Meet Our Staff
Ms. Annette Morris
Owner/Director of
"Kindermusik with Ms. Annette & Friends" Memphis, TN
Annette Morris is the owner and director of Kindermusik with Ms. Annette & Friends, which started in September 2001 and has taught Kindermusik for 17 years. She combines her two passions: children and music. Annette holds a B.S. degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as well as a Masters in Early Childhood Education. Annette has taught third grade in the Virginia Beach Public Schools as well as teaching 4 year olds in a private Christian school in North Carolina. She has an extensive background in music with training in several instruments as well as vocal training. Annette went through Kindermusik training classes and was licensed in Kindermusik in 1994.
Annette has been named a "Maestro Conductor's Circle" by Kindermusik International, which was based on the performance and growth of Kindermusik with Ms. Annette & Friends and as a result she and her staff have achieved this award from 2003 to present. Her program is ranked 16 out of over 5,000 educators world-wide in her enrollment, staff and customer satisfaction.
She has also been recognized by Kindermusik International for having the 3rd largest ABC Music & Me program worldwide in 2006.
Click on the names below to view each teacher's bio.
OUR STAFF
MS. KAREN
Karen Schowalter Cooper is from New Orleans, Louisiana. She received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance from Louisiana State University.She was recruited by the University of Memphis to work towards her Doctorate in Musical Arts in vocal performance as a Hohenberg-Scheidt fellow. Karen is near completion of this degree. She also recently became Level I Orff certified.
Karen has performed in Germany, Italy, Israel, and throughout the United States. She was a national finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and in the Chicago Lyric Opera Center for American Artists. She has performed numerous operatic roles as well as oratorio with orchestra.
Along with teaching Kindermusik classes, she also leads children's music at Germantown Presbyterian Church Sunday School and teaches singing and guitar lessons at Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal School. She teaches beginning piano, guitar, and voice out of her home studio,Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord.
Karen has been a "Certified Kindermusik Educator" since 2006.
MS. TERRI
Terri Doty is a licensed Kindermusik educator and began teaching for Ms. Annette in January 2005. Her love for music began with piano lessons at age 6. She is a graduate from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Music Education.Terri has directed children's choirs in several churches, and has performed in folk music concerts in the Memphis area. She currently serves as pianist at Leawood East Baptist Church.
Terri has directed children's choirs in several churches, and has performed in folk music concerts in the Memphis area. She currently serves as pianist at Leawood East Baptist Church.
Terri has been a "Certified Kindermusik Educator" since 2005.
MS. LEANNE
Information coming soon.
MS. LINDA
Linda Sissom moved to Memphis in 2003 with her husband Jeff and her four year old son Joshua. While attending an Imagine That! class with Joshua she became interested in becoming a Kindermusik educator. And as a result, she started teaching for Ms. Annette in 2004 and is now a licensed Kindermusik educator. Her music career began with piano lessons at age 8 and continued throughout high school where she sang and served as the accompanist for different choirs in the area. She has a Bachelors degree in Vocal Music Education from Louisiana State University and has performed in various choral ensembles. In addition, Linda taught elementary music for 11 years for the Alief School District in Houston, Texas and was the director of the Fort Bend Boys Choir Training Choir for three years.
Linda is a member of Bartlett Woods Church of Christ and enjoys spending time with family and friends, eating out, and traveling.
Linda has been a "Certified Kindermusik Educator" since 2004.
MS. PATTI
Information coming soonMS. CHERI
Cheri Wooster joined the staff of ”Kindermusik w/ Ms. Annette & Friends” in August of 2007. She grew up singing in several church choirs and performing in church musicals. She served as a VBS music assistant at her church for a year. She taught tumbling and dance to children ranging in age from 3 - 12 years old with Mrs. Pat's School of Dance in Cordova, TN. Her own dance experience extends to the college level. She has been involved in school concert bands for six years and various marching bands for thirteen years.She is currently the color guard instructor for two local high schools. Cheri graduated from the University of Memphis in the summer of 2007 with a degree in Management Information Systems. Ms. Cheri is an enthusiastic, fun teacher that loves singing and dancing with children. She currently teaches "ABC Music and Me" classes.
MS. EMILY
Emily Rachel Fowler, known as Ms. Emily, has been enjoying Kindermusik with families since 1997. She has a Bachelor of Music Education with an Instrumental Emphasis degree from Harding University, became licensed in Kindermusik in 1997 and received her Level 1 Orff certification in 1999. She has been recognized as a Maestro in Masterful Teaching by Kindermusik International since 2008 and previously participated in achieving each Board Certifying Level. She is excited to join the staff of Kindermusik® w/ Ms. Annette & Friends in 2012. Along with her husband Clay, it has been a treasure for Emily to participate in Kindermusik classes with their children. Both their daughter and son experienced Kindermusik in the womb, while mom taught, and went through the complete program until graduating at 7 years old.
MS. THERESA
Ms. Theresa has been involved with music her entire life, and is now very pleased to be sharing her love of music with children of all ages! She has performed with choirs and in solo piano and voice through her life, as well as frequently volunteering to work with children's choirs. In 2010, she received her degree in Music Education from Gonzaga University, and relocated to Memphis, TN. In addition to teaching Kindermusik classes, she has the great opportunity of teaching general music and choir for several private elementary schools in the Memphis area, as well as performing with the Memphis Symphony Chorus. She looks forward to continuing to share her love of music with children of all ages for many years.MS. DEE
Dee is currently playing for weddings and parties in the Memphis and surrounding areas She has a Classical violin background but has branched into Old Time and Celtic fiddling. The harp and fiddle duo, Selkie, was well received in the York, PA area as they played for Irish festivals, parades,coffee shops and private parties. Contemporary Christian worship with inspired improvisation is one of her most loved passions. Her recording of the song Calvary with the band Zealous was a wonderful time. Dee has taught 2 years at the University of Memphis Suzuki program and is currently certified to teach through Book 5. Most of her 30 plus years teaching experience has been to children as young as 3 and up. Dee is excited to be teaching Kindermusik as this will help students gain a foundation of musical and movement skills that will translate into easier instrument instruction and compliment nicely dance and gymnastic programs. MS. TRISHA
Trisha Huntley is a native Memphian. She has always loved music and has been singing and acting as long as she can remember. She has a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance from the University of Memphis. She has performed many operatic and musical theater roles, as well as oratorio with orchestra in Memphis and Italy. She received the Charles Reicker scholarship at the University in Memphis in honor of the late Charlie Reicker. She has also been nominated for an Ostrander Award for her role as Rosa Budd in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. As a musical family, Trisha and her husband, Philip, both participate in the worship services at Bellevue Baptist Church. She is on vocals at the 11:00 service and he plays trombone in the 9:20 service. Trisha also teaches voice lessons at Bellevue's School of Performing Arts and out of her home studio.
Her passion was opera, but an experience leading music at a VBS on a Honduras mission trip changed her heart. She fell in love with children and knew that she was meant to work with them.
Ms. Trisha is in the process of becoming Kindermusik certified and can't wait to begin teaching!