Voices Lifted

Diane McCullough serves on MAAE's RIDE Committee addressing issues of racism, inclusion, diversity and equity. She is a music educator (retired) with a wealth of experience she freely shares. Her professional career path has included international performance experience in opera, and as a consultant and national trainer for Music! Words! Opera! with extensive partnerships with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. A founding director for three nonprofit organizations – 1) Karumanta, an Andean flute band, 2) The St. Louis Scottish Games, and 3) Scottish Partnership for Arts and Education (SPAE), McCullough continues to serve the arts community and has been honored by peer groups and community foundations. Most recently, she received an “Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan” award from the St. Andrew Charitable Foundation in 2022.

Mrs. Suzanne Palmer currently serves as  Fine Arts Director in the Normandy Schools Collaborative and is Artistic director and conductor of the Community Gospel Choir of St. Louis and is the founder of The Fellowship of Souls Gospel Ensemble. A music educator, professional singer and music director, Mrs. Palmer has put her talent to work to teach many people in her words- the transformative, life affirming, spiritual power of music to bind, cleanse and heal the soul. She has received many awards and is the recipient of The St. Louis Arts and Education Council-Arts Educator of the Year-Legacy Award 2023.