About Praise Writers
Sam and Shelley Glionna
Sam started learning piano and pipe organ at the age of nine. By the age of fourteen, he was an assistant organist to composer/choir director George B. Hacker at St. Gregory the Great Church in Chicago, Illinois. At age sixteen, he directed and played keyboard for “Landslide ’68,” the musical touring group for Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign in Chicago. Over the years he has taught pre-school through college level music programs and was the music director for several churches in Florida.
When he married singer and vocal coach Shelley, she added her beautiful voice and songwriting talent to the mix and together they directed the Praise Team and Bell Choir at First Presbyterian Church in Inverness, Florida.
They decided to move to Belize in 2010 at the request of a missionary couple they met while on vacation. After all, their kids were grown, married, and scattered across the U.S. They planned on helping for a year or two, but thirteen years later they are still in Belize. God clearly had other plans for these two. As Sam and Shelley often say, “God’s plans for us are so much bigger and better than anything we could think up on our own. Each one of us was created by God for a specific purpose. If we follow His lead, He will bless us beyond our wildest imagination.”
After moving to Belize to teach music to the kids in village schools and churches that had no resources for music programs, Sam and Shelley started the Spanish Lookout Kids’ Choir. Sam was next inspired by the Holy Spirit to start a group for young songwriters.
It wasn’t long before a seven-year-old girl asked if she could sing a song she wrote called “My Best Friend.” Many of the other kids in the choir also have a gift and passion for writing and recording songs, and have become known as the “Praise Writers.”
A spokesperson for the group said, “We pray for all our listeners at the beginning of each vocal class and recording session. We hope our music is a blessing to you. Please comment and write to us. We would love to get to know you as a friend.”
Praise Writer Kids
ANDREA PLETT My name is Andrea Plett. I am 13 years old. I was born in Spanish Lookout, Belize where I am still living. I have 5 siblings and two are married. I have a 4-year-old nephew now. I go to a Christian School and am in 8th grade. When I was about 7 years old, I accepted Jesus into my heart. I love reading, dancing, and spending time with my friends. I live on a farm and take care of the chickens. I have four dogs. When I was around 7 years old, I started to go to kid’s choir. I wrote my first song at the age of 12 years old.
ANGY PLETT My name is Angy Plett. I was born into an amazing Christian family of 6. I am fortunate to have grown up in a loving, godly home. I accepted Christ at 7 years old. I live in Spanish Lookout Belize, although I am also a citizen of Canada. I attend Fountain of Life Church. I am inspired to write music by God’s unconditional love and His beautiful Creation. I wrote my first song when I was 12. My hobbies include singing, writing, reading books, and being outdoors.
BREANNA ALLEN My name is Breanna and I am 14 years old. I live in a village called Los Tambos, Belize. I get inspired to write songs by God. I like drawing, crocheting, playing video games, and watching TV. I wrote a song called Wonderful Life when I was 12 years old. I was inspired to write the song because I realized that some people aren’t happy. I wanted to show that with God you can have true happiness. My favorite subject in school is history and I think when I get older I would want to be a cartoon character designer.
LAURETTA BRAUN
Hi my name is Lauretta. I am 7 years old and live in Belize. I am in 2nd grade and have 3 siblings. My favorite color is red. I like to read Bible storied and play games. My favorite subject is Bible time. I love animals very much. I have 3 horses and one is about to have a baby. I can’t wait for the new baby horse. I wrote my first song because I thought of those going through a hard time. I just want everyone to know God is good and He will help us all.
BRANESSA KORNELSON I live in Spanish Lookout, Belize, but am a citizen of both Belize and Canada. I wrote my first song when I was 10 years old. I am homeschooled and my favorite subjects are Bible and science. My family has a chicken farm and I help my sister with the eggs. I like gaming as a hobby. My church is Fountain of Life and I am always helping with Sunday school.
KAYANNA KORNELSON My name is Kayana. I live in Spanish Lookout, Belize, a Mennonite community. My family moved to Belize when I was about 8 years old. I have 3 siblings, 2 married, and my younger sister who still lives at home with me. I live on a farm and help out with gathering eggs and feeding the chickens. I am homeschooled. I enjoy cooking and friends and family time. At age 6, I started the kids’ choir and wrote my first song at age 13. I now sing with the worship team and love worshiping God.
BRIENNE DUECK My name is Brienne Dueck, and I am fifteen years old. I have lived in Spanish Lookout, Belize since I was two; before which I lived in Manitoba, Canada. I accepted Christ when I was eight. I have homeschooled all my life and am currently in 11th grade. Some activities I have been able to participate in are a dance class, piano lessons, and Sam & Shelley’s writing and recording group. Some of my hobbies include writing, crocheting, playing piano, and singing. The latter two are roles I frequently play in my church. I have also written four songs.
KARINA DUECK My name is Karina Dueck! I am 18 years old, a graphic designer, and my hobbies are painting, photography, baking, and singing. I attempted songwriting as a child, never finishing a song. My choir directors, the Glionnas, saw God-given potential in me and pushed me. In 2018, I successfully wrote over 10 songs and created several music videos as well. Singing and playing instruments continues to be a big part of my life, as I assist our church worship team. Nothing has ever compared to the joy of using what God has blessed me with for the body of Christ.
ZEPHANIAH DAVIS My name is Zephaniah Davis! I am 12 years old and live in Spanish Lookout, Belize. I have 3 sisters and I am the only boy. My family members are missionaries and we work with the deaf. I am learning sign language like my sisters, Mom and Dad so I can help more. I like to read my Bible and love to pray. I would like to be a electrical engineer when I get older. I like animals, and have cats, 5 dogs and 7 puppies.
MIKYLA DUECK My name is Mikyla Dueck and I’m 13. I live in Spanish Lookout, Belize. I was born in Manitoba, Canada and when I was 3 months old, we moved to Belize. I have 6 siblings and we’re all homeschooled. I live on a farm and have several chores like gathering eggs and feeding the parakeets. At age 6, I started to go to kids’ choir and when I was 10, I wrote my first song and have written more since. I enjoy reading and spending time with my friends. I love going to church and worshiping God.
RIANNA DUECK Hi, my name is Rianna. I am 11 years old and am in the 8th grade. I was born in Belize. I have two sisters. My favorite hobbies are singing, reading, and piano. I like the Spanish Lookout Kids choir because I get to sing about Jesus and write songs about Jesus. My favorite sport is volleyball. I go to church in the Spanish Lookout Mennonite community. I very much appreciate what Jesus is doing in my life.
TAMIKA DUECK Hi! I’m Tamika Dueck. I live in Spanish Lookout, Belize. I’m thirteen years old. I’m in eighth grade; my graduation is soon! I have a brother, sister, mom and dad; which is a family of five. I am the oldest of my siblings. I love to sing and I have loved singing as long as I can remember. I also like school and being with family. The most important thing about me is that I trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior and that I love Him very dearly.
KARSYN DUNN My name is Karsyn Dunn and I was born in Texas. I enjoy going to the rodeo. It was a lot of fun traveling and getting to be around horses. I went to a Christian school but because of Covid my parents felt called to Belize as missionaries. We quickly made friends with so many people and love our choir class. God helped me to be creative and write many songs for my choir. We came back to Texas but can’t wait to go back to Belize and see all of our friends and our church family.
KINLEY DUNN My name is Kinley and I am 9 years old. I grew up in Texas going to rodeos with my siblings and riding horses. I love horses so much! I went to a private school up until 1st grade and then Covid came. In 2021 my parents felt called to be missionaries and we moved to Belize. I enjoy going to a church and kid’s choir. I have written 2 songs and they were made into videos. I was so excited! I am back in Texas for a while, but hope to be back with our Belize friend soon.
PAIGE DIETRICH My Name is Paige Dietrich, and I am one of the singers for the Spanish Lookout Kids Choir. I have been involved with this talented group for about seven years. I am very thankful for the musical skills that it helped me to develop at a young age. I have recently joined my church’s worship team as a vocalist, but also love to play the piano and worship at home. I am a big sister to two lucky siblings, and I can’t imagine life without them. Besides that, I am a left-handed 11th grader at a small Christian school, who loves Jesus, music, books, food, coffee, running and traveling.
KEATON DIETRICH My name is Keaton Dietrich. I live with my parents and two sisters in Cayo Belize. I am in grade 10 at a Christian high school that only has 42 students. I like to play board games, play sports, work outside, play the guitar, and sing. I am part of the tech team at our church and often run the sound system on Sunday mornings. I am one of the top three Go-Kart solemn racers in Belize. I joined the Spanish Lookout Kids Choir in 2015 and have been part of it for seven years. I have written three songs and have sung in many of the songs with the Spanish Lookout Kids Choir.
STACEY DYCK Hi my name is Stacey and I’m 10 years old. I was born in Canada and now live in Belize. I live on a farm with my five siblings. I go to a Christian school in a Mennonite community. My favorite subject is social studies. I love playing with little children and doing crafts. I wrote my song to inspire people and children to prepare themselves for Jesus. I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. I just want to please God.
SUSANA DYCK Hello wonderful people, my name is Susana Dyck. I am 16 years old. I was born in Little Belize and live in Spanish Lookout. I was inspired by family and friends to write music, so at age 15, I wrote my first song. I grew up on a farm in Blue Creek. My favorite chore was milking our cow morning and evening! My hobby is singing. My favorite sport is soccer. I go to Fountain of Life Church and praise the Lord.
ARIEL GOUD My name is Ariel, I was born in Canada and now live in Belize. I love nature, photography, art, crafts, traveling, and music. I have two songs recorded with Sam and Shelley but have written many more. I play lots of different instruments like piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, and of course, singing. I am part of the praise team at my church. I either sing or play one of my instruments on Sundays or for special events. And I hope to one day travel the world. I thank God for all my beautiful talents.
SUZIE PETKAU Hi, my name is Susie and I am 8 years old. I have one brother and we live in Belize. I like to play with my friends and like to make them laugh. I like to help my mom cook yummy food. I have two cows and one horse. I love to sing in the kids choir every week, and I am so happy I got to write my first song called “Fail.”
NIECIE REIMER My name is Niecie Reimer and I live in Spanish Lookout, Belize. I am 12 years old and in the 7th grade. I have lots of friends I like to spend time with. I love playing sports, but my favorite is football. I love to sing and write songs. Every Tuesday I get to sing in the Spanish Lookout Kids choir. My favorite color is blue. I like going to church on Sundays and being involved with the youth group. I love the Lord and I love my parents more than everything.
JALILA REIMER My name is Jalila and I live in Spanish Lookout, Belize. I wrote my first song when I was 13 years old. My wonderful music teachers encouraged me to write a song. I attend a Christian school and my favorite subject is science. I live on the farm and help my mom in the house and help my dad with the cattle. I am a citizen of Canada. I go to a Christian fellowship church and am involved in children’s ministry. I enjoy babysitting. My favorite sport is volleyball.
SANDRA REIMER My name is Sandra. I love horses, butterflies, and cats. My favorite instrument is piano. I love to worship God. I like to make others feel happy. I like to make new friends. I love to pray for others. I love looking at the stars in the sky. I love to be happy. I took Jesus into my heart. I love to read God’s word. I would love to be a Piano player for the worship team at church when I grow up.
JOSHUA REIMER My name is Joshua Reimer, I am a Mennonite. And am very involved in the community and my church. I love parrots, I Love how they talk, I love playing volleyball I love worshiping God, I love to go to church, I love to hear what the preacher says, I love to read the Bible, I Believe in Jesus, I have accepted Jesus into my heart I love write songs, and I love to sing. When I grow up I would want to be a singer for the church on stage.
ANNA REIMER My name is Anna Reimer. I go to an amazing church in a Mennonite community. I get to dance and sing through programs at my church. I love learning about God and being able to express that love through my dancing and singing. I’m blessed to have a mom and dad that also love the Lord. My brothers and me love to go to the front of the church on Sundays. We love to dance and praise to show God how much we love Him.
SHAKIRA REIMER My name is Shakira Reimer….bio coming soon.
JOLENNY FRIESEN Hi, my name is Jolenny! I was born in Canada and lived there for a few years. My family moved to Belize when I was 6 years old. I am now 9 years old. I have 3 siblings. I like to play with my friends. I think board games are fun and I also like to play like I’m selling at a store. I always liked to write songs and sing them to my friends. I love to sing for Jesus also. My favorite foods are pizza, chicken nuggets, and fries.
