Sopranos

DANA BENDER joined the Chorale in 1995. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Wichita State University in 1989 and a Master’s in Choral Music from ASU in 1995. Dana has taught in many capacities, over the years, in Tempe and Phoenix. She also served as Commissioned Minister of Christian Education at Church of the Beatitudes for a number of years. Currently, Dana is directing choirs at Arizona School for the Arts. Dana is married to Joel Rinsema, Executive Director and tenor in the Chorale. Both of their children, Rachel and Derek, attend Arizona School for the Arts and the family resides in Phoenix along with three dogs.

ALISON CHANEY is in her fourth season with the Chorale. A native of Dallas, Texas, she completed a graduate degree in vocal performance from The Ohio State University after attending Baylor University.  Active as a soloist and chorister, Alison has appeared on the American Bach Series, Carolina Chamber Chorale, Sounding Light of Michigan, and with numerous opera companies including Florida Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Company Brooklyn, and the Ash-Lawn Highland Summer Festival. Alison is on the faculty of Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, where she teaches Choir and Music Theory.

 CASSANDRA EWER has been a member of the Chorale since moving to Arizona in 1994. She holds degrees in vocal performance and music education from the University of Oregon. She has performed nationally, internationally, and for ten seasons with the Oregon Bach Festival, where she premiered Arvo Pärt’s Litany with the Hilliard Ensemble and sang on the 2000 Grammy Award-winning CD Credo (Krystof Penderecki). In addition to the Chorale, Cassandra has performed with Conspirare, an Austin-based professional choir, appearing with them on the Grammy-nominated recordings (2007) Requiem: We are so Lightly Here and (2008) Threshold of Night. Her first love is the Phoenix Chorale…and her three children and husband, Richard.

 LAURA INMAN is in her tenth season with the Chorale. She holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Louisville and recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at ASU. Laura has sung with the Kentucky Opera and American Bach Series and spent two years as Assistant Director of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus. Currently, she is an associate faculty member at ASU and conducts the Choral Union. She is on the state ACDA Board and is excited to be the clinician for the Mesa UHSD Choral Festival this fall and Glendale UHSD Choral Festival this spring. She has served as conductor of ASU’s Women’s Chorus, and as an assistant conductor for the ASU Concert Choir, University Choir, Lyric Opera Theatre, and Herberger Singers, ASU’s vocal jazz ensemble. Laura is on faculty at Veritas Preparatory Academy in Phoenix.

 CAROL PLATT JENNINGS is in her tenth season with the Chorale.  As a soloist, she has performed in South Dakota, Oklahoma, Arizona, Australia, and South Korea; performed in renowned ensembles including the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Tucson Chamber Artists, American Bach Series and in churches throughout the Valley. For over ten years, she has studied voice with Ms. Claudia Kennedy, her teacher and mentor, and continues to specialize in French Mélodie. She holds voice faculty positions at both Glendale and Scottsdale Community Colleges as well as Grand Canyon University. She earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from ASU and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Oklahoma. Carol is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

KIRA ZEEMAN RUGEN is in her eighth season with the Chorale. She is currently pursuing her DMA in Choral Conducting at ASU where she conducts Solis Camerata, an early music ensemble with singers, instrumentalists, scholars, dancers, thespians and historians. Her experiences as a singer include performing under the direction of Ton Koopman in Carnegie Hall’s Young Artist Concert Series and singing in Korea’s Incheon International Choral Festival. Kira’s next venture includes an invitation by Anúna (Ireland’s National Choir) to become a touring member, beginning December 2011 in Japan. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from Weber State University and a Master of Music in Choral Education with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from ASU and has taught high school choir, orchestra and musical.

DANYA TILLER is in her sixth season with the Chorale. Danya earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a minor in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Alabama, and has nearly completed her Doctoral Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, she has performed with distinguished ensembles including the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, New Orleans Opera, Jefferson Parish Opera, the Oklahoma Philharmonic Symphony, Santa Fe Pro Music Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, American Bach Series and St. Martin’s Chamber Choir. She currently teaches at Chandler Preparatory Academy, is the Interim Artistic Director of the Phoenix Girls Chorus and she conducts bells and choirs as Associate Director of Music at Mountain View Presbyterian Church.