Center Grove High School Choral Music Department

Christopher D. Pratt is a 1995 graduate of Center Grove High School where he was a four-year member of the mixed varsity show choir, C.G. Sound System. In the Spring of 2000, Chris graduated from Ball State University where he holds a BS in Music Education and holds professional memberships in MENC, ACDA, and IMEA.

During college Chris spent three years performing with Millikin University’s Singing Blue; was President for two years and organized Millikin’s Big Blue Show Choir Invitational. At Ball State he spent a year performing with Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors, The Ball State University Singers. In addition, Chris was active in Ball State’s Office of Admissions where he worked in University Relations.

Currently, Mr. Pratt is Director of Choirs at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, IN. At Center Grove he directs five choirs, including the award-winning show choir CG Sound System and chamber choir, CG Singers. For the past five years CG Sound System has been named Grand Champion Show Choir at SHOWSTOPPERS Show Choir Invitational in both New York City and Orlando. In addition Sound System was recognized by Governor Mitch Daniels for their outstanding achievements at the Regional and National levels. Collectively, his choirs have won over 50 Grand Champions awards. He is a proud recipient of Danville District 118, David L. Fields Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

With a foundation in choral music and choreography, Chris has also worked extensively with choirs in Danville (IL), Hamilton Southeastern, Watseka, Triton Central, and several other schools around the Midwest as a choreographer/clinician. He is now working on a masters degree in urban education and community policy.

Hailing from Churubusco, Indiana, Jennifer Lynn Dice is a graduate of Ball State University where she obtained her Bachelors of Science in music education. Jennifer is currently in pursuit of her master’s degree in educational administration, also from Ball State University.

While in college, Jennifer was a four year member of Indiana’s Official Goodwill Ambassadors, the Ball State University Singers. She held the positions of dance captain and company manager. Jennifer was also a member of the Ball State Chamber Choir and toured Europe with a pinnacle performance of singing the mass at Notre Dame.

As a performer, Jennifer was able to perform at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA where she worked as the dance captain of Holiday in Roma. Following she began teaching at Franklin Community High School. In her first two years of teaching, Jennifer began a show choir program, vocal pedagogy class, and instituted a midi keyboarding lab. Jennifer was also the musical director and a cross country coach while at Franklin Community. Up until 2006, Jennifer taught at Franklin Central High School where she directed the novice women’s show choir High Voltage who placed in the top three at every competition in their inaugural year. Jennifer also had the opportunity to coach middle school cross-country and track at FTMS winning two state championship titles in cross country. As running is a hobby of hers, Jennifer accomplished a personal goal of running the Boston marathon in April of 2005.

Currently Jennifer is excited to be directing the Debtones, the Accents, and Symphonic Choir and team-teaching Chorale, for the second year. She is also a assisting with the high school cross country team at Center Grove and a huddle-leader for Center Grove FCA. Jennifer’s husband Troy is also a teacher and football coach at Center Grove High School. Their two beautiful children are Deacon (a Maltese) and Delaney (a Shih Tzu).

Andrew (Andy) Haines is proud to be in his seventh year as the choreographer of the CG Sound System and second year with the Debtones. He is in his 27th year as a freelance choreographer and has worked extensively throughout the show choir world. A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in business, he began choreographing to pay for college. As a self-taught dancer, he has achieved recognition for his creativity, wit, and ability to educate through the art of dance. Andrew has choreographed over 100 musicals, state pageants for the Miss America program, and USO shows overseas. His work has claimed numerous awards over the years, including 19 national show choir championships.

Greg Sanders is an active choral pianist in Indiana, performing in concert with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, choruses at Butler University, Franklin College, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus.

Aside from his choral work, Greg is a vocal coach and chamber musician, performing extensively in recitals, festivals, conferences, and master classes in Indianapolis and regionally. He has held staff piano positions at Butler University and Franklin College where he coached and performed with many instrumentalists and singers. Greg is a regular pianist for several Indianapolis-based musicians. He has given recitals at numerous regional colleges and universities.

Greg has performed in many parts of North America, including Chicago, Montreal, and the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as in concerts in Europe, including a recent tour of Scotland and England with Franklin Central High School.

Greg is involved with other forms of music education in Indianapolis. He maintains a small private piano studio. Greg serves as an adjudicator for piano competitions and teaches master classes. He previously served as the Program Director for the Midwest School of Music, which services more than five hundred Indianapolis music students and helps to sponsor recitals and competitions for young pianists.

Greg is excited to join the creative staff here at Center Grove High School.

Sheila Leachman is a graduate of Indiana State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She has been playing piano for a number of years including various groups while attending Indiana State University. She has also served as substitute organist at her home church Friedens United Church of Christ and is also the keyboardist for their contemporary band.

Sheila is currently the accompanist/assistant for Center Grove High School’s Choral Department where she has also been active in the school’s theater productions of Hello Dolly, Guys and Dolls, 42^nd Street and most recently Anything Goes, and The Wizard of Oz. Sheila is married and has two boys Jacob,11 and Matthew, 8.