artistic director and co-founder

Dr. Cristen Mitchell

Dr. Cristen Mitchell is the full-time Director of Worship Arts at Blacksburg United Methodist Church in Blacksburg, VA. There she oversees the music and worship arts ministries and works with a variety of choral and instrumental ensembles in leading worship. Cristen is the Artistic Director and co-founder of The Voices of Appalachia, a choir of professional musicians in Roanoke, VA and the New River Valley. She was the 2018 recipient of the John & Mary Virginia Foncannon Choral Conducting/Sacred Music Scholarship, and the 2019 recipient of the John & Mary Foncannon Choral Conducting/ Coaching Scholarship. She has traveled with her choirs to perform at venues such as Carnegie Hall, and she has been a soloist on stage at the Lincoln Center. Cristen holds a Doctor of Pastoral Music from The Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from James Madison University, a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Radford University, and a Church Music Certificate from Virginia Wesleyan College. 

Dr. Mitchell’s Choral Philosophy

I believe that choral music is an expression of beauty, friendship, and faith: beauty in the world around us, friendship with one another, and faith in fellow humankind. The choral community should be a place where individuals can work alongside one another, honing in on their own musical abilities and creativity, but also aiming toward a common goal. I believe in the importance of community collaboration with other musicians and artists, and in encouraging young people in their musical endeavors. I agree with Bono when he said, "music can change the world, because it can change people."

President

Lauren Gallops Castro

Lauren Gallops Castro currently serves as the Assistant Director of Leadership Gifts for the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. She is dedicated to fostering relationships with alumni and friends of Virginia Tech to enhance engagement and philanthropic support for students, faculty, and university departments and programs. Prior to her current role, Lauren was a Field Representative for the Roanoke General Office of New York Life and the Patron Services Manager for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Outside of her professional role, Lauren serves as the President of The Voices of Appalachia, a professional choir based in Southwest Virginia that strives to enrich the lives of the surrounding community through the musical arts. Lauren is also the Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee for the local nonprofit, Lishy's Gift. Lishy's Gift is based in the Roanoke Valley and raises the quality of life when life is at its worst by providing comfort items to young adults recently diagnosed with cancer. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a focus in Public Relations from Radford University. 

vice president

Brooke Tolley

Brooke Tolley is a native of Roanoke, Virginia, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Voice from Radford University. Brooke’s opera roles include Kate Pinkterton in Madama Butterfly, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, and Lucy in Menotti’s The Telephone. As a concert soloist, Brooke has performed in Handel’s Messiah, DuBois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Pepper Choplin’s A Journey with the Shepherd, which she premiered at Lincoln Center in 2017. 

As an experienced voice teacher, she has maintained a private voice studio for students across the Roanoke Valley since 2012 teaching lessons at Opera Roanoke, the Jefferson Center’s Music Lab, and Hollins University. 

She was a participant in Leadership Roanoke Valley’s Class of 2019 and was chosen as one of only three opera administrators across the country to attend The Hart Institute for Women Opera Conductors and Administrators at The Dallas Opera in 2018. Brooke was appointed General Director of Opera Roanoke in 2019.

secretary

Katie Seidemann

Katie Seidemann, originally from Floyd, VA, attended Radford University to earn her bachelor's degree in Music Education, as well as her master's degree in Music. During her graduate studies Katie also received her Certificate of Autism Studies and a minor in American Sign Language. Through her membership in various choral ensembles Katie has had the opportunity to perform in a variety of different productions and concerts on a variety of different stages, all the way from small school campuses to Carnegie Hall.

Katie is currently the choral director at Auburn Middle and Auburn High School in Montgomery County, VA. Her passion in life is education and she believes that music can break down barriers and cross divides between people who would otherwise remain disconnected from one another. Being a member of the Voices of Appalachia is one of the great joys in her life and allows her to continue being a lifelong student and to provide an example to her own students of what lifelong musicianship can look like.