Magnolia Chorale Board of Directors — 2019 – 2020
Katie Hampton (President)
Katie played the flute and piano growing up, but ultimately chose choir as her sole musical endeavor. After high school, she strayed from formalized singing, but kept her vocal cords warm with many a night in Karaoke bars and road trip singalongs. She is thrilled to have found a group where she can get back into the musical world with such established, talented, and welcoming singers. After serving on the board as Treasurer last year, Katie is excited to be adding "Co-President" to her responsibilities this year for a group that has given her so much! 
Catherine Middleton-Hardie (Vice President) After recently moving to Seattle I am thrilled to have joined Magnolia Chorale, reigniting my passion for choral music. My parents encouraged a love of classical music from a young age and my sisters and I were frequently brought along to various performances they were involved in. It was a natural progression for me to join choirs, orchestras, bands and stage musicals at school. Unfortunately, at university and early professional life (in biotech) I lost touch with these creative outlets. Fortunately, the Magnolia Chorale has been extremely welcoming and is presenting approachable, yet sufficiently challenging music this season to be a great re-entry for me into choral singing. I have served on the board on other community organizations and am pleased to serve as Vice President of the Chorale Board to say “thank you” to the members.
Darrel Ede (Secretary) retired in ’08 after 31 years working in special education, using music in the classroom as a way of calming and connecting with challenging students. His love of music started in the third grade with saxophone and clarinet. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1969. Drafted 2 days before his wedding, he enlisted and spent 3 years playing “airborne clarinet” in the army band program. In 2000 Darrel was recruited for the Seattle Symphony Chorale singing second bass, and joined the Magnolia Chorale 10 years later. “I truly enjoy singing with this wonderful group of people. It is a great, absolutely fun creative outlet, and I am honored to be on the board of directors”.
Neil Jackson (Treasurer)
[Stay tuned for bio and photo.] |
Betty Ede (Director) I would like to thank the Magnolia Chorale for giving me this opportunity to serve on the board. My musical life began with the violin when I was in the 3rd grade. In the 4th grade, I added the piano to my repertoire. As a high school student in Olympia, I sang as a member of my church choir (and sang along with the radio too). During college, I sang in a church choir, and now I sing and sometimes play the bells with our church choir here in Seattle. When I am not being musical, I enjoy my retirement benefits...free time, no computer, no phone, no paperwork.
Peter Helgeson (Director) Born into a musical family, I was exposed to Portland’s arts culture and performed in the Portland Opera Chorus, Civic Theatre Guild, and was a chorister in my local church choir. For the past 32 years, Southeast Alaska has been home where I worked as a public broadcaster, raised three kids and have been an ardent supporter of the arts, music and education. Now living in Seattle, I chose membership in the Magnolia Chorale as a way to further my musical interests and offer my experience as a non-profit administrator.
Barb Olson (Director) The Magnolia Chorale has provided fun, enjoyment, and a sense of community for me, as a long-time member. As part of a large family, I remember my mother leading group singing on car trips, probably to preserve her sanity, but for me singing became fun at an early age. Singing with the Magnolia Chorale is still fun and I hope to give back a little to the Chorale by serving on the Board.
Sonia Fang (Director) Music has been a major source of happiness and inspiration in my life. I grew up learning the clarinet and piano and started singing in choirs in college. I have since picked up the guitar and ukulele and have a developing interest in building stringed instruments. The Magnolia Chorale has been such a welcoming and supportive group, and I am excited to be serving on the board.
Ann Macfarlane (Immediate Past President) Choral music is one of life’s great joys, and singing with the Magnolia Chorale brings me enormous pleasure. In earlier times I directed small choral groups overseas (Germany, the Congo and Tanzania). Then the press of family life took me in a different direction. After 30 years away, I loved the camaraderie, high standards, and musicality offered by the Chorale. Sunday nights are a great contrast to my business life as a professional parliamentarian – and I get to serve on this friendly board too! Looking forward to the exciting year ahead.
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