Community Gospel Choir Bios
Suzanne Palmer
Maestra Suzanne Palmer is the artistic director and conductor of The Community Gospel Choir of St. Louis.
Cultivated with a gift and love for teaching, she has a talent for passing on a passion for singing that motivates all singers. Under her leadership, CGC-STL continues to seek members who desire to spread the gospel and the choir has developed a musical program that inspires a diverse community of spirit led singers to unite all God’s people through the beautiful gift of music and song.
The collective desire of the choir is to bring together singers from all backgrounds, who seek to build bridges that restore unity to “community.” Through the rich tradition of African American spirituals and the energy of Gospel music, we deliver the messages of hope and joy found in the Good News.
Mrs. Palmer has put her talent to work to teach many people – “the transformative, life affirming, spiritual power of music to bind, cleanse and heal the soul.”
Suzanne is quoted to say, “I am devoted to God’s purpose for me and that means by serving others I serve the Lord” This statement is rooted in the word from Matthew, chapter 25 verse 40 of Jesus who said, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
Mrs. Palmer has been a music educator for over thirty-five years. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master of Education Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Suzanne Palmer has been married to Mr. Curtis Palmer for 30 years. The Palmers have three children, Symone, Dorian (Gina), and Evan.
Ruth Lee: Community Leader and Advocate
Ruth Lee’s commitment to community service began over 27 years ago when she co-founded Académie Lafayette, Missouri’s first public French immersion charter school. Under her leadership as both Vice President and then President of the Board for eight years, Académie Lafayette grew from 250 students in a Jewish Temple basement to over 2,000 students across three campuses, expanding its curriculum to include Mandarin and Spanish and an International Baccalaureate High School.
Ruth recently served as the Chief Marketing & Development Officer at a local health center in STL, building on her extensive background in nonprofit leadership. Previously, she was the CEO of Connections to Success & Dress for Success STL & KC, a national organization dedicated to empowering women to achieve economic independence. Her career has spanned various leadership roles, including Chief Development Officer for the Little Bit Foundation, Chief Marketing & Development Officer at a health center in KCMO, and Director/Public Information Officer for the Hickman Mills C-1 School District in Kansas City, MO. With 25 years of experience, Ruth combines creative talents with structured business acumen to develop multifaceted, cost-effective programs that drive success.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ruth is actively engaged in the St. Louis community. As the Commissioner & Vice Chairman of the St. Louis County Port Authority, she collaborates with fellow commissioners on initiatives focused on economic and workforce development and neighborhood revitalization. Honored as one of“The Chief Marketing Officers to Watch in 2023” by Variety Magazine, Ruth is also a graduate of the FOCUS Leadership St. Louis Class of 2022 and a member of the Executive Connections professional networking group. She serves as a mentor for the Women’s Leadership Society at the United Way and has held a position on the Board of Directors for the St. Louis Area Food Bank, among other organizations. A dedicated member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Ruth has been recognized for her exemplary leadership and commitment to community service.
Residing in the St. Louis area with her husband, Reginald Lee, and their son and daughter-in-love Bryce & Kia Terrell, Ruth is also a devoted mother to her daughter, Danielle, an attorney in Ann Arbor, MI, and her son, Hamilton, who resides in Kansas City, Mo and works in the transportation industry. All three of her children are also proud graduates of Académie Lafayette. Ruth holds a BA in Communications from UMKC and an Executive MBA from Rockhurst University, reflecting her dedication to education and lifelong learning.
Cortney Towns
Cortney Towns is a classically trained vocalist who hails from St. Louis, MO and a proud alumnus of Hazelwood Central High School. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Fisk University in Nashville, TN and a Master of Music degree from Boston University in Boston, MA. She has performed in many operatic productions and she has performed in world renowned ensembles such as the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and the Grammy Award Winning Fisk Jubilee Singers as a lead soloist. After receiving her Masters degree, she returned to St. Louis, currently teaching a Elementary School Music Education and is a Teaching Artist at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA).
Dr. Erral Wayne Evans
Dr. Erral Wayne Evans started his musical career at the age of seven, after only having four private piano lessons. The sounds of music were exciting and challenging to him. Soon after becoming knowledgeable of melodies and lyrics, he realized he was called and accepted the task of the Music Ministry. Each year his desire to play gospel music became stronger because of traveling to various churches, attending many choir rehearsals, worship services, and prayer meetings.
The gospel music line flows very deep in the Evans’ family. He studied under his uncle, the Reverend Dr. Clay Evans, Pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Chicago, IL for many years. There, he learned to write, compose, and structure gospel music in the worship service. Through his relationship with his uncle he also obtained the ability to teach, direct choirs, and blend well with other musicians.
Dr. Evans received his education from Indiana University Northwest, where he majored in Secondary Education with a minor in Music. He later moved to Detroit, Michigan and attended Wayne State University, where he reversed his major and minor – acquiring his doctorate degree in Music Divinity. He has worked closely in the recording business, writing songs and playing on albums for various artists – such as: Albertina Walker, Reverend Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers, Ricky Dillard & New Generation, Men of Promise, the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc. (for which he is a member of the music staff), and Midwest Conference of Christian Artists.
In 1978, Dr Evans began to work with the Reverend Donald Vail and the Donald Vail Choraleers, as well as the Craig Brothers. He played for artist such as: Reverend Thomas Whitfield and Company, The Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond & Commissioned, Stevie Wonder, and others.
Dr. Evans has helped so many groups and individuals in several ways, one of which is through his music publishing company, Weyna Music Publishing, in St. Louis, MO. This avenue has allowed him the opportunity to mentor beginning artists as they develop their abilities and skills. Another is through the Gary City-Wide Music Seminar, in Gary IN, for which Dr. Evans was the founder and executive producer. Gary City-Wide provided the opportunity for writers to present their music to a community mass choir and perform during a concert. He has produced recordings with Tas Records, located in St. Louis, where he was the Talent Scout.
In 2011 during a workshop in Hamburg, Germany, Dr. Evans was asked to help create a gospel group. This is when the group For Your Soul was created. He travels there several times a year to conduct workshops, introduce new songs, and performs concerts.
In 2023 after seeing the need for local musician to be honored for their musical knowledge and achievements, Dr. Evans founded the St. Louis Musicians Award. This Awards event has honored 38 musicians so far from the metropolitan St. Louis area and will honor an additional 23 musicians in April 2025.
Dr. Evans currently resides in St. Louis, where he is Director of Operations for the St. Louis Progressive Ministry Choraleers, as well as the Minister of Music for the Antioch Baptist Church. His writed have escalated spiritually, and he has been noted by several artists as one of the best organists in the country. His music is performed nationally and internationally, He has been the clinician of workshops in London, Germany, Sweden, Italy, herusalem and Puerto Vallerta.
Cheryl Walker
Cheryl Walker, received her Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis on piano, from Jackson State University, in Jackson, MS. She received the M. of Ed. degree in Curriculum and in Instruction from National Louis University, Chicago, IL.
She is a Retired Vocal Music Teacher and Piano Lab Instructor from the Ferguson-Florissant School District where she taught on the elementary and secondary levels, in St. Louis, MO.
Additionally, Cheryl has accompanied The Legend Singers Choral Ensemble, In Unison Chorus of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Gospel Symphonic Choir, under the direction of Dello Thedford. She accompanies the Community Gospel Choir, as well as the Lincoln University Choir and the traveling group’s Vocal Ensemble. She is the former Music Coordinator and Chancel Choir accompanist for the Antioch Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO.
Ms. Cheryl Walker is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and charter member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter in St. Louis. Ms. Walker accompanies solo artists/ensemble festivals, musical, and various other programs events in St. Louis and the surrounding area.