Children’s Worship University

Karen Gosselin

Karen Gosselin has been employed by the Alabama State Board of Missions since 2007 and serves as coordinator of Worship Resources. She is responsible for serving the needs of the local church and associations through the ministries of worship and music. Equipping leaders in these ministry areas is her primary focus. Local church consultations, associational workshops, and statewide conferences help meet this goal. 

She regularly teaches at various children’s choir conferences across the country, and she directs the Alabama Baptist Children’s Honor Choir for 4th – 6th graders. She also teaches weekly children’s choir for 3rd – 6th graders in her church. 

Karen received her Bachelor of Music Education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and her Master of Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Karen and her husband, Greg, are members at Crossroads Community Church in Elmore, AL where Greg serves as the Children’s Pastor. They have three adult children.

Whitney Head

Whitney Head teaches K-5 music at Elizabeth Elementary School in Shelby, North Carolina.  She is passionate about shining God’s light in the public-school setting and enjoys working to provide a loving, joy-filled space for her students. Whitney is certified in Orff-Schulwerk I and II and strives to create engaging curriculum that promotes student creativity. She has written for Growing in Grace and Chorister’s Guild and has presented at conferences in Alabama, North Carolina, and Texas. She particularly enjoys creating original activities and resources that help foster a joyful and engaging environment, whether in a school or church setting.

Whitney earned her bachelor’s degree in Church Music from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and earned her Master’s degree in Music Education from Samford as well.

Whitney directs the music and worship at South Marietta Street Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC. Prior to teaching, Whitney served in full-time music ministry in Alabama and on the mission field in El Salvador. In her free time, Whitney enjoys finding coffee shops, playing tennis, biking, board games, and spending time with family and friends.

Kelly Jo Hollingsworth

Kelly Jo Hollingsworth holds degrees from the University of Mobile and Auburn University, and has 17 years of experience in early childhood and elementary music classrooms. She was chosen as Teacher of the Year at three schools and made it to the Sweet 16 for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year in 2014. She teaches elementary music methods courses as an Assistant Professor of Elementary Music Education at Baylor and won Baylor’s university-wide 2021 Tenure-Track Teaching Award. Kelly also serves as the master teacher for Baylor’s Oso Musical, a general music class for children with disabilities in grades K-12. She has completed Kodály Level I and Orff-Schulwerk Levels I, II, III, and Master. Kelly is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and the Texas Music Educators Association. Her research is found in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, GIA’s Assessment in Music Education book series, and Texas Music Education Research.

Marti Reavis

Marti Reavis holds a degree in Vocal Music Education from Oklahoma Baptist University. After college, she spent five years in Russia, teaching music and English to both children and adults. For over two decades, Marti has poured her heart into teaching music, leading worship, and directing choirs of all ages. She has been serving as the Music Associate at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City for 10 years, where she currently directs both the children's and senior adult choirs. Marti has been married to her husband, Clinton, for 16 years, and they have two children—Norah (12) and Luke (9). As a family, they enjoy traveling, biking around the neighborhood, watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and spending time with their fluffy Pomeranian, Ruby.

Yancy Richmond

Yancy is a worship leader, songwriter and author. Her Dove Award winning music that makes Jesus loud is used globally. She is a passionate advocate of raising disciples to worship. She authored the book “Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship” and coaches Next Gen worship leaders through her program, Chorus. Yancy and her family live in Nashville, TN.

David Talaguit

David Talaguit often writes music for Mesquite ISD of which the most recent was a commissioned piece, “Light Shines Brightest”, performed by MISD teachers to uplift students during the 2020 lockdown. His works have been featured in many of MISD’s Elementary Fine Arts Festivals. One of his passions is conducting Orff-based Music Seminars which he has been privileged to do in Dallas, Amarillo, Alabama, Honduras and most recently, back to his roots, the Philippines. His latest work includes being the guest conductor of Wylie ISD’s 4th Grade All City Choir virtual concert, which featured his composition “Por La Vida”. He has been the general music teacher at Motley Elementary School and Music Director for Biblical Community Church since 1998.

David studied Music Education with Voice concentration at SMU Meadows School of the Arts. He also finished his Orff Levels certification from the same institution.