Joel Dunlap
Director of Choral Activities

Mr. Dunlap is in his seventh year at Long Beach High School as Director of Choral Activities. Mr. Dunlap is currently pursuing his Doctoral of Musical Arts (Choral Conducting emphasis) at the University of Southern Mississippi.  He holds a double-concentration Bachelor’s degree in Vocal and Piano Music Education in 2003 and graduated Cum Laude with a Master's of Music degree from the University of Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the world-renowned "Ole Miss Concert Singers" directed by Dr. Jerry Jordan.  He has conducted large orchestral works such as W.A. Mozart’s "Coronation Mass in C Major" in 2005 and 2011 and G.F. Handel’s "Messiah" in 2002 and 2004. Both of these masterpieces were performed by the Marks Community Choir and The Oxford Singers - two community choirs which he founded and directed. 

Under his direction, the Long Beach Concert Choir has traveled to Florence, Venice and Rome, Italy performing solo concerts at such venues as St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.    The Concert Choir also had the honor of singing for Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.  He is currently the Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS.  He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and is certified in Levels I & II of Orff-Schulwerk for teaching at the elementary level.

In 2009 at the MMEA State Convention in Jackson, MS, Mr. Dunlap was awarded the "Outstanding Young Music Educator" for the state of Mississippi.  This award is given to one educator annually.  Upon receiving this award, Mr. Dunlap was granted a Proclamation from the State of Mississippi on September 17, 2009.

Mr. Dunlap served as District VIII Choral Chairperson from 2008-2010 and currently is on the MMEA state board of directors as Chairperson for the 2011-2012 Mississippi All-State Women's Choir.  He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Gulfport with their son, Jackson.

Brian Chancey
Associate Choral Director

Mr. Chancey is in his fouth year as Associate Choral Director for the Long Beach Choirs.  Mr. Chancey is employed at Northrop Grumman Aerospace as Quality Assurance Inspector for the Defense Contract Management Agency.   He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Music Education from Judson College which is located in Marion, Alabama.   He is a 1984 graduate of Ocean Springs High School and continued his higher education for two years at the University of Southern Mississippi concentrating on Biology and Music Composition.  He then joined the Active Air Force Reserves and worked for the Hurricane Hunters before retiring after 22 years of service.  He is currently the director of the First United Methodist Church of Long Beach Youth Choir and a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Civic Chorale.  Mr. Chancey conducts selections for the Varsity and Concert Choirs at Long Beach High School in addition to serving as Director for the LBHS Men's Quartet, Girls' Sextet, and Men's Choir.  He is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Mississippi Music Educator's Association and Youth CUE, a youth choir ministry organization.

 Rita Wilson
Long Beach Middle School Choral Director

Ms. Wilson is in her second year as choral director at Long Beach Middle School after teaching choir for 10 years at Hancock High and Middle schools.  Ms. Wilson is a 1993 graduate of Seminary High School and attended Jones County Junior College where she was a member of the Concert Choir, Gospel Ensemble, Musical Theatre and the Maroon Typhoon Marching Band.  Ms. Wilson earned a Bachelor's of Music from William Carey College in 2000 and was awarded a Master's Degree in Music Education from William Carey College in August 2010. 

Ms. Wilson's choir at Hancock has earned superior ratings at festivals and this past year her Women's Ensemble had the honor of singing for Phil Bryant, the Lt. Governor of Mississippi.   Ms. Wilson served as Minister of Music at Union Baptist Church from 1998-2003 and is currently serving as music director at Diamondhead United Methodist Church.  Ms. Wilson is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Civic Chorale and has served as adjudicator for the MMEA Elementary Honor Choir as well as the Bay Theatre.

Ms. Wilson's professional affiliations include the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, and has served as MMEA District VIII Treasurer for the Junior High Division.

Ms. Wilson's Concert Choir and Girls' Ensemble at Long Beach Middle School received Superior ratings at the District and State Choral Festival in 2011.  The Long Beach Middle School Choir is rated one of the best middle school choirs on the coast.  

Dewana Raulston
Concert Choir Piano Accompanist

Mrs. Raulston is the music teacher at Quarles Elementary School in Long Beach, Mississippi.  This is her fifth year at Quarles and her seventh year teaching music.  She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  While at USM, she was the recipient of the Melvene D. Hardee Piano Scholarship.  She accompanied various ensembles and soloists, including the Southern Chorale, Concert Choir, University Singers and the Hattiesburg Choral Union.  She was the church pianist at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Wiggins, MS for nine years. 

She has accompanied the Long Beach Concert Choir on many occasions including spring shows such as Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", "Les Miserables" and "Phantom of the Opera".  She has been playing piano since the age of eight and currently is staff pianist at First Baptist Church of Gulfport, MS.  She and her husband, Kent, reside in Gulfport.

Martha Monroe
Concert Choir Organist

Martha Monroe is an educator, choral adjudicator, and performer.  She received her Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Mississippi, Master of Music degree from Mississippi College, Diploma in Piano from Ecole Normale de Musique, Paris, France, and Specialist in Music Education Degree from the University of Mississippi.  She was a recipient of the Carnegie-Melon Foundation fellowship for doctoral study and was named Outstanding Music Educator of Mississippi by the Mississippi Educators Association in 1999.  A former choral music director and accompanist for the Long Beach School District choral music departments, she is presently the Director of Music Ministry at First United Methodist Church in New Albany, Mississippi and is an adjunct faculty member for Itawamba Community College.

Mrs. Monroe has accompanied the Long Beach Concert Choir in England, Scotland, Austria, Hungary, Italy and most recently, France.  She has also accompanied the Choir on their premiere at Carnegie Hall.  She has performed at such world-renowned cathedrals as St. Martin-in-the-Field, St. Phillips Presbyterian Church, Portobello in Edinburgh, Dom Cathedral in Salzburg, St. Patrick's in New York, St. Peter's in Rome, St. Mark's in Venice, Canterbury Cathedral in England, La Madeleine and Norte Dame in Paris, France.