Staff and Contributing Artists
Who We Are
It all started over coffee at church 17 years ago. Cuffy Sullivan, the mother of three young daughters, and Roger Moss, an accomplished local singer, lamented the fact that Savannah didn't have an organized choral program for children. They got to work.
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Since then, the Savannah Children's Choir has developed a reputation for excellence in the city, county, and beyond. In addition to tours in the US, the Choir has performed in England, Ireland, and France and has also appeared on television in South Korea. The singers have experienced artist residencies with world renowned singers and clinicians.
After seventeen years, the mission remains the same – to unite, mentor, and transform the children and youth of greater Savannah and the Low Country into responsible, creative, and confident leaders through excellence in choral performance and music education.
Savannah Children’s Choir is one of the few organizations in greater Savannah and the Low Country where kids from different schools, different faiths, and different backgrounds can get to know one another and work together. The choirs have attracted youth singers from Liberty, Bryan, Effingham, and Chatham Counties in Georgia and Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper Counties in South Carolina.
Every Monday after school, children ranging in age from 5-16 gather to rehearse, read music, work on their vocal intonation, and develop important life skills. In addition to two weekend retreats each semester, the singers ramp up their rehearsal schedule for special concerts and performances, devoting countless hours to the pursuit of perfection. Singers rehearse in ConneXion Church.
"It takes quite a commitment," says co-founder, Roger Moss. "They learn the benefit of hard work. I continue to expect great things from these children and youth in greater Savannah and the Low Country. I couldn't be prouder and more humbled at the same time. We want to expand children's knowledge of American music, from Gullah to Appalachia to jazz, focusing on all of these forms that are distinctly American. It's not just about learning the music. It's about knowing where the music comes from," he said.
Moss believes that singing serves as an important way to communicate, to connect with others and to express emotion. "We were born singing," he said. "Children love to sing and hum and make up songs. This is one thing that's innate and universal in all children."
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The Savannah Children’s Choir is a nonprofit, community supported, choral organization whose mission is to unite, mentor, and transform the children and youth of greater Savannah and the Low Country into responsible, creative, and confident leaders through excellence in choral performance and music education.
Our Staff
Roger Moss
Co-Founder
Roger Moss, Jr. is originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee where he received numerous awards for civic and artistic accomplishments. He graduated from Wheaton College and sang in the Wheaton College Concert Choir and Men’s Glee Club. His extensive performance career has included singing for the Archbishop of Canterbury, singing to sold out crowds with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra and performing the role of “Jake” in the Opera Memphis production of Porgy and Bess. He was a finalist in the American Traditions vocal competition.
Moss’ aim when co-founding the Savannah Children’s Choir was to create a positive way for Savannah’s children to represent their community and showcase positive accomplishments. Also, through education and performance, to instill in the next generation a love of the beauty and variety of American music. His boundless energy and enthusiasm are an inspiration to all who work with him, as is his life philosophy which is, “You can never dream too big!”
Delandrian Lamar Aikens
Artistic Director
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Delandrian Lamar Aikens, a Savannah native, is a trailblazing force in the music industry, known for his innovative contributions as a Musician, Producer, Songwriter, and Executive. With a career that spans over 25 years, Aikens has become a key
influencer in the Southeast Georgia sound and beyond.
Aikens’ production expertise is showcased in albums like “The Come Up” and “Second Coming” by Mali Music under SoundWalk Music Group, and he has also served as the Executive Producer for Gary Swindell’s projects. He has collaborated with renowned artists including Earnest Pugh, Joshua Rogers, Byron Cage, Le’Andria Johnson, and Brittany Bosco.
In 2018, Aikens played a pivotal role in creating the District Curriculum for Savannah’s Musical Explorers. He continues to shape young talents as Co-Director of the Savannah Children’s Choir and as a Performance Arts Teacher at Susie King Taylor Community School.
Aikens curates The Gospel Brunch and Soul Sessions at JW Plant Riverside District Live and served as Choir Director for Tyler Perry’s “Divorce in the Black!” He is the Executive Music Director for Lovely Diva Productions, overseeing projects like
“Ma’s House” and “Ma’s Wild Adventure” on Tubi. His songwriting and production credits include Southern Soul hits for Patrice Lovely, such as “You Can Get It” and “Like That.”
Beyond his musical achievements, Aikens is a tech founder of STARLIT and the owner of a publishing company, The Key of D LLC. He is also the designer and owner of StarClothing and the founder of Star Academy Performing Arts School for Kids.
As CEO of Digistar Worldwide Entertainment LLC, Aikens continues to push the boundaries of creativity and excellence, leaving a lasting impact on the industry and the world. His mission is to inspire, innovate, and elevate through his diverse ventures in
music, technology, and entrepreneurship.
John Tisbert
Artistic Director
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John Tisbert recently retired from teaching music and directing choirs for over forty years. He has a Specialist in Education Degree from the University of Georgia, a Master of Arts in Music Education with an emphasis on the Orff Approach from the University of St. Thomas, a Bachelor of Music degree from the Crane School of Music and Kodaly
training from the Hartt School of Music.
John’s choirs performed throughout the region to critical acclaim, including performance tours in New Orleans, at the Choirs of America Nationals for Top Choirs in
Carnegie Hall, and at Disney Festival. His choirs consistently scored superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association’s Performance Evaluations and he regularly sent
numerous choristers to Georgia All State Chorus events.
He has conducted Middle and High School Honor Choirs throughout the Northeast, Georgia and Florida; and is past associate director of the Savannah Children’s Choir. Additionally, he hosted Savannah Sings, Savannah’s annual invitational choir festival promoting vocal music education with the hugely popular Men’s Festival Chorus.
John was Garrison School for the Arts’, 2016 teacher of the year as well as a former technology coordinator for Georgia Music Educators. He presented Sight Singing sessions at the 2020 American Choir Director’s Association Children’s Choir Conductors’ Retreat (ACDA) as well as Computer Assisted Composition sessions at the National Education Computing Conference, the International Society for Music Education Conference, the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference as well as vocal improvisation workshops for The Vermont Music Educators Association.
Gilbert Wermeling
Conductor | Administrator
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Gil Wermeling, active conductor, educator, baritone, cellist, and plant enthusiast is delighted to be joining the Savannah Children's Choir in 2024. In his recent work as a music instructor at Camp Sewataro in Sudbury Massachusetts he organized two summer concerts for campers ages 4 - 9.
Previously, Gil worked as a teaching assistant for the Boston Children's Chorus in-school choral program teaching primarily grades 2 - 4. Through this initiative he helped to prepare students for three concerts in the spring of 2024.
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Gil has performed with the Illumine Vocal Arts Ensemble for 5 years. He looks forward to joining a variety of singing communities in Savannah. As a cellist, a recent highlight was joining the 2023 Smith College Alumni Tour of Mahler's Second Symphony to the Temple Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia.