ABOUT OUR DIRECTORS
Marcie Chenault (Baker)
Head Choir Director
Mrs. Chenault is in her seventh year as Director of Choirs and twelfth year teaching at Stratford High School—her beloved alma mater. Living her dream, she feels honored to inspire the next generation of performers in the very halls where her own musical journey began. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baylor University, where she sang with prestigious ensembles across Texas, including the Baylor A Cappella Choir, featured at the 2014 convention. That same year, she traveled to Paris to record Duruflé’s Requiem at Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. Mrs. Chenault later earned her master’s degree from Florida State University. Sic ’em Bears and Go Noles!
Mrs. Chenault has worked closely with the Stratford Playhouse on numerous productions, both as a director and music director. She directed Chicago (2014), A Chorus Line (2016), Avenue Q (2016), Little Women (2017), and Pippin (2019), and served as music director for Me and My Girl (2017), Addams Family (2018), Newsies (2019), Drowsy Chaperone (2020), Something Rotten (2021), Peter Pan (2022), Young Frankenstein (2023), 42nd Street (2024), and The Little Mermaid (2025). She also conducted Legally Blonde (2022). Under her musical leadership, the Playhouse has received multiple Tommy Tune Award nominations and won Best Musical Direction for Young Frankenstein.
Her choirs consistently earn sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading Evaluations, reflecting her dedication to excellence in choral performance.
Beyond Stratford, Mrs. Chenault is an active member of both the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Choral Directors Association. She also serves as the Music Associate at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, leading the Youth Choir and singing in the Chancel Choir. A committed member of the Spring Branch ISD community, she has served on both the Campus and District Improvement Teams and supports the Spring Branch Education Foundation.
Mrs. Chenault is deeply grateful for the opportunity to teach, lead, and give back to a community she loves—and she offers her heartfelt thanks to her loving husband, Tommy Chenault, for his unwavering support and encouragement every step of the way.
Gyasi Blanton
Assistant Choir Director
Gyasi J. Blanton, a native of New Jersey, is an active musician, music director, music educator and composer/arranger. He currently serves as the assistant director of choirs at Stratford High School. He graduated from the first Historically Black College/University: The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania where he obtained the Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Music Education (magna cum laude) as well as a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Vocal Performance (magna cum laude). During that time, he was a member of the prestigious Concert Choir under the direction of Edryn Coleman traveling the world. He then obtained the Master of Music Education in Choral Music Education at Florida State University where he studied with André Thomas, Judy Bowers and Kevin Fenton.
Mr. Blanton was one of the artistic directors with the New Jersey Youth Chorus "Coro Vivo" a boy choir of unchanged Voices. Under his direction, this ensemble performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and with the Keystone State Boychoir. As a composer and arranger, Blanton’s" Invictus," "Entreat Me Not to Leave You," "The Dream Keeper" and "The Water Is Wide" have performed in recitals, master classes and concerts. As a researcher, his passion is the non-idiomatic music of black composers. He has presented this underrepresented area of music at state and regional conferences.
Stage credits include: Treemonsha (Andy), Hansel and Gretel (The Witch), Man of La Mancha (Sancho), Kismet (The Caliph), The Medium (Toby), Pippin (Leading Player), Hairspray (u/s Seaweed), Porgy and Bess (Ensemble), The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee
(Mitch Mahoney). Blanton also served as music director for productions of: A Christmas Carol, Pippin, Little Women, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Pajama Game, A Class Act, Cinderella, The Little Mermad Jr., My Fair Lady, She Loves Me, Urinetown, Singin' in the Rain and Mamma Mia!.
Mr. Blanton is affiliated with Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Choral Director’s Association (TCDA), National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), National Association for the Study and Performance of African-American Music (NASPAAM), New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA), National Association for Music Educators (NaFME), The Academia Society Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
Research interests include:
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Non-idiomatic choral music of black composers
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All-state choral repertoire
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Musical Theatre



