Youth Choir Series

Philip Brown is the director of vocal music activities at Liberty High School (MO). Additionally he looks forward to collaborations and projects with the Allegro Youth Choirs of Kansas City. He graduated summa cum laude from Bethany College (KS), majoring in K-12 music education and vocal performance. He later received his M.M. degree in music education from Northern Arizona University. 

Before returning back to Missouri, Philip started his school teaching in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado (Arvada West High School). Then in Minnesota, he taught at 4 different high schools in the twin cities area over the course of twenty years. Additionally, he spent 15 years conducting the high school choirs with the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs organization.

Philip was honored as the 2011 ACDA-MN Young Director of the Year. He was selected as the Director of Note for Minnesota by Choral Director Magazine in 2012. In 2013 he received the VocalEssence/ACDA-MN Creative Programming Award for his repertoire philosophy and programming. Philip was named the Bethany College (KS) Gold Award recipient in 2015 and was the Winner of the Youth Choir Conducting Division for The American Prize 2016, and again in 2020. He was the featured community member in the Eden Prairie Lifestyle Magazine for 2020. He conducted the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs – Treble Singers at the 2019 National ACDA Conference in his hometown of Kansas City, and the Cantanti Singers at the 2025 National ACDA Conference in Dallas.

His choral groups have been selected for performances at state, regional, and national conferences for ACDA, NAfME, and Chorus America. Choirs under his conducting have collaborated with the Minnesota Oratorio Society, Minnesota Choral Artists – The Singers, Great Northern Union, VocalEssence, Northern Lights Chorale, Cantus, National Lutheran Choir, Singers in Accord, and multiple university choirs. His choirs have consistently received superior ratings, best in class awards, and grand sweepstakes awards at various music festivals and competitions. 

Philip has given presentations and clinics on: rehearsal techniques that energize and engage singers, small ensemble singing strengthening the full ensemble, incorporating technology in the music rehearsal, student-driven assessments, and commissioning new choral works. He is an active clinician and guest conductor (philip.brown@lps53.org). He is professionally affiliated with ACDA and NAfME, and is the High School Repertoire & Resource chair for ACDA.

Melissa Trevino Keylock serves as Artistic Director and Program Manager of the San Diego North Coast Singers. She taught eleven years at the Princeton Girlchoir, and previously worked at the American Boychoir School, Rider University, and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. She has taught public and private school, and throughout her career, Melissa has served in state and regional leadership positions with the American Choral Directors Association. She holds an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and a Master of Music from Butler University, where she studied with Henry Leck, and directed the Butler University Women’s Glee Club. Melissa completed her Kodály studies at Capital University and is listed in Who’s Who in American Women. She is a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher and group fitness instructor. She and co-writer Jill Friedersdorf have published over thirty compositions with Chorister’s Guild, ECS Publishing Group, Colla Voce, ICC Publishing, and Hal Leonard Publishing.

Mrs. Keylock was honored to guest conduct at the Ohio All-State, Midwest Regional ACDA Children’s Choir, Georgia All-State, North Carolina All-State 6th Grade, ILMEA District 9 Junior High, NY ACDA NYSSMA, PMEA District 7 Song Fest, Kentucky All-State Children’s Chorus, NJ Elementary Honor Choir, CNJ Intermediate Jr High, Youth Creating Harmony, Norman (OK) Children’s Choir Festival, Maryland Young Voices, Piedmont Invitational, Howard County Gifted & Talented Festival, Music in the Parks adjudicator, Bucks County Music Festival, Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians (WI), Let Freedom Sing National Girlchoir Festival, 1st Coast Honors Choir Festival, NC Sings!, Philadelphia Festival of Young Musicians, Appleton Boychoir clinic, Pennsylvania Elementary Song Fest, 7 regions of Circle the State With Song in Indiana, and serve as Artist in Residence at The Peck School. Upcoming engagements include NY-ACDA in August 2025, 1st Coast Honors Choir Festival in January 2026, and Manhattan Concert Productions at Carnegie Hall, March 2026.