Meet the QCC Team

  • Kenny Kabak

    Founder / Artistic Director

    From St. Louis, Missouri, Kenny Kabak graduated with his Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Missouri State University, where he also completed a Bachelor of Music Education - Vocal/Choral degree. Kenny is the Director of Music and Youth Ministries at Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield, MO and also works as an Artistic Advisor to Perform International - a performance tour planning company. He was a founding director of the Springfield Street Choir, a non-profit organization that served members of the Springfield community who were experiencing homelessness. Kenny is the Founder/Artistic Director of the Queen City Chorale, a recently launched choral ensemble in Springfield, MO. His previous engagements have included serving as Conductor of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa where the choir ranked as one of the top three children’s choirs in the world (World Choir Games, 2018). He was the Student Representative for the Missouri Choral Directors Association through which he helped establish the Student & New Teacher Academy. He is a recipient of the Prelude Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association - awarded to a young choral professional that has demonstrated exemplary work in the field. Upon completion of his Masters, he was awarded the STAR Award for MSU Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year. Kenny has traveled extensively as a choral professional, including trips around the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Professional affiliations include the American Choral Directors Association, Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Society, National Collegiate Choral Organization, International Federation for Choral Music, Choristers Guild, Chorus America, and the Missouri Music Educators Association.

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  • Briar A. Douglas

    Executive Director

    Originally from Hannibal, Missouri, Briar Douglas graduated from Missouri State University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Administrative Management, then again in 2022 with his Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. During his time at Missouri State, he was a member of the Missouri State Chorale for five years and served as the Student Representative on MSU’s Board of Governors throughout graduate school. In 2022, Briar began working in the university’s Office of Student Engagement (OSE) as their Coordinator of Co-Curricular Involvement, serving as an advisor for all student organizations on campus and as a coordinator for leadership development education in the OSE. He also serves as a board member for Springfield Little Theatre and the Ozarks Lesbian & Gay Archives (OLGA).

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QCC Advisory Board

  • Hannah Martin

    Chairperson

    Hannah Martin is the Director of Choirs at Reeds Spring Middle School and High School. Previously, she taught at Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. Louis. Hannah graduated from Missouri State University with her Masters in Music, with an emphasis in choral conducting. From the same institution, she also holds bachelors degrees in Vocal Music Education and Vocal Performance. Additionally, she participated in a week-long study of melody with Alice Parker at her home in Massachusetts in 2018. At Missouri State, she participated in many of the Chorale’s international tours. She has also performed at several professional music conferences, namely MMEA, NCCO, and ACDA. In 2019, she was selected for the World Youth Choir, where she performed across France and Portugal with ensemble members from around the world.

  • Alex Smith

    Past Chairperson

    Alex Smith is a graduate of Missouri State University, where he was an active member of the Choral Studies department. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music degree and a Graduate Certificate in Choral Studies. Alex currently works as an Administrative Assistant in the music department at Missouri State. He also serves as a choral scholar at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Director of Client Retention at Cut Off Studios. Along with the Queen City Chorale, Alex sings in the Springfield Chamber Chorus and Missouri State University Choral Union.

  • Giovanni Hernandez

    Giovanni Hernandez is the Director of Choirs at the Reed Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Springfield, Missouri. He helps lead a vocal music program of over 200 singers and is the conductor of the Reed Academy Singers. Giovanni holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Missouri State University where he studied with Dr. Cameron LaBarr. Choirs under his direction have consistently earned Superior ratings and 1st Place finishes at contests and competitions all across the state of Missouri.

    Along with his work at Reed, Giovanni also previously served as a Director of The Ozarks A Cappella: an auditioned, community youth a cappella group based in the greater Springfield, MO area. During the group's tenure from 2020-2023, they won the Finals of the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) and were nominated for multiple CARA awards.

  • Zach Reece

    Zach Reece is a graduate assistant at Missouri State University, where he also received his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education in 2020. He has sung in the choirs of Missouri State University since 2015 and has toured with ensembles both domestically and abroad to Europe, South Africa, Scandinavia, and China. In August of 2019, Zach received a fellowship to attend the Yale-Norfolk Choral Conducting Workshop, under the direction of Simon Carrington. Zach has also sung as a recording artist for Walton Music and Choristers Guild, as well as local choirs Springfield Chamber Chorus, Queen City Chorale, and Missouri Choral Artists. Since 2016, Zach has been a choral scholar at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church.

  • Lauren Vomund

    Lauren Vomund graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Vocal Music Education with Educational Honors from the University of Missouri - Columbia, where she performed and toured extensively with the Mizzou University Singers and Show Me Opera Program. During her time at Mizzou, she also served as President and Music Director for the music service fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota. Lauren is in her 9th year of directing choirs and currently teaches at Nixa Junior High School, previously directing choirs in Willard, Ozark, and Spokane, Missouri. She has performed at multiple conferences across the state, and in 2021, her 7th Grade Treble Choir was selected to perform at MMEA. Lauren has been singing with the Queen City Chorale since its inception and also performs with Springfield Chamber Chorus and the Missouri Choral Artists. Additionally, she serves on the music team with University Heights Baptist Church.