Dirk Chaney

Dirk B. Chaney

Dirk B. Chaney was born to the late Rev. David Chaney and Mrs. Armelia Chaney. Dirk grew up in the Wichita public school system and graduated from Wichita Heights High School. After graduation, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. He joined the Atlanta Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and God opened the door for him to begin directing for the chapter during a time in which there was a lack of leadership. He then was asked to be one of the directors for the Georgia Mass Choir, and became an officer in the Gospel Music Workshop of America.

In 1989, during one of Dirk’s Christmas breaks from school, he began sharing musical insights with his home church of the things he’d learned about the gospel industry and excellence in ministry. The Pastor decided that other churches could benefit from this information and encouraged Dirk to teach a city-wide workshop. The workshop received such positive feedback that it became an annual event… always during the Christmas holidays.

In 1992 God gave a vision to Dirk. He saw a compilation of saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, skillful and crafty musicians and singers. They gave an anointed high praise unto the Lord. And thus it was so; The Chosen Aggregation was born. Dirk waited patiently for God to move in His own time. The “labor process” was a long one, but God did it! On October 1, 1993, he gathered 7 saved, business savvy people together, each highly skilled in different areas and ready to serve. He discussed what he wanted to do and they saw “The Vision”! A vision of an environment where REAL singers could come to sing, shout, laugh, testify, and release their pressure….a stress free place where rehearsals flowed and the “Spirit” could too...and a place where creative, anointed musicians could grow and be appreciated for their craft. On October 16, 1993, the singers came together for what was to be the beginning of something wonderful. The choir grew to 45 singers and 5 saved, skilled, professional musicians that loved the Lord.

The Lord allowed Dirk to find favor in the gospel music industry. The Chosen Aggregation opened and/or performed with such artist as Reverend Daryl Coley, Kirk Franklin, Pastor Hezekiah Walker and LFC, Ricky Dillard and New G, Youthful Praise, Karen Clark-Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Kim McFarland, Evangelist Beverly Crawford, Rev. Calvin B. Rhone, Gospel Music Workshop of America Inc., Thomas A. Dorsey Convention of Gospel Choirs & Chorus, Stockholm Gospelkor Festival (Sweden, Denmark, Finland) May 1998, Light & Spirit Festival (Visby, Gotland) March 1999, Donald Malloy, Evangelist Dorothy Norwood , Evangelist Anthony Hill, Background vocals for Recording Artist Lucretia Campbell’s “Live Recording” October 1996, James Hall & Worship & Praise, O’landa Draper & The Associates, The Shirley Caesar Conference featuring Donnie McClurkin 2003, and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Convention 2003. Dirk was also the recipient of the Atlanta Gospel Choice Awards.

The Lord allowed Dirk Chaney & The Chosen Aggregation to record their 1st live project entitled. “God Is Great” which was released April 23, 1999 and the 2nd live project entitled “Another Days Journey” was recorded November 24, 2001. The majority of the material on the 2nd project was written and composed by Minister Chaney. He was certainly a trailblazer, trendsetter, and inspiration to many. Dirk remained faithful until the Lord called him home on November 17, 2002.

Since Dirk’s untimely death, his home church and family decided to continue his legacy of musical excellence and renamed the annual “Christmas workshop” the “Dirk Chaney Memorial Workshop”. The workshop just celebrated it's 30th year and the choir released a Legacy project in 2015.