Robin Brockway grew up in a musical home in Plano, TX. She began piano lessons at the age of five and often accompanied her mother in musical theatre selections. Although she accompanied her first choir in the 3rd grade, Ms. Brockway always "preferred" singing and was twice selected for membership in the Texas All-State Mixed Choir while attending Plano Senior High School.

The University of North Texas provided a rich and varied musical education and instilled a true love of choral music and yes, even opera. Ms. Brockway was the A Cappella Choir Soprano Section Leader and Accompanist and performed leading roles in opera workshops while attending UNT.

 

Ms. Brockway began her teaching career in 1993 at Bowman Middle School in Plano after 6 years working as a professional pianist and singer. Career highlights have included performances at the 2000 Texas Music Educators Association Convention and the 2001 National American Choral Directors Convention, while serving as Associate Director and Accompanist of the Haltom High School Varsity Women's Choir.

In the fall of 2003, Ms. Brockway became the Director of Choirs at Newman Smith High School. She has conducted numerous region honor choirs in the North Texas area, and has been honored to collaborate as an accompanist with conductors across the nation, including Z. Randall Stroope, Andre Thomas, and Rollo Dilworth. In February 2004 Ms. Brockway accompanied the Texas All-State Treble Choir, conducted by ELEKTRA Artistic Director Morna Edmundson.

Ms. Brockway as "Miss Jessel" in Britten's TURN OF THE SCREW

Professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Ms. Brockway is on the State Board of TMEA, and is listed in the 9th Edition Who's Who of American Teachers. She currently serves on the TMEA/TMAC Choral Assessment Committee, which is preparing a statewide choral assessment document.

On December 20, 2008 Dave Nichols, Ms. Brockway and Wendy the "NSHS Choir Dog" officially became a family!

Clorese Gray grew up in Fort Worth, Texas where she attended Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. She was the drum major of the marching band for two years and very active in the choral program as well. Ms. Gray attended Texas Christian University where she received a bachelor’s degree in music education. While at TCU she performed with the choral union as well as the Concert Chorale on various performances at TMEA, SWACDA and Carnegie Hall. She also performed for a season at Six Flags Over Texas “Holiday in the Park”. During the summer of 2008, Ms. Gray was a guest conductor and soloist with the Lone Star Ambassador European Tour.