JUDITH HERRINGTON is the Founder and Artistic Director of the highly acclaimed Tacoma Youth Chorus, a select auditioned choir serving more than 200 children in the south Puget Sound area. In addition, she brings more than thirty years of teaching and conducting experience to her work at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington, where she has received the Inspirational Faculty Award and the Murray Foundation Chair for Teaching Excellence. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Ms. Herrington earned her Master of Education degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She has furthered her conducting studies through master classes with Rodney Eichenberger and Henry Leck. Ms. Herrington is highly regarded as a guest conductor, workshop and choral clinician and is a Past-President of the Washington-American Choral Directors Association. She was selected to direct the Youth Honor Choir for the American Choral Masterpieces series (June, 2007) and to direct the Junior High Honor Choir of the Western Division of ACDA in March, 2008. Through Pavane Publishing and Colla Voce Publishing, she has published choral compositions, arrangements and co-authored choral teaching texts. She also edits a choral series for Pavane Publishing.

TED CHAMBERLAIN, newly appointed Director of the Concert Choir (successor to Keith Loftis), will begin his tenure with TYC for the 2009-2010 season. Welcome, Mr. Chamberlain! Born in Portland, Oregon, Mr. Chamberlain’s life in music was forged from an early age. He began piano lessons at age 5, and sang his first solo (in German) in the second grade. The following summer, his family moved to Wisconsin and he became a charter member of the LaCrosse Boychoir at age 8 where he was a 1st soprano and, by age 12, he was the leading soprano vocalist. When Mr. Chamberlain’s family moved back to the Northwest, he continued with both school and church choirs. When, at age 16, he discovered the a cappella world of barbershop harmony, it seemed like the logical progression – from boy choir to men’s choirs and quartets – a perfect fit! As a barbershop quartet singer, Mr. Chamberlain has performed in international singing competitions as a 1st Tenor, a Baritone and a Bass. Continuing his pursuit of music in college, Seattle Pacific University, Mr. Chamberlain earned two music degrees:  a B.A. in K-12 Music Education with a choral emphasis and teaching endorsements in all areas of music (Instrumental, general and choral), and a B.A. in Vocal Performance.   He is now in his 20th year of teaching middle school music in public schools in the Puget Sound region. He currently teaches Choir and Orchestra at Meridian Middle School in the Kent school district, where he is a National Board Certified Teacher (Early Adolescent to Young Adult Music – Choral). Mr. Chamberlain continues to perform as a vocal soloist and with his a cappella quartet, Sincerely Yours. He is in high demand as a coach for competitive barbershop harmony groups, both men and women.  Mr. Chamberlain lives in Puyallup with his wife, Michele. Between them they have four children: Amanda, Evan, Katie and Emma. Mr. Chamberlain is excited to be a part of the Tacoma Youth Chorus organization which so closely reflects his own formative musical development in the LaCrosse Boychoir, and is eager to bring that same love of quality vocal development and musicianship that so richly inspired his life-long love of music.

CONNIE SCHMIDT, Director of the Music Makers, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and during the 30 years since performed with a professional Bach Choir, taught private voice and piano and continues to work with church music. Mrs. Schmidt taught elementary music in Texas and Alaska and currently teaches at Concordia Lutheran School where she was awarded the Teacher of the Year in June, 2004. She has co-authored articles for Hal Leonard Publisher music magazine and continues learning through studies with Rodney Eichenberger, the American Choral Directors Association, The Choristers Guild and the International Voice Care Network. She joined Tacoma Youth Chorus as Director of Music Makers in 2002.

KYLE HAUGEN, Director of the Young Men's Choir, is a graduate of University of Puget Sound. He holds a B.A. in Music and Communication and Master of Sacred Music from St. Olaf/ Luther College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Haugen is a talented musician; in
addition to his conducting and teaching, he is skilled as a soloist, pianist and organist. In addition to his duties with TYC, Mr. Haugen is currently serves as an Assistant Director of Admissions and the Music Admissions Director for the University of Puget Sound.

KERRY FRANZKE, pianist, organist, and harpsichordist, performs as a freelance accompanist and recitalist in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Ms Franzke performs frequently with her husband Steve, a flutist.  Her interests include arranging and transcribing music from the Renaissance period and studying Baroque organ music.  Ms. Franzke has been accompanist for the Tacoma Youth Chorus since 1996.

VICKI DAY MELTON, a versatile musician, contributes to the Tacoma music community as a private voice teacher, pianist, choral director and performer. A coloratura soprano, she performs extensively throughout the Northwest as recitalist and soloist, including principal roles with Tacoma Opera and performances with the Tacoma Symphony, and is in great demand as an adjudicator and clinician. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, she has received degrees in vocal performance and education and she maintains a large class of private students who are consistently recognized as being among the finest in the state of Washington. An accomplished pianist, Mrs. Melton has accompanied numerous choral groups and soloists and currently serves as the Minister of Music at the First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma. She serves TYC as the accompanist for the Young Men's Choir and Chorale.