Dr. Georgia Ypma-Bonney
Founder and Director
Dr. Georgia Ypma-Bonney, director of Children’s Voices of Southern Maryland, loves sharing the joy and creative freedom that music offers to others through her performances, lectures, early childhood music classes, and private piano teaching. Children’s Voices of Southern Maryland is one of her dreams come true: an affordable musical experience for all children that enables them to unify through developing friendships, confidence, and musical appreciation. Ms Georgia has won praise directing choirs throughout the years, from California to Connecticut and overseas.
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After graduating Magna Cum Laude from U.C.L.A., Georgia earned two graduate degrees from the University of Southern California (Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano). She was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar to continue her studies in Vienna, Austria, where she performed, studied, and completed research articles for various professional music journals. While studying in Vienna, she and her husband, Philip, who plays French horn, had the opportunity to perform together throughout Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, the Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. Upon return to the states, Georgia served as an adjunct professor at St. Martin’s College and California State University. Georgia assisted in developing the Early Childhood program as part of the Yamaha Music Corporation’s Research and Development Team in Irvine, California.
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Dr. Georgia Ypma-Bonney completed her doctorate at Drexel University in June 2025, and is also the founder and director of the Neighborhood Creative Arts Center, a music and art academy in Charles County.
Ms. Miriam
Conductor
Ms. Miriam, conductor of Children's Voices of Southern Maryland, has been conducting, choreographing, and volunteering with the choir since its inception in 2018. In addition to vocal training, she has been involved in music since 2008 and performed in piano for eight years. Miriam's musical approach for the Apprentice and Concert choirs merges music and movement; emphasizing that singing isn't just about how we sing, but also how we move and feel and what we want audiences to experience when we share our music with them. Miriam spearheads weekly rehearsals, concert themes, music selection, choreography, and concert run-of-show.
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Since graduating Summa Cum Laude from Southern Virginia University, Miriam started earning her MBA virtually from Texas Tech University—Rawls College of Business, and will graduate in May 2026. Returned to Maryland, she teaches voice and piano for the Neighborhood Creative Arts Center, runs her own family photography business, and professionally photographs weddings throughout the DMV and PA area.
