Six guest choirs comprise the 170-voice IMAGINE Festival Chorus.

Featured Choir: Pacific Youth Choir

Portland's newest star in the choral firmament is the PACIFIC YOUTH CHOIR. In it's first season, they have received critical attention for their fine musicality and creative programming.

Advisory Board member and internationally renowned soprano Dawn Upshaw says: "What joy to witness the power of music radiating from these young voices."

Composer Robert Kyr, whose composition The Divine Image was featured in their concert of four world premieres in May, referred to the Choir as "music-making at its very best; a treasure for our state and region."

Mia Hall Savage is founder and conductor of Pacific Youth Choir. During more than 20 years in the choral education field, she has directed award-winning youth choirs and taught in school, community and church settings. Pacific Youth Choir is in residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, where she also directs the Coventry Singers.

Arioso Girl Choir

CAPELLA CHOIRS (formerly Cappella Girls’ Chorus) is an after-school community choral program for children in grades K-12. Founder and Artistic Director Stephanie Charbonneau has brought the organization from 21 singers in 1998 to today's enrollment of 80. Cappella choristers are challenged to become better musicians through an environment that encourages personal growth. Cappella Choirs currently consists of four choir levels providing extensive vocal and theory instruction to each singer. The chorus strives to give youth the experience of learning about great music by singing it well. Each concert season promotes personal development, artistic quality and community outreach. In addition to their mainstage concerts each season, Cappella hosts the annual Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival. This event began in 1999 and continues to bring together over 200 singers each year for a weekend of fun rehearsal with a guest director and social activities.

The Arioso Girl Choir is made up of singers ages 11-17. Past tour destinations include Anaheim, California (2000) and New York City (2003). This past fall, Arioso auditioned and was accepted to participate in the 2005 Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival in Hawaii and has plans underway for their first European tour in 2007.

Stephanie Charbonneau is the Artistic Director and founder of Cappella Choirs. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 2002. In addition to her work with Cappella, Stephanie is the Assistant Director of Music at Saint Gabriel Church in Port Orchard and has served as co-director of the 50-voice Port Orchard Community Chorale. She has taught piano for 12 years and currently maintains a studio of 24 private students. Her instructors have included Dr. Richard Sparks and Rebecca Rottsolk.

Fort Wayne Children's Choir

The 2003-04 season marks the 30th anniversary of the FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S CHOIR. Beginning as a small school choir, it has grown from one to six performing choirs involving 270 students ages of 8-18. The singers represent more than 80 schools in Fort Wayne and surrounding communities.

The choir has performed nationally and internationally visiting: North Carolina Summer Institute in Choral Arts, Shrewsbury International Music Festival (England); the Central European International Music Festival, National Children's Choir Festival at Carnegie Hall, Niagara International Music Festival and Disney World. The choir was invited to perform for the American Guild of Organists Regional Convention and the IMEA State Music Convention in 2003.

The Fort Wayne Children's Choir gives three seasonal concerts as well as numerous civic performances in the Fort Wayne area and surrounding communities. They often collaborate with other arts organizations such as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Fort Wayne Ballet and Civic Theatre. Each spring the choir presents their annual Young People's Concert for local public school students. Their performances are broadcast regularly on public radio station WBNI. Past commissioned composers of the choir include: Malcolm Dalglish, Jean Berger, Keith Hampton Robert Hobby, Ken Medema and most recently, Rollo Dilworth.

Fred Meads received his degrees from Ithaca College and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His range of choral experience includes teaching choirs in public school, church and in college. He has served as guest conductor for local and regional choral festivals. Mr. Meads has sung in several Carnegie Hall Choral Workshops led by the late Robert Shaw and studied with Sir David Willcocks at the Toronto Children’s Chorus Symposium. He currently serves as the State Chairperson of Children’s Choirs for the Indiana Choral Directors Association.

Kansas Youth Choir

THE KANSAS YOUTH CHOIR is a combination of the Kansas Boys Choir, formed in 1983, and the Kansas Girls Choir, which was added in 1991. Our mission is to provide an opportunity for children (grades 5-12) whose interest and talents lie in music. Our program strives to enhance members' education through exposure to great choral literature, as well as teach responsibility and discipline.

Performances for the current season began at the Kansas State Fair, followed by a Veteran’s Day Concert, Community Thanksgiving Service, and several worship services at area churches. The Kansas Youth Choir continued its tradition of performing at the 21st annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, ending the year with their Annual Home Concert. In recent years, they performed at the Kansas Music Educators' Convention, the state convention of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, and had the honor of hosting and performing with Jitro, a Czech girchoir.

Each summer the choir plans a concert tour that provides an opportunity for members to become "Ambassadors of Kansas." These tours showcase the talent of Kansas youth and give the choristers enhanced educational and cultural opportunities. Recent tour destinations have included New Orleans, Canada, Orlando, and New York City, which included invitations to perform at Disney World, Universal Studios, St. John the Divine, and Ground Zero.

Lisa Fairbairn is in her fourth year as Musical Director of Kansas Youth Choir and currently teaches at Curtis Middle School in Wichita. With 13 years’ teaching experience, she has served as guest conductor in various honor choirs. A nine-year member of Master Arts Chorale under the direction of Dr. John Leavitt, she directed Master Arts Children’s Chorus. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Friends University and a Master’s in Music Education from Wichita State University. Mrs. Fairbairn is a member of Kansas Music Educator’s Association and American Choral Directors Association.

Northwest Girlchoir: Vivace

NORTHWEST GIRLCHOIR is dedicated to enriching the lives of young women throughout the greater Seattle area. Each year the organization's more than 200 choristers perform across the Puget Sound region, touching thousands of audience members with their critically acclaimed choral sound.

This year's Vivace Choir features 45 choristers, grades 7-9, modeling the highest standards of NWGC artistry. Vivace maintains a performance schedule of five mainstage concerts annually, plus community performances, guest artist appearances, and participation in national and international choral festivals. Recent festivals include PICCFest in 2001 and the Missoula International Choral Festival in 2003. In October of 2002, Vivace and Amore Choirs traveled to Japan as one of four choirs representing the United States at the Japan-American Grassroots Summit in Hiroshima.

Beth Ann Bonnecroy joined the artistic staff of the Northwest Girlchoir in 2000. Before joining NWGC, Beth Ann amassed 13 years experience in church music, conducting choirs of all ages and specializing in worship and music for children. She currently directs the Chancel Choir at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle.

Beth Ann is also in demand as a singer and teacher of voice. She lives in north Seattle with her husband, Paul and their cat, Max. Beth Ann holds a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and a Master of Music from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.

Olympia Youth Chorus

OLYMPIA YOUTH CHORUS was founded in Olympia, Washington in September of 1995. Singers come from the greater Thurston, Mason, and Lewis County area. The chorus was founded by director, Cynthia Dinsmore, to provide area singers the opportunity to share in the experience of creating fine choral music while developing confidence and enthusiasm for the art of choral singing.

Olympia Youth Chorus was invited to perform with the Olympia Symphony in December of 2003, Masterworks Choral Singers in 1999, and annually, since 1999, with the Olympia Choral Society in their holiday concert which has benefited Safeplace and the Pediatric Ward of Providence St. Peter’s Hospital. The choir participated in the Fort Worden Children’s Choral Festival, 2003, under the direction of Juan Tony-Guzman, receiving high praise for their performance. The choir has also toured the area providing education and outreach in area schools.

Cynthia Dinsmore, director and founder of the Olympia Youth Chorus, has been a choral director and private voice instructor in Thurston County for 20 years. Cynthia brings her enthusiasm and energy to OYC, serving as artistic director for the Concert and Chamber Choirs. She is a member of MENC, ACDA, and Evergreen Orff Chapter. Mrs. Dinsmore has been a soloist with the Olympia Choral Society and served as choral director at First United Methodist Church, Olympia. She has also sung professionally in musical theater, church, and recitals. Cynthia currently resides in Olympia with her husband and three children.