Fostering classical music in the community through education, performance, and awards.
Vicki White-Miltun, president@lmcseattle.org
Kate Kelly, vicepresident@lmcseattle.org
Kate Smith, secretary@lmcseattle.org
Liz Arnold, treasurer@lmcseattle.org
Dr. Katie Hollenbach, archives@lmcseattle.org
Nicole Truesdell, trustee@lmcseattle.org
Singing is an essential part of life for Diane Althaus (March 12) and sharing it with others is a joy. She organized and sang in an opera ensemble program, including music from Simon Boccanegra, Cosi Fan Tutte, Martha, and Carmen. She and her husband, baritone Mike Dodaro, have sung duet programs of opera arias and art songs, and performed in various local venues, including Stage7. Diane sang in Puccini’s Butterfly in a local opera company, the Countess in a duet from The Marriage of Figaro and Desiree in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater”; is
her favorite sacred music.
Vicki Boeckman (March 26)has been performing and teaching since the 1980s. She is
embracing the new virtual world with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a sense of awe, finding it to be positive and rewarding amidst the challenges we are all facing. Pre-pandemic she was an internationally acclaimed performing and recording artist who traveled all over the US and to many other countries to perform and teach. Vicki resided in Denmark from 1981-2004 and had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the finest musicians of the day including Jaap ter Linden, John Holloway, René Jacobs, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Pedro Memelsdorf and Markus Zahnhausen. Her Danish recorder trio Wood’N’Flutes had a fantastic 15-year run performing all over
Europe and working with contemporary composers in addition to doing children’s theater. She was an adjunct professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen for 12 years and taught at the Ishøj Municipal School of Music for 23 years. Many of those students are now professionals, performing and teaching in conservatories in Denmark and around Europe. Locally Vicki has been a featured soloist with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Portland Baroque Orchestra, The Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera, Medieval Women’s Choir, Gallery Concerts, Philharmonia Northwest Orchestra, and the Skagit Symphony.
She is currently music director for the Seattle Recorder Society, co-director for the Recorder Orchestra of Puget Sound (ROPS), and Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Early Music Workshop. She dearly hopes that these organizations can withstand the challenges of separation and continue to thrive.
Annie Chang Center (March 26) violist/pianist, started performing in her native Taiwan for foreign dignitaries when she was six years old. Since coming to the U.S., Annie has performed in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. As a piano soloist, she performed with San Francisco Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. As violist, she performed at the Marlboro, Ravinia, Olympic, Utah, Prague, and Red Rocks Festivals, and has collaborated with members of the Juilliard, Guarneri, Emerson, Cleveland, and Philadelphia Quartets. For ten years, she was the assistant principal violist of the Phoenix Symphony, for which she performed regularly as a viola soloist. She has
also played in the AZ Musicfest Orchestra, Black Pearl Orchestra, South Florida Symphony, and Seattle Opera. Currently, she plays in the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.
Lin Chen (March 5) keeps herself busy singing and playing the violin as a freelance musician in the Greater Seattle area. Her vocal adventures started at the age of 16 when she started taking singing lessons out of her love for musical theatre. It wasn’t long before she started to discover a new interest for opera and has been singing and learning the classical repertoires ever since. Growing up in Australia, she was fortunate to study with a number of teachers from the Griffith and the Sydney conservatoriums and was an active participant in the local performance scene. Lin is excited to be a part of LMC and looks forward to sharing her music with the LMC community!
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Abigail Habegger (March 5) is new to the Seattle area. She started playing the piano at 5 years of age and enjoyed playing in competitions and accompanying concerts while growing up. She is known for her teaching, solo work as well as her collaborative work, including opera, chamber music, juries, and competitions. Abigail has accompanied rehearsals for La Traviata in Urbania, Italy, Broadway shows such as Cabaret, touring children's choirs, and members of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor in Music from DePaul University and a Master’s in Music from Northern Illinois University. She is currently the piano accompanist for Puget Soundworks Chorus of Seattle. Abigail also loves hiking, running, baking, and keeping up with her 3 young children Alyse, Arakel, and Anya, as well as her husband Steve.
Katie Hochman (March 5, 26), soprano, can be heard regularly giving recitals with Ladies Musical Club of Seattle. She has also enjoyed singing opera and oratorio with Puget Sound Concert Opera (PSCO), Opera Theater Oregon, Portland Opera, Utah Opera, Columbia Chorale and Southwest Washington Symphony (SWS). Highlights include the title role of Massenet’s Cendrillon and Héro in Berlioz’s Beatrice et Bénédict performed with PSCO and Exultate, jubilate performed with SWS.
Shiang-Yin Lee (March 26) performs with chamber groups around the Puget Sound and is a dedicated full-time educator. She teaches at the University of Puget Sound, Pacific Northwest School of Music, Music Works NW and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra. Lee received her Doctoral of Musical Arts from the University of Washington and Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin. She has studied with Toby Saks, Ray Davis and Cordelia Miedel, Phyllis Young. She has participated in the Aspen Music Festival and did early music scholarship at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She is the principal cellist of Sammamish Symphony Orchestra since 2012.
Joan Lundquist (March 5, 12, 26) has served as a collaborative pianist for Seattle area musicians and organizations for 30 years. Since moving to the area from Humboldt State University in northern California, where she was staff accompanist, Joan has worked with the Northwest Boychoir, Seattle Choral Company, has taught at Seattle University and Northwest University, and has worked with several area private music teachers. Currently, Ms. Lundquist is the Director of Music at Immanuel Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle and rehearsal accompanist for the Seattle Choral Company.
Karin McCullough (March 12 and 20) took the less-traveled road to a music career. A serious pianist while growing up in Illinois, she suppressed her aspirations and instead became a paralegal. One day she was asked to accompany opera singers at a Fremont Bistro—a weekly engagement lasting 5 years. By then her popularity as an accompanist, soloist and piano teacher let her trade her life as a paralegal for that of a full-time musician. Karin is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music in Piano. Karin maintains a flourishing piano studio in Ballard and performs frequently in the Seattle area. She is an active volunteer and member of Seattle Music Teachers Association (SMTA), Principal Organizer for the local chapter of Bach in the Subways, of which she is on the Board of Directors, and has served on the boards of SMTA and Musical Experiences, a nonprofit classical music education organization. Karin is the pianist for Third Church of Christ, Scientist.
Valentina Rodov (March 20) was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and received her music education as a concert pianist from the famous Moscow Conservatory. She performed solo and in chamber groups prior to emigrating to the United States. Once in the U.S., Valentina decided to become a lawyer, which she successfully accomplished upon graduating from law school in Los Angeles and passing the California Bar. Valentina practiced law as business litigator in Southern California for over twenty years until she and her husband moved to Seattle. With great support and encouragement from the Seattle music community, Valentina came back to piano playing, and soon became a frequent and critically acclaimed recitalist and chamber music performer at various venues in the Seattle area.
An outstanding member of the Northwest musical community for over 20 years, Regina Thomas (March 5, 12) has performed with a variety of companies including Kitsap Opera, Willamette Concert Opera, Bellevue Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Seattle Opera, and the Seattle Opera Guild. Currently LMC’s Chair of Public Concerts and Artistic Director of Puget Sound Concert Opera, Regina has served as Seattle Opera Guild’s VP of Education and is a past President of LMC. Favorite operatic roles include Adriana Lecouvreur, Suor Angelica, Tosca, and Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle). Concert work includes Schumann’s Frauenleibe und-leben, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, and Wagner’s Wesendonck-Lieder; soprano solos in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Fauré Requiem, and Berio’s Folk Songs for voice and chamber ensemble.
Singing is an essential part of life for Diane Althaus, (Dec 18) and sharing it with others is a joy. She organized and sang in an opera ensemble program, including music from Simon Boccanegra, Cosi Fan Tutte, Martha, and Carmen. She and her husband, baritone Mike Dodaro, have sung duet programs of opera arias and art songs, and performed in various local venues, including Stage7. Diane sang in Puccini’s Butterfly in a local opera company, the Countess in a duet from The Marriage of Figaro and Desiree in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater is her favorite sacred music.
Violinist Candice Chin (Dec. 4) enjoys a musical journey intertwined with a 19-year career in financial management. A Seattle area native, she studied with Steven Staryk while attending the University of Washington. She also pursued orchestral studies at the Eastman School of Music and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Candice holds a Bachelor of Arts in music and economics, and dual MBA/MA arts administration degrees. Her principal teachers include Walter Schwede, Martin Friedmann, and Jesse Mills.
Mike Dodaro (guest artist, Dec 11 & 18) has sung leading roles in regional opera productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito, and Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny. He sang for several seasons as a regular chorister at Seattle Opera. A cantor and choir singer, he has been baritone soloist in the Fauré Requiem, several Bach cantatas, and Handel’s Messiah.
Emiko Hori (Dec 4), a native of Japan, graduated from renowned Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Piano Performance. She studied with Shigeo Neriki, performed at numerous places including Banff Centre, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Germany, and others. Emiko became fascinated with and continued her study in Computer Science at Boston University. Busy working in technology companies such as CommerceHub and Microsoft, Emiko thought she would never play the piano again. She was wrong; Emiko became one of the newest performing members of Ladies Musical Club. Emiko enjoys dividing her time between performing concerts, teaching piano, and working at Starbucks HQ’s Digital Commerce team.
Sharon Jung (Dec. 11) was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She is a nurse practitioner, and works in a neurology practice in Tacoma, Washington. She freelances for numerous ensembles in the local area. She has been an LMC member since 1999. She is a former student of LMC member Gail Perstein and is also a former student of Bernard Shapiro.
Joan Lundquist, (Dec. 11 & 18) collaborative pianist, has served as a collaborative pianist for Seattle area musicians and organizations for 30 years. Since moving to the area from Humboldt State University in northern California, where she was staff accompanist, Joan has worked with the Northwest Boychoir, Seattle Choral Company, has taught at Seattle University and Northwest University, and has worked with several area private music teachers. Currently, Ms. Lundquist is the Director of Music at Immanuel Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle and rehearsal accompanist for the Seattle Choral Company.
Katie O’Rourke (Dec. 4) served as pianist for Whatcom Symphony Orchestra and has collaborated with Whatcom Wind Ensemble, Skagit Opera, Bellingham Chamber Orchestra, and Opera Popolare. Now in Seattle, Katie enjoys a private teaching studio and is a member of the Ladies Musical Club, Seattle Music Teachers Association, and the Northwest Dalcroze Society. Katie is a graduate of Western Washington University, where she studied piano with Milica Jovanovic and Jeffrey Gilliam.
Erika Pierson (Dec 4) earned her bachelor’s in Cello Performance from Indiana University and her master’s in Performance from the University of Michigan. Between her degrees, Erika studied in Berlin, at the Hochschule der Kunste, and in London under Eileen Croxford, FRCM. Her other teachers included Richard Aaron, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Markus Nyikos, and Erling Blondal Bengtsson. Erika has given solo recitals in England, Germany, Spain, and in the United States, and has soloed with orchestras in Berlin, Ann Arbor, and Everett, WA. On the less classical side of things, she has also performed with Mannheim Steamroller, Rod Stewart, The Walkmen, and Deltron 3030. Currently Erika performs regularly as the cellist in Bella Sala String Quartet, NOCCO Chamber Orchestra, and freelances and teaches in the Seattle area.
Mezzo-soprano Katie Stevenson (Dec 4) has performed in numerous concerts in Seattle with the Puget Sound Concert Opera, including Anna Bolena, Cavalleria Rusticana, and their annual gala. While living in NYC, Katie worked with Dicapo Opera, Amato Opera, and Opera Collective, performing roles such as Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Dorabella in CosÍ fan tutte, and Henrichetta in I Puritani. In Philadelphia she sang the title role in Carmen, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Emilia in Otello. While living in Europe, Katie travelled to perform in concerts and festivals in England, Ireland, and Germany. She now lives in Seattle with her husband and puppies and works as a church music director and private voice instructor, while still enjoying life as a performer. www.katiehstevenson.com
An outstanding member of the Northwest musical community for over 20 years, Regina Thomas (Dec 11 & 18) has performed with a variety of companies including Kitsap Opera, Willamette Concert Opera, Bellevue Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Seattle Opera, and the Seattle Opera Guild. Currently LMC’s trustee of concerts and Artistic Director of Puget Sound Concert Opera, Regina has served as Seattle Opera Guild’s VP of Education and is a past President of LMC. Favorite operatic roles include Adriana Lecouvreur, Suor Angelica, Tosca, and Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle). Concert work includes Schumann’s Frauenleibe und-leben, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, and Wagner’s Wesendonck-Lieder; soprano solos in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Fauré Requiem, and Berio’s Folk Songs for voice and chamber ensemble.
The LMC’s most visible face is our Public Concert Series that offers over 50 free classical music concerts from October through May by LMC member-musicians and guests throughout Seattle and the Eastside. This year, we are expecting that many of our concerts will be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In response, we are hiring a contract employee who can be both a Social Media Specialist and a Videographer who video records and edits our members’ performances and creates a weekly online concert series to be broadcast on our social media channels.
In addition to creating videos for an online concert series, our Social Media Specialist will be in charge of our general social media postings. These postings feature club events, spotlight members’ achievements and let our audiences know interesting historical information from our archives.
Initially, we plan to contract with our Social Media Specialist/Videographer for 3 months at 10-12 hours/week with the possibility of extending the contract through May 2021 or beyond. We have secured a hall to record our performances and our intention is to have our hire (you) record performances two days per month and then have our hire (you) edit and post the videos on a weekly basis.
As this is a newly created position, we will need our Social Media Specialist/Videographer to put methods and procedures in place for recording and posting prior to the fall season.
Further information can be found here: Social Media Specialist[4130].
Dear Members:
LMC is closely monitoring the developing spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) within King County. While most cases are considered mild and people in good health appear to fully recover, we are learning more each day. The well-being of our entire community is our highest priority and we are following guidance from the CDC and the Washington Department of Health to keep everyone safe and healthy.
The annual LMC Luncheon has been canceled, along with all concerts for the remainder of the season.
The Governor of the State of Washington has banned all gatherings of more than 250 people in King County, where the Frances Walton Competition is held. Due to this, and the news that at least one university in the country has put travel restrictions on Seattle/King County, we must cancel this year’s Frances Walton Competition. All people who have completed their applications will receive a full refund of their application fee. Thank you for entering or considering entering our competition.
I hope you will all remain healthy!
Best wishes,
Kate Smith
President
Ladies Musical Club