Northwest Boychoir & Vocalpoint! Seattle Executive Staff

Joseph Crnko, Music Director

Mr. Crnko is in his 29th year as Music Director of the Northwest Choirs. During his tenure, the Northwest Choirs has grown from a small 50-member group with several concerts a year, to a vital arts organization of 200 members in seven progressively graded ensembles, an annual schedule of more than 40 concerts, a biannual international tour program, and a schedule of professional studio recording engagements. In this time, the Northwest Choirs has established itself as a prominent member of the Pacific Northwest performing arts community sharing the stage regularly with the Seattle Symphony, in addition to other area professional arts organizations.

Additionally, Mr. Crnko serves as Associate Conductor for Choral Activities with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In this capacity, he is responsible for the Seattle Symphony Chorale.

Mr. Crnko regularly conducts orchestral and choral recording sessions for movie and video game soundtracks. Among his many projects are the films O, Boondock Saints, The Ringer and The Celestine Prophecy, and such video games as Halo, Medal Of Honor, and Age Of Mythology. Prior to his work with the Northwest Choirs, Mr. Crnko served for five seasons as music director and conductor for Civic Light Opera in Seattle, conducting numerous productions. He has also served as music director for productions with Alaska Light Opera Theatre, Evergreen Theatre Conservatory, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and the Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington. Mr. Crnko lives in Seattle with his wife, Wendee, and their two children, Katharine and Nick.

Maria Johnson, Executive Director and Northwest Boychoir Apprentices & Preparatory Choir Director

Now in her 19th year with the Northwest Choirs, Maria Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Washington University where she studied voice with Marianne Weltmann. While living in Russia from 1996-2000, Ms. Johnson served as music and drama instructor for the Anglo-American School in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In addition to her work with the Northwest Choirs, Ms. Johnson was the Music Director for the Endolyne Children’s Choir in West Seattle for eight years. An accomplished vocalist, Ms. Johnson frequently performs as a session singer for movie and video game soundtracks. She has appeared on recordings for such movies as Angel Eyes, The Celestine Prophecy, Millions, Mirror Mirror, Novocain, and the popular video games Age of Empires, Halo II & III, The Legend of Zelda Symphony and Medal of Honor. Ms. Johnson also appears locally as a soloist for numerous events.

Ms. Johnson is a graduate of Vocalpoint! Seattle, formerly known as the Northwest Youthchoir. She lives in West Seattle with her husband, Rolan and poodle, Stoli.

Music Staff

Connor Bennion, Staff Accompanist

Connor Bennion has been playing the piano and teaching for the Northwest Boychoir since June 2008. Connor is a 2011 alumnus of the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle, and is currently attending Wesleyan University. He also spent four years as music director of the Acafellas, a male a cappella group for which he provided original arrangements, and is currently a member of the Wesleyan Spirits. Connor has been taking piano lessons since he was three years old. His older brother, Owen, graduated from Vocalpoint! Seattle in 2005.

Joel Cummings, Staff Instructor

With ringing high notes and an easy, polished technique, tenor Joel Cummings has charmed audiences of all kinds across the United States.  Mr. Cummings has performed leading and supporting roles in regional opera houses across the US, and is a frequent concert artist and recitalist in the Seattle area.  Mr. Cummings received his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory in 2007, and his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Pacific Lutheran University in 2004. 

As a voice instructor, Mr. Cummings serves as Affiliate Faculty in Voice at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett WA and as Adjunct Voice Faculty at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, WA, as well as maintaining a busy private teaching schedule.  Students have gone on to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, George Fox University, Pacific University, Central Washington University, and Western Washington University, as well as local community colleges.  Mr. Cummings is an alumnus of the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle. He lives in Snohomish, WA with his wife Jaclin and daughters Camryn and Darcy.

Benjamin Kromholtz, Northwest Boychoir Apprentices & Preparatory Choir Director

Ben Kromholtz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Washington. Since joining the Northwest Choirs staff in 1997, Mr. Kromholtz has been a staff accompanist, Vocalpoint Instructor and Advanced and Preparatory Choir Director. He is a graduate of the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle, and has over 25 years of ongoing involvement with the Northwest Choirs.

Mr. Kromholtz currently resides in Bothell, with his wife, Lisa, his daughters, Gracie and Annabel and his stepchildren, Alex and Ruby.

Kelly Kunz, Staff Instructor

Kelly Kunz is currently entering into his 23rd year as a music educator. Mr. Kunz has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree in Music Education from Central Washington University. He currently heads up the recording arts program at Bellevue College, where he also teaches music theory. 

Mr. Kunz is a noted vocal jazz clinician, adjudicator, arranger and director. His vocal groups, both on the high school and collegiate level, have won numerous awards at vocal jazz festivals up and down the West Coast.  Additionally, Mr. Kunz is musical director and head arranger for the local professional vocal group, Groove For Thought, which most recently participated in season two of NBC’s the “Sing Off”.  In this last year, Groove For Thought has also released their second CD, entitled “Inspired”.  Additionally, GFT is working on producing a set of Video’s and are about to embark upon their 3^rd CD project.

Mr. Kunz is currently in his 5th year assisting Vocalpoint! Seattle.  Having many diverse musical interests, Mr. Kunz also owns his own recording/production studio.  While a vocalist and teacher by trade, he is also an accomplished bassist and has been a published vocal music arranger since he was a high school student. Mr. Kunz currently lives in Renton, Washington with his wife, Kelly, and has two children, his daughter, Amanda and son, Christian, both of whom have been members of Vocalpoint! Seattle and aspire to have careers in music.

Laura Ouimette, Staff Accompanist

Laura Ouimette completed her Masters Degree in organ performance at the University of Washington in 2011, studying with Carole Terry. She currently serves as the organist at Blessed Sacrament Parish in the University District of Seattle, Washington. She also thoroughly enjoys teaching piano at the Puget Sounds Piano Studio and directing children's choirs in Issaquah and at Maple Elementary in Seattle.

Ms. Ouimette has performed throughout the United States on various recital series, recently appearing at the Vergennes Opera House in Vergennes, VT and on the Noontunes Series in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Internationally she has performed at the Diapason Festival in L'viv Ukraine and throughout Jalisco and Nayarit in Mexico. She received her undergraduate degree in Music from Wesleyan University, studying with Ronald Ebrecht, and has studied piano with Nancy Jang, Fred Simmons and Kevin Parizo. When not making music, she greatly enjoys coaxing vegetables and fruit to grow out of her front yard.

Jacob Winkler, Staff Instructor

Jacob Winkler received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Washington, where he studied piano with Holly Herrmann and Marc Seales, and conducting with Tim Salzman and Peter Eros. He earned his Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Washington in 2003. In 2006 Mr. Winkler served as music director for the Seattle Children’s Theater critically acclaimed production of Peter and the Wolf. An accomplished vocalist, Mr. Winkler frequently performs as a session singer for movie soundtrack recording sessions.

Mr. Winkler entered the Northwest Boychoir in 1984 and later graduated to Vocalpoint! Seattle. As a member of the choirs, he participated in two international tours, three Christmas recordings, and numerous Vocalpoint! Seattle productions. On the staff of the Northwest Boychoir, he served as accompanist and associate director on four domestic tours. Mr. Winkler boasts 26 continuous years of involvement with the Northwest Choirs. In Fall of 2009, he became the Artistic Director of the Seattle Girls' Choir.

Mr. Winkler lives in Seattle with his wife, Jessie, and their two sons, Leo and Christopher.

Administrative Staff

Jade Biggio, PR & Administrative Coordinator

Jade Biggio serves the Northwest Choirs staff as PR & Administrative Coordinator. With a background in journalism, fund-raising and event planning, she recently relocated to Seattle from North Carolina in spring 2010. Jade holds a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina. Prior to her work with NWC, Jade was the director of communications and events for the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce. She has been very involved in the performing arts throughout her life. She and her husband, John, live in Seattle, WA.

Kim Henwood, Office Manager

Kim Henwood has advocated for the arts, educational children's programs and music her entire life. As Office Manager, she is busy behind the scenes making sure that all of the daily office details run efficiently and smoothly. Prior to working at Northwest Choirs, she enjoyed working in the publishing industry (touring with authors at school assemblies and special events around the globe) for environmental education children's books. Kim and her husband Jay are Washington natives. They live in Kirkland, WA, where they have raised their two adult children, Jamie and Kellie.

Board of Directors

Stephen Petersdorf, President
Leo Santiago, Vice President
Darryl Lewis, Treasurer
Susan Stoltzfus, Secretary
Jeanne Acutanza
Doug Blair
Nathan Carson
Susie Frazier
Kay Stimson
Brian Sweeney
Nathan Torgelson
Will Wakefield

Advisory Board

Mrs. Slade Gorton
Douglas Hales
Kenneth Hatch
Mrs. Henry Jackson
Gerard Schwarz
Allen Shoup
Kate Webster
James E. Wright