Karen Bruno is the artistic director of Northwest Girlchoir and teaches Amabile, Amore and Ensemble, the high school-aged choirs. She also serves as the Community Choir Chair for Washington’s American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) chapter. Before relocating to Seattle, she spent 25 years as the artistic director of the Lawrence Community Girl Choir Program in Appleton, Wisconsin. During that time, her choirs toured and performed at state and regional choral conferences. A frequent guest clinician, Karen has worked with youth and treble honor choirs throughout the Midwest, including the South Dakota All-State Choir, 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. Karen 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 a home with an opinionated, fluffy, FIV-positive cat named Katya.

Sarah Edmonds is thrilled to join NWGC as the Interim Vivace Teacher-Conductor! She received her music education certification with a choral endorsement from Western Washington University and teaches K-6 general music in the Edmonds School District. Previously, she was the musical director for youth theater productions throughout King County with Big Star Studios, Little Lemon Productions, and The Center School in Seattle. In addition, she has taught lessons in voice and piano to children of all ages. Her teaching philosophy revolves around creating an environment where students experience community, confidence, and joy within their music making. 

Nicole Maramba is an enthusiastic addition to Northwest Girlchoir, as the new Fresca Teacher-Conductor. Currently in her 5th year of teaching, she 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 currently serves as the Washington State American Choral Directors Association's Middle School/Jr. High Repertoire and Resources Chair. Excited to join the Northwest Girlchoir community, she eagerly looks forward to the upcoming season!

Haley Gabler is thrilled to be the Prep Choir Teacher-Conductor while teaching K-8 General Music at Villa Academy in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Seattle. Haley is an active performer in the Seattle area, singing with several professional choral ensembles in addition to serving as a Section Leader for the Cathedral Choir at St. James Cathedral. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.M. in Music Education and has completed Kodaly Level I training. Haley is a proud alum of the Lawrence Community Girl Choir program where she sang for nine years, five of which were spent under the direction of Karen Bruno, the Artistic Director of Northwest Girlchoir.

Dori Baunsgard is a Pacific Northwest native who returned to Seattle in 2011 after conducting choirs and teaching music for many years in Tokyo, Japan and Mussoorie, India. Dori has an avid interest in multiple styles and genres of music from all parts of the globe. In her accompanying career, she has played for many great conductors, including Henry Leck, Edith Copely and Elena Sharkova. Besides her accompanying work she is the conductor of Con Brio Women's Choir and co-conductor (with Beth Ann Bonnecroy) of Wanderlust Women's Choir of Seattle.  Dori holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Seattle Pacific University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Western Washington University.

Youngjin Joo is an organist, pianist, and collaborative artist. One of her earliest memories is playing the piano sitting on her mom’s lap. Her mom was her first piano teacher and has been her greatest supporter. She was introduced to the organ by the parish priest during her senior year of high school. These two keyboard instruments have been her passion. She has a great interest in improvisation in various styles, from baroque to jazz. She studied music theory/composition and music education at Seoul National University and holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Washington. She has held musical posts at churches in Greenwich, CT, Aston and Wayne, PA, and she is the organist at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, where she accompanies the Sanctuary choir and Pneuma ensemble.

Kristen Orien has been a pianist for almost 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 an emphasis on composition and theory. While there, she studied under both Jeffrey Shumway and Robin Hancock, both of whom are members of the American Piano Quartet and accomplished accompanists. Kristen has since taught piano and accompanied various soloists and ensembles throughout the PNW. In her spare time, she enjoys writing/arranging piano solos and pop songs and playing duets with her cellist wife. Her favorite composers are J. S. Bach and Philip Glass, one of whom she has met. She will talk with anyone about film music!