Joel Dunlap
Director of Choral Activities

Mr. Dunlap is in his sixth year at Long Beach High School as Director of Choral Activities. Mr. Dunlap is a 1998 honor graduate of Long Beach High School. He earned a double-concentration Bachelor’s degree in Vocal and Piano Music Education in 2003 and graduated Cum Laude with a Master's of Music degree from the University of Mississippi. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the world-renowned "Ole Miss Concert Singers" directed by Dr. Jerry Jordan.  He has conducted large orchestral works such as W.A. Mozart’s "Coronation Mass in C Major" in 2005 and G.F. Handel’s "Messiah" in 2002 and 2004. Both of these masterpieces were performed by the Marks Community Choir and The Oxford Singers - two community choirs which he founded and directed. 

Under his direction, the Long Beach Concert Choir recently traveled to Florence, Venice and Rome, Italy performing solo concerts at such venues as St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.    The Concert Choir also had the honor of singing for Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.  He is currently the Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS.  He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and is certified in Levels I & II of Orff-Schulwerk for teaching at the elementary level.

Most recently at the MMEA State Convention in Jackson, MS, Mr. Dunlap was awarded the "2009 Outstanding Young Music Educator" for the state of Mississippi.  This award is given to one educator annually.  Upon receiving this award, Mr. Dunlap was granted a Proclamation from the State of Mississippi on September 17, 2009.

Mr. Dunlap served as District VIII Choral Chairperson from 2008-2010 and currently is on the MMEA state board of directors as Chairperson for the 2011 Mississippi All-State Women's Choir.  He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Gulfport with their son, Jackson.

Brian Chancey
Associate Choral Director

Mr. Chancey is in his third year as Associate Choral Director for the Long Beach Choirs.  Mr. Chancey is employed at Northrop Grumman Aerospace as Quality Assurance Inspector for the Defense Contract Management Agency.   He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Music Education from Judson College which is located in Marion, Alabama.   He is a 1984 graduate of Ocean Springs High School and continued his higher education for two years at the University of Southern Mississippi concentrating on Biology and Music Composition.  He then joined the Active Air Force Reserves and worked for the Hurricane Hunters before retiring after 22 years of service.  He is currently the director of the First United Methodist Church of Long Beach Youth Choir and a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Civic Chorale.  Mr. Chancey conducts selections for the Varsity and Concert Choirs at Long Beach High School in addition to serving as Director for the LBHS Men's Quartet, Girls' Sextet, and Men's Choir.  He is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Mississippi Music Educator's Association and Youth CUE, a youth choir ministry organization.

 Rita Wilson
Associate Choral Director

Ms. Wilson is joining the Long Beach Choral Department this year as choral director at Long Beach Middle School after teaching choir for 10 years at Hancock High and Middle schools.  She will also assist Mr. Dunlap with 100-member Concert Choir and various ensembles at Long Beach High School.  Ms. Wilson is a 1993 graduate of Seminary High School and attended Jones County Junior College where she was a member of the Concert Choir, Gospel Ensemble, Musical Theatre and the Maroon Typhoon Marching Band.  Ms. Wilson earned a Bachelor's of Music from William Carey College in 2000 and will be awarded a Master's Degree in Music Education from William Carey College in August 2010. 

Ms. Wilson's choir at Hancock has earned superior ratings at festivals and this past year her Women's Ensemble had the honor of singing for Phil Bryant, the Lt. Governor of Mississippi.   Ms. Wilson served as Minister of Music at Union Baptist Church from 1998-2003 and is currently serving as music director at Diamondhead United Methodist Church.  Ms. Wilson is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Civic Chorale and has served as adjudicator for the MMEA Elementary Honor Choir as well as the Bay Theatre.

Ms. Wilson's professional affiliations include the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, and has served as MMEA District VIII Treasurer for the Junior High Division.

Dewana Raulston
Choral Accompanist

Mrs. Raulston is the music teacher at Quarles Elementary School in Long Beach, Mississippi.  This is her fourth year at Quarles and her sixth year teaching music.  She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  While at USM, she was the recipient of the Melvene D. Hardee Piano Scholarship.  She accompanied various ensembles and soloists, including the Southern Chorale, Concert Choir, University Singers and the Hattiesburg Choral Union.  She was the church pianist at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Wiggins, MS for nine years. 

She has accompanied the Long Beach Concert Choir on many occasions including spring shows such as Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "Les Miserables".  She has been playing piano since the age of eight and currently is staff pianist at First Baptist Church of Gulfport, MS.  She and her husband, Kent, reside in Gulfport.