Our Staff
Stephanie Charbonneau, Artistic Director
Stephanie is the Artistic Director for Spectrum Choral Academy and Northwest Choir Camps. She has extensive experience and training as a choir director of children and youth ages 5 to 20. She is also a trained Music Together® instructor (early childhood music program for newborns through age 5). She has proven herself a creative and inspirational teacher and choral conductor, with her students frequently becoming section leaders of their school choirs, participating in honor choirs, holding lead roles in musicals, going on to major in Music Education, Music Performance and Theater Arts in college and becoming professional choir directors, music teachers and performers. Stephanie has a passion for both directing choirs and developing choir-related programs. Stephanie began studying piano and singing in choirs at the age of 3 and now has over 30 years teaching experience. She is a 2002 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She was the Founding Artistic Director of Cappella Choirs in Port Orchard, WA and served in that position for 10 years, from 1998 through 2008. Stephanie also served as Associate for Children's and Youth Choirs at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue from 2004-2012. In that position, she directed Good News Group (grades 4-7) and accompanied Bel Canto (grades 8-12), while planning tours for Bel Canto to California and Costa Rica. Stephanie also maintains an active studio of 24 private piano students.
In 2007, Stephanie had thyroid surgery which inadvertently resulted in paralysis of her left vocal cord. An additional surgery was done to insert a prosthesis, allowing the paralyzed vocal cord to still function. While Stephanie's voice sounds different now, she is grateful to be able to sing and speak well enough to continue her work of inspiring youth through music.
Stephanie is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. Her choirs have toured to The United Kingdom (Scotland & England in 2018), Italy (2016), PICCFEST (Eugene, OR), the Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival (Honolulu, HI), the Manhattan Concert Productions Festival (Carnegie Hall - New York, NW) and multiple trips to festivals in California.
Stephanie and her husband Donald have over 20 years experience planning successful choir camps, festivals and tours. Together, they coordinate the Fort Worden Children's Choir Festival, Youth Choir Festival Northwest, Northwest Choir Camps and Gig Harbor SINGS! They live in Port Orchard, WA with their two musically talented children (the youngest two of six).
Stephanie is the Artistic Director for Spectrum Choral Academy and Northwest Choir Camps. She has extensive experience and training as a choir director of children and youth ages 5 to 20. She is also a trained Music Together® instructor (early childhood music program for newborns through age 5). She has proven herself a creative and inspirational teacher and choral conductor, with her students frequently becoming section leaders of their school choirs, participating in honor choirs, holding lead roles in musicals, going on to major in Music Education, Music Performance and Theater Arts in college and becoming professional choir directors, music teachers and performers. Stephanie has a passion for both directing choirs and developing choir-related programs. Stephanie began studying piano and singing in choirs at the age of 3 and now has over 30 years teaching experience. She is a 2002 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She was the Founding Artistic Director of Cappella Choirs in Port Orchard, WA and served in that position for 10 years, from 1998 through 2008. Stephanie also served as Associate for Children's and Youth Choirs at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue from 2004-2012. In that position, she directed Good News Group (grades 4-7) and accompanied Bel Canto (grades 8-12), while planning tours for Bel Canto to California and Costa Rica. Stephanie also maintains an active studio of 24 private piano students.
In 2007, Stephanie had thyroid surgery which inadvertently resulted in paralysis of her left vocal cord. An additional surgery was done to insert a prosthesis, allowing the paralyzed vocal cord to still function. While Stephanie's voice sounds different now, she is grateful to be able to sing and speak well enough to continue her work of inspiring youth through music.
Stephanie is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. Her choirs have toured to The United Kingdom (Scotland & England in 2018), Italy (2016), PICCFEST (Eugene, OR), the Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival (Honolulu, HI), the Manhattan Concert Productions Festival (Carnegie Hall - New York, NW) and multiple trips to festivals in California.
Stephanie and her husband Donald have over 20 years experience planning successful choir camps, festivals and tours. Together, they coordinate the Fort Worden Children's Choir Festival, Youth Choir Festival Northwest, Northwest Choir Camps and Gig Harbor SINGS! They live in Port Orchard, WA with their two musically talented children (the youngest two of six).
Donald Stojack, Accompanist & Music Theory Instructor
Donald is an Accompanist and Music Theory/History Instructor for both Spectrum Choral Academy and Northwest Choir Camps. He has 40 years of experience as a professional musician, choir director, and music teacher. He was the founding director for Prestant Boys’ Choir and served as the director of the Port Orchard Community Chorale from 1997 to 2003. Donald graduated in 1982 from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. He maintained a private teaching studio for piano and clarinet students from 1982-2012.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Donald is currently the Senior Marketing Consultant and Manager of the Client Services Division for Go Meta Media and Eben Pagan. Prior to his current position, Donald was Director of Client Services for Business Breakthroughs International with Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins. He also offers consulting for business start-ups and mid-level companies looking to improve their marketing, profitability and strategic positioning within their industry. Donald takes care of logistics for Spectrum, Youth Choir Festival Northwest and Northwest Choir Camps.
Donald is an Accompanist and Music Theory/History Instructor for both Spectrum Choral Academy and Northwest Choir Camps. He has 40 years of experience as a professional musician, choir director, and music teacher. He was the founding director for Prestant Boys’ Choir and served as the director of the Port Orchard Community Chorale from 1997 to 2003. Donald graduated in 1982 from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. He maintained a private teaching studio for piano and clarinet students from 1982-2012.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Donald is currently the Senior Marketing Consultant and Manager of the Client Services Division for Go Meta Media and Eben Pagan. Prior to his current position, Donald was Director of Client Services for Business Breakthroughs International with Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins. He also offers consulting for business start-ups and mid-level companies looking to improve their marketing, profitability and strategic positioning within their industry. Donald takes care of logistics for Spectrum, Youth Choir Festival Northwest and Northwest Choir Camps.
Julie Cole, Accompanist & Music Theory Instructor
Julie is an experienced musician and educator who loves exploring music with kids of all ages. Julie grew up in Kitsap County, Washington, studying piano and participating in school band for many years. She went on to complete her BA in Music in 2003 at Thomas Edison State College. After teaching private piano lessons for many years, Julie completed her Masters degree in elementary education and currently teaches music at Discovery Elementary School in Gig Harbor. Just completed Orff Level 1 last summer and will be completing Kodaly Level 1 and Orff Level 2 this year.
Julie and Stephanie have worked together for over 20 years - first with Cappella Choirs and now Spectrum Choral Academy, Northwest Choir Camps and Youth Choir Festival NW. Julie is the lead collaborate pianist / accompanist / advanced theory instructor for all choirs and takes on the role of Accompanist at Youth Choir Festival NW. Her daughter also sings in Spectrum Children's Chorus.
Julie is an experienced musician and educator who loves exploring music with kids of all ages. Julie grew up in Kitsap County, Washington, studying piano and participating in school band for many years. She went on to complete her BA in Music in 2003 at Thomas Edison State College. After teaching private piano lessons for many years, Julie completed her Masters degree in elementary education and currently teaches music at Discovery Elementary School in Gig Harbor. Just completed Orff Level 1 last summer and will be completing Kodaly Level 1 and Orff Level 2 this year.
Julie and Stephanie have worked together for over 20 years - first with Cappella Choirs and now Spectrum Choral Academy, Northwest Choir Camps and Youth Choir Festival NW. Julie is the lead collaborate pianist / accompanist / advanced theory instructor for all choirs and takes on the role of Accompanist at Youth Choir Festival NW. Her daughter also sings in Spectrum Children's Chorus.
Becca Kaaukai, Administrative Assistant 2022-Present
Becca is the Administrative Assistant for Spectrum Choral Academy, Northwest Choir Camps and Youth Choir Festival NW. A lifelong choral singer and musician, Becca sang soprano under the direction of Mike Allen as part of South Kitsap High School Concert Choir, Chamber Choir & Highlighters. During her time in Highlighters they attend the 2001 Montreax Jass Festival and won the Mt Hood Jazz Festival competition in 2001. She then continued singing with Olympic College in Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble 2, Chamber Choir and Jazzline. Becca also performed the role of Susanna in Olympic College's production of Marriage of Figaro in 2003, toured to Thailand in 2004 and was a Music & Academic Scholarship recipient from 2002-2004. Becca currently sings with Spectrum Accord!
Becca was accepted to University of Washington's Music Department for classical voice performance study, but decided to change her major, graduating with her Bachelor of Applied Science in Sociology in 2006. She then completed her MBA in Global Management in 2010.
Becca has worked with Stephanie and her choir programs, festivals and camps from summer 2000 to present. She has worked in every possible capacity as staff and volunteer including camp counselor, chaperone, volunteer, rehearsals coordinator, festival staff, voice coach, section leader, theory instructor and administrative. She worked for various companies in administrative support from 2002-2016, then left her fulltime career to be a stay-at-home homeschooling mama to her daughter who sings in Children's Chorus.
Becca is the Administrative Assistant for Spectrum Choral Academy, Northwest Choir Camps and Youth Choir Festival NW. A lifelong choral singer and musician, Becca sang soprano under the direction of Mike Allen as part of South Kitsap High School Concert Choir, Chamber Choir & Highlighters. During her time in Highlighters they attend the 2001 Montreax Jass Festival and won the Mt Hood Jazz Festival competition in 2001. She then continued singing with Olympic College in Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble 2, Chamber Choir and Jazzline. Becca also performed the role of Susanna in Olympic College's production of Marriage of Figaro in 2003, toured to Thailand in 2004 and was a Music & Academic Scholarship recipient from 2002-2004. Becca currently sings with Spectrum Accord!
Becca was accepted to University of Washington's Music Department for classical voice performance study, but decided to change her major, graduating with her Bachelor of Applied Science in Sociology in 2006. She then completed her MBA in Global Management in 2010.
Becca has worked with Stephanie and her choir programs, festivals and camps from summer 2000 to present. She has worked in every possible capacity as staff and volunteer including camp counselor, chaperone, volunteer, rehearsals coordinator, festival staff, voice coach, section leader, theory instructor and administrative. She worked for various companies in administrative support from 2002-2016, then left her fulltime career to be a stay-at-home homeschooling mama to her daughter who sings in Children's Chorus.
Rebecca Stojack, Choir Event Planner
Rebecca sat through her first choir rehearsal when she was just a few weeks old, having grown up in a very musical family. She began singing in choirs at the age of five, attending annual choir camps, choral festivals, and choir tours her entire life. She has toured and performed on stage at Carnegie Hall and Benaroya Hall for invitational concerts. She has participated and performed in each of the annual Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festivals held from 2000-2019 held in Port Townsend, WA. The last nine years she also acted in the role of staff. Additionally, she has toured with choirs to Anaheim and San Francisco, California, Costa Rica, Italy and the United Kingdom. Rebecca has studied clarinet, piano, and voice. As a mezzo-soprano, Rebecca’s favorite part is singing harmony – although she has a wide range and is flexible enough to have been assigned everything from Soprano 1 through Alto 2 in her various choirs over the years. Rebecca is a graduate of South Kitsap High School and Olympic College. At the age of 16, Rebecca auditioned and was accepted in to the Olympic College Chamber Choir as their youngest singer ever. Rebecca also sang with Bel Canto at Bellevue Presbyterian Church for 5 years. In addition to choir, Rebecca has a passion for music theory and working with children. She studied advanced music theory in college and worked as one of our Spectrum music theory instructors from 2012-2018. She is currently filling the role of Activities Director for NW Choir Camps & Spectrum Choral Academy's Gig Harbor SINGS! Camp where she plans and leads the many fun aspects of choir camp, supervises counselors and teaches music theory. She also helps plan and lead activities for Youth Choir Festival NW and acts as support staff/chaperone for tours. Rebecca’s passion for working with children has taken her to Houston, Texas where she teaches piano lessons and works as a full-time nanny for her 9-year-old cousin during the school year.
Rebecca sat through her first choir rehearsal when she was just a few weeks old, having grown up in a very musical family. She began singing in choirs at the age of five, attending annual choir camps, choral festivals, and choir tours her entire life. She has toured and performed on stage at Carnegie Hall and Benaroya Hall for invitational concerts. She has participated and performed in each of the annual Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festivals held from 2000-2019 held in Port Townsend, WA. The last nine years she also acted in the role of staff. Additionally, she has toured with choirs to Anaheim and San Francisco, California, Costa Rica, Italy and the United Kingdom. Rebecca has studied clarinet, piano, and voice. As a mezzo-soprano, Rebecca’s favorite part is singing harmony – although she has a wide range and is flexible enough to have been assigned everything from Soprano 1 through Alto 2 in her various choirs over the years. Rebecca is a graduate of South Kitsap High School and Olympic College. At the age of 16, Rebecca auditioned and was accepted in to the Olympic College Chamber Choir as their youngest singer ever. Rebecca also sang with Bel Canto at Bellevue Presbyterian Church for 5 years. In addition to choir, Rebecca has a passion for music theory and working with children. She studied advanced music theory in college and worked as one of our Spectrum music theory instructors from 2012-2018. She is currently filling the role of Activities Director for NW Choir Camps & Spectrum Choral Academy's Gig Harbor SINGS! Camp where she plans and leads the many fun aspects of choir camp, supervises counselors and teaches music theory. She also helps plan and lead activities for Youth Choir Festival NW and acts as support staff/chaperone for tours. Rebecca’s passion for working with children has taken her to Houston, Texas where she teaches piano lessons and works as a full-time nanny for her 9-year-old cousin during the school year.