Staff

Artistic Director
Gerald Gurss, native Kansan, received his BM degree from Emporia State University in 2001 and his MM degree in 2004 from Miami University. His diverse accomplishments at Emporia State include performing principal operatic roles, being selected as a NATS finalist, and winning an AIDS Quilt composition prize. During his studies at Miami, Gurss was the assistant conductor of the Miami University Men’s Glee Club, served as chorus master for the opera program and was honored to meet and interview composer Morten Lauridsen; additionally, he served as an assistant and chorister in keyboardist-composer Howard Helvey’s chancel choir. Studies abroad include a German language institute in Würzburg and an art song institute in Salzburg. After a successful teaching career in the Leavenworth Catholic Schools, Gurss became an adjunct professor of music for the Kansas City Kansas Community College. Gurss is a featured soloist on the Heartland Men’s Chorus latest CD, “Quest Unending.” The latest honor for Gurss is his appointment as the artistic director for the One Voice Chorus in Charlotte.

Principal Accompanist
Christopher Brayne has enjoyed many seasons as accompanist for One Voice. During his musical career, he has given recitals at venues in the UK and has toured Germany, New Zealand and Holland. He has worked with the Grand Rapids Boys Choir, the Houston Children’s Chorus and appeared as a concert organist in the US making three solo tours prior to his taking the position of Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church in April 2000. His first recording with the Christ Church Choir was released in the fall of 2001. Among many other distinctions, he has worked as a repetiteur and assisted in coaching the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and BBC National Chorus of Wales under Simon Halsey.

Associate Accompanist
In 2001, Dawn Broom began as a substitute accompanist for One Voice. A native North Carolinian and having the degrees B.M.E. and M.C.M., Dawn brings a wealth of musical expertise, as well as experience, to the group. Since her introduction into the OVC organization, she has been with Sotto Voce as temporary accompanist, then permanent accompanist, then Artistic Director/Accompanist, and now permanent accompanist since 2009. Her other musical responsibilties include Organist at Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina and Music Associate-New Spirit Director/Accompanist at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte. She and her partner, Mark, enjoy and care for 4 exotic birds, conures and senegals, and 7 purebreed canines, a French Bulldog, 2 Vizslas, a Bullmastiff, a German Shorthaired Pointer, and 2 Brittanys.

Marketing Director
Pamela Young has more than 18 years of communications experience, with 12 years in online and print publishing. She has directed the publishing activities of a national nonprofit organization and led the editorial and creative functions for an industry-leading technology trade magazine, web site and set of of e-publications. She's currently a freelance editor, writer and communications consultant. She's been a part of One Voice as a singer since December 2002 and began handling many of the chorus' promotional activities the following year.