Janie Oliver is Co-Founder of the Children’s Chorus and Youth Chorus of Collin County and has served as the Artistic Director since its inception in 2006.   Janie oversees a comprehensive choral program that includes 3 age group Choruses, Grades 3-12, and two Ensembles.  The Chorus performs regularly in local, national, and international settings.   Janie is the conductor for the 6-8 grade Concert Chorus.

Prior to 2006, Janie served as Associate Minister of Worship and Music at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, where her responsibilities included coordinating fourteen Children’s Choirs, 3 Handbell Choirs, and producing and directing the Christmas and Easter Pageants.  She also served as Director for the older children’s Carol Choir, Ladies Ensemble, Jubilee Singers, and as Assistant Director for the adult Sanctuary Choir.    

Janie is a published author and composer, and has conducted seminars and workshops for choirs and choir leaders throughout the United States.  She has directed choirs in England, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hawaii, Nassau, and Canada.  She also has conducted stand-alone concerts in Canterbury Cathedral and Carnegie Hall with the Children’s Chorus of Collin County.  On a lighter side, she has enjoyed a second career of singing and speaking, and is a frequent speaker and entertainer for women’s groups, retreats, and conventions.

She holds Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Music, and is affiliated with Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, and Choristers Guild.

Lindy Perez taught Choir in Richardson ISD for 36 years, most recently at Richardson HS, where she directed the Varsity Choirs, the JV Girls' Choir, and the show choir, Legacy.  Her choirs earned many awards at state and local competitions and consistently earned Sweepstakes awards at UIL Concert and Sight reading Contest each spring.  In 2015, she received the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award in Music.  Mrs. Perez was selected 4 times as “Most Influential Teacher” by top ten graduates.  In addition to teaching choir, Mrs. Perez also taught the vocal music for the annual musical productions at RHS.  Under her guidance, Anything Goes won best musical direction at the Dallas Summer Musicals High School Awards Program in 2012.   

Prior to teaching at RHS, Mrs. Perez was the Choir Director at Westwood JH for 13 years.  Under her direction, the Westwood Chorale performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and was honored to sing for the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 1991. 

From 2000-2021, Mrs. Perez directed the Richardson All District Elementary Choir, a select choir of 100 members from 40 elementary schools districtwide.  Under her leadership, the chorus performed at the Eisemann Center, the Majestic Theatre, the Meyerson Symphony Center, and by invitation at TMEA in 2003 and 2015. 

Mrs. Perez holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University.  As a member of the Texas Choral Directors Association and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, she enjoys serving as a clinician, judge, and presenter of workshops on vocal technique for the young singer throughout the state of Texas.  

Lindy Perez is honored to be a part of the Children’s Chorus of Collin County!

Emmanuel Richard Espiritu was born in Dallas, Texas. A first-generation American, Emmanuel’s first experience with performing came in 3rd grade when he was asked to sing at a Filipino celebration called Santo Nino. Before graduating from Mesquite High School, he made the Texas All-State choir and was named Outstanding Soloist at the Texas State UIL competition.  He then attended the University of North Texas to study Music Education. 

While studying at UNT, he worked as a youth choir director at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Dallas as the Traditional Choir director for St. Mark Catholic Church in Plano.  He also had the privilege of conducting Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium for the world-renowned men’s chorus, the Turtle Creek Chorale. Soon after, Emmanuel began a master’s degree in Choral Conducting at the Boston Conservatory, where he studied voice under Victor Jannett and conducting under Dr. Bill Cutter.  Emmanuel worked at St. Monica Catholic Church for many years, serving in multiple roles such as Youth Director, Director of Youth and Music, Children’s Choir Director, and Associate Director of Music. He still leads the St. Monica Contemporary Band, but also teaches full-time as the Choir Director at John Paul II High School in Plano. Emmanuel worked with Youth Chorus for the Children's Chorus of Collin County several years ago and we are thrilled to have him join our team.

Emmanuel lives in Richardson with his wife, Jessica, and their two kids, Xander and Emmy.  

Becky Edwards has been an accompanist in the Dallas area for over thirty years. She served as pianist at First Baptist Church Dallas for twenty-three years where she played for one of the Sunday services and accompanied the Chapel Choir. This choir was made up of high school students and traveled all over the world. Becky taught elementary music at Northwood Hills Elementary school for 18 years, retiring in 2017. She is the accompanist for Richardson High School, Westwood Junior High, All Region Choir for Junior High, and regularly accompanies vocalists and instrumentalists for UIL. 

Becky received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Midwestern State University where she studied under Ivy Boland. 

This will be Becky’s second year as accompanist for the Prelude Chorus.

Michael is a private music teacher, accompanist, and tenor in the DFW area. He is currently the voice teacher and accompanist at several high schools and middle schools in Plano and Frisco ISD, as well as teaching voice and piano lessons in his home studio to students of all ages. In addition to accompanying for CCCC, Michael also serves as the accompanist for the Plano Children’s Chorale.  

Michael holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the University of North Texas, he received tutelage from the renowned soprano, Dr. Carol Wilson, and performed under the baton of Dr. Allen Hightower in the UNT A Cappella Choir and early music ensemble, Vox Aquilae. Michael currently holds affiliations with Dallas Music Teachers Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing , and Texas Music Educators Association.

Chellie serves as our Director of Operations, handling the day to day business operations.  Chellie joined our Chorus in September of 2025.

She comes to the Chorus with 30+ years experience in education, children’s programs, business and non-profit organization administration.  Chellie served as the competition/events chair and board member for the Dallas Figure Skating Cub for the past 25+ years, was a PTO leader and President at the Dallas International School for 13 years, was a homeschool Mom for 11 years, owned her own secretarial business for 12 years and managed the International Skating Center of Texas for 10 years.  She has worked with various church, school and community organizations in both volunteer and professional leadership and administration.

Chellie has coordinated many local, national and international events and exchanges, with families from diverse cultures and backgrounds in sports, arts, tours and missions helping facilitate great adventures and learning opportunities for all the participants.  Her grandaughter Eden Kinnett brought her to CCCC joining the Prelude Chorus, starting a new chorus adventure for them both this season.

Chellie loves gardening, cats, travel, ice skating, education and music.  She sings soprano in 3 choirs in addition to managing our Children’s Chorus.