Chorale Director – Audra Turner
Audra Turner is the Director of Choirs at Panther Creek High School in Frisco, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Conducting from Mississippi College where she studied under Dr. James Meaders and Dr. Mark Nabholz. Audra has held choral director positions in both Mississippi and Texas. Her choirs have earned Superior, Sweepstakes, and Best in Class awards and performed major works such as Requiem by John Rutter.
She is also an accomplished vocalist having performed the roles of Papagena in The Magic Flute and Miss Titmouse in Too Many Sopranos while at Mississippi College and sung as a member of the Dallas Symphony Chorus. Most recently, she was the featured soloist for Vox Anima London’s presentation of John Rutter’s Requiem at the Abbey of Saint-
Étienne in Caen, France.
Audra resides in McKinney, Texas with her husband, daughter, and two dachshunds.
Chorale Accompanist – Gail Wasson
Born in Illinois to a musical family, Gail began taking piano lessons at age 5. In addition to her love for piano, her range of musical interests and performance experience extends to include conducting, voice, clarinet, musical theater,
composition and arranging.
Gail received a BME from Illinois Wesleyan University, with a concentration in piano and a minor in voice. Upon graduation, she taught choir, band and drama in the Knoxville (Illinois) Junior and Senior High Schools, then journeyed to Dallas to pursue her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from SMU.
At that time, in addition to performing, her interest grew in writing and arranging music. She wrote arrangements and served musical Director for Gran’ Crystal Palace Dinner Theater in Dallas (1980). She has published arrangements with Crescendo Choral Music, Fourth Day Publishing, Shawnee Press and Word Music. She has written and recorded piano and orchestral music for corporate films, documentaries, and television.
Gail married John Wasson 1987. They have 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren.
Gail loves her role as pianist for the HR Chorale. She truly enjoys collaborative work and supporting our director and our vocalists. Over the years, she has enjoyed the meaningful themes chosen for each program and the selected music. She would like to encourage new Heritage Ranch residents to join as music brings us together in special ways.
