Melody Svennungsen, Artistic Director

Melody Svennungsen is the Vivace and Advanced Vocal Ensemble Director, as well as Artistic Director for the CCYC. She is a San Luis Obispo native with over forty years of experience in vocal and theatre performance. She appears as soloist for local choral groups including Cuesta Master Chorale and San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble. A member of SLOVAE since 1986, Melody is Gary Lamprecht’s Assistant Director and Soprano Section Leader. She also teaches private voice lessons and musicianship to all ages. Melody’s official conducting career began 17 years ago this Fall with the CCYC shortly before she earned her music degree in vocal performance at Cal Poly in 2007. As a music student, 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.
Inga Swearingen, Director
We are thrilled to welcome Inga Swearingen as the new Cadenza Director for the CCYC. 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 masters degree in choral conducting from Florida State University. During that time, she 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 today!
Erin Noble, Director
Erin Noble will be the new director of the Brio Choir and Music Makers class! She is a San Luis Obispo native with 30 years experience teaching and directing children’s music classes, theatre groups and choirs throughout California.
     Erin began singing and playing violin publically at the age of 13. Her first starring role was with the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre as Cinderella! She went on to attend Cuesta College in the 80s where she sang and travelled with Warren Balfour’s vocal jazz ensemble. As a professional vocalist, Erin performed original music locally with her partner at the time, Mark Welch. They created an interactive musical assembly for elementary schools and travelled throughout California promoting healthy self esteem and safe choices around drugs and alcohol, and in 1991 the pair wrote and recorded an original children’s music album entitled ‘Hello World’. During this time, Erin was also the choir and music director at Unity Church in San Luis Obispo. She and her mother, Margie Noble Englund, then co-created the Joy of Music Children’s Programs, touching the lives of many for decades! More recently, Erin has been teaching music programs in public and private schools, as when she is in circle with children she is in her natural element.
     Erin’s history with the CCYC began with her eldest daughter participating in the choir in the early 2000s, followed by her youngest just over the past few years. She is very excited to be part of the future of the CCYC and looks forward to meeting you all!
Danna Dumandan, Director
Danna Dumandan is the Co-Director of CCYC's Cadence Choir. Originally from Santa Clarita, CA, she came to San Luis Obispo to study vocal music at Cal Poly. She is an incoming fourth year and plans to graduate in 2023. At Cal Poly, Danna practices vocal performance under Katherine Arthur, choral studies under Dr. Scott Glysson, and jazz studies under Dr. Arthur White. She sings in the Cal Poly Chamber Choir, Polyphonics, Vocal Jazz, and Student Opera Theatre. Danna is also the President of the choral program at Cal Poly and was just recently the Social Events Chair of the program. She is also a Band Manager and Social Media Manager for the Cal Poly jazz program. This upcoming year, Danna is going to be an assistant-conductor and alto section leader for Polyphonics at Cal Poly and is attending a choral conducting workshop in Kenya. She is so excited to work in the education field in the future and to teach the art of music and singing. Danna is ecstatic to work with the lovely singers at CCYC, and she cannot wait to share her love and passion for choir with them.
Katelyn Caron, Director
Katelyn Caron is the Co-Director of Cadence Choir for the CCYC. Her hometown is Trabuco Canyon, CA but she currently resides in San Luis Obispo as a full-time student studying music and psychology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her passion for music stemmed from her childhood as she grew up singing in choirs and musical theater shows. She has years of performance and leadership experience, from taking private voice lessons and singing in various ensembles throughout high school and college. Katelyn is going into her fourth year at Cal Poly and has been an active member of Cal Poly Choirs since 2019, singing in both Polyphonics and Chamber Choir under Dr. Scott Glysson. She has served as Assistant Section Leader and will serve as the Polyphonics Soprano Section Leader and an assistant-conductor for the 2022-2023 school year. She studies vocal performance with Amy Goymerac and sings in the Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre as well. Katelyn also works as a Choral Scholar, singing soprano for St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Arroyo Grande. With a strong passion for music and working with kids, Katelyn is thrilled to be a part of CCYC and cannot wait to help build exciting musical experiences for youthful singers similar to what she experienced as a child.
JoAnne Stoddard, Accompanist
JoAnne Stoddard has been involved with CCYC in various valuable roles over the past several years, and is now serving as Accompanist for our Cadence Choir. Originally from Montana, she graduated from the University of Idaho (Music Education, K-12 with an emphasis on flute). She began her teaching career as an elementary music teacher in Elko, Nevada. Since moving to the Central Coast, she has taught music for San Miguel, Pleasant Valley, Atascadero and Templeton school districts. During her tenure in Templeton, she helped develop a comprehensive choral music program incorporating grades 4-12. JoAnne has been 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 Director’s 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. JoAnne is delighted to be accompanying for CCYC.
Joshua Tarica, Accompanist
​Joshua Tarica is the Accompanist for CCYC's Cadenza Choir, and was brought up through the CCYC program as a member of the Young Men’s Ensemble. He is attending Cal Poly as a Psychology and Music double major and is an assistant section leader in the Cal Poly Choir Polyphonics. Beyond being an experienced pianist and singer, Josh teaches private piano lessons and gigs throughout SLO county. Josh is always eager to share his love of music with children and is excited to join the CCYC family as an accompanist. Let’s make music together! 
Clarice Olson, Accompanist
Clarice Olson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cal Poly, with a focus in Piano Performance. She has been an active musician in the area for many years, playing piano for organizations such as the Los Osos Middle School and Morro Bay High School choir programs, Arroyo Grande High School Theater Department, local churches (where she studied the organ), OperaSLO, Canzona Women’s Ensemble,  and a variety of voice classes through Cuesta College and the San Luis Obispo Adult School. In 2021, she earned a Teaching Credential in Music from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, and enjoys nurturing young musicians in the classroom. Additionally, she maintains a studio of private piano students at Lyrics and Melodies LLC in Los Osos. Clarice is thrilled to join the CCYC family!