D. Patrick Michel

Artistic Director

D. Patrick Michel has long upheld a tradition of excellence in music performance and education. Serving as director of choral programs at Gov. John R. Rogers High School from 1992-2008, his choirs toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Europe, performing in some of the world’s most historic cathedrals including St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and Saint Denis in Paris. In addition to 30 years of teaching at the junior and senior high school levels, Patrick served at Pacific Lutheran University, conducting the University Singers from 1981-1989. As a performer, Pat sang with the Tacoma Symphony Chorus and was a featured baritone soloist with the Tacoma Symphony. Pat is a frequent adjudicator and clinician throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Karen P. Fulmer

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Karen earned her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.  Her teaching career spanned 31 years in the Sumner School District where Karen taught elementary general music, Sumner Junior High, and Bonney Lake High School vocal music. She also served as District Music Coordinator for 18 of those years.

In the early 1990s, Karen served on a sub-committee of the Governors Blue Ribbon Commission, resulting in the first draft of academic learning requirements in the arts for the state of Washington. More recently she was a member of the Arts Assessment Leadership Team that created the current classroom-based performance assessments in music.  Elected Washington State President of the American Choral Directors Association in 1989, and Northwestern Division President in 2002, Karen has presented interest sessions at two national ACDA conventions on the topics of arts advocacy and assessment.  Her term as High School Repertoire and Standards Chair on the Northwestern Division Board expired in July 2010 as she assumed her National President-Elect Designate position.

Other honors include the 1993 Western Washington University Woodring College of Education Award for Professional Excellence, 1996 Washington State Christa McAuliffe Award, 1997 Washington State Teacher of the Year, 1998 Washington State Music Educators Hall of Fame, inaugural class, 2007 Bonney Lake High School Leadership Award, 2008 Washington State ACDA Leadership Award, 2010 Northwestern Division Leadership Award, 2000-07 founding member and past board president of Northwest Repertory Singers.  Karen continues to perform with the Choral Union at Pacific Lutheran University, present workshops and adjudicate.

Nancy Nole

Executive Director

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Nancy Nole, recently retired from the Puyallup School District after 34 years as an elementary music specialist. Nancy is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She has received her Level III Orff-Schulwerk certification (1982) from Hamline University in Minnesota. Since receiving her master’s degree in Creative Arts in Learning (1999) from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she has written a number of music programs which integrate the arts into the elementary academic curriculum. Fruitland Elementary in Puyallup has three choruses under her direction where she also teaches twenty general classroom music classes. She has been the manager of the Washington State Elementary Honor Chorus for two years. She is an adjunct professor in music education at Pacific Lutheran University. As president of PLU’s Choral Union, she has participated in two   European tours in the past few years. The Puyallup Daffodil PTA Council honored her with their Outstanding Educator Award for the 2006-2007 school year. Nancy is a positive force in music education in our state and she has made it her life’s passion to promote the arts for all students in our state.

Board of Directors

Tahoma Choirs' Board of Directors

The Board of Directors meets once a month at Trinity Lutheran Church. We currently have a vacancy for Vice-President. If you would like to come to a board meeting, or join the board, please feel free to contact us!

Andrea Dorgan

Parent

Janesi Talbert

Secretary/Treasurer - Parent

Judy James

President Emeritus - Parent

Juzeine Thomas

Parent

Kate Nelson-Penland

President - Alum

Ruth Peterson

Parent