Our Staff

William R. Adams - Artistic Director & Founder

William R. Adams founded the Fort Bend Boys Choir in 1982 with only 45 initial members. The organization has now grown into five performing ensembles with over 200 choristers. His many years of experience include working with a number of both adult and children's choirs, including The Singing Boys of Houston and The Phoenix Boys Choir. Having toured extensively both in the U.S. and abroad, he has been a guest conductor of the Vienna Boys Choir and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. He personally directs the Tour and Cantabile Choirs.

Mr. Adams received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual major in psychology and vocal performance from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from Arizona State University. He is actively sought as a festival clinician, camp director and adjudicator for various children's choirs throughout Texas and the nation. Mr. Adams has also directed the sanctuary choirs and the music ministries at two Houston-area churches, serving frequently as a soloist himself. His choral accomplishments include performances with the San Francisco Opera Company, Houston Grand Opera and the Nova Chamber Singers in Houston.

Mr. Adams professional affiliations include: Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, The Royal School of Church Music and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. He is currently the Southwestern Division Chair of the American Choral Directors Association Repertoire and Standards Committee for Boychoirs.

Hildy Shanks - Director, Town Choir

Director of the Town Choir, Hildy Shanks received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she graduated Cum Laude. She has been a music specialist in the Alief School District for the past eight years and is currently the adult choir director at Grace United Methodist Church. Mrs. Shanks also teaches private voice and is an accomplished soloist herself with the Nova Chamber Singers. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Mu Phi Epsilon, Pi Kappa Lambda and Sigma Chi.

Linda Sissom - Director, Training Choir

Linda Sissom, our Training Choir Director, holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University. Currently in her eleventh year of teaching, she is the music specialist for Martin Elementary in Alief ISD. She is also the Director of Adult, High School and Elementary Choirs at Westbury Church of Christ. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, Gulf Coast Orff Association and the Association of Texas Professional Educators.

Sara Ward - Director, Music Magic

Sara Ward serves double duty as both Music Magic Director and Tour Choir accompanist, the latter for 13 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from Houston Baptist University and is the music specialist for Klenzman Intermediate School in Alief ISD. A native Houstonian, she also teaches private piano.

Ms. Ward has been an accompanist for South Main Baptist Church and directed their women's ensemble - AGAPE. Her son, John, who won the Outstanding Choirboy Award for 1990, is a choir alumni.

Tiana Mortimer - Administrator

Tiana Mortimer received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Operations Management and Marketing from the University of Houston. She joined the organization in June 1999 after several years as Office Manager and Project Specialist in the environmental consulting field. She brings extensive organizational skills and experience in management and marketing. She is the proud mother of a son, Bryce, who is a potential future choirboy.