ABOUT US
Spectrum Show Choir students attend Musselman Middle School, located in Bunker Hill, WV, with Principal James Holland and Assistant Principal Debbie Daniel. Students have to audition to get into the group and practice Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, as well as some Saturdays. Spectrum consists of a group of students that display great dedication, a positive attitude and behavior, and always encourage each other to do the best they can do! The Spectrum family are always there for each other. SpectrumNation!
DIRECTOR - Shayla Brown received her Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Shenandoah University in 2005. While at Shenandoah, Shayla was a member of the choir, Cantus, and gospel choir, Harambee. She was also one of the three directors of the R&B show, "Play Another Slow Jam". She started teaching in Berkeley County that same year. In 2008, she returned to Shenandoah University and in 2013, she received her Masters in Music Education. While completing her Master degree, Shayla was asked to join the Shenandoah University Conservatory Choir, an honor she had always wanted. Shayla has taught at Musselman Middle School since 2006, but started off as a General Music teacher. She became the choir teacher in 2014, and has enjoyed every second! Spectrum has become a passion for her and each year, she strives to give the students opportunities they may not have otherwise. Shayla has given private voice and piano lessons for five years. Her students have been asked to take on lead roles in high school and Summer productions, and have performed at the South Berkeley Tree Lighting Ceremonies. She has had the honor of following in her fathers footsteps in 2008, by joining the Dr. Martin Luther King, jr Scholarship Committee, a committee her father started along with other founding members. She later became President of the committee and had the privilege and honor of raising money for scholarships and being on the committee that chooses the recipients of the scholarships. Shayla lives a life wanting to make the future bright and believes that starts with the children. Shayla resides in Martinsburg, WV with her husband, Bryan, and fur baby pomeranian, Chloe.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Yanira Luz Diaz graduated from Shepherd University with a Bachelor's in Music Education in 2015. While at Shepherd, she has had the opportunity to be a soloist in Handel's Messiah, a part of Masterworks Chorale, Women's Camarata, Shepherd's Vocal Jazz Octet, and played Gary Coleman in Shepherd's production of Avenue Q. Yanira was also a maid in the 2011 Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival. She has also had several ensemble roles in productions at the Apollo and was the Assistant Music Director for their production of Once Upon A Mattress. Yanira is currently the General Music teacher at Musselman Middle School and the choir director of the Hispanic community at St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg. Yanira was a member of the Martinsburg Good Times Show Choir in high school and looks forward to continuing to share her love of show choir with Spectrum.
CHOREOGRAPHER DIRECTOR - CorRay LaFleur is a proud graduate of Martinsburg High school were he was a member of Good Times show choir and Chamber choir. He has since performed in several local musical theatre productions. Some of his favorite roles include: Angel-RENT(Scene Stealers), Mitch Mahoney-25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee(Scene Stealers) and his most recent role as Eddie Birdlace in the Apollo Civic Theatres Production of Dogfight. He is also a member of Mt. Zion UMC where he has been the director of NeVaeh for the past 7 years. He also helped to choreograph the end half of the '16-'17 Spectrum Show choir season. He is so proud of the work ethic these young men and women have and plans to much success for this group in the future. CorRay would like to thank the students for being patient with his scattered brain, Mrs. Shayla Brown for giving him the opportunity to share his love for music education, and last, the parents, for without your continued support and guidance none of this would be possible. You truly are making a difference in your childs life by allowing them to participate in music.
CHOREOGRAPHER DIRECTOR - Anthony Riner (Tony) is a graduate from Martinsburg High School and was a four year member of the Good Times Show Choir with the title of Co-Dance Captain his senior year. After graduation, Tony went on to West Virginia University for two years to work on his degree in Dance and Theatre. After leaving the university he went on to audition for productions, cruise lines and even the show So You Think You Can Dance. Tony has choreographed many dances for schools, including choreography for Spectrum last year, and even church choral groups in the surrounding area, as well as in other parts of the state. Tony will be returning to school in August to finish his associates in Dance and will be working towards his bachelors in Music Education. After the completion of his schooling, Tony looks to move to a surrounding state to start his own show choir and help show kids, parents and the community the importance of music in school. Tony is excited to help out with Spectrum once again this upcoming year.
FAVORITE QUOTES FROM YOUR DIRECTORS...
Shayla Brown
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." ~Plato
Yanira Diaz
"Music gives wings to the soul and teaches it to fly." ~Unknown
CorRay LaFleur
"Education in music is most sovereign because more than anything else rhythm and harmony find their way to the innermost soul and take strongest hold upon it " ~Plato
Tony Riner
"It cost nothing to dream and everything not to" ~Rodney White
Shayla Brown
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." ~Plato
Yanira Diaz
"Music gives wings to the soul and teaches it to fly." ~Unknown
CorRay LaFleur
"Education in music is most sovereign because more than anything else rhythm and harmony find their way to the innermost soul and take strongest hold upon it " ~Plato
Tony Riner
"It cost nothing to dream and everything not to" ~Rodney White