Karen L. Bruno is the artistic director of Northwest Girlchoir and teaches Amore and CorAzón, the high school-aged choirs. Bruno believes that all young people are musical, creative, and curious; these foundational beliefs, along with interests in culturally responsive education and global choral traditions, guide her pedagogy. She is committed to fostering an environment where girls and all youth marginalized by gender feel welcome, safe, and free to explore their voice. Before relocating to Seattle in 2022, she spent 25 years as the artistic director of, and teacher within, the Lawrence Community Girl Choir Program in Wisconsin.

A frequent guest clinician, conductor, and author, Bruno has worked with youth and treble honor choirs throughout the Midwest, including the South Dakota All-State Children’s Choir, the Michigan High School Vocal Music Association, the AWAKE Choral Festival for Kodaly educators, and the Beyond the Notes Festival created to serve public school ensembles. She taught choral music education classes at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music after having taught in two public school districts in Wisconsin and at an international school in Dakar, Senegal. She has served the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in a variety of ways at the state, regional, and national level. Highlights include several terms as the Children’s and Community Youth Choir Repertoire and Standards Chair for the North Central region, being elected president of the Wisconsin ACDA chapter, and serving as a founding member of ACDA’s national standing committee for Advocacy and Collaboration. She currently serves Washington’s ACDA chapter as chair for community choirs.

Bruno holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Economics from Smith College and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Boston University. She has a son who lives in the United Kingdom and is allowed to share her home with an opinionated, fluffy, FIV-positive cat named Katya. She enjoys getting to know students and their families, so please don’t be afraid to say hello after a concert or event!

Kyra Rengstorf is thrilled to join Northwest Girlchoir as the new teacher-conductor of Sangat. Kyra is a choral conductor and music director in the greater Seattle area who is deeply committed to fostering joyous and collaborative choral experiences for all singers. Her teaching and research interests include culturally responsive teaching methods, global choral traditions, and literacy development for emerging-level ensembles. During her time at Western Washington University, Rengstorf directed the University Choir and taught Aural Skills and Secondary Choral Methods. In local Seattle-area public schools, she has taught middle school and high school mixed, SA, TB, and jazz choirs; piano, theater, musical theater, and elementary general music. She currently directs the choirs at Shorecrest High School and serves on the faculty of Kodály Levels of Seattle teaching Musicianship courses. She is an active member of WMEA, ACDA, and OAKE, and serves on the board as treasurer for the Northwest Kodály Educators.

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Rengstorf is an in-demand honor choir conductor, adjudicator, and workshop presenter in the greater Seattle area. She conducted the WMEA All-State Junior Mixed Choir in February of 2024. Former positions include conductor for the Seattle Girls Choir and music director for the visual and performing arts camp Summer Fun! Rengstorf holds a BA in Music from Barnard College of Columbia University, a Post-Baccalaureate degree in Music Education from the University of Washington, and a Masters in Choral Conducting from Western Washington University. When she isn't teaching, she's at home in Edmonds playing, cooking, dancing, gardening, and making music with her family.

Nicole Maramba is excited to be the new Tarab Teacher-Conductor formerly conducting Fresca. Currently in her 5th year of teaching, she teaches in the Renton School District at the middle school level. Nicole focuses on nurturing young singers' voices, musicianship, fostering musical skills and confidence. Her passion lies in building a sense of community within her ensembles, encouraging a holistic approach to music that engages minds, hearts, and bodies. She has earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Additionally, she currently serves as the Washington State American Choral Directors Association's Middle School/Jr. High Repertoire and Resources Chair. 

Sarah Edmonds is thrilled to be the new Raku Teacher-Conductor, previously conducting Sangat (formerly Vivace). She received her post baccalaureate degree in music education with a choral endorsement from Western Washington University, and holds her Kodály Level I certification. In addition to NWGC, she currently teaches Preschool-5th Grade music at Giddens School in Beacon Hill. Previously, she has taught general music and choir in the Edmonds School District, as well as music directing youth theater productions throughout King County. Her teaching philosophy revolves around creating an environment where students experience community, confidence, and joy within their music making.

Ariona Thompson is so excited to join the team at Northwest Girlchoir as the new Yǒu Yì teacher-conductor. She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a minor in education, learning, and societies. She is a Music Teacher at Kenmore Elementary School and the Choir Director at Woodinville High School, where she also serves as Music Director for the Theater Department. Ariona is thrilled to foster joy and community building through the love of music and can’t wait to work with each and every one of her students this year.

Haley Gabler is thrilled to be the Liebe Teacher-Conductor while teaching K-8 General Music at Villa Academy in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Seattle. Haley is an active performer in the Seattle area, singing with several professional choral ensembles in addition to serving as a Section Leader for the Cathedral Choir at St. James Cathedral. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.M. in Music Education and has completed Kodaly Level I training. Haley is a proud alum of the Lawrence Community Girl Choir program where she sang for nine years, five of which were spent under the direction of Karen Bruno, the Artistic Director of Northwest Girlchoir.

Youngjin Joo is an organist, pianist, and collaborative artist. One of her earliest memories is playing the piano sitting on her mom’s lap. Her mom was her first piano teacher and has been her greatest supporter. She was introduced to the organ by the parish priest during her senior year of high school. These two keyboard instruments have been her passion. She has a great interest in improvisation in various styles, from baroque to jazz. She studied music theory/composition and music education at Seoul National University and holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Washington. She has held musical posts at churches in Greenwich, CT, Aston and Wayne, PA, and she is the organist at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, where she accompanies the Sanctuary choir and Pneuma ensemble.

Elizabeth Moore has over 30 years of experience as a Coach/Accompanist and teacher of classical vocal music. She worked for Seattle Opera as its Music Coordinator/Accompanist, training all the children who were choristers and soloists and serving as rehearsal pianist for over thirty mainstage productions, including Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Additionally, she was the Coach Accompanist and Voice Teacher for the Seattle Opera Young Artists Program for two years. After leaving the opera, Ms. Moore began Vocal Arts Northwest, a non-profit training organization for aspiring classical singers from high school age and up; she directed the program for six years and simultaneously opened her private vocal studio. In 2009, she added the role of Voice Teacher at Seattle University where she taught for ten years until retiring in 2019. She is now very happy to rejoin the Northwest Girlchoir, for whom she played when she first moved to Seattle.

Kristen Orien has been a pianist for almost 30 years. Her mom taught her how to read music and after that, there was no stopping her! She received her BA in Music from Brigham Young University, with an emphasis on composition and theory. While there, she studied under both Jeffrey Shumway and Robin Hancock, both of whom are members of the American Piano Quartet and accomplished accompanists. Kristen has since taught piano and accompanied various soloists and ensembles throughout the PNW. In her spare time, she enjoys writing/arranging piano solos and pop songs and playing duets with her cellist wife. Her favorite composers are J. S. Bach and Philip Glass, one of whom she has met. She will talk with anyone about film music!