Pam Bennett Young, Founding Artistic Director, has many years of experience in vocal music as a performer, voice teacher and choral director. A graduate of the Baylor University School of Music, she has performed in a variety of venues from musical theatre at Stages in Houston and Unity Theatre in Brenham to classical halls in South America and commercial recording studios in the United States. Among her favorite productions are the many years of Pageant: A Christmas Spectacular in which she performed, but perhaps her favorite role was that of the Cheshire Cat in Unity Theatre's Alice in Wonderland.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the year Pam began teaching public school music. The high school choirs under her direction received sweepstakes ratings each year, and she is the founding director of elementary chorus programs in several public school districts. Currently teaching music at Krause Elementary School, she has taught music in such diverse locations as the fifth ward in Houston to the island of Java in Indonesia. Pam loves to sing and loves combining the unique timbres of individual voices to create one glorious, soul-unifying work of art which will never be repeated exactly the same way again.
Pam has been married to her childhood sweetheart, Bob Young, for 32 years and has two sons.
Martha Haydon, Accompanist, has accompanied and performed with a variety of musical groups including church choirs in Galveston, the Galveston College Choir, the Galveston Opera Workshop, Unity Theatre of Brenham, and the Brenham High School drama department musicals. One of the highlights of her musical career is a trip to Russia in1997 with the Houston Children's Chorus. She has served as pianist at Brenham's First Baptist Church for thirty years and has served as interim music director. She has been with the Brenham Children's Chorus since the beginning, and her favorite duet partner is her husband of 39 years, Dr. Robert Haydon.
Julie Steen, Assistant Director, is a Houston Baptist University Graduate with majors in Art, Physical Education and Psychology. She has over 14 years of teaching all ages in private and public school in a variety of subjects. Ms. Steen has had a variety of musical performance experiences. While attending HBU, she was a member of FOCUS, the school's traveling musical ministry team. She spent two years with the North American Baptist Conference's musical ministry team, New Day, touring throughout the USA and Canada. She has worked with ensembles at Houston's First Baptist Church, directed children's ensembles and productions at various churches, and worked as music coordinator and leader at summer camps and Bible schools. She currently is the Music Teacher at First Baptist Church School and the Fine Arts Teacher at Brenham Christian Academy. Julie has been with the Brenham Children's Chorus since the beginning.
Amy Bentke, Choreographer, co-owner of Aspirations Gymnastics and Dance Studio, Mrs. Bentke has been dancing since the age of two and a half years of age and teaching since she was thirteen. A native of Brenham, she has extensive choreography experience with church and school musicals and programs. In addition to working with the Brenham Children's Chorus, Mrs. Bentke has worked as a choreographer for school musicals at the Brenham High School and Brenham Christian Academy.
Jill Stewart, Singenspiel Director and Music Together teacher, has been a member of the Blinn College Music Faculty since 1997 where she currently teaches applied clarinet, double reeds, and Sight Singing and Ear Training for freshmen and sophomore music majors. Jill received her Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance, Texas All-Level Teaching Certification in Music and Master of Music in Clarinet Performance degrees from Texas Tech University where she studied with Dr. Robert Walzel. She was a member of the Lubbock Symphony from 1993-1997 and has been Principle Clarinetist with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra since 1999. She has also performed with the Abilene Philharmonic, The Roswell Symphony, the San Angelo Symphony, the Big Spring Symphony and numerous chamber and pit orchestras across Texas. Jill teaches clarinet lessons in the Brenham area and taught Karussell Kids at Alton Elementary School in 2009 - 2010. She lives in Brenham with her husband Brian who is Assistant Band Director for Giddings ISD and their two daughters, Allison and Paige.
Joyce Whitehead, Assistant Director of Singenspiel, enjoys singing and working with young children. This is her 3rd year to be the assistant director of Singenspiel. She also helped with the Singenspiel summer day camp program.
While attending Blinn College, she sang in the Blinn Chorus and played in the Blinn Band. She graduated form Blinn College with an Associate of Arts Degree. After graduation, Joyce attended Sam Houston State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching Degree and a Masters of Education Degree.
Joyce has been singing with the Austin County Civic Chorale for 15 years and has sung with the Brenham Chorale for 6 years. Joyce is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and a second grade teacher at Krause Elementary School.
Jennifer Patrick (Director) is thrilled to be returning for another production with Brenham Broadway Kids. In 2006, she was Set and Lighting Designer for Honk! Jr. In 2007, she was the director of Seussical Jr. and she directed Once Upon a Mattress in 2008.She has also designed costumes for Unity Theatre. Some of her previous designs at Unity include: Harvey, Taming of the Shrew, Sander's Family Christmas, The Christmas Schooner, and The Odd Couple. She worked with her husband, Kevin Patrick Technical Director at Blinn College, designing costumes for their productions of Dracula and Edipus. Her passion for theatre crosses into her church life as well. She has directed children's musicals for the First United Methodist Church's A.C.T.S. Troupe. Her directing credits include: Simon Says: The Rockin' Trial of Simon Peter, Christmas Shorts, The Fumbly, Bumbly, Angels and Joseph: From the Pit to the Palace. Previously, she was an Assistant Lecturer at Texas A&M University teaching Theatre History and Intro to Theatre. Jennifer received her BFA in Theatre from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, and her MFA in Theatre Design from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has designed professionally and academically in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and New Hampshire. Her twins, Mollie & Rylie, and her young son, Max, can't wait until they can be on stage with BBK!
Deidra Mearns, Karussell Kids Teacher, teaches music classes to children ranging in age from 12 months through 4th grade and early childhood/preschool motor classes at St. Paul's Christian Day School. She is the coordinator/director of the school's various programs and musicals throughout the year. "Mrs. Deidra is co-owner/instructor of Aspirations Gymnastics and Dance Studio with her sister, Amy Bentke. She has been involved in community theatre, church choirs as director and cantor, director of children's choirs and liturgical movement troupes. She enjoys working with all ages-adult Country and Western dance classes, choreography for Maifest coronations, and choreography for Brenham High School Musicals. "Mrs. Deidra" loves to go to the ballet, musicals and concerts especially those involving her children, Meredith and Alex.
Karla Rettig, Karussell Kids Teacher, received her bachelors and masters degrees from West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas. She has been in Brenham since 1996 where she began her career as a Junior High Band Director. Karla now works part time for the Brenham School district so that she can be home with her daughters more. She teaches woodwind lessons and sectional rehearsals to students at Brenham Junior High and Brenham High School. She will also be teaching instrumental music at Grace Lutheran. Karla and her husband Eric have two daughters-- Bailee and Leah.