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Home > Who We Are > Staff Biographies
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Staff Biographies Artistic Director With more than 20 years of choral education experience, Mia Hall Savage is known for her excellence in choral artistry, along with her enthusiasm and passion for conducting young people. She has received numerous recognitions from national and international conductors for her work with youth choirs. In addition to being Artistic Director of Pacific Youth Choir, Mia directs the Coventry Singers at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, has an active voice studio, and is a popular adjudicator and clinician. In May 2004, she was the guest conductor of the All-City Youth Choir. Mia has been asked to be a member of the Dean's Advisory Committee to the School of Music at the University of Oregon. Before founding the Pacific Youth Choir, Mia was director of the Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choirs, gaining regional and national recognition for their top choirs. She led a highly successful youth choir program at First Presbyterian Church, as well as having taught all levels at Oregon Episcopal School. Choirs under Mia’s direction have received coveted invitations to perform at Golden Gate International Festival, Heritage Gold Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Composers Symposium, American Choral Directors Association Regional Convention, and Pacific International Children‘s Choir Festival. Mia holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Oregon. Additionally, she has studied in Stuttgart, Germany at the Musik Hohe Schule. While there she had the opportunity to sing professionally under many outstanding choral directors including Helmuth Rilling and Frieder Bernius. Donna Kagan Associate Director Donna is an associate director for the Pacific Youth Choir and conducts the two elementary choirs; Coro Nova 1 and Coro Nova 2 as well as our brand new choir, Music Makers for singers in Kindergarten and 1st grade. Prior to this position she was the preparatory director for the Oregon Children’s Choir and Youth Chorale. Donna has adjudicated and directed elementary choral festivals both locally and on the east coast. She directs a recorder ensemble, a steel pan band and four choirs weekly. As well as being an active church musician, Donna plays the harp, piano, recorder and flute and is a member of ACDA, OMEA and AOSA. Donna attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama at the University of Wales where she certified in elementary education and music. Donna emigrated to the U.S. in 1980 and taught in both private and public schools on the east coast and in West Linn, Ore. She is currently the music director at Stafford Primary School in West Linn. |
Michael Barnes
Pianist Michael Barnes has accompanied singers and instrumentalists of all ages since his earliest years in Seattle so very long ago. He is heard on several CD's and has played for Pavarotti, Sarah Brightman, Dawn Upshaw, and visiting singers from the Chicago Lyric, Houston Grand and Metropolitan Operas. He has taxied Sherill Milnes in his car, and hugged Marilyn Horne. No coward, he has toured tirelessly for Community Concerts and is one timid third of the hapless and hilarious comedy troupe "The BoZoArtZ Duo." He collaborates with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, the Bravo Vancouver Chorale, Portland Opera, Portland State University, Marylhurst University, and holds sway over the noon concert series at The Old Church. He is the organist at Westminster Presbyterian Church and assists at Temple Beth Israel and Sixth Church of Christ Scientist. Scott Tuomi Associate Conductor As a choral conductor, Dr. Tuomi has toured internationally with the Pacific University Chamber Singers. He has appeared as guest conductor, adjudicator and choral clinician for music festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Tuomi is currently Music Deparment chair and director of choral and vocal studies at Pacific University where he conducts the Pacific University Chamber Singers and Concert Choir. In addition, he maintains a private vocal studio in Portland and is director of music at St. Michael and All-Angels Episcopal Church where he conducts the 50 voice St. Michael's Singers. He is a founding member of the professional vocal ensemble Choral Cross-Ties and maintains an activie performance schedule both as tenor soloist and choral conductor. Dr. Tuomi currently appears in recordings on the Freshwater and Narada labels and most recently on Koch International where he is featured on the world premier chamber recording of Aaron Copeland's opera, Tender Land as Mr. Splinters. He holds a doctorate in vocal performance and musicology at the University of Arizona. |
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