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- Staff - Our Founder |
Artistic Staff
Administrative Staff
DIRECTORS
John Russell is the Director of SDCC’s Youth and Alumni Choirs. He obtained his Bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University, his Master's from Columbia University Teacher’s College and is currently a doctoral student in Choral Music at the University of Southern California. Mr. Russell’s principal conducting teachers have been Dr. Craig Arnold (Luther College), Dr. Joe Miller (Westminster Choir College) and Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe (University of Southern California). Mr. Russell is also the conductor of the University Chorus at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music and the Director of Choirs at Los Angeles City College. He was previously the principal choral conductor at LaGuardia School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. While in New York he conducted performances with New York’s renowned Orchestra of St. Luke’s, served as a clinician for the New York Philharmonic’s Education Department, and was a guest conductor with the New York City National Chorale. In addition to his work as a teacher and conductor, Mr. Russell is an active tenor soloist, most recently performing G.F. Handel’s Dixit Dominus with the Westminster Chamber Choir and Orchestra in Princeton, New Jersey.
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. Curry-Hansen is passionate about choral music and has taught grades K-12 as well as directing community and church choirs. She has directed a number of musicals for middle-school aged children. Currently, Ms. Curry-Hansen teaches grades 6-8 general and vocal music as well as the high school Women's Chorus at The Bishop's School in La Jolla. She also enjoys performing both as a soprano soloist and choral ensemble member.
ACCOMPANISTS
In 1989, Ms. Atterbury was hired as Music Associate at the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church where her duties were accompanying the choir, assisting in sectional rehearsals and playing service music with the organist. During this time, she performed in several organ-piano concerts. After retiring from the full time staff position, Ms. Atterbury continues as a Pianist Emeritus and Alto Section Leader. Ms. Atterbury enjoys working with young people and is pleased to be an accompanist with San Diego Children’s Choir.
Mr. Hansen has been a tenor section leader for several choirs, from the Carleton College Singers in Northfield, MN to the church of St. James by the Sea, in La Jolla. He is also a choral and instrumental arranger and has had his work performed both in the US and abroad.
In addition to serving as an accompanist for SDCC, Dr. Lungren is presently music teacher at EB Scripps Elementary School in San Diego. She has taught music at a variety of levels from kindergarten to college in Kansas, Indiana, and Massachusetts as well as California. She was recognized as an Outstanding Teacher of the Year district finalist in 2009. She collaborates with other music teachers through the San Diego American Orff-Schulwerk Association, serving on the board for many years. Dr. Lungren is also a singer having sung with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus of the Boston Symphony and the San Diego Master Chorale, and sings daily with her students. She has collaborated in several curriculum publications and is the composer of two children’s collections/cassettes: Feeling Good About Myself; Songs for Kids about Self-Esteem and Feeling Good About Others: Songs for Kids about Cooperation. Throughout her career, Dr. Lungren has served as accompanist for several choirs including the San Diego City Schools Honor Choir.
Elyse has accompanied for many ensembles, including numerous musical theater productions, musical theater classes, gospel choir, concert choir, vocal jazz ensemble, orchestra (harpsichord and piano), ballet, opera workshops, vocal classes, and solo vocalists and instrumentalists. Elyse has studied with Larry Wagner at Wagner’s School of Music, Ruby Styler, Eula Clark, Myrna Gowing, and Brenda Martin. In addition to performing at SDCC, Elyse teaches piano at Valhalla High School as well as group and private piano lessons at Greene Music Education Center, while pursuing a Masters of Piano Pedagogy at San Diego State University.
Moving to the USA, Dr. Williams undertook postgraduate study at Yale University under the direction of Professor Thomas Murray where she was appointed University Chapel Organist and was awarded an Artist Diploma together with the Charles Ives prize for outstanding achievement. In New York City she became the Associate Organist at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Long Island's Garden City and undertook Doctoral study under Professor McNeil Robinson at the Manhattan School of Music where she received the Helen Cohn award for her D.M.A. degree. In addition to supporting SDCC, Dr. Williams is currently the San Diego Civic Organist and Artistic Director of the Spreckels Organ Society, appointed in 2001.
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, the prestigious chamber choir The Chanticleers Singers' under the direction of one of South Africa's icons, Richard Cock, and Music Director for the Community Congregational Church in Pacific Beach. She also taught piano at the California Institute of Music, at the Oceanside Academy of the Performing Arts In addition to her work for SDCC,
Ms. Wishnuff is an organist at La Jolla Methodist Church and
teaches piano at her home studio in La Costa, Carlsbad.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
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 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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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.
Justine Curry-Hansen is the Director of SDCC's Neighborhood
Choirs. She received her BFA in Vocal Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While at UWM, she studied classical voice, and vocal pedagogy with Dr. Valerie Errante. Also while at UW-Milwaukee, Ms. Curry-Hansen studied choral music education with Dr. Chris Peterson (currently at Cal-State Fullerton) and advanced conducting techniques with Dr. Sharon Hansen.
Margaret Atterbury was born in England and received her music education through the syllabus of the Associated Boards of the Royal School of Music. She accompanied youth choirs and school groups prior to coming to the United States in 1966 where she worked with church choirs while living in Massachusetts. After moving to California in 1976, Ms. Atterbury was involved in singing and assisting with several large choral groups, including the La Jolla Symphony Chorus.
Ross Hansen received his BA in music theory and composition from Carleton College in 2006 and completed Masters work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Music Theory and Technology. He has coached and accompanied singers of all ages and is active in several singing groups in the San Diego area.
Linda Lungren earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and piano performance from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas and her
Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Music Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
She also has a Certificate in Multiple Arts for Music Specialists from Indiana University.
Elyse Reed has been playing the piano since the age of 3. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Point Loma Nazarene University where she was awarded a Music Department Scholarship, Willow-May Beresford Scholarship for piano, Dean’s Academic Scholarship, and MTNA (Music Teachers National
Association) Scholarship. She also won first place for her classical piano performance at “MusicFest”, South West CAPMT District I.
Carol Williams, British born, was raised in a Welsh family where she began private lessons at age five and could read music before she could read the name of the piece. Her formal training started with five years at the Royal Academy of Music where she specialized in organ performing as a student of David Sanger and obtained the Academy's prestigious Recital Diploma together with an LRAM (organ) and an LRAM (piano). Dr. Williams became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and a Fellow of Trinity College London plus an Associate of the Royal College of Music.
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 her Masters degree in Piano Performance
at San Diego State University.
Donna Icenhower is SDCC's Executive Director.
Jackie Smith is SDCC's Office Manager.