Who We Are

Mission Statement


Our History

The Choral Society of West Georgia was created in 2005 by artistic director, Elizabeth Biggs, to offer excellence in choral music performance in a community choir setting. The all volunteer choir has gained momentum well beyond its initial suburban reach, now drawing singers and audience members from throughout the West Georgia and East Alabama areas. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is the rehearsal and official residency site of the Choral Society of West Georgia. The multi-generational ensemble represents a rich cross section of the community population and continues a history of successful and innovative community choral events and programming.

Additionally, the ensembles have recently represented the community with performances in Lincoln Center and twice in Carnegie Hall. Internationally, members have performed in both Dublin, Republic of Ireland and Belfast, Northern Ireland. 


Our Staff

Music Director: Andrew Harry

Andrew Harry assumed directorship of the choir in 2022 following his position as staff accompanist for the organization.

A graduate of Bob Jones University, Andrew holds an undergraduate degree in piano performance as well as both a Masters and Artistic Diploma in piano performance from Columbus State University where he studied with Alexander Kobrin.

A former adjunct LaGrange College faculty member, he is currently fine arts department head at Point University in West Point, Georgia.

Additionally, he serves as the First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange music director and as artistic director for the Csehy Summer School of Music in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Andrew performs extensively as a solo and collaborative pianist throughout the Southeast.

 

Artistic Director Emeritus: Elizabeth W. Biggs

Elizabeth Biggs is founder and former music director of the Choral Society of West Georgia. Retiring as music director in 2022, she is now the artistic director emeritus of the organization.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, she holds vocal music/music education degrees from the Converse College School of Music in Spartanburg, S. C. and a Masters from Columbus State University.

She taught for twenty-eight years as a choral music educator in the Troup County School System, was a former music instructor at West Georgia Technical College and adjunct music education faculty at LaGrange College.

She is currently the discipline expert for The Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts in Montgomery, Alabama which facilitates teacher education through the fine arts across the Southeast. For more than ten years, Mrs. Biggs performed with Cantus Columbus, a professional vocal ensemble and has studied at both the Juilliard Summer/Choral School and the Rene Clausen Choral School in Moorhead, Minnesota.

 

Ken Passmore, Staff Accompanist

Ken Passmore holds a B.M. degree from Lamar University and a M.M. in Percussion Performance from Georgia State University. From 2009-2022 he served as Assistant Professor of Music at LaGrange College where he taught Percussion, directed the Percussion Ensemble, and accompanied all Music Theatre productions and events. As a percussionist, he has performed with multiple regional orchestras throughout Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana. As a pianist, Ken has played for over fifty stage productions throughout Georgia and Texas. He has performed internationally as a collaborative artist and appears on several recordings by contemporary Christian artists. He currently teaches at St. Anne-Pacelli in Columbus, Ga. and also serves as the accompanist for the Sons of Lafayette Male Choir.

 


Board of Directors:

  • Don Eisenbarth, President
    Retired, Interface Flooring Systems
     
  • Paula Sharp, Immediate Past President
    Retired Educator
     
  • Mark Ladd, Vice President
    Church Musician/Pianist
     
  • Kathryn Scholl, Secretary
    Digital Program Coordinator, Troup/Harris Regional Library
     
  • Pat Graben, Financial Officer/Treasurer
    Retired Accountant/CPA
     
  • Samantha Cotton
    Choral Director – Callaway High School
    Children’s Choir Director – First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange
     
  • Sylvia Hunter
    Retired Educator
     
  • Wendy Knight
    Director of Collections, Troup-Harris County Regional Library