Meet our dedicated Musical Performance Leaders.

 
 

Director, Mike Wallen

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Mike Wallen has been a barbershopper since 1974, and is a member of the Mid-Atlantic District's honorary chapter, DELASUSQUEHUDMAC  and a 2007 inductee into the Mid-Atlantic District Hall of Honor. He first joined the Society in Asbury Park, New Jersey; by 1977, he was a member of the Alexandria Harmonizers. As Associate Director of the  Harmonizers  from 1981 to 1998, he won four International Chorus Championships. Shortly after winning the last of those four in Atlanta in 1998, Mike agreed to come to Richmond as interim director after the departure of Gary Parker. Given only ten weeks to prepare, Mike nonetheless directed the Virginians to a third-place finish in the 1998 Mid-Atlantic District chorus competition, after which he and the Chapter Board decided to make it a permanent relationship. Mike and the Virginians went on to win the year 2000 District Championship in October 1999.

Besides his directing record, Mike brings a wealth of musical experience to the table. Mike is a retired Army veteran. During his 20 years of active military duty (1971-1991), he was a member of the Army Chorale, a vocal ensemble of the Army Band. He was also audio engineer for the Army Band, a skill that he has put to use in barbershop since that time. He has been recording engineer for six  Harmonizers recordings, two more by Vaudeville, and one each by Bay Rum Runners and Hijinx. He was Audio-Visual Director for the Mid-Atlantic District for three years.

Mike is a three-time Mid-Atlantic District quartet champion: as lead with Alexandria's Ragtime Band, as baritone with Copyright 86, and as tenor of  Casino (Mike has the distinction of being the only man ever to win the M-AD quartet championship singing three different voice parts). He also was lead in the popular comedy quartet, the Entertainers. He sang tenor in Last Kids Picked, 2008 International Quarter Finalists and 2007 Mid-Atlantic District Quartet Silver Medalists.  Currently, he  sings tenor in the 2014 Seniors Bronze Medalist quartet, Youth Reclamation Project.

Mike is also an experienced and sought-after quartet and chorus coach; he is frequently seen as a quartet coach at Harmony College East.

 

Assistant Director, Kathryn Musselman

Music has been a part of Kathy Musselman's life from a very early age. She plays the piano and guitar, and also lead a folk group at her church in her high school years.

She is married to Kenny Musselman and they have 3 children, and 7 grandchildren. Kathy has been the choir director at St Augustine Catholic Church for the past 25 years. She was a previous 20 year member of The Greater Richmond Chorus, where she served as Assistant Director and Section Leader.

Since joining The Virginians in August 2021, she has been involved in the VLQ, Music Search Team, Music Team, and Storyboard Committee.

She is very proud to now be serving The Virginians as an Assistant Director.