The UW's graduate-student-led choral ensembles—the University Singers, UW Glee, and Treble Choirs—present an eclectic end-of-quarter concert.
Director Biographies
Tatiana Boggs holds a Masters in Music in Vocal Performance from Central Washington University, a Bachelors of Arts in Vocal Performance from Whitworth University, and is currently pursuing her DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington. Tatiana has experience working with all ages from elementary to university level singers and was recently appointed Associate Artistic Director of the Kirkland Choral Society, with which she has been affiliated as a singer since 2023. She also sings in Wellspring Ensemble, a Seattle based community choral ensemble, and works as a freelance accompanist, vocalist, musical theater director, and pit orchestra conductor in the greater Seattle area.
Julianna Grabowski is a conductor, music educator, soprano and pianist from Syracuse, New York. Her passion for teaching and performing has led her to obtain two Bachelor of Music degrees from the State University of New York at Fredonia in Music Education and Vocal Performance, studying both voice and piano. She earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Duquesne University, where she also served as the Graduate Assistant to Duquesne’s Choral Department.
Her recent work includes the positions of Director of Children’s Music Ministries at Brick Presbyterian Church, Conductor, Private Voice Instructor, and Accompanist with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and Assistant Conductor of the Grace Chorale of Brooklyn in New York City. She is also the former conductor of the Pittsburgh Girls Choir's adult ensemble, Women of Song. As a professional soprano, Julianna was a Young Artist with Finger Lakes Opera and has performed with professional groups including the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Lake Junaluska Singers in North Carolina, and The Dukes Music in Pittsburgh. Julianna has worked as a collaborative pianist at public schools and universities across the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. She currently serves as Collaborative Pianist with Endolyne Children's Choir. Julianna is pursuing a doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Washington.
Tyler Hagy is an active performer, conductor, and educator, currently based in Seattle, Washington. He is currently pursuing the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington under the direction of Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers. He has served at schools and churches in the United Arab Emirates, England, and the USA. Choirs under his direction have been selected for many featured performances, including at the Luther College Dorian Choral Invitational, the Iowa Choral Showcase (twice), and the Iowa Association of School Boards’ 78th Annual Convention.
He holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music; a Master of Music degree in Choral Studies from the University of Cambridge, UK; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Theatre/Dance Performance from Luther College.
He has studied conducting with Allen Hightower, Stephen Layton, Stephen Cleobury, Timothy Brown, Earl Rivers, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Ann Howard Jones, and Weston Noble, among many others. He has conducted concerts and festivals in the United States of America, England, Wales, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Hagy has also been seen on stage in many productions. Past roles include Jamie Wellerstein in The Last Five Years, Benjamin Coffin III in Rent, Ezra Chater in Arcadia, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, Truffaldino in The Servant of Two Masters, and Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening.
Outside of choral music, he loves to cook, read, play pub trivia, and participate in live theatre.
Christopher Lerch is a conductor, educator, and tenor currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, he earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Central Washington University, where he served as a graduate teaching assistant, instructor for the aural skills sequence, and assistant conductor for all major choral ensembles. He also maintained a private voice and piano studio, working with students of varying ages and experience levels.
Before moving to Washington, Christopher received his Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he studied with J. Scott Ferguson. Following this, he taught middle and high school choir in Illinois, directing curricular and extra-curricular ensembles as well as musical theater productions. During his tenure, he expanded performance opportunities for students by establishing a touring chamber ensemble and fostering a culture of musical excellence and community engagement.
As a performer, Christopher has sung throughout the United States and abroad, with appearances in Italy, South Africa, Canada, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. His work spans opera, choral, and solo repertoire, including performances as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Prince Charming in Cendrillon, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte. He was a member of the 2025 International Lyric Academy in Vicenza, Italy, where he studied and performed with an international faculty and cast.
His research interests include African American spirituals, choral performance practice, and the influence of oral tradition on the evolution of choral repertoire.
Canadian conductor-educator-tenor Nicholas Renaud is passionate about working with others toward musical growth and dynamic performances. Currently, Nicholas is pursuing his DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington under the supervision of Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers, where he serves as Assistant Conductor of the award-winning UW Chorale, co-conductor of the UW Recital Choir, the Glee Club Tenor-Bass Choir, and Choral Cohort Ensemble, and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Music.
Out in the community, Nicholas works frequently as a tenor, guest conductor, clinician and French-language diction coach for local choirs and serves as Artistic Director of La Chorale francophone de Seattle, a multi-generational community choir specializing in the performance of French-language music from around the world. He also serves as Associate Artistic Director of the Magnolia Chorale, a large, auditioned multigenerational concert choir which regularly performs major works. Prior to commencing his studies at UW, Nicholas conducted a variety of community bands and choirs and had a busy career teaching K-12 Music and French classes in public schools and serving his fellow teachers as a union activist in and around Vancouver, Canada.
Nicholas holds degrees and graduate-level diplomas in music, French and education from some of Canada's top universities. While completing his Bachelor of Music at the University of Victoria, he served as Assistant Director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Singers, and as Conductor of the Massed Men's Choir and Director of the Vocal Jazz Women's Chorus, Ellavation. He has been the recipient of numerous fellowships, scholarships and awards, but his proudest accomplishment throughout his studies was receiving the Outstanding Practicum Award from the University of British Columbia. This was given in recognition of Nicholas' dedication, commitment and diligence while teaching high school students in choir, band and IB French classes during his Bachelor of Education degree.
An earnest scholar, Nicholas' research interests include inclusive and decolonial approaches to leadership and pedagogy, incorporating voice science in the choral rehearsal process, empathetic choral conducting, and early Canadian choral music. Nicholas is devoted to building community and cooperation through the study of music, engaging in innovative teaching that involves a variety of approaches and activities to foster teamwork. He works hard to empower others––no matter their age or experience level––to develop confidence as they learn to express their creativity through group music-making and engaging musical performances.
Katia Velit-Akhremenko is a conductor, educator, soprano, and pianist with 17 years of experience teaching choral and orchestral music. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington, where she studies with Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers.
Katia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Seattle Pacific University. She has taught choir and orchestra at the middle and high school levels, including serving as a music educator at Mill Creek Middle School in the Kent School District. Throughout her career, Katia has worked with singers and instrumentalists in diverse educational settings, fostering musical growth through ensemble performance, collaboration, and artistic exploration.
In addition to her work as an educator, Katia is an active choral conductor, soprano, and pianist. She serves as conductor of the Slavic Youth Choir at Salvation Baptist Church in Edgewood, Washington, where she leads singers in rehearsals and performances. Her professional interests include choral conducting, vocal performance, and music education, and she is committed to creating meaningful musical experiences that encourage confidence, creativity, and lifelong engagement with music.
Taiwanese conductor, educator, and singer Chung-An Wang believes that meaningful choral music grows from both artistic excellence and genuine human connection. He enjoys working with singers toward performances that are expressive, thoughtful, and alive.
Currently, Chung-An is pursuing his DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington, where he studies with Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers. At UW, he serves as Assistant Conductor of the UW Chorale and co-conductor of the UW Glee Club.
Before moving to Seattle, Chung-An worked with professional, community, youth, and school choirs across Taiwan. He sang with Formosa Singers from 2017 to 2025 and became an Assistant Conductor during his final two years with the ensemble. The ensemble’s long-standing commitment to Taiwanese choral music and culture has been an important part of his own musical journey. He also conducted the NCCU Alumni Youth Choir and Dreamers’ Choir and held conducting and leadership roles with the Formosa Youth Choir and Taiwan Youth Festival Choir.
Under his direction, the NCCU Alumni Youth Choir received Second Place at the 2022 Taoyuan Vocal Festival and Competition. His choral work has also taken him to performances and collaborations across Asia, Europe, and North America. Working with singers of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience has shaped a flexible, singer-centered approach to rehearsal and music-making.
Chung-An’s current interests include the ways language, culture, and vocal expression shape choral music across different traditions, as well as rehearsal approaches that support healthy and expressive singing. Rooted in his own cultural background, he has a particular interest in Taiwanese choral music, especially repertoire in Tâi-gí (Taiwanese Hokkien). He also cares deeply about Taiwan’s Hakka and Indigenous musical traditions and hopes to continue learning from the many languages and cultures that shape Taiwan’s musical life.
At the same time, Chung-An remains curious about music far beyond his own cultural background. He enjoys encountering repertoire from different cultures, traditions, and historical periods with respect, curiosity, and a willingness to listen and learn. His work seeks to bring cultures and people into meaningful dialogue through choral music while creating rehearsal spaces that value both artistic excellence and the people who make it happen.
Photo credit: Enoch Luu
Elliot Weeks is a conductor, educator, and vocalist currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington. He previously served as the Choir Director at Seattle Preparatory School for the last seven years, conducting five choral ensembles as well as yearly musical theater productions.
Elliot is a jazz vocalist and composer and has performed across the US and in Europe. He was a quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award in 2025 and 2026. Recently, Elliot was named a National Finalist for the 2026 American Prize in Choral Conducting in the School & Youth Chorus division. Elliot holds a Master of Music in Jazz Vocal Performance from the University of Miami Frost School of Music as well as a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University.
Additionally, Elliot is the conductor of the All Voices Choir at the Seattle University Unitarian Church.
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.