About the Directors

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Chris Ahrens

Choir Director

Christopher W. Ahrens joined the faculty of McKinney North High School as Choir Director in 2015. Prior to that, he served as the Choir Director at Vines High School in Plano, TX and Assistant Choir Director at Plano Senior High School. Mr. Ahrens received both a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Texas Christian University where he performed and studied under the direction of Ron Shirey, Dr. Sheri Neill, and David Brock.

In addition to being an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the state of Texas, he serves as the Assistant Director of the TCU All-State Choir Camp each summer. He served TMEA Region 25 as Vocal Chair from 2011-2013 and again from 2015-2017.

Mr. Ahrens was honored as the 2013 Teacher of the Year for Vines HS and went on to receive the Excellence in Teaching Award from Plano Independent School District. Mr. Ahrens has consistently been successful at UIL and other various competitions around the nation. The Vines Chorale Women were selected to perform at TMEA in 2014, and he had the pleasure of co-directing the PSHS Varsity Women at the ACDA National Convention in 2007 as well as TMEA in 2009. He holds professional affiliations with: ACDA, TCDA, TMEA, and TMAA.

Mr. Ahrens serves as the Youth Choir Director and Tenor Section Leader at Transfiguration Episcopal Church in Dallas. His wife Kimberley is the choir director at Robinson Middle School in Plano ISD, and they reside in McKinney, TX with their children Camden and Katie.

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Rachel Gillispie

Associate Choir Director

Rachel Gillispie is the Associate Choral Director at McKinney North High School. She joined the faculty of McKinney North in 2012. Previous to teaching, Rachel received her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University in Vocal Music Education under the direction of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Dr. Mark Lawlor and April Golliver.

Mrs. Gillispie has performed with many choirs across the nation. Mrs. Gillispie holds professional affiliations with: TMEA, ACDA, TMEA, and ΣAI. In 2011, Mr. Gillispie and her husband Ross reside in McKinney, TX with their two sons Graeme and Cooper.