Ensemble Directors

Fox Valley Youth ChoRUS

Enriching lives THROUGH VOICE AND SONG

Gregory McMahill is the director of the Cantabile Singers ensemble. After graduating from Millikin University, Mr. McMahill studied conducting and orchestral scores under the tutelage of Maestro Alan Heatherington with the Ars Viva Symphony and Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra. Mr. McMahill is an excellent bass singer who has been extensively involved in the choral world in our area.  He has served as conductor to Saint Rita of Cascia Catholic Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel general music teacher for the school and has been a member of the Fox Valley Orchestra Chorus, St. Gregory the Great Triduum Chorus, International Chamber Artist, Chamber Opera of Chicago, Da Cornetto Opera, Elgin Opera, Chicago Master Singers, and the Fox Chamber Singers.  Mr. McMahill has also taught in our Fox Valley El Sistema program, and currently teaches in West Aurora School District.  Mr. McMahill, along with his wife and 3 children, resides in Aurora.

Patricia Doctor, director of the Youth Singers, Earned a BS in Education at Bradley University. Joining the West Aurora School District 129 team in 1996 becoming the full time music teacher at Freeman Elementary from 1998 thru 2018. While there she continued her education and completed her Masters of Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago.

 

With a history as the Junior Choir director at various Catholic churches, she currently enjoys that duty at Annunciation BVM parish in Aurora. Patricia frequently lends her voice to be a cantor, and is a professional soloist for weddings, funerals, and memorial celebrations all over the area.

 

A longtime participant both on stage and behind the scenes with dozens of musical theatre productions, she has a real passion for musical performance. She formerly lent her talents to the Aurora Junior Women's Club in numerous productions. Also, one of her favorite roles was portraying the Mother Superior in Wheaton Drama's Nunsense.

 

Beginning with a performance tour of the Holy Land, travel and singing has also been a highlight for Mrs. Doctor. She has since performed with choirs at Carnegie Hall in NYC, and while in Italy - at the Vatican in Rome, the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.

 

Locally she participates in the semi-annual Voices-of-Hope concerts at Wentz Hall in Naperville in honor of people whose lives have been altered by cancer. During the pandemic, she was fortunate enough to perform in two remote productions online and one live outdoor performance through the Downers Gove Choral Society.

 

Mrs. Doctor currently teaches as the Music Teacher for K-6 at Holy Cross School in Batavia and is always thrilled to work with the children of the Fox Valley Youth Chorus.

Patricia Doctor

Director

Why I am passionate about Music Education:

Children can have glorious amounts of fun if they learn to listen, pay attention, follow directions, and participate with their whole being. I love being able to give them these opportunities. 

 

It is also my belief that children can accomplish fabulous tasks if they are held to high expectaions.  Self-esteem is increased exponentially when children succeed.  I love the smiles of success on the faces of my students.

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