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- Staff - Our Founder |
Artistic Staff
Administrative Staff
Choirs under Mr. Russell’s direction have been noted for performing at an exceptional level of artistry in festival settings, self-produced concerts and world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Mr. Russell is also the Director of Choirs at Los Angeles City College where he serves as conductor of the Chamber Chorale and the College Choir. He was the principal choral conductor at LaGuardia School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City as well as the Assistant Chairperson of the Music Department, conductor of the symphonic chorus and voice instructor for the school’s advanced vocalists. In addition to his work as a teacher and conductor, Mr. Russell is an active tenor soloist, with recent performances in California, New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Michigan, and Colorado.
Mr. Morgan has served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Master Chorale, The Spreckels Organ Society, and is the Founder and Executive Director of the African American Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Negro Spiritual. He has been an adjudicator locally and nationally and has been featured panelist/lecturer at the National Association of Negro Musicians Convention and the National American Guild of Organists Convention. As an educator, he has been the instrumental music teacher at Francis Parker School and is currently the instrumental music teacher at Warren-Walker Middle School where all students are required to learn to play an instrument. He is the choir director at Christ Episcopal Church in Coronado and conducts a volunteer community choir for San Diego’s Annual Spirituals Festival presented by the African American Music Foundation.
Ms. Orem is an award-winning choral director who is devoted to music education for children and their teachers alike. Since 1975, she has taught music on every level, from preschool throught college. She directed the first San Diego City Elementary Honor Choir in 1992 and then again in 1999 where she was honored as the Choral Director of the Year for the San Diego City Schools. She was then selected as one of the Outstanding Elementary Music Specialists for the Southern Border Section of the Music Educator's National Conference (MENC/CMEA) and recently conducted the Elementary Honor Choir in 2007. Currently, Ms. Orem is a classroom music teacher at Jerabek Elementary
School in Scripps Ranch (since 1990), where she has been teaching kindergarten
through fifth grade and leading an after-school volunteer choir.
She is a local and national presenter for the American Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly Associations and
currently the president of the San Diego AOSA chapter. Ms. Orem also consults for the
San Diego State University Education Department and plays handbells with the Church of the
Good Samaritan Bell-a-Peal handbell choir.
Ms. Widney was a long time member of the San Diego Children's Choir, from soon after it was formed until her graduation in 1999. She participated in five Concert Tours with the Choir including international tours to Scotland, England and Italy. Upon her recent graduation from UC Riverside, Ms. Widney began a music program and founded the school choir
at King/Chavez Academy
of Excellence in Barrio Logan and taught
fourth grade. Ms. Widney, who will be entering the master's program in Ethnomusicology at San Diego State
this fall, is currently a staff singer at St. Peter's Church in Del Mar,
the Summer 2008 Music Director for Point Loma
Arts Academy, the Choir Director at Camp Stevens Choir Camp and a member of the Bach Collegium of San Diego.
Ms. Manion is an accomplished concert pianist and has been performing for choirs and solo performances for over thirty years. Her travels include Europe, and many parts of the U.S., doing both solo and accompaniment work. She is an experienced private piano teacher of 25 years, and has been active as an accompanist for musical theatre here in San Diego for many years in various venues. She frequently plays for various choirs at churches and schools throughout the city. Her work has included accompanying the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir at San Diego State University, and several city-wide Honor Choir performances. Ms. Manion loves to compose and perform, and has recoreded three CD's
of her original works, which have been performed on national
television and radio.
Ms. Wishnuff taught for 15 years at the Blairgowrie Music Centre in Johannesburg. She is also an enthusiastic singer and has been a member of the South African Broadcasting Symphonic Choir and the prestigious chamber choir, The Chanticleers Singers' under the direction of one of South Africa's icons, Richard Cock. In addition to her work for SDCC,
Ms. Wishnuff is the Music Director for the Community Congregational Church
in Pacific Beach, and
teaches piano at the California Institute of Music,
at the Oceanside Academy of the Performing Arts, and at her home.
Ms. Icenhower received her A.S. Degree from the Fashion Merchandising Institue in 1974, where she graduated at the top of her class, and her Certificate in Development Managment from the University of California Irvine in 1985. During 1985, she also obtained her Real Estate License. Ms. Icenhower has extensive management experience. She has been a designer, merchandiser and buyer for multiple organizations including Fashion Conspiracy, Fedmart Corporation and Moonsoon Stores. As the Vice President and General Manager for Cote D' Ore Sportwear, Ms. Icenhower designed the product line and supervised all subcontractors, sales, production and shipping. Besides her responsibility for all Choir Administration,
Ms. Icenhower is a Choir Mom, the Project Coordinator for her
family business Icenhower Enterprises (since 1983) and a member of
the SDCC Board of Directors.
As a long time Choir parent, Ms. Smith was President of the Choir's Parent Association for several years.
and currently serves on the Parent Board as Secretary.
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Home · Profile · Personnel · Schedule · Touring · CDs and More Governing Boards · Choir Supporters Copyright © 1999-2009, San
Diego Children's Choir
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John Russell is the Director of SDCC’s Youth Choir. He obtained his Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University, his Master of Arts from Columbia University Teacher’s College and is currently is a candidate for a Doctor of Music Arts Degree in Choral Music at the University of Southern California. Mr. Russell has studied under Dr. Craig Arnold (Luther College), Dr. Joe Miller (Westminster Choir College) and Dr. Jo Michael Scheibe (University of Southern California).
Michael Morgan is the Director of SDCC's Concert and Intermediate Choirs. He holds a BS Degree in Music Education from Hampton (Institute) University in Virginia. He is a well known and respected educator, conductor, and performer. Although born in Birmingham, AL, Mr. Morgan has called San Diego home since 1987 after serving as a Navy Supply Corps Officer. Among his numerous credits are performances with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera Company, La Jolla Symphony, and many other local and national organizations.
Margie Orem is the Director of SDCC's Preparatory
Choirs. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education
from CSU Chico and a Master's of Art in Teaching from Grand Canyon University. She
has taken master conducting classes from Robert Shaw, Anton Armstrong and Henry Leck.
Lauren Widney is the Director for the Intermediate Choir at the Allied Gardens Branch.
She received her degree in Music from University of
California at Riverside. At UC Riverside, Ms. Widney was lead soprano in the Chamber Choir
and was a member of the Gluck Music Fellows. She was also co-founder of the student run a
capella group, "High - C".
Priscilla Manion is an accompanist for SDCC Choirs.
She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees
in Piano Performance from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and
University of Redlands.
Ronel Wishnuff is an accompanist for SDCC Choirs.
Ms. Wishnuff received her Bachelors of Music degree from the University of the
Witwatersrand in Johannesburg with a distinction in piano and is currently
obtaining a Masters degree in Piano Performance at San Diego
State University.
Donna Icenhower is SDCC's Executive Director.
Jackie Smith is the Finance Coordinator
for the Choir.