Girls Choir of Springfield is the premier community female ensemble in Springfield and throughout Southwest Missouri. Their faculty and assistants are committed to helping singers grow to their full potential in an energetic and motivating musical environment, along with inspiring them to achieve success in all facets of their lives through service and song.

GCS Songbirds, Grades 2-4

The Songbirds have sung in concert with the other GCS girls for the past four years. They have performed for events such as Downtown Springfield First Friday Art Walk, Heritage of Hymns, Springfield and St. Louis Cardinals games, and as a guest choir for the Springfield Symphony holiday concert in December of 2016. Other opportunities included singing at the Pittsburg State University, Kansas music competition in the spring, performing at the Isabel’s House Christmas Tree Lighting event and joining Glendale High School ladies choir at the Barnabas Prep concert.

The goal of Songbirds is to musically prepare girls for future choral experiences as their voices mature and grow. A pleasing vocal quality can be attained through listening to each other and being a member of the team. Proper vocal technique, stage presence and etiquette and the dedication and commitment necessary to belong to such a choir are all part of the rehearsal regimen. 

Girls Choir of Springfield, Grades 5-9

The Girls Choir of Springfield is the premier community female ensemble in Springfield and throughout Southwest Missouri. Their faculty and assistants are committed to helping singers grow their full potential in an energetic and motivating musical environment, along with inspiring them to achieve success in all facets of their lives.
 
The girls have performed at Pittsburg State University, The Gillioz Theatre as part of a Martin Luther King Celebration, St. Louis Cardinals games, the Heritage of Hymns Concert with Springfield Symphony Orchestra, as a selected ensemble for the 2015 Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, as well as their three-concert series every year.
 
Our talented young singers come from private, public, and home-schooled environments. GCS delights audience members each year – locally and abroad – with its varied repertoire and heartfelt singing.

Our Team

Alicia Lyons
​​Artistic Director, Grades 5-9

Recipient of the 2013 Missouri Choral Directors Prelude Award, Alicia Lyons holds her Bachelors of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri Kansas-City Conservatory of Music, Masters in the Art of Teaching degree from Missouri State University, and Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Missouri State University. Ms. Lyons has participated in the Westminster Conducting and Choral Pedagogy Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, the Eastman Conducting Institute in Rochester, New York, and the Melody Studies program under the direction of Alice Parker in Charlemont, Massachusetts.

​In addition to choral conducting, Ms. Lyons has completed vocal apprenticeships with Interlochen Arts Academy, the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute, the V.O.I.C.Experience under the direction of Sherrill Milnes, and has performed nationally in a variety of roles.

Ms. Lyons is currently in her sixth year as choir director at Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri. There she teaches Chorus One, Women’s Chorus, Concert Choir, Dante Deo, and Chamber Choir. Prior to her time at Glendale she spent three years at Springfield Catholic High School directing the Concert Choir and Women’s Chorus with grades 9-12. Under her direction the choirs have been awarded superior ratings at state choir contest as well as gold medal and first place rankings at the Heritage Choir Festivals in Orlando, Chicago, and New York City, and received an invitation for her choirs to perform at the 2016 MMEA conference.

As an advocate for music education, Ms. Lyons has presented at the Academy of Educational Studies Conference in Branson, Missouri and the Critical Questions in Education Conference in Chicago, Illinois. She is an active member of ACDA, MCDA, MMEA, and has served on the board of South Central Missouri Music Educators as well as the Boys Choir of Springfield. 

Molly Faulkner
​​Artistic Director, Grades 2-4

Molly K. Faulkner is a Springfield native growing up by Fellows Lake. She attended Strafford High School, Missouri State University (then Southwest Missouri State) where she obtained a BS in Music Education and William Woods University where she obtained a Masters in Elementary Administration. Retiring three years ago, Molly had a long career in the public education system, teaching four-year-olds through 8th graders. Having taught in south central Missouri for two years, Springfield for 29 years and Saudi Arabia for 11 years, where she had the honor of being the Teacher of the Year, she has seen thousands of children come to enjoy and love the art of choral music.

​Molly continues to enjoy singing with the Springfield Mid-America Singers who celebrated their 50th year this season. She has performed with the Springfield Regional Opera and had overseas choral opportunities with the Hejaz Choral Society and stage shows with the Jeddah Light Opera. Presently, besides her duties as director of the SDGC Songbirds, Molly plays the pipe organ at her church. She manages to have time for a few piano students as well. Maintaining the yard of her home and continuing renovation projects in the house where she grew up fill her days.