2009 Board of Directors

Beverly Meerbach, Board President
Bev a graduate of Bucknell University with a Master of Arts in English. Bev has been involved in church music since the age of 5. She has directed church and community adult and children's choirs and handbell choirs, and has written and directed church dramas since 1971. Bev was a member of Susquehanna Valley Chorale at Susquehanna University during her undergraduate studies and personally gave testimony in song in churches throughout PA. She plays piano, guitar, handbells, french horn and has recently taken up the violin. Bev taught high school English in the 70s and 80s, but spent 20 years of her working life as a technical writer and analyst for defense contractors. Currently, Bev directs the children/youth choir and drama team and is a member of the adult choir and praise team at Sixes United Methodist Church in Canton. She is married to Eric and homeschools her daughter, Erica, who sings in the GRGC Tour Choir.

Jennifer Rawson, Artistic Director,  Tour Choir Director
Jenny Rawson, mezzo-soprano, received a Bachelor of Music degree in music theory and a master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Georgia, studying under Dr. Lewis Neilson and Dr. Gregory Broughton. Ms. Rawson's conducting career includes positions at North Springs High School, a performing arts magnet school in Fulton County, and the Kennesaw Mountain High School Choral Program. For eight years, Ms. Rawson has conducted the Georgia Regional Girls' Choir, a premiere girls choir in North Georgia, which has toured throughout the United States and Europe under her direction, performing in Italy, London, Washington D.C., San Diego, Boston, San Francisco, the Georgia Governor's Mansion, and the Biltmore House. Ms. Rawson has been a member and frequent soloist with the Atlanta Singers under the direction of David Brensinger for twelve years and has had past positions with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, The Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus, and the Robert Shaw Festival Singers under the direction of Robert Shaw. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her high energy, animation, and creativity combine to make GRGC
a fun, as well as educational, experience for all the girls.

Sandy Adams, Apprentice Choir Director
Sandy Adams is currently the chorus director at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County. Previously she worked as chorus director at North Springs High School, the Magnet school for Arts and Sciences in Fulton County, where she also produced and directed several stage productions, including HMS Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and Les Miserables. Prior to teaching public school, Mrs. Adams was Assistant Professor of Voice at Emmanuel College in northeast Georgia. She served as the coordinating chair for the Georgia All-College Chorus and the District Five choral chair of the Georgia Music Educator's Association. Mrs. Adams has worked in church music for many years, serving as director of children's choirs and staff singer at Emory Presbyterian Church, Director of Music at Powers Ferry United Methodist Church and Carnesville United Methodist Church, and served as staff singer at the Cathedral of St. Phillip in Atlanta. Mrs. Adams performed under the direction of Robert Shaw with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and is a former member of the Southeastern Savoyards Light Opera Company. She has appeared in leading roles in many regional theatrical productions, including the opera The Marriage of Figaro, The Fantasticks , the King and I, and A, My Name is Alice. Mrs. Adams holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education, cum laude, from Georgia State University, a Master of  Music in Choral Conducting from University of Georgia, and a Master of Sacred Music from Shorter College. While at UGA, she served as the assistant to the Director of Choral Activities and was a graduate assistant with the UGA Women'sGlee Club.

Catherine Sandhage, Executive Director
Catherine graduated from the University of Michigan in 1982 with a BA in American Culture Studies. She then spent a year studying at the Gemological Institute of America, where she earned the Graduate Gemologist Certificate and Jewelry Retail Management Certificate. She worked for several years in the jewelry industry as an appraiser, salesperson and inventory controller. Since 1987, Catherine has worked part time jobs in addition to being a full time parent, including childcare for teachers, assistant teacher for Pre-K programs, select soccer team administrator. She also volunteered for school activities, PTA, church groups, as Assistant Parent coordinator of a middle school musical, and Co-chair of costumes for a high school production of Les Miserable. After moving to Georgia in 2003, Catherine has volunteered for school activities in which her children are involved. She served as a GRGC Board member for 3 1/2 years, organizing the tour to Montreal and Quebec. For the past three years, Catherine has been a tailor's assistant doing bridal alterations. Catherine is married to Ken Sandhage, a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. They have three children, Eryn, a junior at the University of Georgia, Kyle, a freshman at Georgia State University and Christopher, a sophomore at North Springs Charter High School.

Elizabeth Judson, Board Member
Beth is a graduate of Alfred University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. She sang in the Alfred University Chorale, as a cantor and choir member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Atlanta, and with the St. Brigid Choir in Alpharetta. She has lived in Atlanta since 1982, is married to Jim, and has a son, Dean, and a daughter, Lauren, who sings in the GRGC Tour Choir. Beth has 15 years of industrial experience, and has held several research management positions at Georgia Tech. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at Alfred University and Southern Catholic College, and a member of the advisory boards of the Alfred University Women's Leadership Center, Blessed Trinity High School, the Georgia Tech School of Materials Engineering, and the Clemson University School of Materials Engineering.

Emily Christensen, Board Member

Emily is the tour choir representative to the Board of Directors and is currently a junior at Kell High School in Cobb County. She has thoroughly enjoyed singing with the phenomenal Georgia Regional Girls Choir for almost two years. Exposed to music since day one in utero, Emily also plays piano, violin, and guitar. The second of six children, Emily considers herself an expert in diplomatic negotiations. After high school, she plans to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Grace Cover, Board Member

Grace graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. There, she sang with Jubilate, a touring choir comprised of university students. Currently, she is a life care planner and nurse consultant. She lives in Marietta with her husband Stan and their two children, Sarah and James. Sarah has absolutely loved being a member of GRGC Apprentice Choir for the past two years.

Stephanie Harrell, Board Member

LaShawn Joyner, Board Member and Treasurer

Jane O'Connor, Board Member
Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, majoring in Art History. Prior to her current occupation as a Realtor with Jenny Pruitt & Associates in the North Fulton office, she spent twenty years working with nonprofit organizations in varying roles including Director of Events & Director of the Sheldon Art Galleries at the historic Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis, Campaign Director for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program in St. Louis and Executive Director of the IIT Foundation, based in Omaha. Jane and her husband Dan have two daughters who have always enjoyed singing; Heidi as a member of Bel Canto in the Nebraska Children’s Chorus and Aine with GRGC.

John Snuggs, Board Member

Donna Weaver, Training Choir Director
In addition to directing the Training Choir, Mrs. Weaver is the choral director at McGarity Elementary School in Paulding County. She is an accomplished singer having won many competitions. She is currently with the Atlanta Singers and the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Choir. She has also performed with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, The Atlanta Camerata, and The Goliards Early Music Consort. Mrs. Weaver was the staff soprano at St. Philip’s Cathedral and Holy Innocents Episcopal Church. She also teaches piano and voice to private students.