Sopranos A-M

Amanda Boger is a lifelong Alaskan and performer with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from UAA. In addition to the Alaska Chamber Singers, she performs regularly with the Anchorage Opera, Alaska Sound Celebration, and her nationally acclaimed barbershop quartet “Rewind”. Amanda is a founding member of the Anchorage Opera Overture Council and currently sits on the board. Two years ago, she opened “Siren Beauty” where she offers services as a licensed Aesthetician. In her off time, she and her partner, Spencer Madden, support the community through Rotary and the nonprofit Burning Man Project. You can often find them outdoors with Spencer’s son, Ethan, enjoying hiking, biking, skiing, snow machining, and backpacking.

Apryl Cardwell is a sophomore pursuing her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at UAA. She is a vibrant vocalist and has been singing for ten years. Apryl placed second in the NATS regional competition in spring of 2023, qualifying her for national preliminaries. She was also a soloist in the Music Department's annual symphony of sounds competition. Most recently, she was cast as a stepsister in a professional production of "Cinderella" with the anchorage festival of music. Apryl currently works as a prep cook and has a passion for gardening.

Clarie Evans is a senior at West High. Though her repertoire first included Darius Rucker's "Wagon Wheel" and the various songs of Just Dance 2015, she's since expanded it to include pieces by Eric Whitacre, Rachmaninoff, and Bach. She's also sung with the All-Northwest and All-State choirs and was named the 2022 All-State First Chair Alto II. Her musical life is just beginning, and she hopes to continue her choral work while pursuing an education in applied mathematics. She has two dogs, Brown Dog and Handsome Pete, who will sing along with her practice if she makes enough crazy noises. 

Kathy Jin Hagen (*soprano section leader) is delighted to have sung with Alaska Chamber Singers for over 30 years. She served as an accompanist for many years and has been featured often as a vocal soloist. She has also appeared as a soloist and ensemble singer with Anchorage Vocal Ensemble (AVE), Anchorage Festival of Music, Anchorage Opera, Anchorage Concert Chorus, Portland Symphonic Choir, and Portland State University Singers.  She discovered her love of singing growing up in Daegu, South Korea, and continued singing in school choirs when her family moved to Portland, Oregon. After graduating from Aloha High School, she studied piano and voice at George Fox University where she met her husband, David Hagen. She then received additional training at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.  Kathy has been teaching piano to students aged 5 to 75 for over 30 years, and is still loving it! Outside of music, she loves having both sons, Noah and Evan, in town. She enjoys running and hiking with friends and spending time at her cabins.

Kimberly Hayes moved to Alaska from Arkansas in September of 2016. She currently teaches at Bear Valley Elementary School in the Anchorage School District. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a vocal emphasis from John Brown University and a Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education from Harding University both which are located in Arkansas. During her spare time she works for Alaska Missions and Retreats doing mission work around the state of Alaska. Kimberly grew up in a very musical family and music has always been one of the joys in life. She loves to hike, fish, hunt, and enjoy the beauty of Alaska.

Born and raised in Anchorage, Summer Rae Kuhns is an alumnus of West Anchorage High School and a graduate of the renowned Westminster Choir College. Summer is honored to return home and perform again with the Alaska Chamber Singers. Her time at Westminster has been a whirlwind, including past engagements with Westminster Opera Theatre, in roles such as “Cendrillon” in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, touring through multiple countries and singing multiple seasons with the award-winning Westminster Choir. Summer has also won first place awards with the New Jersey NATS Festival of Singing and the Westminster Voice Awards. Summer looks forward to being back home and enjoying every bit of Alaskan life while preparing to continue her graduate studies in music.

Yan Liu was born and raised in a musical family in China. She was immersed and learned to play many types of different instruments with her family. She got her bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Education at China Conservatory of Music. Afterward, she studied Voice Performance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is a passionate performer, singing Bel Canto, Chinese traditional songs, and musicals. She also enjoys music education. She has been teaching piano, vocal, and music theory for 13 years. Even though she is now busy running her family car rental business, she’s still passionate and loves her music career.

Kimberly Martin has been singing as part of Alaska Chamber Singers since 2000. She enjoys the fulfillment her garden and flower beds provide during the beautiful Alaskan summers. Along with her bachelor’s in education from Eastern Mennonite University, she completed a minor in Music. Kimberley performed with the university’s Chamber Singers for four years under the directorship of Kenneth Nafziger. Currently Kimberly is teaching 2nd grade at the Alaska Native Cultural Charter School in Anchorage.  

Alison Pogue is a soprano in the Alaska Chamber Singers and the UAA University Singers. She is currently pursuing an Associates of Arts Degree at UAA. During her senior year of high school, Alison received first chair in the mixed choir as a soprano 1, was selected to attend the 2023 All NorthWest mixed choir as a soprano 1, placed 2nd at NATS and she received command at State Solo & Ensemble in her category. This past summer Alison attended the Sitka Fine Arts Camp musical theater program, where she was casted as the Fairy Godmother in the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Alison enjoys hiking, getting a good workout in, quality time with friends and family, making memories and of course singing in her spare time.

Meredith Rude was born and raised in Anchorage and graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a bachelor's degree in music education.  She teaches choir and band at Begich Middle School, gives private music instruction, and serves as an accomplished trumpeter and pianist, and has a knack for learning how to play new instruments.  When she's not singing, strumming or blowing her horn, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and playing with power tools.  She currently shares her home with three sweet rescue kitties and one rambunctious rescue pup.   

Megan Sandone grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and received her early musical education from Janet Stotts while singing with the Alaska Children's Choir for thirteen years.  She received a degree in ormvocal perfance from the University of Puget Sound in 2001, and a law degree from the University of Oregon in 2008.  Megan has sung with the Anchorage Concert Chorus since 1996 and the Alaska Chamber Singers since 2013, and sang with the Anchorage Opera Chorus for several years between college and law school.  Megan is a shareholder with the law firm of Jermain, Dunnagan & Owens, and lives in Anchorage with her husband and two children.

Emilee Smith has been singing with the Alaska Chamber Singers since she moved back to Alaska in 2019. A graduate of the choral program at West High School, she went on to earn her Bachelor's in Music Education from Colorado State University.  Emilee currently teaches Choir and Theatre at Service High School. When she is not teaching she enjoys reading, drinking lots of coffee, trying new crafts, and playing with her dog, Pixel.

Stephanie (Denman) Williams has sung with the Alaska Chamber Singers and the Anchorage Concert Chorus for over 25 years. Though choral singing is her favorite, she has also performed roles with Anchorage Opera, Anchorage Community Theater and UAA Music Department.  She teaches elementary music at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School and conducts the parishes children’s choir “Cantabile”.  She and her husband James are lifelong Alaskans and have two, teenage, hockey and instrument playing daughters, Isabella (bass)and Brighton (flute). “Our loud and messy life is full of kids, animals, extended family, church, hockey gear, wonderful friends and music. We're so grateful for all that fullness!"

Charlie Beltran is a student at Bartlett High School. She has been enrolled in band and choir for most of her life, and took private voice lessons for a time. At Bartlett, Charlie is part of the advanced Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Band, playing tuba, tenor trombone, and bass trombone. She is also in the advanced choir Bear-a-Tones. Over the years she has been a participant in Alaska’s Allstate Choir, and went to state for Solo & Ensemble. Born in Texas, Charlie has moved from South Dakota to England and ultimately, Alaska. She is enrolled in rigorous AP classes at Bartlett, and is on the way to a career in culinary arts. When not in school she enjoys cooking, reading, longboarding and practicing music.

Mary Britton arrived in Anchorage in January 2014, joining her husband, Jack, who had been transferred here for his work.  She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education in Music Therapy from Phillips University.  She has worked as a music therapist, conductor, singer, solo handbell ringer, and had an active piano studio in Louisville, KY.  She was thrilled to find a vibrant arts community here in Alaska, especially the Alaska Chamber Singers, where she has sung since Fall 2016.  Now retired, Mary is active in her church, PEO Chapter J, reading groups, and exploring our beautiful state.

Madeleine Cannon is a West Anchorage High School Senior. She was born and raised in Anchorage, and has been in Choir for 3 years, but has been singing since she was very young. She enjoys singing with her Parents both at Church and elsewhere. She has participated in State Solo and Ensemble and starred in several musicals at her school–as well as participated in the Anchorage Folk Festival. She hopes to study music education and teach music as a profession. One of her favorite things to do in her free time is learn the piano chords to a song and sing along.

Liesl Davenport-Wheeler is a music educator with training in voice, piano and French Horn. She joined Alaska Chamber Singers in 1999. She studied music at the University of Oregon and received her master’s degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi. She taught high school choir for over 20 years, five of which also included middle and high school band. She is currently in her 6th year teaching music at Trailside Elementary. She is also music director at Turnagain United Methodist Church. She sings with the Alaska Sound Celebration Chorus and is a part of a barbershop quartet called Sweet Chillys. One of her most memorable musical experiences is marching her freshman year of college with the University of Oregon marching band. When she is not making music, she is walking her dogs, knitting, gardening, cooking, reading, putting together puzzles, going to the cabin or exploring Alaska with her husband in the camper.

Mikayla Forbes is originally from Utah, and moved to Alaska in summer of 2023. She grew up singing and learning instruments throughout grade school. This inspired her to go to Southern Utah University and study choral music education so she could share her love for music and singing with the next generation. She has since taught middle and high school choir and is currently the choir director at Dimond High School. In her free time, Mikayla enjoys spending time with her family, painting her nails, playing video games, and making various arts and crafts.

Annie Herzog * alto section leader) has been singing with the Alaska Chamber Singers since she moved to Alaska in 2020. She earned her Bachelor's in Vocal Performance from Pacific Lutheran University where she sang with the Choir of the West for four years. She went on to sing with PLU's Choral Union and CWU's Chamber Choir. Annie has also enjoyed singing several opera roles with PLU Opera including Rosina in Rossini's il barbiere di siviglia and Hermia in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has also been featured as a soloist with the Anchorage Festival of Music. Annie teaches choir and piano at Bartlett High School. When she is not teaching she enjoys hiking, cross country skiing, and playing with her kitty, Stella. 

Katherine Huffman, sop II, began singing with ACS around 1991.  She has also enjoyed performing with the Anchorage Concert Chorus, Anchorage Opera, AVE and the Anchorage Folk Festival.  Since studying voice in college Katherine is grateful to notice that some of her best friends and artistic experiences have been made being part of the Anchorage musical community.  With special gratitude to her high school guitar teacher, Henry Hedberg, who recommended she try out for the choir.

Dr. Tamara McCoy is a pianist and contralto on the faculty at UAA and APU. She is Music Director at Anchorage Lutheran Church and produces the Anchorage Lutheran Concert Series. In 2018, she won first prize in the Alaska State and the Northwest Regional NATS Adult Avocational Voice Auditions. Tamara has been the recipient of several awards from the Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska State Council on the Arts.  She was a featured artist on the NPR/Houston Public Media podcast Classical Classroom. Tamara serves in the Hiland Mountain Lullaby Project and performed her composition at the Lullaby Celebration Concert at Carnegie Hall. She has performed most notably in New York, Russia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Brazil

 Amanda Joy Myers has been performing in choirs and theatre since elementary school.  She obtained her Bachelor of Music, specializing in voice, and her Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education from Eastern Oregon University.   She has participated in many plays and musicals, was an active member in the EOU Chamber Choir, and has taught Children's Choir and Children's Theatre.  Amanda has been a music and drama teacher for a variety of age groups in the United States and abroad.   Amanda directs the Anchor Lutheran School Choir and works as the Worship Coordinator for Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. Amanda is currently taking a break from teaching to raise her two babies, Joy and Jack. Along with her husband, Matthew Baxter, the family enjoys traveling the world, hiking, biking, and camping. 

Jeremy Austin (* tenor section leader) grew up in Southeast Alaska in a largish family of classical and folk musicians, studied music pedagogy in British Columbia, and taught privately until 2018 in the Interior of Alaska. French horn, piano, voice, and arranging are particular passions. His second career as a senior network engineer at Alaska Communications still leaves him time to enjoy singing, supported by his wife and two musical teenagers.

 Jack Britton has been singing in choirs since age 5 and playing cello in orchestras since age 11 and continues to enjoy performing in both large groups and small ensembles.  He and his wife, Mary, moved to Anchorage in 2013, and started singing with the Alaska Chamber Singers in 2016.  His musical resume includes the Columbus, MS Madrigal Singers as well the Columbus Symphony, several years with the Louisville Thoroughbred Chorus, an internationally renowned Barbershop chorus, and, most recently, 8 years as principal cellist of the Indiana University Southeast orchestra.  A retired military and commercial pilot, he leads a happy life here in Anchorage. 

Andrew Gray sang professionally with the Estonian National Male Choir in Tallinn, Estonia, in the early 2000s. While living in Europe, he also performed with the Estonian National Opera Chorus, the Haapsalu Early Music Festival, and the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland. He was the tenor soloist for St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in Manhattan in the late 2000s. Originally from Texas, he sang with the New Texas Festival Chamber Singers, the Victoria Bach Festival, and Conspirare, all under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson. He also sings with the Anchorage Opera Chorus. He is a physician assistant at Alaska Urgent Care, an Army veteran, and he represents the UMED district in the Alaska State House.

Luke Honeck, tenor, has performed with Alaska Chamber Singers, Anchorage Festival of Music, Alaska Chorus Concert, and Anchorage Opera among others. Luke also enjoys playing viola, having performed with the Anchorage Opera pit orchestra, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, the Anchorage Civic Orchestra, and the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra. A graduate of West Anchorage High School, Luke holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. Praised for his interpretation of art song, Honeck is celebrated for his nuanced musicianship and his ability to communicate with audiences. In April 2021, Luke was featured as soloist in Alaska Chamber Singers performance of Brahms’ Zigeunerlieder and appeared as Spoletta in Anchorage Opera’s production of Tosca by Puccini. He has also performed the role of Dr. Knox in Julian Grant’s The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare (2021), Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (2019), Count Ory in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory (2018), and Tenor in Glass’ Hydrogen Jukebox (2017). On the oratorio stage, Luke has been featured as Uriel in Haydn’s The Creation with the Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra (2018) and soloist in Handel’s Messiah at his alma mater (2017). In 2017, he won the Encouragement Award through the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

David Ianson Ph.D. has been singing for a long time. He has performed in five university chorales, numerous madrigal, and opera ensembles. He has been a professional Christmas Caroler, madrigal performer, Portland Opera performer, tenor with the Russian American Colony Singers, numerous community choruses and begins his 14th year with Alaska Chamber Singers. He is Classically and Opera trained, is a “Mycorrhizast” and the State Agronomist for the USDA.

Mark Iverson is a charter member of the Alaska Chamber Singers. His 57 years of choral singing began in his mother's church choir and includes the USAF Academy Cadet Chorale, which he joined so he could stand at ease for a few hours each week. He performed with the Alaska Chamber Singers at American Choral Directors Association conventions in Seattle, Washington and in Vancouver, British Columbia and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He has also performed with the Anchorage Opera, the Basically Bach Festivals, Anchorage Summer Music Festivals and the 25th Statehood Anniversary Russian Choir.  He retired as an IT project manager after having been employed within the Alaska oil industry for 39 years. 

Jim Powell is one of the few remaining Chamber Singers who sang our first concert. His singing began in high school, continued at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) and through law school in Ann Arbor. His Alaska singing debut was in Fairbanks with the Messiah tenor solos in 1964. He then continued with those solos for the next 20 years in Anchorage. He practiced civil trial law for 40 years in Anchorage, and now runs a B&B in Turnagain. He is frequently seen on his bike or flying his Cessna at Merrill Field.

Bardon Simons grew up in Seattle where he received his early musical training-playing violin in school orchestras. Seeking new outlets for musical expression while at Whitman College, he joined the college madrigal and concert choirs and performed as a chorus member in college opera productions. Since moving to Anchorage in 1985, he has sung with the Anchorage Concert Chorus, Anchorage Festival of Music, Anchorage Opera, and National Symphony Orchestra during its 1992 Alaska tour. Bardon enjoys gardening and reading history and biographies when taking a break from his job as business manager for a commercial real estate development firm. 

Mark Skrade was born in Anchorage, grew up in Ireland, and moved home to Alaska in 2010. An interest in singing began while he was attending Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and is now an avocation in Anchorage. In addition to the Alaska Chamber Singers, Mark has performed with the Anchorage Opera Chorus in four productions, with Cyrano’s Theatre Company in one musical, and sang in his first Community Messiah right after the 2018 earthquake. He is grateful for these experiences and for the opportunity to learn in Kate Egan's studio. Mark is a cantor at Holy Family Cathedral and is proud to work for Matson at the Port of Alaska. 

Phil Cheasebro was born and raised in Aztec, NM and moved to Alaska in 2009.  Phil has been a member of many ensembles (classical, contemporary, rock/country, a cappella, and barbershop) throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska and New York.   Phil sang for 5 seasons with the Anchorage Opera and has performed with the New York Lyric Opera and received his Bachelor of Music in vocal performance under Dr. Mari Hahn from University of Alaska Anchorage. Phil is very involved in barbershop, participating in many local, regional and international events. He currently directs the Anchorage Midnight Sons Chorus and was musical director the Manhattan based Big Apple Chorus, and associate musical director of Voices of Gotham. 

Ken Diemer grew up in rural upstate New York, and began musical training at age 10. He received his education first at a local community college, and then at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he majored in vocal performance. Ken has had the good fortune to perform with The Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Boston Pops Orchestra, The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at the Casals Festival, and at other New England Music Festivals. He later obtained his degree in biological anthropology with honors, and his law degree while in New England. Ken has lived in Alaska for over 25 years where he has practiced both criminal and civil law as a State of Alaska Assistant Attorney General, and currently is a supervisor for the Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas.

Tim Fosket has been singing all his life and can't seem to stop; he has performed in 46 states and five Canadian Provinces. In Anchorage he has been a member of the Alaska Heritage A Cappella Choir, Batteries Not Included, Anchorage Concert Chorus, the Russian American Colony Singers, Anchorage Opera, Next in Line Productions and now, after a long break, is returning to Alaska Chamber Singers. He moved to Alaska from Seattle where he sang with the Seattle Men's Chorus and Esoterics; prior to that he sang with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in Boston. It all started in high school when a music teacher told him to let go of the cello and join the choir. Secretly he still misses that cello.

Andrew Gonzalez is an Alaska transplant from the midwest who has been involved with music nearly his entire life playing the piano, french horn, and singing. He began voice lessons in high school and sang in the Iowa All-State Chorus and Dubuque Julien Chamber Choir. He went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where he sang in the Nordic Choir under Dr. Allen Hightower touring the British Isles. Since college he picked up the ukulele, mandolin, spoons, and a little melodica. He is loving Alaska and is thrilled to be a member of the Alaska Chamber Singers. Andrew is a researcher at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Evan Hagen currently freelances as a hornist with the Anchorage Symphony, Opera, and Concert Chorus, while also working as a Conducting Fellow with the Alaska Youth Orchestras. Before returning to Alaska from college, Evan studied horn under Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker at Central Washington University. While at Central, he pursued interests such as music history, conducting, and religious studies, as well as briefly performing with the University Chorale under Vijay Singh. Evan also enjoys reading, meditating, and rock climbing.

Lyndon Harder has been immersed in choral music since his elementary school years. He sang in his high school varsity chorale, college choir in England, his university's glee club, and in numerous church choirs. Lyndon has resided in Alaska for more than 20 years and has sung with Alaska Chamber Singers for most of the ACS seasons since 2013. Previously he sang with the Augusta Choral Society in Georgia. Lyndon retired from the US Army, having served in various Military Intelligence fields. Lyndon also retired from his second career, that as an analyst for the US Government. In addition to singing, Lyndon is an avid river kayaker and enjoys nature photography and computer building. Lyndon and his wife live perched on the slope of a mountain near Eagle River and are both volunteer staff members at the Eagle River Nature Center.

Franco Nero graduated from Boise State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He was a part of the Boise State Meistersingers for 5 years, and quickly realized that he loves getting into the details of organization and logistics in the music industry. He is now working as an academic advisor at UAA and is currently pursuing an MBA through the university. Apart from singing, Franco enjoys knitting, traveling, and learning different languages.

Teanekuma Pulini has lived in Anchorage his whole life, and has always enjoyed singing. Watching a concert of the West High School choir influenced his decision to join the Romig Choir, and there his teacher, Gabrielle Pierle, instilled a love for singing classically and in a choral setting. He summarily joined the West High Choir, and began singing with the Alaska Chamber Singers in 2021, his freshman year. He has also participated in Solo & Ensemble and Alaska All-State Festivals, performing in Command and as a First Chair. He has sung in many sections, from Bass to Alto. Some additional music interests include the piano and pipe organ.

Jon Rippe  grew up in Northern Virginia and started singing at a very young age.  He discovered chamber music in high school and had the pleasure of touring Europe with The Sound of America Honor Band & Chorus after graduating in 2004.  From his late teens into his early twenties, he sang with over a dozen different choirs and musical ensembles ranging from jazz quartets to 100+ voice chorales.  After enlisting in the Air Force, Jon took a six year hiatus from singing until joining Alaska Chamber Singers in 2018.  During COVID, he combined his technological aptitude and his musical experience to create virtual content for both himself and ACS.

Dr. Bruce Wood is Music Director of the Alaska Youth Orchestras.  From 2014-21 he was Director of Fine Arts for the Anchorage School district.  A cellist and baritone, Dr. Wood has sung with ACS for the last nine years and appeared as a soloist on numerous concerts.  In addition, Dr. Wood was a member of Conspirare, a Grammy winning choir based in Texas.  Dr. Wood received his master's and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his bachelor's degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Before coming to Alaska Dr. Wood was a faculty member of the Texas Tech School of Music. Dr. Wood has been published by the American String Teachers' Journal, Strings Magazine, GIA publications, and has written a book entitled, The Yin and Yang of Teaching Music. In addition, Dr. Wood was the founding Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of Lubbock.. Dr. Wood's wife, Brooke, works for the Anchorage Museum.