Youngstown director of choirs is Mother to many

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Angela McCoy birthed two children, but as director of youth choirs at two schools and a church, she mothers many.

McCoy began volunteering at Williamson Elementary School nine years ago when her daughter, Kayla, was in kindergarten.

“My father passed away, and something just said, ‘Go to the school,’” she said.

She helped out wherever she was needed and became such a fixture that if she missed a day, she was fielding phone calls from school personnel, inquiring about her whereabouts.

Her volunteering led to a paid position as a parent advocate, helping moms, dads and grandparents navigate the policies and procedures of the school and school system. She also helps direct families to needed services.

McCoy already directed the children’s choir, Expressions, at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, with members ranging from kindergartners to high schoolers.

“One day at the school, Mrs. [Wanda] Clark, the principal at the time, was coming up the steps and I was going down,” she said. “She said, ‘Can you help me put the Christmas program together?’”

The two women organized that year’s program.

Shortly after, Clark called her at home, asking if McCoy wanted to lead a gospel choir at the school.

Voices of Hope was born.

Kayla, now an eighth-grader in the visual and performing arts program at the Chaney Campus, sang with the choir while at Williamson. Her other daughter, Carla Stevens, 22, is an East High School graduate.

McCoy — whose father was a musician, her mother a singer — always sang, but she wanted to do more.

“I always wanted to lead a children’s choir,” McCoy said. “I always say, ‘Don’t let anyone squelch your dreams.’”

Even though she has no children at the school, she doesn’t plan to leave.

“As long as I’m able, and I have the opportunity, I’ll be here,” she said.

Her husband of 15 years, Michael McCoy, supports her efforts, lending his sound expertise to performances.

She’s watched other young singers leave Williamson, audition at Chaney and perform. She recalls one girl who was shy while in the choir but now performs in Chaney productions.

“Just to think that I was able to play a small part in whatever that young lady is able to do” is gratifying, McCoy said.

If any of the students share problems with her, she tries to help.

The Voices of Hope membership varies from one year to the next. Last year, 68 students sang while about 30 participate this year. She estimates hundreds of students have been choir members since its inception.

Joshua Fitzgerald, 11, a Williamson fourth-grader, joined Voices of Hope last year. He also sings in McCoy’s choir at Greater Friendship Baptist.

“She’s a good choir director,” he said.

It started out with the choir performing in school programs and district events, but the performance venues have expanded to include community gatherings.

McCoy is happy the children are enjoying new audiences and the choir is making an impact, but she won’t take the credit.

“God gets all that,” she said. “They say someone plants, someone waters and God gives the increase.”

This year, McCoy was asked to begin gospel choirs at Williamson and William Holmes McGuffey Elementary School as part of the after-school program. She works two days per week at each school.

She hopes one day that all of her choirs perform together.

“The kids think I’m helping them, but they’re helping me because of the joy they bring me,” McCoy said.