Program
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Vaughan Williams: English Folksong Suite (orchd. Gordon Jacob)
Arthur Sullivan: Pirates of Penzance excerpts (with chorus and vocal soloists)
Edvard Grieg: Symphonic Dances, op.64
Jean Sibelius: Finlandia, op.26
Biographies
Ryan Dakota Farris has quickly become one of the most exciting and in-demand conductors in the Pacific Northwest. Ryan was recently appointed as Music Director of both the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra. He also serves as assistant conductor for Lake Union Civic Orchestra and frequently guest conducts groups across the region, including the Issaquah Philharmonic, Octava Chamber Orchestra, and Seattle Festival Orchestra. This past summer Ryan was one of two conductors from across the country invited to be a fellow at the Bellingham Festival of Music’s inaugural conducting institute.
Currently pursuing his doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Washington in Seattle, Ryan serves as conductor of the Campus Philharmonia Orchestras and assistant conductor of the University of Washington Symphony. In recent years Ryan has worked as cover conductor for professional orchestras across the country, including the Auburn Symphony in Washington and the Boulder Philharmonic in Colorado. He has also served as assistant conductor for Colorado MahlerFest and the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, and as a sectional conductor for Seattle’s Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus.
Ryan was a proud student of the late maestro Michael Jinbo at the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival in Maine for five summers. He has studied with many notable conductors including Ludovic Morlot, Mercelo Lehninger, David Alexander Rahbee, Donald Schleicher, Kensho Watanabe, and Tiffany Lu.
Off the podium, Ryan has performed as principal cellist with the Boulder Opera Company, Seattle Philharmonic Strings, and the University of Washington Symphony. He appeared as a featured concerto soloist with the South Puget Sound College Orchestra in 2019, and regularly performs in chamber music groups across the region. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, he played regularly with some of Colorado’s best orchestras, including the Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, and Colorado MahlerFest. Ryan also composes his own music, performs regularly on period instruments such as baroque cello & viola da gamba, and busts out the traditional Irish fiddle with acclaimed Seattle-based Celtic band Cavort.
Conductor Robert Stahly passionately furthers orchestral music through programs that reimagine classical works alongside engaging new and underperformed works. Robert made his debut conducting Copland’s “The Tender Land” in the Spring of 2023 at Colorado State University. He also conducted portions of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Symphony No. 33” in performance at the CCM Opera Bootcamp. Perpetually studying his craft, Robert additionally participated in conducting workshops at the Eastman School of Music, Bard College, University of Missouri Kansas City, and University of Colorado. His conducting teachers include Harold Farberman, Gianmaria Griglio, Mark Gibson, Apo Hsu, Neil Varon, Kevin Noe, Gary Lewis, Wes Kenney, and Dr. Rachel Waddell.
Robert is currently pursuing his doctorate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Washington. He serves as conductor of the Campus Philharmonia Orchestra and is an assistant conductor for the University of Washington Symphony. In recent years Robert was the apprentice conductor for the Fort Collins Symphony, the conductor of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra String Ensemble and conductor of the Longmont Youth Symphony String Ensemble. Off of the podium he was the associate principal cellist with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra and was the cellist for the Elevation String Quartet. A conductor who is passionate about music education, Robert continues to visit school music programs to coach new generations of musicians and teachers. During his 13 years at Longmont High School Robert tripled the size of the orchestra program while at the same time increasing the quality and diversity of the ensembles. In 2016, he was recognized as one of the top six educators in the St. Vrain Valley School District with an “Encore Award” and in 2019 he was a finalist for “Teacher of the Year.” Robert received his Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Education, Tuba Performance, and a String Pedagogy Certificate from Colorado State University in 2008. In 2024 he completed a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting at Colorado State University.
Scott Fikse is a first-year doctoral conducting student at the University of Washington as well as a vocalist, choral clinician, and vocal coach. Currently he serves as the assistant conductor of the University of Washington Chorale, sings as a choral scholar with the St. Mark’s Compline Choir, and has served as a TA or co-instructor for choral methods, music history, and conducting as a UW graduate appointee. He is also a regular contributor to the American Choral Directors Association monthly Choral Journal magazine.
Scott moved to Seattle from Honolulu in 2022, where he directed the music program at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and created the church’s popular “First Mondays” and “Jazz Journey” concert series. Under his direction the LCH choirs prepared over 200 works each year, ranging from chant, Renaissance polyphony, and Baroque works to modern masters.He also served as director of the Honolulu Chorale and artistic director of Early Music Hawaii, where he continues to serve as board president and conductor. Scott recently returned from a summer abroad that included conducting the University of Washington Chorale in eastern Europe and a pilgrimage to England with the Seattle-based Compline Choir, singing while in residence at St. Alban’s, St. Paul’s London, and Canterbury cathedrals.
Adam Freemantle (he/him/his) is a graduate student of choral conducting at the University of Washington. Born and raised in the Seattle area, Adam attended Shorewood High School in Shoreline, WA where he spent the majority of his time involved with the performing arts including choir, band and theater. He then completed his undergraduate studies at Western Washington University where he graduated Magna cum laude in Music Education and Vocal Performance. After student teaching with Justin Wisness at Rogers High School, he taught choir at Maple View Middle School in the Tahoma School District.
Currently, Adam currently co-directs the UW Glee Club and sings in Chamber Singers, Recital Choir, and Cohort Ensemble. Outside of his work at UW, Adam also directs the Youth and Children's choirs at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and is an assistant football coach at Tahoma High School (Go Bears).
Helen Woodruff is a graduate student at the University of Washington, pursuing her MM in Choral Conducting. She is passionate about approaching choral music from new perspectives. She is strongly rooted in music education and thrives for choral music to be accessible to all, pursuing creative ways for singing to be experienced.
Helen believes that we are all born with the innate desire to use our voices. Singing fulfills a universal and fundamental desire to express ourselves and to connect with others. It is the greatest way to convey culture, history, community, and personal expression in a way that is accessible to all because the voice is an instrument that we carry with ourselves daily. She finds substantial power in the collective human voice, which is why she is drawn with such strength to conducting and facilitating this expression and communication.
Currently, Helen co-conducts the Treble Choir and works with the University Chorale. Prior to this, she graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a BM in Music Business. After her undergraduate degree, she spent four years in California at the Harker School teaching K-12 general music, string orchestra, choir, and musical theater.
Miami-born Alexandra Rameau is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Florida International University and has built a distinguished career in music education and choral performance. Before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, Rameau worked with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she dedicated herself to fostering musical literacy among young learners while creating a nurturing, community-centered environment.
Rameau’s professional experience includes working with the Master Chorale of South Florida, a renowned symphony chorus that has performed a diverse repertoire ranging from Beethoven to Broadway, and Bach to Bernstein.
Guided by a strong teaching philosophy, Rameau believes in the transformative power of music education and performance. Her goal is to instill in her students not only technical proficiency but also the ability to convey a powerful musical message. As one of the co-directors of the University Singers, she brings an infectious passion for musical diversity and a spirit of joy to the ensemble, creating an atmosphere where every voice is heard and celebrated.