Board of Directors

Karen Musgrove, M.Ed., LPC, Board Chair

Karen Musgrove is one the three founding members of the Magic City Choral Society, and she currently serves as Executive Director for Birmingham AIDS Outreach. Ms. Musgrove is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked for various non-profits in the Birmingham community and honors include: American Red Cross Mental Health Volunteer, World Trade Center, 2001; Top 40 under 40, Birmingham Business Journal, 2001; Disaster Response Training, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Board Member. Ms. Musgrove currently serves on the following: ASONA (AIDS Service Organization Network of Alabama), Crestwood North, Rites of Spring (Treasurer), Jefferson County Ryan White Consortium (Chair), and the Magic City Choral Society (Chair).

Tommy Little, Vice Chair

Tommy is a life-long resident of the Birmingham area. For over 30 years he has worked in the financial industry and is currently a Senior Mortgage Consultant and Renovation Specialist with Mortgage South. Tommy has a BS degree in Finance from the University of Alabama and his MBA from Samford University. In addition to his business background, Tommy has a varied music background and has served as a church organist for a number of years.

Jamie Carol Whitehurst, Secretary

Jamie Whitehurst is one of the founding members of the Magic City Choral Society and currently serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors. He is the Special Events Coordinator and Development Director for Birmingham AIDS Outreach where he oversees events such as Arty Party, Passport to Dine, Magic City AIDS Walk, Crestwood Crawl, Smith Lake Poker Run, and monthly BAO Bingo. Before joining Birmingham AIDS Outreach, he worked for Doubletree Hotels in Birmingham, AL and Tallahassee, FL in sales, catering, and event planning. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors for Rites of Spring and attends the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Jamie has a BS in Marketing and a MBA from East Carolina University, where he graduated in 2000.

Joseph McGough, Treasurer

Joe McGough is a native of Birmingham, AL. He earned a Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Montevallo. Joe has been in the banking/securities industry since 1992 and is currently employed by Wachovia Securities as a broker. Joe has been a part of the Magic City Choral Society since its inception in 2007 as a member of the Men's Chorus and also serving on the Board of Directors. Joe also serves on the Board of Directors for Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO). He has served on the BAO Board since 2004 and is currently the treasurer. Joe has Chaired/Co-Chaired BAO's art auction, Arty Party, since 2004.

Robert Noah, Member at Large

James Sermons, Member at Large

Dr. J. Paul Dease, Founding Artistic Director

Dr. Joseph Paul Dease is a native of Dothan, AL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Choral/Vocal Music from the University of Montevallo, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting with advanced studies in Vocal Pedagogy from the East Carolina University, and a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting/Choral Music Education from the Florida State University College of Music. Dr. Dease is the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Magic City Choral Society, Director of Arts and Music at The Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, and has served on the faculties of the Florida State University College of Music, The University of Alabama School of Music and the Red Mountain Theatre Summer Youth Workshop. Dr. Dease has a wealth of conducting experience ranging from secondary school, church, community, college, and opera choruses. That experience also includes frequent adjudicating and guest conducting in North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and New Mexico. Dr. Dease’ areas of expertise include conducting, rehearsal technique/behavior modification (a positive approach), and motor learning. His professional affiliations include: American Choral Director’s Association, Alabama Choral Director’s Association, Alabama Vocal Association, Alabama Music Educator’s Association, National Music Educator’s Conference, Chorus America, GALA, and the International Voice Care Network.

Dr. Bob Palmatier

Dr. Bob Palmatier is the former President of Virginia College at Birmingham and Vice President of External Relations for Education Corporation of America [ECA]. Between 1981 and 2001, his positions with Birmingham City Schools included responsibility for coordination of the system reading programs, elementary and high school principalships and management of curriculum and instruction for the system. Prior to moving to Birmingham, Dr. Palmatier spent a total of 13 years as a professor at the University of Georgia and Northwestern State University of Louisiana. In addition, he has served as consultant to public schools, state departments of education, colleges, publishers of educational equipment and texts, and the U.S. Office of Education. Dr. Palmatier holds a BA degree from Houghton College, and MA and Ph.D. degrees from Syracuse University. Following his second retirement, Bob is working as a consultant with colleges and accrediting agencies and is serving as a managing partner of an Abrakadoodle franchise providing early childhood art education to pre-schools and schools in the metro Birmingham area. He is also heavily involved in civic responsibilities as a member of the Boards of Equality Alabama, Equality Fund of Alabama PAC, Magic City Choral Society, and AIDS Alabama.

Michael Roddy, President of the Men's Chorus

Michael Roddy is originally from East Tennessee, but has called Birmingham home since 1998. He joined the Magic City Choral Society in August, 2008 and proudly serves as President of the Men's Chorus. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal music from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY, where he was a member of the Cumberland College Chorale, Chamber Choir and Cumberland Singers as well as the college's traveling ensemble, ABUNDANCE. He is currently Pianist/Organist for a local Catholic church, where he has also served as a Cantor. In addition, Michael works for the Birmingham News.

Nic Carlisle, Esquire

Nic Carlisle is a native of Daleville, Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama. After graduating from law school, Nic founded Aiding Alabama, the State’s first and only program dedicated to protecting and promoting the legal rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. Currently, Nic is the Legal Services Director at Birmingham AIDS Outreach. In addition, Nic serves on the board of directors for Rites of Spring and the Magic City Choral Society. Mr. Carlisle is committed to social justice and equity, and, nurturing the arts in culture that serve all people and not a select few.

Warren VanDenTop

Mr. VanDenTop is a founding member of the Magic City Choral Society Men's Chorus and Board of Directors. His previous singing experiences include the University of Northern Iowa Varsity Men's Glee Club and the Iowa High School All-State Honors Choir. He served as a volunteer with Gay/Lesbian Youth Services and served on their board for 4 years. He is a self-employed computer-programmer and donates his services to the Choral Society's website and various other non-profit organizations in the area.

Cliff Beach

Clifford Beach is a founding singing member of the Men’s Chorus of the Magic City Choral Society and is its Immediate Past President of the Men’s Chorus. He has served on the Board of Directors since Oct. 2007 and is active on the grants and marketing committees. His background includes 14 years in advertising, including 11 years running The Clifford Group, an advertising and organizational development agency. Clients included EWTN, the Catholic Cable Network; The Golf Channel; Parisian; Bellsouth Mobility (AT&T Mobility) and many others. He has also served as a Specialty Sales Manager for The Home Depot. Cliff has performed with Up with People, acted in several community and college plays, and served as Youth Drama Group Leader for Cathedral of the Cross.

Kay Kornmeier

Kay Kornmeier is an organizational consultant with over 25 years of experience in helping individuals and organizations develop the skills and insight needed to operate in a manner consistent with their goals and objectives. As the founder and owner of a publishing company, she developed a series of regional publications serving the family and home market distributed to over 50,000 readers. Her company, Child Times of Alabama, Inc. was committed to creating a work environment that valued employees and their families while developing publications that won national awards for editorial. The company was purchased in 1999 by United Media of Great Britain, an industry leader in publications. Prior to moving to Birmingham, Kay practiced as a psychotherapist and consultant in St. Paul, Minnesota and Atlanta, Georgia for 12 years. Her practice included counseling with adults, couples and groups as well as consulting with corporations and organizations on personnel and structural issues. Her corporate clients included Gillette, Westinghouse and Boeing. She is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and Leadership Birmingham. She has served as an officer of mental health, community health, women's leadership, and childcare non-profit agencies. She is a founding member of the Alabama Women's Initiative that produced the study titled "A Report on the Status of Women in Leadership in Alabama." This study has served as a model for women's leadership development throughout the United States and in South America and Africa. Ms. Kornmeier received her B.A. from Lawrence University in Wisconsin and her Masters in Social Work and Masters in Counseling Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

J. Stephen Hart

Stephen Hart is a founding partner of Direct Consulting LLC/ DBS, a privately owned medical billing and consulting company. He is a native of Dothan, Alabama and moved to Birmingham to attend UAB in 1995. Stephen earned a BS degree in Finance and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. He has worked in the banking and Health Care Industry for the last 10 years. Stephen is a member of the friends of American Art. He is also a great supporter of local charity organizations such as the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and Birmingham Aids Outreach.

Trynna Brown, President of the Women's Chorus

Trynna Y. Brown was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee but has called Birmingham home since 2002. She attended the University of TN to become a political scientist/philosophy. Ms. Brown has extensive experience in operations management with FedEx Express for the past 11 of her 15 years of employment. During her management career, she has been recognized with leadership and performance awards. She is also an Aspire to Management class facilitator and coach for those who want to be in a management position. She is the Volunteer coordinator for United Way, March of Dimes, Plane Pull for Special Olympics projects which generated employee awareness, involvement and donations. In addition, Ms. Brown volunteers at Books, Beans and Candles where she teaches a variety of classes that explore comparative religions/paths and belief systems.

Josh Tichnell

Mr. Tichnell is a graduate of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL. There he earned a Bachelors of Science in Commerce & Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. He also attended and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Management Information Systems. Mr. Tichnell is currently employed by BBVA Compass Bank where he is Vice President - Accounting Manager. Mr. Tichnell served as the 2003-2007 Hats & Horns Society Treasurer. The Hats & Horns Society raises money for various children's charities in the Birmingham, AL. Those charities include The Bell Center for Early Intervention, The Junior League of Birmingham Imagination Library, and Blue Cross Blue Shield's Caring Foundation. Each year the Organization hosted a New Years Eve gala raising between $15,000 - $20,000 annually. In addition to the Magic City Choral Society Mr. Tichnell currently serves on the Board of Directors for Triumph Services, Inc: a local nonprofit which offers support to individuals with developmental disabilities, primarily focusing on achieving a greater level of independence, assuming personal responsibility and increasing community involvement.