Message from the Artistic Director | Board of Directors
Staff | Conductors | History

Jayme Staley, Executive Director
As Executive Director, Jayme Staley oversees all administration, development, media and outreach for the Columbus and Central Ohio Children's Chorus Foundation and the Columbus Children's Choir. Prior to joining this organization, Staley developed national and international strategic initiatives for corporate, political, and nonprofit organizations. Staley has served as a Congressional Scholar to Berliin, as well as an advocate for children at the local, state, and national level. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Sandra Mathias
Artistic Director and Director, New World Singers

Sandra Mathias, Ph.D. is currently Professor of Music at Capital University. In addition to her teaching, she directs the Women's Chorus, the Capital in Hungary Program and serves as the Director of the Kodály Institute at Capital. She received her B.S. in Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia; Master of Arts (with Orff concentration) from Ball State University; Kodály Certificate from the Kodály Center of America; and Ph.D. in Music Education from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Mathias is the former conductor of the Columbus Youth Choir at Capital University and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Children's Chorus. Currently, she is the Artistic Director of the Columbus Children's Choir and Conductor of the New World Singers, the premiere performing and touring choir of this organization.

Dr. Mathias has been the guest conductor for children's choral festivals in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and West Virginia; and a guest teacher of the Kodály philosophy in Oregon, Idaho, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Michigan, and Virginia, and Texas. She has presented sessions at conferences held by the Ohio Music Educators Association, Midwest Kodály Music Educators Association, the Organization of American Kodály Educators, and the International Kodály Society.

Dr. Mathias is the recipient of the Kodály Institute Intézetért Award, the 2001 Community Music Educator of the Year by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and the Arts Freedom Award presented by the Southside Settlement House in Columbus, Ohio. She has presented papers at conferences in the U.S., Hungary, Australia, England, and in November, 2005 will speak in China. From 2002-2004, she served as the President of the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) and currently serves as the Past President.

Rose Schworm, Administrative Director

Rose Schworm has worked with the choir for over twelve years. She is the mother of Annie, a choir alum, who is pursuing graduate studies in recording arts. She has held offices of Vice President, President, and Advisor with the Parent's Association and was the first Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. In 1998, she attended the St. John's Boys Choir Business Managers Workshop at St. John's University in Minnesota.