ARTISTRY • RESPECT • COMMITMENT

 
 
 
         

Artistic Director

Kristina Ploeger has been a part of the Spokane Arts Community for four years. Most recently, she has been teaching Elementary Music Methods and Vocal Jazz at Eastern Washington University, as well as 6th Grade Music at St. George’s School. Before moving to the Spokane area, she taught at Everett and Ephrata High Schools, and AC Davis High School. Kristina earned her MA in Choral Conducting from Eastern Washington University in the Spring of 2001. Before that, she studied at Central Washington University, earning a BM in Music Education. She has enjoyed the opportunities to present clinics at Washington State Music Educator’s Conferences (in association with MENC) and American Choral Director’s Association sponsored events and is currently the Washington State Secretary of the International Association of Jazz Educators. As a professional musician, Kristina works often. She is a sought after clinician for many events such as the EWMEA Choral Festival (Spokane, WA), the Amherst College Guest Artist Series (Amherst, MA) and the Columbia Basin College Festival (Tri-cities, WA). As the Artistic Director, Kristina is responsible for overseeing all music staff, choosing music and performance venues. She conducts Preparatory, Intermediate and Ensemble Choirs, and serves as the Theory Instructor at Saturday Academy.


Associate Director

Darnelle Preston, Associate Director and Vocal Coach, joined the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus in 1994. She was appointed director for the Senior Concert Choir in 1996 and now serves as director for Senior and Elementary Choirs. Ms. Preston graduated from San Francisco State University, magna cum laude, with her B.M. in music education. She received her M.M. in vocal performance from Boston University in 1982. Ms. Preston has appeared with the Utah, Carmel, Washington D.C. Masterworks, Handel and Haydn Society, Muncie and Nashville Symphonies. She has performed throughout Southern France and recorded with the Robert Shaw Choeur d’ Atlanta. She appears locally with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Allegro, Zephyr, the Northwest Bach Festival, Connoisseur Concerts, and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theater. Ms. Preston is currently a faculty member at Whitworth College. As Associate Director, Darnelle assists in planning the Chorus season and selecting music, conducts her choirs, and serves as Vocal Coach at Saturday Academy.


Accompanists


Susan Asplin, accompanist for Ensemble and Intermediate Choirs, is currently the Developmental Music Teacher at Hamblen Elementary School, where she teaches music to 1st – 6th grade students. She is also an organist in the Spokane Area. Susan received her B.M. degree in organ from Pacific Lutheran University, and her M.M. in Harpsichord performance and M.M. in organ from the University of Michigan.

Janice Newell, Senior Choir Accompanist, joined the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus in 1999. She graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Education, specializing in Mathematics and Music, with graduate studies in Leadership at Whitworth College. In 1976 she was awarded Young Artist in the organ division of the Grater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival. Since that time, she has formed children’s choirs at St. Aloysuis School, Cataldo Catholic School, and Trinity Catholic School. From 1982-1995 she was Director of Pastoral Music for St. Augustine Church, where the chorister programs were a major focus of her work. She is currently teaching music and math at Whitman Elementary, serving as organist for Central Lutheran Church, and directing Chorus for the Whitman and Arlington HUBs. She serves the Chorus as a substitute conductor and accompanist.


Susan Windham, currently accompanying the Preparatory and Elementary, Susan Windham is a gifted vocalist, pianist and teacher. As an opera singer, Susan has performed in Spokane Symphony productions, Spokane Opera and the University of Northern Iowa Lyric Theatre. Her vocal credits include solo work in Mozart’s “Requiem”, Haydn’s “Creation”, Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony” and Verdi’s “Requiem”. Susan received her B.A. in piano performance from Eastern Washington University and has studied for her M.A. in vocal performance. Susan is a faculty member at Holy Names Music Center and is an adjunct voice professor at Eastern Washington University.

 

 

     
 
 
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