Leora Schwitters, Artistic Director, Founder

Leora Schwitters  retired after 25 years of teaching K-12 choral, instrumental, and general music in the public schools. Most of her choral experience occurred at Cedar Heights Junior High in Kent, WA.  She holds a Bachelor’s of Music, Summa Cum Laude, from Yankton College Conservatory of Music, South Dakota, and a Master of Arts for Teachers in Music Education from the University of Washington.  She is currently the  immediate Past-President and Treasurer of the Washington State American Choral Director’s Association (WA-ACDA).   Her Cedar Heights choirs performed in state and regional conferences for the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) and ACDA.  Active as a clinician and adjudicator, Leora has also served on the board of the Tahoma Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and has presided over the Green River Music Educators Association, and is a member of the National Association for Music Education. She enjoys conducting honor choirs, most recently the 2010 GRMEA Regional Youth Honor Choir.  She and her husband Larry enjoy trail running and are avid birders.

Lori McEwen, Accompanist

Lori McEwen studied piano and voice at Central Washington University and currently accompanies many local school choirs and their students for large group and solo/ensemble contests and for NATS competitions each year. She and her husband Bill have led music at the contemporary worship service and have sung in the chancel choir at Fairwood Community United Methodist Church in Renton for over 30 years. Lori accompanies both children and youth choirs directed by her husband at the church. Together they provide music for weddings and other special events.