STAFF
HERBERT WASHINGTON began his tenure as the Harvey K. Smith Artistic Director of the Phoenix Boys Choir in 2019. Mr. Washington is an alumnus of the choir, with culture and roots deeply grounded in and molded by Arizona choral pedagogy. He is a frequent choral clinician, conductor, lecturer, and adjudicator for regional festivals, workshops, and conferences around the country, and is widely recognized for his dynamic teaching style and his ability to instill a love for the choral arts.
CHERYL LYNN KLOCK MCNEILL was elected to two terms as Chair of the PBC Board of Trustees, prior to assuming her current position. She has over 25 years of experience in non-profit, business, and public affairs, having coordinated major fundraising events, managed a successful commercial real estate venture, served in a senior role with a major Presidential campaign in New Hampshire, and managed successful Congressional and statewide campaigns. She also ran her own successful campaign for public office. Cheryl helped found and open Victory Collegiate Academy, a public charter school for underprivileged youth in Phoenix. She has received several awards for her many leadership roles and achievements, has had her work published, and was recognized as a “Rising Star” in her field. She holds a BA in Political Science from Emory University and a Paralegal Certificate from the University of Hartford.
OUR ARTISTIC STAFF
KIRK DOUGLAS is in his third season as director of our intermediate youth choir. Mr. Douglas is a passionate conductor, performer, and educator. He has directed the award-winning choirs at Boulder Creek High School for sixtee years and is immediate past president of the Arizona Choral Educators (ACE) leadership board. Mr. Douglas earned his education degree at Ottawa University and his performance degree at California State University, Northridge. Along with singing in numerous ensembles, he worked as a professional soloist/actor throughout North America and Europe. Recently he was selected to receive the OM Hartsell “Excellence in Teaching Music” award through the AMEA (Arizona Music Educators Association) and was recognized as the 2017 Deer Valley USD Teacher of the Year. In 2012, Mr. Douglas had the opportunity to work in Italy, singing opera and as the assistant to the music director with the Lorenzo Malfatti Academia Vocale di Lucca. His proudest accomplishment has been conducting his honor choir and performing an aria on the stage at Carnegie Hall in 2017.
TRAVIS WHITE is in his seventh season with PBC. Mr. White has been a music and choral educator for nine years. A native of Phoenix, singing has always played a significant role in his life. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Choral Music Education from Northern Arizona University and his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. In 2020, he was named the “Westside Impact Teacher of the Year,” and he teaches middle school music at Sunset Ridge School in the Deer Valley Unified School District. As music director for Starlight Community Theater, his work on the production “Avenue Q” was nominated for best music direction in the 2019 Phoenix BroadwayWorld awards. He is blessed to have married his wonderful wife Shelbe, a music therapist.
MARY PRICE is in her sixth season with PBC. Ms. Price earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education, with an emphasis in Collaborative Piano, at Central University of Iowa. She earned a Masters Degree in Vocal Music Education at the University of Iowa and completed an equivalency program in Music Therapy. Ms. Price has more than 30 years in the music education classroom, both as a general music educator and a choral director. She is fully certified in the Kodály method and the Orff process and regularly uses both in her classroom. She was a Special Topics Instructor at the Wichita State University Kodály Certification program. Ms. Price has served as a private piano and voice instructor, church organist, and as a collaborative pianist for the Phoenix Children’s Chorus.
SHARA-DAWN CHAMBERS is a highly sought-after Valley collaborative pianist, soloist, and music director who has worked with performers ranging from young school children to nationally-known professionals. In addition to her extensive work with high schools in the Glendale, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek school districts, her choral experience includes accompanying the Willowbrook UMC Chancel Choir, the Phoenix Police Department Honor Chorus, and numerous elementary and secondary honor choirs. In addition to her PBC contributions at the piano, Shara-Dawn developed and manages our New Works Rising competition, is a major contributor to our marketing, graphics, and website efforts, and works closely with Mr. Washington in executing his artistic vision for PBC. She and her husband/best friend, Peter, are the proud parents of three grown children and three wonderful grandchildren. She is in her fourth PBC season.
EDWARD PERRIN grew up in California and returned there to teach in private middle and high schools, teaching theater, math, and history. After five enjoyable years in the classroom, he switched careers and went to medical school at UCSD. He came to the Valley for specialty training and has been a family doctor locally for more than 20 years. He has always enjoyed accompanying on the piano, informally as a teenager with his mother on her violin, and over the years with vocalists. He is excited about continuing as an accompanist with Phoenix Boys Choir, where he can check in on his son, Alexander, a PBC Tour Choir graduate and current member of the Young Men's Ensemble. Ed lives in North Central Phoenix with his wife and two sons, along with numerous animals.
OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
OPERATIONS MANAGER
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STAFF ACCOUNTANT
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