2023-2024 Spectrum Ensemble
This advanced level vocal ensemble is designed for our most dedicated and passionate HS/college musicians. Ensemble members rehearse as part of Accord and Youth Chorus, while some also act as leaders for Children's Chorus – functioning as role models, section leaders, vocal and instrumental soloists, theory teachers, rehearsal assistants, festival staff and camp counselors - in addition to their extra rehearsals and performances with Ensemble.
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Kyla Raygor, Soprano, 2015-Current
Kyla is a recent graduate of Pierce College where she completed her Associate of Music degree. She currently works as a music theory tutor at the college for all 6 levels. She also sings with the Pierce College choir. She has always loved to sing and started singing in choirs in 1st grade at her school. She has been singing in Spectrum Choral Academy since 2013, when she attended NW Choir Camps - Honor Choir Summer Camp (where she got her first solo). While at Steilacoom High School, she was a part of the advanced women’s choir, which placed 3rd at the state level among all high school women’s choirs in Washington in 2018. She has also auditioned and been accepted into the WMEA All-State Honor Choir for 4 years and WMEA All-Northwest Choir for 2 years. Kyla has participated in the regional Solo & Ensemble contest five times and has received a superior rating on her solo four times. In addition to singing in Spectrum Youth Chorus and Ensemble, Kyla toured with Spectrum to Italy in June 2016 and in England and Scotland in 2018. She works as a Counselor/Music Theory Teacher for the Spectrum Gig Harbor SINGS! Day Camp as well as overnight camp. She also staffs all festivals and events hosted by Spectrum. Kyla's dream is to be a film composer. She plans on going to a film college within the next year to study film music. It is an intense field to get into, so she is working to prepare for it. It is truly her biggest passion. She loves to talk about soundtracks, composers and anything related. Her favorite soundtrack that led her to fall in love with film music is the "How to Train your Dragon" soundtrack composed by John Powell. In addition to her love of singing, she also likes to discover new music in any genre, obsess over Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and hang out with all her animals; Loki (bearded dragon), Noodle & Sparta (cats), and a few fish. |
Tyler Stojack, Bass, 2021-Current, Founding Spectrum Choral Academy Chorister
Tyler comes from a large family of active musicians, and has always exhibited a persistent love for music. He attended his first Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival at 9 days old. Singing before he could speak, he started music classes at 9 months and after begging to play the violin, began private lessons at the age of 3 years. Tyler started singing in choir at the age of 4 as part of Choir Club (the precursor of Spectrum Choral Academy). Tyler was a founding member of Spectrum Children’s Chorus and has been singing in the choir ever since, working his way through all three choir levels. He has attended every Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival, Youth Choir Festival NW, NW Choir Camps Honor Choir Summer Camp, Spectrum Day Camp since 2007. Tyler was also selected to sing with the NW ACDA Honor Choir in Portland in 2018 and toured with Spectrum to Italy (2016) and the United Kingdom (2018). Looking to apply his string experience elsewhere, Tyler joined the Tacoma Youth Symphony in 2021, where he enjoys rehearsing and performing with the orchestra while maintaining his private violin lessons with Mary Manning in Gig Harbor. Tyler is also a lifelong pianist, having played piano from the moment he could walk, and now accompanies the choir on occasion. He also plays in the Spectrum “ukulele choir” as needed for concerts and special events. In addition to his many musical pursuits, Tyler is a member of Harbor Aquatics Club (his favorite stroke is butterfly!), teaches beginning swim lessons, is one year away from achieving his goal of obtaining his blackbelt in karate and thoroughly enjoys reading and researching on topics pertaining to political history. |
Elsie Shaw, Alto, 2022-Current
Elsie has been singing in choirs with Stephanie since attending Northwest Choir Camps in 2017, where she started out as a camper, then continued returning each summer, eventually becoming a counselor! This is her first full season in Spectrum and she absolutely loves the program, culture and environment of our Spectrum choir family. Elsie has been around music and the arts for as long as she can remember. She has been involved in choir since she was able to talk; she has previously been involved in O.A.K.E.'s Women's Ensemble, as well as been a UHSAA Superior Soloist with a 1 ranking. In middle school and high school, Elsie was heavily involved in the performing arts - primarily dance and theater. She was well regarded in Gig Harbor High School’s drama program, where she not only acted and worked on tech, but even directed a one act show which won multiple awards. Elsie graduated from high school in spring 2020 and started her education to become a farrier (horseshoer) at Mission Farrier School. Since then she has completed both the beginner and advanced course, was a student instructor for the program, and now runs her own business, Enbarr Equine (https://www.instagram.com/enbarrequine/), shoeing horses around the Key Peninsula area. She loves being around all animals, and especially enjoys working on lame horses with veterinarians. She has a passion for helping equines and loves the satisfaction of making the hurt ones feel better! Elsie is currently training Bojack, her horse, and is mom to Wyatt, the donkey. In addition to singing and acting, Elsie also has a strong passion for the guitar, which she has been playing for almost 9 years. She is a songwriter, and has music up on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms! She regularly performs at gigs throughout the Puget Sound region. |
Sedona Deck, Soprano, 2016-2021, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
Madison Deck, Alto, 2016-2021, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
Emma Edwards, Soprano, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
Caleigh Schmidt, Alto, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
Megan Edmonds, Alto, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
George Shaw, Tenor, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
Connor Lee, Bass, 2023-Current
Bio coming soon! |
Former members
Cecilia Crockett, Soprano, 2019-2023
Cecilia Crockett, high school senior at Klahowya Secondary School in Silverdale, is a performing arts lover and aspiring actress. She has been involved with choir, violin, theatre, dance and music lessons from an early age. She has been a singer in Spectrum for 7 years, having sung in all three choir levels, starting in Spectrum Children’s Chorus at the age of 9. Cecilia has attended every Fort Worden Festival and Youth Choir Festival NW during her time with Spectrum. She has been a counselor at choir day camps, performed violin in Spectrum concerts and was selected as part of the 2018 NW ACDA Honor choir, which took place in Portland. She has also toured with Spectrum to Italy (2016) and the UK (2018) performing in numerous churches, cathedrals, streets and schools - making memories to last a lifetime! Cecilia has performed lead roles in many local theatrical productions including Charlie in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (2017), Amy in “Little Women” (2018), Flounder in “Little Mermaid”, Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” (2022). She would like to thank her family, teachers and friends for being supportive of her musical endeavors. |
Ellah Sundell, Soprano, 2019-2023
Ellah started singing in Spectrum Choral Academy Children's Chorus in 2013 at the age of 8 and has enjoyed choir ever since. Ellah toured with the choir to England and Scotland in 2018, participated in several Fort Worden Children's Choir Festivals and every NW Choir Camps Honor Summer Camp since 2015. She also sang in the Northwest ACDA Honor Choir in Portland in 2018. Ellah has been a day camp counselor and volunteer working student leader for the Children’s Chorus. She loves helping the younger singers – it reminds her of when she was their age. She has played in the Spectrum "ukulele choir", performing many songs with the choir, singing while playing the ukulele. Through choir, Ellah has been able to grow her music skills, and she is so grateful for that experience. In addition to singing, Ellah is an avid pianist and has been taking piano lessons since the age of five. She has performed solo piano, in chamber music trios, concertos with orchestras and participated in several piano competitions. Ellah is a senior at Gig Harbor High School and will be graduating in the Spring of 2023. She plans to major in Civil Engineering, but will definitely continue to be involved in music in the future. |
Halle Sundell, Alto, 2019-2023, Founding Spectrum Choral Academy Chorister
Halle has had a passion for music her entire life. She is a founding member of Spectrum Choral Academy, having joined Spectrum Children's Chorus in 2012 (at the age of 7!). Halle has been in all three choir levels – graduating to Youth Chorus a year early (in 5th grade!) and then Ensemble in 2019. In addition to singing, Halle began studying piano at the age of 5, has performed in numerous piano recitals and was an accompanist and music theory instructor for the 2022 Gig Harbor SINGS! Choir Camp. She has participated in seven Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festivals, the 2018 Northwest ACDA Honor Choir in Portland, and every NW Choir Camps Honor Choir Summer Camp since 2015. She has also been a volunteer counselor for every choir day camp in the last seven years and currently volunteers as a working student leader for Children’s Chorus each Tuesday. Halle toured to England and Scotland with Spectrum in 2018, performing in country churches, cathedrals, schools and streets throughout the UK. Halle is extremely thankful for everything Spectrum has provided her including developing leadership skills and growing her musical capabilities. Outside of choir, Halle is passionate about volunteer work. She is the Vice President of her school’s Interact Club, chairperson of Gig Harbor High School’s Environmental Community Outreach Club, and a member of the National Honor Society. Halle will graduate from Gig Harbor High School in June 2023. She hopes to go into the medical field and plans to stay involved with music in the future. |
Tobias Rudd, Bass, 2022-2023
Growing up in a musical home, Tobias has been a part of musical productions for as long as he can remember. He began his official musical career at the tender age of four ~ learning to play the piano alongside his brother, cousins, Mozart Mouse and Beethoven Bear. In addition to a continued interest in piano, formal vocal lessons began in early middle school. He has been singing in choirs for the past seven years, continually diving deeper into the depths of bass world. Before joining Spectrum Youth Chorus in fall 2021, Tobias sang with Tacoma Youth Chorus in the Chorale and Men’s Choir. He was also a Gig Harbor SINGS! camp counselor this past summer. With a diverse interest in arts and music, singing remains Tobias’s first love, followed by crocheting, quilting, and playing piano ~ all coming in close behind. As of today, December 10th, he has aced his first semester of College Music Theory as a junior in High School. (Phew!) |
Maggie Kapes, Alto, 2022-2023
Maggie began singing when she was nine years old and joined Spectrum Youth Chorus in January 2018 at the age of 11. She has attended two NW Choir Camps Honor Choir Summer Camps and performed at the Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival. In addition to Spectrum, Maggie is currently a member of the Gig Harbor High School Meistersingers (the most advanced choir at GHHS). Prior to that she sang with Gig Harbor High School Bella Voce. Maggie has also taken drum lessons for three years. She is currently enrolled in the Running Start Program at Tacoma Community College where she will graduate with her high school diploma and 2-year college degree in 2023. Maggie loves working with children and plans to become a middle school teacher! In her free time, she enjoys knitting, sewing and making jewelry. |
Katrina Gibbs-Egan, Alto, 2022-Current
Katrina has been involved with music since she was seven. She has training in classical, Broadway, and operatic styles. She played the pedal harp and bells in a beginner concert band for a year, but finds her real joy in vocal music. Katrina has been singing with Spectrum Choral Academy since spring 2019. During that time she has sung nearly every vocal part. She is currently singing Soprano 2 and Alto. Katrina is a student at Tacoma Community College, with plans to transfer to a local university next fall to pursue a degree in biochemistry. |
Mera Foster, Soprano, 2022-Current
Mera is a 16-year-old sophomore at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, WA. She has been involved in the arts her entire life, starting ballet at the age of 2 (and continued dancing for 10 years). In addition to her passion for singing, Mera has studied piano and violin throughout elementary and middle school and played with Peninsula Youth Orchestra. She has always had a passion for musical theater and has performed in numerous productions including shows at her schools, Tacoma Musical Playhouse and the Puget Sound Christmas Revels. Mera joined Spectrum Children’s Chorus in 2018 and graduated to Youth Chorus the following season. She has also participated in the annual Northwest Choir Camps Honor Choir Summer Camp and Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival. This is her first year in Ensemble. Outside of the performing arts, Mera is a budding professional visual artist and painter. You may have seen her strolling the streets of Gig Harbor decked out in her glamorous and creative hand crafted costumes on Halloween or “Chalking the Walk” where she has won awards for her sidewalk chalk art. Check out her website at www.merafosterart.com and follow her Instragram https://www.instagram.com/merafosterart/ - you’ll be wildly impressed! Mera plans to study art in college. |