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Joseph Crnko, Music Director
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Mr. Crnko is in his 27th 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.
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Maria Johnson, Executive Director, Intermediate & Preparatory Choir Director
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Now in her 18th 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, Roland. |
Joel Cummings, Staff Instructor
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With a diverse performance repertoire ranging from Cavalli to Sondheim, tenor Joel Cummings has charmed audiences from across the United States with his lyricism and sensitivity. On the operatic stage, Mr. Cummings has performed with Central City Opera, Longwood Opera, Tacoma Opera, New England Conservatory Opera Theater, Indiana University Opera Theater, and Pacific Lutheran University Opera in both leading and supporting roles. On the concert stage, Mr. Cummings has graced Jordan Hall and the Trinity Church in Boston singing Bach’s Cantata 140 and Handel’s Messiah, as well as Stravinsky’s In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas with the NEC Contemporary Ensemble. He received his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2007.
Mr. Cummings currently owns and operates a private voice studio in Snohomish, Washington. With an enrollment of eighteen students ranging in age from 11 to 60, students have gone on to study at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, George Fox University, Pacific University, and Western Washington University, all with scholarship. In addition to his duties at the studio, Mr. Cummings is on the voice faculty at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, WA and is Associate Music Director of St. Mary Magdalene Parish, also in Everett, WA. He is an alumnus of the Northwest Choirs. Mr. Cummings lives in Snohomish with his wife Jaci, and daughter Camryn. |
Benjamin Kromholtz, Advanced & Preparatory Choir Director
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| 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 and Advanced and Preparatory Choir Director. He is a graduate of the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle, and has 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
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Currently in his 16th year in collegiate music education, Kelly Kunz has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree in Music Education from Central Washington University. He has been teaching music for a total of 19 years and currently heads up the Recording Arts program at Bellevue College. Mr. Kunz also teaches Music Theory at BC.
Mr. Kunz is also a noted vocal jazz clinician, adjudicator, and director. His own vocal groups, both High School and Collegiate, have won numerous awards at vocal jazz festivals up and down the West Coast.
Mr. Kunz is in his second year assisting Vocalpoint! Seattle, and in his first year as an assistant director for the Northwest Boychoir. Having many diverse musical interests, Mr. Kunz owns his own recording studio and most recently completed production on the debut album for his professional vocal group, Groove For Thought. While a vocalist and teacher by trade, he is also an accomplished bassist and has been a published vocal music arranger since 1978. Mr. Kunz currently lives in Renton, Washington with his wife, Kelly, his daughter, Amanda and youngest son, Christian, who is currently a member of Vocalpoint! Seattle. |
Sheryl Linders, Staff Assistant
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| Sheryl Linders holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from the University of Colorado. As an undergraduate at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota she studied piano with Dr. Gordon Howell, and served as accompanist to vocal students. She taught school in Colorado, and currently teaches piano privately and accompanies choirs at two junior high schools in the Northshore School District. An accomplished pianist, Ms. Linders is an active accompanist in the Seattle area. She lives with her husband Mark in Bothell, WA, where they have raised their three sons David, Jonathon, and Michael. |
Laura Ouimette, Staff Accompanist
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| 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. She 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
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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. |
Jade Biggio, PR & Development Coordinator
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| Jade Biggio serves the Northwest Choirs staff as PR & Development 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. |
Dana Dysart, Project Coordinator
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| Dana Dysart holds a bachelor of music degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston where she specialized in arranging. She’s worked for local recording studios as an administrator, composer and arranger. Along with her husband Dave she owned and operated a music production business writing and producing commercial music projects. She also worked for the Northwest Choirs for 10 years as a Prep Choir Director and an Assistant Teacher for Intermediate Choir. She now works as the lead Uniform Coordinator and Box Office person as well as perfoming other administrative duties. She resides in Bellevue with her husband Dave, son Benjamin and daughter Chloe. |
Kim Henwood, Administrative Coordinator
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| Kim Henwood has advocated for the arts and music her entire life. As Administrative Coordinator, she is busy behind the scenes making sure that all of the daily office details run efficiently and smoothly. Kim and her husband Jay are Washington natives. They live in Kirkland, WA, where they have raised their two adult children, Jamie and Kellie. |
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