessons.
Kelly Campbell
Kelly Campbell has played the trumpet for 33 years. She has her music education degree from Austin Peay State University. She has played with the Chicago Symphony and the Kansas City Symphony. She was previously the band director at St. Patrick’s School and is currently the trumpet instructor at Dickson County High School. She lives in Dickson with her husband, Chad, and five children. She teaches fourth grade at Oakmont Elementary School and is SO EXCITED to share her love of all things brass!
Traci De Leon
Traci De Leon has 26 years of experience teaching voice, piano and songwriting to musicians of all levels, from the youngest beginner at the keyboard to the touring musician. She earned her BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis, and through her years of experience, she has developed a unique and customized approach to helping you understand your own voice to give you a professional artist’s advantage.
Traci specializes in contemporary commercial vocal coaching, songwriting, music business and artist accountability. Before moving to Dickson, she taught in Memphis, Charleston, SC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, CA. Her students have appeared on popular programs like The Voice, America’s Got Talent, Showtime at the Apollo, ONE: The Making of a Music Star and American Idol.
She has also coached talent winners in Miss Arkansas, Miss Mississippi, Miss Tennessee and Miss California preliminaries to the Miss America Pageant.
Jackie Elston
Jackie Elston has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from APSU and a Master of Arts in Education from Cumberland University. She is a Level 1 Orff instructor and just retired from teaching music after 41 years in the public education system. She has taught band , general music, and children’s choir in Hickman and Dickson County. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher of the Humanities while teaching at East Hickman Elementary School, a two time Charlotte Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Dickson County Teacher of the Year. She has taught piano at the Renaissance Center and is glad to be back. She will also be assisting with the Children’s choirs.
Cherie Greene
Cherie Greene holds a BS in Retail Science and a BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of TN in Knoxville. She is Chris’ wife and is the person who handles registrations for choir members, takes up ticket money at all of the concerts and helps to keep everything going. Cherie also owns CG Travel. She provides monthly group travel opportunities locally, nationally and internationally for groups.
Shane Joyce
Born in: White House, TN
College attended: Tennessee Technological University and Grand Canyon University
Started teaching in: 2000
Married to Carrie Joyce and has two sons.
Favorite thing about my job: Seeing someone’s face light up when they "get it"
3 things I love: My family, movies, and music
Favorite quote: "You can‘t control the cards you’re dealt, but you can control how you play the hand." -Randy Pausch
Carol McClure
Carol McClure, BA, MCM, Director of The Harp School, Inc. and ABRSM National Summer Harp Academy, Lecturer in Harp (University of Louisville School of Music, Union University), is a concert and recording harpist, competition preparation specialist teacher, international adjudicator, composer, arranger, and conductor. Author of The Angel’s Harp curriculum (macramsayhouse), Two by Two (Vanderbilt Music), and Viva Voce (St. James Music Press), Carol and husband Wes Ramsay are Representatives of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) for Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Alabama. You can visit her website at carolmcclureharp.com.
Evan O’Neal
Mr. Evan O’Neal is a native of Smyrna, TN. He went on to graduate Cum Laude with a bachelor‘s degree in music education from Tennessee Tech University and a master’s degree in music performance at The University of Memphis. At Tennessee Tech, Mr. O’Neal was a multi-instrument specialist playing the saxophone, clarinet, and flute respectively. Under the tutelage of Phil Barham, Allen Rippe, Michael Schults, Joseph Herman, and Albert Nguyen, O’Neal went on to perform in the Streamliners Jazz Orchestra, Just Friends Jazz Quintet, Troubadours Jazz Band, Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra, and The Temptations.
Evan O’Neal is currently the band director and general music teacher at Burns Middle School in Burns, TN. He is a proud member of NAfME, MTSBOA, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Marianna Wakeman
Marianna Wakeman grew up in Budapest, Hungary, where she had the privilege of studying music using the Kodaly method. Later her love of music grew at the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy under the direction of Elizabeth Szonyi, student of Zoltan Kodaly.
Marianna became the accompanist of the Renaissance Center Training, Children‘s, Chamber and Community Choirs’ in 2000 and continues as the accompanist today. Marianna also teaches piano and sight singing private lessons in the studio.
Jessica White
Jessica graduated from Harding University in Searcy, AR with a degree in instrumental music education. She’s played the cello for eight years and has given private lessons in violin, viola, and cello for five years. She was the principal cellist of the Harding Symphony Orchestra for 4 years and played cello for the University’s string quartet. She has also taught low string masterclasses and string quartet classes for the Harding University Orchestra Camp for the past four years. Jessica loves both music and teaching and is thrilled to be combining the two professionally.
Whitney Williams
Whitney, a native of White Bluff, TN, has been playing the piano since she was six years old. She holds a B.M. in Music Education from Belmont University, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. She has taught middle school music and high school math in the local school systems, in addition to accompanying numerous choirs and musical theater performances throughout the years. Currently, Whitney is the accompanist, children’s choir director, and youth minister at Dickson First Methodist Church.
Choir Volunteers
Steve Moore
Lindsey Corlew
Dennis DeBlock
All Members of the Community Choirs provide volunteer service as needed.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that the Dickson Community Choirs have been featured as the music group on a Caribbean Cruise? They also have performed in England as they toured there. The adult Dickson Community Choirs offer you opportunities to travel and sing!
Contact Info
For comments, info, or other general inquiries, you may contact Chris Greene at the email address listed below. We’d love to hear from you!
chrisgreenemusicstudio@gmail.com
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