Shelli Rimes has been singing with NAVE since it’s beginning in October of 2012. Shelli began singing with Dr. Bonnie Sneed in the fall of 1997 as a freshman at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, UAH. While there she toured New England and Europe with the choir. She also had the privilege to perform the Durufle Requiem, Carmina Burana, and the Brahm’s Requiem under the direction of Dr. Sneed. Shelli graduated summa cum laude with her B.A. in vocal music education from UAH in 2002.
Shelli is the choral director at Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama where she directs the middle school and high school choirs. She is also the musical director for the drama department. Prior to Madison Academy she was the choral director at Sparkman High School in Harvest, Alabama for 9 years. In 2007, she took the Sparkman choir to Carnegie Hall where they sang Vivaldi’s Gloria under the direction of Dr. Bonnie Sneed.
Shelli has also worked for the Huntsville Community Chorus since 2003 where she started as the accompanist for the Huntsville Children’s Chorus. In 2009, she created the Huntsville Community Chorus Youth Chorale. In 2015, the HCCA Youth Chorale performed Rutter’s Gloria and Te Deum under the direction of the composer himself. This group started with 9 singers and has a current enrollment of 90 students in grades 7-12.
Shelli is the founder and current past-president for the Madison County Choral Director’s Association. She is the current District V Chairman for the Alabama Vocal Association. She is also a member of ACDA and NAfME.
In her spare time, Shelli enjoys the outdoors with her family. From lazy afternoons in the backyard to hiking and camping, being outside makes her happy. Shelli resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband of 16 years, Toby, and their two children, Braden (9) and Cora (7).