Meet the Directors

John Satterfield

John SatterfieldJohn Satterfield is the choral director of The First EditionCSN and Accents, and also teaches courses in piano. John received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Illinois State University and his graduate degree from Eastern Illinois University. John has taught vocal music in several schools throughout Illinois and Indiana for the past 25 years and has served as a vocal clinician at several music festivals and show choir competitions.

In 1991, Mr. Satterfield studied opera performance throughout Germany and Austria. Mr. Satterfield has performed in several operas, operettas, musicals, and appeared as a soloist for several major oratorios. He has performed the roles of Albert Herring in the opera Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, Basilio in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Nanki-Poo in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, John Adams in 1776 and most recently as Prof. Harold Hill in the Civic Under the Stars’ production of The Music Man.

Charis Vander Plaats

Charis Vander Plaats, a native of Lafayette, Indiana, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 2002 from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and a secondary license to teach Vocal and General Music from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.  Ms. V is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Ball State University.  Her twenty-five-year teaching career has included both classroom and choral music education within the Greater Lafayette area schools as well as her private studio.  In the Fall of 2020, she assumed the duties as Director of Choral Activities at the Rohrman Performing Arts Center at Lafayette Jefferson High School where she directs both the Expressions Treble Show Choir and A Cappella Mixed Voice Show Choirs.  She has also served as music director for the Fall Musicals, and teaches Class Piano.  She has served as both a vocal and piano adjudicator for local and statewide competitions, such as The Young Hoosier Piano Competition, and The Federation Jr. Festivals.  She is the Director of Music and Arts at First United Methodist Church in West Lafayette, IN where she serves as pianist, organist, and church choir director.  Charis and her partner Dustin have five children combined and two dogs.  They enjoy going to concerts and spending quality time with family.

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