Melody Svennungsen, Artistic DirectorMelody Svennungsen is a “local” and loves her hometown of San Luis Obispo. She has over 40 years of experience in vocal and theatre performance and appears as soloist for local choral groups, most recently the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble. A member of SLOVAE since 1986, Melody served as Soprano Section Leader and Gary Lamprecht’s Assistant Director. At Gary’s recent passing, Melody accepted the position of A. D. for the Vocal Arts. Melody’s official conducting career began with the CCYC 18 years ago just before she received her Vocal Performance degree at Cal Poly in 2007. While at university, she served as assistant conductor for Dr. Davies and studied voice with both Katherine Arthur and Jackie Kreitzer. Melody is grateful for the richness and meaning that music brings to her life, and for the opportunity to facilitate the love of music and the deep bonding among the CCYC singers that results from singing together.
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Inga Swearingen, Director (Cadenza)
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We are thrilled to once again have Inga Swearingen on our dynamic Artistic Staff. Following her love of music, Inga sang in choirs and studied voice at San Luis Obispo High School, Cuesta College, Cal Poly University, and the Musik Hochschule in Lucerne, Switzerland. Eventually she earned her master’s degree in choral conducting from Florida State University. During that time, Inga received her first invitation to appear on Garrison Keillor’s renowned radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, an opportunity that led to over a dozen appearances on the show. Currently, Inga teaches jazz voice at Cuesta College, performs with her band, and spends time with her family, which includes keeping up with her 10-year-old son and 5-year-old niece, who are both singing with CCYC today!
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JoAnne Stoddard, Director (Cadence)
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JoAnne Stoddard has been involved with CCYC in various valuable roles over the past several years—Co-Artistic Director, Apprentice Choir Director, Accompanist to several choirs, and special guest instrumentalist, to name a few! She is now serving as Director for our Cadence Choir. Originally from Montana, she graduated from the University of Idaho and studied Music Education, K-12, with an emphasis on flute. She began her career as an elementary music teacher in Elko, Nevada. Since moving to the Central Coast, she has taught music in several local districts, including San Miguel, Pleasant Valley, Atascadero and Templeton schools. During her tenure in Templeton, she helped develop a comprehensive choral music program incorporating grades 4-12. One of JoAnne’s greatest honors was being recognized as Templeton Elementary School Teacher of the Year (1993-1994) and TUSD Teacher of the Year (2003-04). She has been an active member of the California American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), serving as Central Coast Representative as well as Chairperson for Children’s Choir Repertoire and Standards. After 29 years of teaching music, she is now “retired” and enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling and reading.
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Susannah Fletcher, Director (Brio)
Susannah Fletcher has grown up on the Central Coast. She has had a wide variety of musical experience, from musical theater, playing the Arabic accordion at Cal Poly, singing in the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble, and serving as accompanist on organ and piano for St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. The first choir she sang in, however, was the Central Coast Children's Choir, which is now CCYC! She is honored to be able to come back as a Director and teach music to children. Her passion for singing started with this organization, and she hopes she can share that same passion with the children in Brio. Susannah met her husband Westley when they were 7, and is happily married along with being a mom to their 6 year old son Christian, who is singing in CCYC's young Music Makers group this year.
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Joshua Tarica, Accompanist (Cadenza)
Joshua Tarica is a home-grown native of Atascadero, California. Josh came up through the CCYC program and was a valued member of the Young Men’s Ensemble. Currently, he is a third-year student at Cal Poly as a double major studying Psychology and Music. Josh serves as tenor section leader in the Cal Poly Choir, Polyphonics. Beyond being an experienced and passionate pianist and singer, Josh teaches private piano lessons and plays gigs throughout SLO county. Josh is always eager to share his love of music with children and is excited to be a part of the CCYC family as an accompanist. Let’s make music together!
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Megan Rivera, Accompanist (Cadence)
Megan Rivera has been involved with Central Coast Youth Chorus for over a decade, both as a singer in AVE and Vivace and as an accompanist for all choir levels. She accompanied the Atascadero Fine Arts Academy choirs for a number of years, as well as other choral groups and soloists. She taught piano locally for seven years. During those years, she also sang with Cuesta Voce, Cuesta Chamber Choir, and the Cal Poly joint choir. Megan has a B.S. in Liberal Studies and a multiple subject teaching credential from Cal Poly. After teaching for two years, Megan is delighted to be at home, raising her daughter with her wonderful husband.
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Manqi Liang, Accompanist (Brio)
Pianist Manqi Liang was born and raised in Guangdong, China. She started piano lessons at the age of four. In June 2023, she graduated with honors, earning her BA degree in music from Cal
Poly SLO, under the tutelage of Dr. William Spiller. During her years at Cal Poly, Manqi received the Billy Watson Memorial Scholarship in piano from the SLO Rotary Club, along with other scholarships that recognized her achievement in piano performance. She is an avid chamber musician, contributing to Cal Poly's piano quartet and trio. She has shared the stage with notable violinist Chen Zhao on a duet by Arvo Pärt and has performed works by Beethoven and Schumann with other established string musicians from around the U.S. From accompanying Cal Poly's beginner's voice class to her current role as an accompanist for Los Osos Middle School choirs, Manqi finds joy in collaborating with singers and bringing vocal compositions to life. Manqi is currently applying for a Master of Music program in piano performance. |