Joel Singleton has been a part of CVSGM since 2002. He began as a classroom instructor, then became the director in 2014. Joel also serves as the President of the board of Directors of CVSGM. Shape note convention music has been a lifetime hobby and love for Joel. He grew up attending multiple singing schools from the age of 9 until he went to college.  Singing conventions are something that have played a huge role in his life. He has served as the president of the Georgia State Gospel Singing Convention twice and as president of the Georgia State Youth Gospel Singing Convention three times.

 Joel is currently in his second tenure as Minister of Music at Rutledge Baptist Church.  He previously served in this position from January 2000 to May 2003.  Joel served as Minister of Music and Associate Pastor at North Rockdale Baptist Church from May 2003 to February of 2011.  From 2011 to 2016 Joel served as a supply and interim music director in various churches in Newton and Walton counties.  He was called as interim at Rutledge in May of 2017 and was officially called to RBC as Associate Pastor and Minister of Music in January 2018.  RBC ordained him in November of 2018. 
Joel grew up in Conyers, Georgia and was a member of Ozora Missionary Baptist Church in Loganville, Georgia.  He was saved on August 13, 1993, and professed his call to the ministry in February of 1997.  Joel has been a public school choral director and music teacher since 2001.  He currently teaches at Monroe Area High School in Monroe, GA.  Joel holds a BME degree in Choral Music from Georgia College & State University, a MM degree in Music Education & Choral Conducting from Columbus State University, an Educational Specialists degree in Music Education from Auburn University, and a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University.  He resides in Social Circle, GA. with his wife, Lewissa, who teaches 3rd grade at Youth Elementary School in Walton County, and his two children Sutton and Lawson. 

This is Carol's 25th year as a teacher at CVSGM.  She became involved with this school around 38 years ago as a dorm parent/student when her children began attending.  She shares, “I am so thankful that at an early age I had the opportunity to attend singing schools every summer just like CVSGM! Each school had amazing and talented teachers who were able to share their musical knowledge in such a way that I knew that I wanted to teach also! God has richly blessed our family and I pray that I can always be a willing vessel to help others play piano and sing praises to our wonderful Lord and Savior!” During the school year Carol teaches church singing schools and private piano lessons.  

Christopher Smith joined the faculty of CVSGM in 2021. A native of Winchester, TN, Christopher attended the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in Nashville, TN for the first time in 2003 at seven years old. He has written a number of popular convention songs, and has also been involved with the Alabama School of Gospel Music for 15 years. Christopher has also served as President of the Tennessee State Gospel Singing Convention in 2013 and 2016. Although he pursued a career in accounting and higher education, Christopher studied music theory in college, and took private piano lessons from Rosa Nell Speer Powell of the legendary Speer Family for most of his childhood and teenage years. In 2021, he established the Winchester, TN Civic Choir, which has grown to 70-members strong each season. Christopher is an avid Vols fan, and he will complete a second master’s degree in Higher Education Administration this May from UT Knoxville!

A native of northeast Alabama, Nelson grew up in a musical home and developed a love for singing and playing the piano at an early age.  He had the opportunity to attend six different summer music schools (including CVSGM) as a youth, and attributes much of his music education to his music school experiences.  As an adult, Nelson was honored to be asked to teach at three of those schools.  He also served as director of the Southern Gospel Music School of America in Chattanooga,
Tennessee, from 2008-2010.  Nelson obtained his undergraduate degree in accounting from Bob Jones University and then obtained his master’s in accounting
from the University of Alabama. Nelson is a certified public accountant and a real estate agent. Nelson has been a private piano teacher and is an accomplished songwriter.  He currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his wife Kaylene and daughters, Faith and Reagan.

Coming Soon

Tom Broadnax has been a proud member of the CVSGM family since 2016, but his passion for music began much earlier. He started singing in church with the children’s choir and remarkably joined the adult choir at the age of seven after encouragement from his mother and his aunt. Today, he remains deeply involved in music ministry, serving as both choir director and musician at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where he also serves as Sunday School Superintendent.
From 1988 to 1992, Tom attended the North Georgia School of Gospel Music (NGSGM), an experience
that greatly shaped his musical journey. Over the years, he has written numerous songs, many of which have been published in various convention books. His time at NGSGM also opened doors to directing local singing schools and taking on leadership roles in several gospel music organizations. He served as President of the Georgia State Youth Gospel Singing Convention in 2003, 2004, and 2012, and previously led both the DeKalb County Singing Class and the DeKalb County Singing Convention. He also served as President of the Rockdale County Singing Convention.
In addition to his church and leadership roles, Tom is an active member and musician with The Athens Voices of Truth, a local community gospel choir, and sings with the Athens Master Chorale, an auditioned classical choral ensemble. While he also plays the cello and the organ, the piano remains his instrument of choice.
Professionally, Tom serves as the MIS/IT Director for the Georgia Department of Public Health - District 10, supporting public health operations across 10 counties in the Athens, Georgia region.
He lives in Watkinsville, Georgia with his wife, Noëlle, their children—Cara, Peyton, Lauren, and Asher—and their dog, Toby. And of course, Tom is a proud Georgia Bulldog fan—Go Dawgs!

Mrs. Thompson teaches our new "Early Learners" class at Cumberland Valley.  Mrs. Thompson has taught private piano lessons for the last six years. She has a B.S. in Music Education from Cumberland University. She was a student at CVSGM from 1997 until 2003, and became the Student of the Year during that time. Mrs. Thompson has served for several years on the Cumberland Valley Board of Directors. She is a homeschooling mom of a rising 2nd grader. Mrs. Thompson lives in Westmoreland, TN with her husband, Joseph, and two children: Abigail and James Westley.

Katie Baker is in her 26th year of teaching choral music. She has taught all grade levels but will begin as the head choral director at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee next school year. She has directed choirs at White House High School and T.W. Hunter Middle School in Sumner County. Ms. Baker was a student at CVSGM for many years. She has taught in the classroom at CVSGM as well as private voice and private piano. She has her bachelor and masters degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Baker is an active member in her church, and she enjoys spending time with her two adult children.

Coming Soon

Azilee has been continuously involved with Southern Gospel music since she first attended the North Georgia School of Gospel Music in 2008. She was a student at NGSGM for 11 summers before returning as a campus chaperone in 2021. She also attended the Alabama school of Gospel Music in 2015. She is a Past President of the Georgia State Youth Gospel Singing Convention. This will be her third summer teaching at CVSGM.

Azilee holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia College & State University. She currently teaches second grade at Social Circle Christian School and just finished up her second year in the classroom. In addition to her homeroom class, she also teaches music to the elementary classes at SCCS. Azilee is an active member of her church choir at Turner Hill Baptist church and currently resides in Rutledge, Ga.