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Geoffrey Boers directs the UW Chamber Singers (Photo: Gary Louie).
The UW’s top auditioned choirs present their Spring Quarter concert. The Chamber Singers present "Finale," a set of pieces reflective of endings, including selections by Veljo Tormis, Johann Herman Schein, Herbert Howells, Lesia Dychko, Stephen Sondheim, and others. The University Chorale presents "The Sun's Reflection," a set of classical and folk-inspired pieces related to the sun and moon. Music includes Nick Drake's "Pink Moon," the world premiere of "Melancholy," by Aditya Sharma, and works by Jacob Narverud, Kate Rusby, and young composer Calvin Rice.
Masks are recommended in all indoor spaces. Proof of vaccination remains a requirement for everyone 12 and over at Meany Hall and all ArtsUW Ticket Office events, including Meany Center, DXARTS, Dance Department, School of Drama, and School of Music. Individuals unable to be fully vaccinated, including people with a medical or religious exemption, must have proof of a negative provider-administered COVID-19 test (taken within 72 hours of the performance). UW staff will check for proof of vaccination and negative COVID tests at the doors as a condition of entry. Proof of negative test result must come from a test provider, a laboratory or a health care provider. Home or self-administered tests will not be accepted. Details of these policies and procedures are at: https://artsevents.washington.edu/covid-protocols
Program
Chamber Singers: "Finale"
Geoffrey Boers, conductor
Timothy Little Trần, Tiffany Walker, Tyler Kimmel, assistant conductors
Welcome to tonight’s program FINALE! Given the amazing and challenging year that we have just witnessed, you would be welcome to pronounce this either Feenahlay, as in the grand closure to an epic year, or “finally,” as if in relief that we have made it successfully to the end–and both would be correct. Our song-suite presents music depicting all kinds of endings, of songs, of dramas, of life–and so you will hear music of mourning, of transfiguration, of celebration, and of chapters closing and beginning.
Kutse laulule (Invitation to Sing): Veljo Tormis
Die mit Tränen Säen (Those who sow with grief): Johann Herman Schein
Requiem aeternam I (Rest in Peace): Herbert Howells
Nunc Dimittis (Depart in Peace): Gustav Holst
Timothy Little Trán, conductor
Slava (Glory): Lesia Dychko
Sung in honor of those who have lost their homes and lives in Ukraine
Tiffany Walker, conductor
Disney Love Medley: Menken/Slate/Zippel/Collins arr. James Ray
"Sunday from Sunday" from Sunday in the Park with George: Stephen Sondheim, arr. Huff
Tyler Kimmel, conductor
University Chorale: "The Sun’s Reflection”
Giselle Wyers, conductor
Marshell Lombard, Leah Wyman, Timothy Little Trần, assistant conductors
A variety of classical and folk-inspired pieces related to the sun and moon.
Pink Moon: Nick Drake (arr. Marshell Lombard)
Marshell Lombard, conductor
Lunar Lullaby: Jacob Narverud
Underneath the Stars: Kate Rusby
Melancholy: Aditya Sharma (World premiere)
Arirang: Korean folk song, arr. Hyo-Won Woo
Long Time Traveler Swing Low, Sail High: arr. Evan Powers
Timothy Little Trán, conductor
UW Chamber Singers and UW Chorale
Program Notes
Chamber Singers: “Finale"
It seems odd to begin a concert of endings with an invitation! This song, a Latvian song sung in Estonian, is written in the style of regilaul, or ancient runic song. The verses come in pairs, and traditionally are a sung “conversation” between teacher and children. Through these songs, generations learn of the stories and history of their ancestors. Like the verses, the melodies are also in two parts–the halves overlapping in a seemingly endless circle, as if it has always been and will always be sung. This song begins with the end of the melody and never truly comes to an end…
Garais sauciens Invitation to Sing
No. 1 from Latvian Bourdon Songs
by Veljo Tormis (1930–2017)
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Eima mōelnud trei-le tul-la lau-le maie Räägi oma keele kesta |
I hadn't imagined that I would celebrate here; |
Die Mit Tränen Säen
by Johann Hermann Schein (1586–1630)
Beginnings and endings abound in this four-hundred year old gem. The text is a Hebrew poem possibly written in the 5th c. B.C. In poetic fashion the verses are in two contrasting halves, which depicts the promise of healing in the midst of grief. Schein was a visionary composer who lived at a time of epic change in musical style. The old renaissance church style had grown out of fashion, and opera, with its ornamentation and dramatic musical settings was all the rage. Schein adapted the old style with revolutionary ornaments and dissonance, which proclaims the text in a dramatic way.
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Die mit Tränen säen, |
Those who sow in tears |
Requiem aeternam
by Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
R.I.P. we see scattered across our Facebook news feeds after someone has died. This common, and seemingly casual quip “rest in peace” originates from the Latin Requiem in pacem, which is the text of our next piece. Herbert Howells Requiem on the contrary tells a tragic story about death, and the grief of loss that surrounds it. Howells began composing his Requiem in 1932, and had developed numerous sketches for it over the next years. In 19335, while on family vacation, Howells’ son Michael contracted polio and died three days later. Herbert Howells was broken hearted and grieved his son deeply for the rest of his life. Grief stricken, he put the Requiem and other works he had been working on away. The Requiem remained in his desk for nearly fifty years. One of his last acts as a composer was to finish this exquisite Requiem. This section of the piece is set for two choirs which begin with a simple A minor triad and which evolves and refracts over the next few minutes. The music is kaleidoscopic as it seems to keep expanding and lifting, a musical depiction of human spirit leaving the body.
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Requiem aeternam dona eis, |
Grant eternal rest unto them, |
Nunc dimittis
by Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
Timothy Little Trần, conductor
Like Requiem aeternam, Nunc dimittis is another important Latin text for the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. It is a biblical canticle, or song, and tells the story of Simeon who was promised that he would not die until he saw the Christ child. This beloved “Song of Simeon” has been set countless times and is often paired with the well-known Magnificat, during the Christmas season. Holst’s setting is scored for an eight-part choir, entering hauntingly, weaving through key centers, and ending gloriously.
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Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine |
Now dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, |
Slava
Antiphon II from Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 2
by Lesia Dychko (b. 1939)
Tiffany Walker, conductor
Ukraine! Slava is a similar shout of Glory, this text being shouted by the Orthodox Christians as they wait in the dark for the dawning of Easter. Orthodox music, like their painting, has a timeless and anonymous quality, as the artist creates song and image to glorify God only, and not the artist. This work begins with a quickly repeated phrase, common in Orthodox worship, which creates a liturgical “motor.” It is accompanied by an Ison, or drone pitch symbolizing the eternal God. This act of passionate worship sets up the mystical second section, which speaks about trusting in the eternal as all life fades away. The “motor” returns and builds to a triumphant finale!
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Slava Otsiu i Sïnu i sfiatomu Dukhovi! |
Glory to the Father and Son and Holy Spirit! |
Disney Love Medley
by Alan Menken, Glen Slate, David Zippel, Phil Collins
arranged by Jamey Ray
Heather Halverson, Trey Wheeler, Mavis Chan,
Alec Walter, Tyler Todd Kimmel, soloists
Who doesn’t have a favorite Disney character, princess, prince, animal, or song? Our final Finale is a medley of songs from three feature animated films: Tangled, Tarzan, and Hercules. The choir acts as the orchestral soundtrack backing up the character’s solos, and concludes with a traditional and expected Disney ending!
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All those days watching from the windows |
When destiny calls you 'Til I find my hero's welcome, waiting in your arms |
– Choir Gifts and Graduate Recognition –
“Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George
by Stephen Sondheim (1930-2022)
arranged by Mac Huff
Tyler Todd Kimmel, conductor
An end of a different kind, Sunday, is the finale of both acts of Sondheim’s beloved musical Sunday in the Park with George. Sondheim spins a tale of the artist Georges Seurat, who invented a new technique of painting with combinations of dots, rather than brush strokes, to evoke emotion; the technique is called pointillism. The musical is based around his most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte, 1884, which captures characters and images on an “ordinary Sunday.” He passed away at the age of 31, after changing the art world, and never selling a painting.
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Sunday, by the blue purple yellow red water |
University Chorale: “The Sun’s Reflection"
Giselle Wyers, conductor
Serena Chin, piano
Leah Wyman, Marshell Lombard, and Timothy Little Trần, assistant conductors
Lunar Lullaby
by Jacob Narverud (b. 1986)
text by Kathleen Nicely (contemporary)
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The moon settles in the dusky sky |
Prayer for Ukraine
by Mykola Lysenko (1842–1912)
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Bozhe velykyi, yedynyi |
Lord, oh the Great and Almighty, |
Quiet Night Thoughts
by Calvin Rice (b. 2004)
text by Li Po (7th century Chinese)
West Coast Premiere
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Before my bed shines the brilliant moon |
Arirang (Korean Folk Song)
arranged by Hyo-Won Woo (b. 1974)
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Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo |
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo |
Underneath the Stars
by Kate Rusby (b. 1973)
arr. Jim Clements for SATB
Solo: Ruby Whelan and Fern Bettinger
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Underneath the stars I'll meet you |
Melancholy
by Aditya Sharma (b. 1973)
World Premiere Performance
| Hold me closer don’t let go Gently kiss my tired soul As we lay beneath the stars I would give you my heart, If You just stayed Looked for you with searing eyes I kept waiting why did you lie As we lay beneath the stars I would give you my heart, If you just stayed |
Pink Moon
by Nick Drake (1948–1974)
arranged by Marshell Lombard
Alejandro Hernandez, Jonah Ladish-Orlich, Ari Okin, soloists
Charlie Dawson and Jason Barringer, guitars
Marshell Lombard, conductor
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Saw it written and I saw it say |
– Choir Gifts and Graduate Recognition –
Swing Low, Sail High
by Nicky Mehta (b.1972), arranged by Evan Powers
Emily Vaughan, soloist
Solo group: Caitlin Sarwono, Ella L'Heureux, Eyad Alsilimy, Jaminfaye Reduque, Mavis Chan, Maya Shah, Silvana Segura, Sophia Parker, Sophie Ma, Sophie Root
Charlie Dawson, guitar
Timothy Little Trần, conductor
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I have failed you, I have failed you, |
CHAMBER SINGERS
SOPRANOS Kaelyn Barnes, Everett, WA; BA, Vocal Performance Mavis Chan, Bellevue, WA; Vocal Performance Karen Dunstan, Ypsilanti, MI; MM, Vocal Performance Virginia Elizondo, Houston, TX; MM, Vocal Performance Caitlin Hennessy, Chicago, IL; MM, Vocal Performance Naomi-Hal Hoffman, Bellevue, WA; Vocal Performance Drama: Design Mallory McCollum, Warminster, PA; MM, Vocal Performance Shalini Pullarkat, La Cañada, CA; BS, General Biology Sarah Santos, Houston, TX; MM, Vocal Performance
ALTOS Cee Adamson✧, Washington, D.C.; DMA, Vocal Performance Sydney Belden, San Clemente, CA; Sophomore BM/BS, Music-Voice/Environmental Studies Lily Campbell, Olympia, WA; BA, Public Health-Global Health Anjali Chudasama, Upland, CA; MM, Choral Conducting Heather Halverson, Woodinville, WA; Sophomore BM/BA,Vocal Performance/Communications Anna Messenger, Olympia, WA; BM, Music Education Emily Vaughan, Mukilteo, WA; BA/BA, Music-Voice/Cinema & Media Studies Tiffany Walker, Chino Hills, CA; DMA, Choral Conducting Leah Wyman✧, Greenville, SC; MM, Choral Conducting TENORS Oliver Callahan, Anaheim, CA; BM, Music Education-Choral Emphasis Tyler Todd Kimmel, Seattle, WA; DMA, Choral Conducting Timothy Little Trần, Pineville, LA; DMA, Choral Conducting Marshell Lombard, Johannesburg, South Africa; DMA, Choral Conducting Tri Nguyen, Everett, WA; BS, Mechanical Engineering Zach Rude, Brainerd, MN; MM, Vocal Performance
BASSES Justin Birchell, Anchorage, AK; DMA, Choral Conducting Frank Goess, Albany, CA; BS, Aerospace Engineering John O'Kane, Seattle, WA; BS, Industrial & Systems Engineering Dario Rojas, Seattle, WA; BA, Environmental Science & Resource Management Christian Rolfson, Mount Vernon, WA; Environmental Science and Resource Management Zack Shafer, Camas, WA; BS, Computer Science Alec Walter, Spokane, WA; BS, Electrical Engineering Trey Wheeler, Vancouver, WA; BM, Music Education UNIVERSITY CHORALESOPRANO Fern Bettinger✧, Renton, WA; Psychology Emily Cameron, Snohomish, WA; Mechanical Eng. Mavis Chan*✧, Bellevue, WA; Vocal Performance Sarah Clark, Mercer Island WA; Political Science Lauren Fox, Buchanan, VA; Music (Voice) Meagan Hodgins, Seattle, WA; Vocal Performance Whi Jung, Seoul, Korea; Music Education Anmol Kaur, Duvall, WA; Biochemistry Claire Killian, Evergreen, CO; Political Science & Phil. Emma Koslosky, Castro Valley, CA; Communications Anna Kucinski, Redmond, WA; Human-Centered Design & Engineering Meena Kuduva, Kirkland, WA; Computer Science Ellen Kwon, Federal Way, WA; Piano Performance and Music Education Anna Messenger✧, Olympia, WA; Music Education Julia Nipert, Renton, WA; Pre-Nursing Rosemary Norheim, Seattle, WA; Political Science Chloe O'Keefe, San Francisco, CA; Gender, Women, Sexuality Studies and Public Health Sophia Parker*, Bothell, WA; Vocal Performance Clara Propst, Seattle, WA; Psychology Meliza Redulla, Olympia, WA; Music Education Caitlin Sarwono*, Redmond, WA; Music Education Felicia Tzeng, San Jose, CA; Interaction Design & Informatics Natalia Valvano, Seattle, WA; Architectural Design Melody Zhu, Sammamish, WA; Computer Science
ALTO Meher Chand✧, Portland, OR; Psychology & Informatics Sofiia Fedzhora, Kyiv, Ukraine; Slavic Languages and Literatures Department Christine Han, Suzhou, China; Intended: Philosophy Ella L'Heureux, Leavenworth, KS; Linguistics Naomi-Hal Hoffman, Bellevue, WA; Vocal Performance Drama: Design Hannah Limb, Mountlake Terrace, WA; Biology Sophie Ma, Tokyo, Japan; Music Composition Joely Loucks*✧, Friday Harbor, WA; Music Education Lexie Moss, Seattle, WA; Psychology Ari Okin, Los Angeles, CA; Music History Julia Park, Cambridge, MA; English Language and Lit., Journalism and Public Interest Comm. Ace Quisido Sophie Root, Kirkland, WA; Psychology Jaminfaye Reduque✧, DuPont, WA; Bioresource Science and Engineering Silvana Segura✧, Redmond, WA; Psychology Maya Shah✧, Portland, OR; Undeclared Nelly Sunstrum, Redmond, WA; Civil Engineering Emily Vaughan*✧, Mukilteo, WA; Music (Voice) & CMS Aliyah Wachob, Belmont, CA; Law, Societies and Justice & Creative Writing Akhila Narayanan, Redmond, WA; Computer Eng. Ruby Whelan, Melbourne, VIC; Sociology, Chinese
TENOR Eyad Alsilimy, Mount Vernon, WA; Computer Eng. Scott Fisher Jr*., Renton, WA; Music (BA) Cam Gardner, Sammamish, WA Carson Kyle, Huntingtown, MD; Biology Karsten Lomax, Edmonds, WA; Comparative History of Ideas & Cinema and Media Studies Adrian Nguyen, Olympia, WA; Vocal Performance & Mathematics Alejandro (Ollie) Hernandez, Rio Rancho, NM; Psychology & Spanish John O’Kane, Seattle, WA; Industrial Systems Eng. Spencer Lundt, University Place, WA; Mechanical Engineering Ryan Singh, Redmond, WA; Geography: Data Science Ethan Walker, Lynnwood, WA; Biology Trey Wheeler*✧, Vancouver, WA; Music Education & Vocal Performance
BASS Lewis Back✧, Issaquah, WA; Microbiology Jason Barringer, Hood River, OR; Industrial & Systems Engineering Elisha Bourassa, Sumas, WA; Social Welfare Charlie Dawson, Austin, TX; Economics Andrew Hoch, Burr Ridge, IL; Informatics Jacob Knight, Lynnwood, WA; Computer Science Jonah Ladish-Orlich, Renton, WA; Undeclared Sidharth Lakshaman, Bellevue, WA; Computer Engineering Christian Rolfson, Mount Vernon, WA; Environmental Science and Resource Management Zach Shafer*, Camas, WA; Computer Science Cian Scheer, Vashon, WA; Bioresource Science and Engineering Alec Walter✧, Spokane, WA; Electrical Engineering
*Section Leader ✧Choir Cabinet Member |
Biographies
Geoffrey Boers is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington in Seattle, a program widely recognized as forward thinking, unique, and of great distinction. Under his direction, the graduate choral program has developed a singular mission: to nurture the whole student as conductor-teacher-servant-leader-scholar. This vision has led the program to become one of the most vibrant and innovative in the country, attracting students from around the world interested in exploring the future of our art. Through his teaching he is exploring the evolution of conducting gesture and rehearsal pedagogy and their connection with the emerging neuroscience of mirror neurons, empathy, perception, learning, and personal transformation. His exploration has led to new thoughts about conducting and teaching with regard to breath, movement, artistry, personal awareness, and cultural development. Recently, his work has led to the mentoring of local choral cohorts of teachers and conductors who are interested in building professional communities of ongoing mentorship and musical development. He has developed such mentorship programs across the United States and Canada. In addition to these thoughts about mentorship he is actively working with other leaders in ACDA and NAfME to develop a more unified and useful system for development of musicianship, assessment, adjudication, and repertoire grading.
Geoffrey maintains an active conducting, teaching, workshop and clinic schedule; his recent engagements have included conducting concerts in Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Meyerson Concert Hall in Dallas, New York’s Alice Tully and Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In addition he has served as artist-in-residence in Toronto, Ontario, Mainz, Germany, as well as Seoul, Korea with the world-renown choir the Incheon City Chorale.
In addition to his position at the UW, Boers sings professionally and is the conductor of the Tacoma Symphony Chorus where he conducts both the choir and symphony players in a four-concert season.
Since his tenure at the University of Washington, the choral program has become a leader in promoting the performance, study and exchange of Baltic music in the United States. The choir has toured to the Baltic countries in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2013. Geoffrey Boers was awarded a prestigious Royalty Research Grant in 2004 to create a Baltic Choral Library in collaboration with the UW Library as well as State and academic libraries in the Baltic. This collection of scores, manuscripts, vocal music, and writings is the first of its kind in the United States. This collection has promoted yearly exchanges with choirs and conductors from the Baltic area who travel each year to Seattle. Further, it has led to numerous UW choral students winning awards and scholarships to travel, study, and work in the Baltic countries.
Giselle Wyers (she/her/hers) is the Donald E. Petersen Endowed Professor of Choral Music at the University of Washington, where she conducts the award-winning University Chorale and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral conducting and music education. She serves as the newly appointed School of Music's designated Diversity Liaison. University Chorale’s latest CD, Chasing Daybreak, will begin streaming in January 2024 on Apple Music and Spotify. Their third CD, Resonant Streams (on the MSR Music Recordings label) was featured in a 2018 Gramophone magazine article. Wyers is the newly appointed director of Concord Chamber Choir, an adult community chorus within the Columbia Choirs community. Her professional project choir Solaris Vocal Ensemble, specializes in the performance of contemporary American choral literature. Their premiere album Floodsongs, on the Albany Music label, won the American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music in 2017-18.
As a guest conductor, Wyers has led high school honor choirs and all-state choruses in New York (Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center), Kansas, Wisconsin, Georgia, Missouri, Louisiana, Connecticut, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Nevada and Vancouver, Canada. She has conducted semi-professional ensembles across the United States and in Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Sweden.
Wyers is a leading national figure in the application of Laban movement theory for conductors. She has served as guest lecturer in conducting at Sweden’s Örebro Universitet, European Festival of Church Music (Germany), Latvian Academy of Music, Eastman School of Music, Ithaca College, Westminster Choir College, University of Iowa, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Portland State University.
Wyers’ choral works are published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing Company as part of the "Giselle Wyers Choral Series," as well as with MusicSpoke and Hildegard Publishing. Her works have been performed across the United States, South America, Canada, Australia, Cuba, and numerous European cities. She conducted her 30-minute choral cycle entitled And All Shall Be Well, in Carnegie Hall during May of 2022 with a consortium of NW-based choruses, and she will return with a newly composed choral/orchestral work in May of 2026. In 2021-22, she served as composer-in-residence for the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium's annual festivities celebrating the return of in-person singing (her appearance was sponsored by Consortio). Wyers is also committed to mentoring scholar-writers in the field, and served on the editorial board of ACDA’s Choral Journal for six years.
Artist Statement:
I believe music is central to the human experience. As a music educator, choral conductor, and researcher, I aim to connect the learning of music from song literature to a deep immersion of artistic literacy and individualized expression. My educational and artistic approach to music is not sustained by the assessment of ability and talent alone. If this were true, my own musicianship may never have come to fruition. As a multicultural person, I focus on how practical learning techniques in rehearsal and on-stage help develop emotional intelligence and relationship building for students with multiple identities. The collaborative process of establishing common terminology and gestural meaning is the culmination of my creative process; here I find that pitch, rhythm, and text are analyzed and applied literally, internally, and interpersonally. The relationship between instructor and student, conductor and singer, or peer and peer are equally as important as the common language used to understand, apply, and interpret music.
Louisiana native, Timothy Little Trần is a singer/songwriter, conductor, church music minister, and educator. Currently, Dr. Little Trần is the Director of Choral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Slippery Rock University where he conducts choral ensembles and teaches courses within the academic music curricula.
Prior to Slippery Rock, Timothy was Executive Director of Performing Arts and Professor of Choral Music at Notre Dame College, where he shaped the department into dynamic performing divisions of music, theatre, and dance, as well as created majors in music and theatre entrepreneurship. Timothy also served as the Coordinator of Arts in Residences and Area Coordinator for the Senior Experience at Oberlin Conservatory and the Resident Director at the School of Creative and Performing Arts-Manhattan [SOCAPA], where he was one of the founding members of the Music Program. Dr. Little Trần has also held positions in Student Life & Development and Arts Marketing & Communication at Interlochen Arts Academy, the Shenandoah Conservatory, Columbia Choirs of Metropolitan Seattle, and Louisiana State University, where he also was a photographer for LSU Football and the LSU Tiger Marching Band.
Timothy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting & Literature from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Music degree with Vocal and Music Education studies from the Shenandoah Conservatory.
Timothy is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and is passionate about LSU Football; his nephews and nieces; and using the arts as a medium to support students academically, artistically, and socially.
Tiffany Walker is a choral conductor from Chino Hills, California who completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington. She completed a Master of Arts in Teaching and single-subject credential in K-12 music at the University of Southern California. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, Berkeley. Tiffany taught private voice lessons, was an assistant choral director at Ruben S. Ayala High School, and taught as a high school choral director at San Clemente High School and Ruben S. Ayala High School.
Tyler Todd Kimmel is a third year doctor of musical arts student in choral conducting at the University of Washington. He was born and raised in Seattle, where he currently works as a collaborative performing artist and educator.
Passionate about music and theater, he has sought opportunities to maintain both mediums as a director of performing arts at Seattle Christian School, where he runs the secondary choir and theater departments. He also works with local professional and youth theater companies in their production and education departments, and works as a freelance actor and musician. As a composer, he has written several chamber pieces and solo works, two musicals, three film scores, and premiered incidental music for two plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. He is also an avid arranger, continually re-visioning and adapting works for his secondary and church choirs, and runs a voice and piano studio in south Seattle.
Before moving back to Seattle, Tyler served on the adjunct music faculty at Pepperdine University, where he was an assistant conductor of the orchestra, conductor for musical theater, theory tutor and vocal coach. While pursuing his masters degree at Florida International University (FIU), he served as an undergraduate composition teacher, and as an assistant conductor for the FIU Symphony under international conductor, Gzregorz Nowak.
Tyler is a member of the National Association for Music Educators and the American Choral Directors Association. He is passionate about performing arts education for secondary students, and loves hiking, running, skiing, and watching hockey.