Christopher Roberts holds a Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in Music Education from the University of Washington, and a B.A. in African History from Swarthmore College. He received his Kodály Certificate from Seattle Pacific University, further studied the Kodály approach at the University of Calgary, and has given presentations for music educators throughout the United States and Canada. Christopher works half-time at the University of Washington, teaching undergraduate and graduate students, and half-time at St. Joseph School, teaching students in grades K-5. In addition, he has taught graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Idaho, Seattle University, and Kent State University. He currently serves as the Western Division President for the Organization of American Kodály Educators.
Darcy Morrissey holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Washington University and a M.A. in Music Education specializing in Choral Conducting from the University of St. Thomas. She studied the Kodály approach at Seattle Pacific University and University of St. Thomas, studying under Dr. Jill Trinka, Dr. Angela Broeker, Dr. Susan Brumfield, and Dr. Katalin Kiss. Darcy specializes in blending the Kodály approach into the choral classroom and she has shared her expertise at teacher in-service classes and various workshops. For ten years, Darcy taught all ages and nearly every type of music course within the Lake Washington School District. She is the Founding Managing Artistic Director of Bellevue Youth Choirs made up of over 160 girls in Bellevue Girlchoir (est. 2012) and is proud to serve the 20 boys in Bellevue Boychoir, which is in it’s inaugural season. Darcy is highly sought after as a choral clinician and adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the region and serves as the Chair for Children’s/Youth Community Choirs for Washington State ACDA. As a professional choral singer, Darcy has been privileged to record for movie previews, movie, and video game soundtracks, including the latest installment of World of Warcraft. She also sings with Choral Arts under the direction of Robert Bode, along with earning various awards, this group was honored to sing for President Obama and the First Lady at the White House during the 2015 holiday season.
Sarah Bartolome holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Washington, a M.M. in Music Education from Northwestern University, and a B.M. in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Ithaca College. She received her Kodály Certification from the New England Conservatory’s Kodály Music Institute in Boston. Dr. Bartolome has taught general music in the Boston and Seattle metropolitan areas and has conducted for such prestigious children’s choirs as the Greater Boston Youth Chorus and the Seattle Girls’ Choir. A frequent presenter, she has given workshops, clinics, and research presentations throughout the United States and internationally. Dr. Bartolome is presently an Assistant Professor in Music Education at the Northwestern University, where she teaches courses in general music education, world music pedagogy, and qualitative research.
Kelly Foster Griffin graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a B.A. in Music Education, holds a Kodály Certificate from the Kodály Musical Training Institute at Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford and a Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály Emphasis from Holy Names College in Oakland, California. Professionally, Kelly Foster Griffin is a National Board Certified Teacher who has taught K-6 music in the Northshore School District since 1988. She teaches musicianship classes for the Columbia Concert Choir of Metropolitan Seattle, and is the co-founder and former executive director of the non-profit arts camp, Summer Fun! - A Music, Theatre and Visual Arts Day Camp for Children from 1993 to 2010. Currently she is serving as Past-President of the Organization of American Kodály Educators and has presented Kodály workshops and clinics for many musical organizations around the region and nation.
Melyssa Stone holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Seattle Pacific University, and is working towards an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington, with an expected graduation date of June, 2016. She completed her Kodály Levels at Seattle Pacific University and has worked with the program since 2014. She has worked at the elementary, middle and high school levels as a music educator and currently directs with the Northwest Girlchoir, focusing on a Kodaly-based approach to choral singing. Melyssa performs in the area as a jazz vocalist and has performed with artists such as Ben Folds, John Pizzarelli and the New York Voices. As a violist, she is a former member of the Thalia Symphony Orchestra and More Music @ the Moore performer. Melyssa has presented for the Seattle International Children's Festival, Seattle Theatre Group and schools on topics of musicianship, diversity in the arts, and children's choirs. Melyssa is the former President-elect of the Northwest Kodaly Educators and currently serves on a Choir Committee Chair for the national Organization of American Kodaly Educators.
