Carroll Choir Private Voice Faculty
Kristen McKinley is a classically-trained singer and pianist with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in vocal music from Centenary College of Louisiana, and a Master of Educational Administration degree from LSU. She has experience in music theater (performing and music directing), opera, recording studios, television, contemporary Christian, praise and worship, accompanying, and church music. She has performed with the Fort Worth Opera, Lyric Stage, Regal Opera Company, Watertower Theatre, Continental Singers tour, and many local theaters. She served seven years on the board of directors as Audition Chair for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and she is currently the webmaster. She is also a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) as the publications chair and on their scholarship committee, and Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). She has been a choir director in public schools in Louisiana and Texas and worked as a private teacher for 30 years. She has consistently had students who are NATS finalists and in the Texas All-State Choir every year. You can see her full biography at www.studioofkristenmckinley.com .
Monica Dane, M.A. - Monica received her Bachelor of Music with a concentrate in Musical Theatre from The University of Texas at Arlington and her Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy from Texas Woman’s University while studying under Master Pedagogue, now retired Voice Professor (TWU) and former lead performer for the Metropolitan Opera, Joan Wall. She also earned her alternative teaching certification for Music K-12 from ECAP. Monica enjoys singing many genres of music from Broadway, Pop, Blues, Classical, and Praise and Worship. Some of her favorite Opera roles with The Regal Opera Company that span over 20 years include Lady Angela in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience, Little Red Riding Hood from the children’s opera, Little Red Riding Hood by Barab, Jenny in Down in the Valley, Monica in The Medium, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Giannetta in The Elixir of Love, Annina in La Traviata, Sally in Die Fledermaus, First Lady in The Magic Flute and First Friend in The Ballad of Baby Doe. She has also performed with The Promise in Glenrose, TX in 2001 for a 6 month-run as a feature soloist playing The Woman at the Well. Later in 2001, Monica had the wonderful opportunity to be an “off-stage singer” in Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby at Bass Hall. She has performed both live on TV as well as recorded shows for various Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) programs. During the Summer, you can find her at Theatre Arlington musical directing the Summer Theatre Camps for ages 4-16. During the holiday season, she performs as a professional Victorian caroler with Holiday Cheer Entertainment. She also performs in the metroplex with The Regal Chorale. Ms. Dane has taught voice and musical theatre for over 25 years and currently also teaches voice at Heritage Middle School, and voice/piano lessons at Theatre Arlington as well as her home studio. She has previously taught voice at Casa Manana, Lifesong Studio, The Master’s Touch School of Music, Creative Arts Theatre & School, North Richland Middle School, Colleyville Middle School, Faith Christian School, L.D. Bell High School and Grapevine High School. Many of her students have been successful under her instruction including Grammy nominated and 9-time Dove Award nominated (four of which she won) Singer, Songwriter and Worship Leader, Kari Jobe. Ms. Dane is a current member of TMEA and a former member of NATS and served as Secretary for the DFW NATS Chapter, and a former member of the Regal Opera Board of Directors. Monica has three older children, Jake (20 years), Meredith (18 years) and Audra (14 years) a dog, Katie and Max, their cat without a tail.
Eisha Epps is a private voice instructor, worship leader, and freelance singer in the DFW area. She studied voice at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (K-12). She directed middle school choirs for seven years and developed a successful choral program at a brand-new school. Her choirs consistently achieved top scores and rankings at district and regional contests. Eisha has taught private voice lessons to middle school and high school students, most recently in Carroll, HEB, and Keller school districts. She has over twenty years of professional and civic vocal performance experience as a soloist and as a choir member in premiere a capella choirs in Virginia, the Richmond Symphony Chorus, and churches. She is experienced in performing and teaching multiple genres of music including classical, opera, musical theater, pop, and sacred songs. Eisha is currently enjoying her eleventh season singing with the Fort Worth Chorale under the direction of Dr. Karen Kenaston-French, Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Texas Arlington. In addition to teaching, Eisha is the worship leader in the Founder's Chapel at Whites Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas. She is also a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).