​Karen L. Bruno is the artistic director of Northwest Girlchoir and teaches Amore and CorAzón, the high school-aged choirs. Bruno believes that all young people are musical, creative, and curious; these foundational beliefs, along with interests in culturally responsive education and global choral traditions, guide her pedagogy. She is committed to fostering an environment where girls and all youth beyond the binary feel welcome, safe, and free to explore their voice. Before relocating to Seattle in 2022, she spent 25 years as the artistic director of, and teacher within, the Lawrence Community Girl Choir Program in Wisconsin.

A frequent guest clinician, conductor, and author, Bruno has worked with youth and treble honor choirs throughout the Midwest, including the South Dakota All-State Children’s Choir, the Michigan High School Vocal Music Association, the AWAKE Choral Festival for Kodaly educators, and the Beyond the Notes Festival created to serve public school ensembles. She taught choral music education classes at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music after having taught in two public school districts in Wisconsin and at an international school in Dakar, Senegal. She has served the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in a variety of ways at the state, regional, and national level. Highlights include several terms as the Children’s and Community Youth Choir Repertoire and Standards Chair for the North Central region, being elected president of the Wisconsin ACDA chapter, and serving as a founding member of ACDA’s national standing committee for Advocacy and Collaboration. She currently serves Washington’s ACDA chapter as chair for community choirs.

Bruno holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Economics from Smith College and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Boston University. She has a son who lives in the United Kingdom and is allowed to share her home with an opinionated, fluffy, FIV-positive cat named Katya. She enjoys getting to know students and their families, so please don’t be afraid to say hello after a concert or event!

Kyra Rengstorf is a choral conductor and music director in the greater Seattle area who is deeply committed to fostering joyous and collaborative choral experiences for all singers. Her teaching and research interests include culturally responsive teaching methods, global choral traditions, and literacy development for emerging-level ensembles. Rengstorf is an in-demand honor choir conductor, adjudicator, and workshop presenter in the greater Seattle area and has conducted regional and All-State choral ensembles throughout Washington. She currently directs the choirs at Shorecrest High School, teaches at Edmonds College, and serves on the faculty of Kodály Levels of Seattle courses.

During her time at Western Washington University, Rengstorf directed the University Choir and taught Aural Skills and Secondary Choral Methods. In local Seattle-area public schools, she has taught middle school and high school mixed, SA, TB, and jazz choirs; piano, theater, musical theater, and elementary general music. Rengstorf is an active member of WMEA, ACDA, and OAKE, and serves on the board for the Northwest Kodály Educators. She holds a BA in Music from Barnard College of Columbia University, a Post-Baccalaureate degree and K-12 certification in Music Education from the University of Washington, and a Masters in Choral Conducting from Western Washington University. When she isn't teaching, she's at home in Edmonds playing, cooking, dancing, gardening, and making music with her family.

Nicole Maramba is currently in her 8th year of teaching and teaches in the Renton School District at the middle school level. Nicole focuses on nurturing young singers' voices, musicianship, fostering musical skills and confidence. Her passion lies in building a sense of community within her ensembles, encouraging a holistic approach to music that engages minds, hearts, and bodies. She has earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Additionally, she has served on the Washington State American Choral Directors Association's Middle School/Jr. High Repertoire and Resources Chair.

Sarah Edmonds is a passionate music educator whose pedagogy revolves around creating an environment where students build and grow community, confidence, and joy through their music making. In addition to teaching at NWGC, she teaches K-5 music in the Shoreline school district at Parkwood Elementary. Previously, she has taught voice, piano, elementary general music, and music directed youth theater productions throughout King County. She received her post baccalaureate degree in music education with a choral endorsement from Western Washington University, as well as completing her World Music Drumming Level I and Kodàly Level I & II certifications. Sarah is currently serving on the board of Northwest Kodàly Educators. 

When not teaching, Sarah can be found singing with Choral Arts Northwest, seeing local Seattle theater, or making music with her friends (and sweet dog, Clementine) in her backyard. 

Ariona Thompson is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a minor in education, learning, and societies. She is a Music Teacher at Kenmore Elementary School and the Choir Director at Woodinville High School, where she also serves as Music Director for the Theater Department. Ariona is thrilled to foster joy and community building through the love of music and can’t wait to work with each and every one of her students this year.

​Haley Gabler is a music educator in her 5th year of teaching Preschool-4th Grade Music at Villa Academy in Seattle's Laurelhurst neighborhood. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.M. in Music Education, has completed Kodaly Level I training and holds a Smithsonian Folkways Certificate in World Music Pedagogy. Haley is a proud alum of the Lawrence Community Girl Choir program where she sang for nine years, including 5 years spent as a student of Karen Bruno, the Artistic Director of Northwest Girlchoir. Haley is also an active musician in the Seattle area, singing regularly with several professional choral ensembles as well as learning and playing banjo and fiddle in the Seattle Old Time Music community.

Youngjin Joo is a talented organist, pianist, and collaborative artist with a profound passion for keyboard instruments. Her musical journey began in childhood as she explored the piano while sitting on her mother's lap, who was her first mentor and greatest supporter. During her senior year of high school, her parish priest introduced her to the organ, igniting a lasting passion for both the piano and the organ.

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Originally from Korea, Youngjin earned a bachelor’s degree in composition and theory, followed by graduate studies in music education at Seoul National University. She later obtained a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Washington.

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Dedicated to cultivating a love for singing in various styles, Youngjin serves as a staff accompanist for the Northwest Chamber Chorus, music director at St. Philomena, assistant organist at Blessed Sacrament, and provides dance accompaniment for the Pacific Northwest Ballet School.

Kristen has been a pianist for over 30 years. Her mom taught her how to read music and after that, there was no stopping her! She received her BA in Music from Brigham Young University, with emphases in composition and theory. While there, she studied under Jeffrey Shumway and Robin Hancock, both of whom are members of the American Piano Quartet and accomplished accompanists. Currently, Kristen works as the Director of Music at Newport Presbyterian Church in Bellevue and is pursuing a Masters in Music at William Carey University.

In her spare time, Kristen enjoys teaching piano, writing/arranging, and playing music with Ren, her cellist/pianist wife. Her favorite composers include J. S. Bach and Philip Glass, one of whom she has met. She will talk with anyone about film music, dogs, and pizza!

Kay Yeh is a dedicated pianist whose work spans solo, collaborative, and accompanying performances. Her musical journey has brought her to stages across the United States and Taiwan. During her years in Seattle, she joined the UW Wind Ensemble as a pianist and was invited by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Chiayi City and the Kin-Long Cultural and Educational Foundation to give solo recitals at the Chiayi City Concert Hall in September 2016 and August 2018.

An active collaborative artist, Kay has served as the pianist for The Singing Owls Choir since 2021 and Mirinesse Women’s Choir since 2022.

In 2025, she earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in piano performance from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she studied under Professor Robin McCabe. Prior to coming to Seattle to pursue her passion for piano, Kay's creativity expanded to graphic design and illustration as she earned her Bachelor's degree in Architecture from National Cheng-Kung University in Taiwan.