Dr. Donald Stafford has been associated with the musical life of Cherokee County for more than three decades.  He completed a Bachelor of Church Music degree at Shorter College and a Masters in Music from the University of Michigan, majoring in both music history and choral conducting.  He went on to finish a Doctor of Philosophy degree in music at Florida State University.  Dr. Stafford sang under the baton of Robert Shaw for a number of years, performing in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and many major halls throughout Europe.  He is currently the Director of Choral Music at North Hall High School in Gainesville, as well as the Director of Music for Canton First United Methodist Church of Canton, Georgia.  Dr. Stafford directed the first performance of the Cherokee Community Chorale in December of 1988.  He also directed the Chorale’s debut performances at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. and Williamsburg, Virginia.