Singer Spotlight
A chorus is only as good as its singers-- the success of our ensemble relies on our community of fantastic vocalists. Meet some of the talented singers that make Sacred & Profane thrive!
Michael hill, tenor i
Lives in Novato
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
Since Fall '22
What do you do outside of Sacred & Profane?
I serve as the Associate Pastor of Worship Ministries at Marin Covenant Church in San Rafael. I facilitate all of our corporate worship gatherings, musicians, and production teams. Although I am a musician at my core, my deepest passion is for cultivating peaceful relationships in this increasingly anxious world.
What is your favorite piece you’ve sung with the group?
The Mühlrad "Dreams" from the fall set, as well as his "Anime Zemirot" from Spring 2023 are challenging works like nothing you've heard before. It's one thing to be unique; but to craft beautiful music that both surprises you and gives you all the feels is so next level. I'm a fan!
What is your favorite part of Sacred & Profane?
I super appreciate S&P's commitment to holding artistry, professionalism and communal values in such delicate, equal balance - that is a rare gift. I accredit this to Rebecca's seasoned leadership: Not only is she an excellent musician who aims high, but she is also a gracious and joyful leader! Her love for people sets the tone for the members of S&P, who equally reflect the same care for one another. The result is a fun, fulfilling environment where everyone strives for their best and are just super laid back and cool about it - just the kind of choral experience I was looking for.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
Back in my Nashville music-touring days I was the bass player and sang backup for multi-platinum band Lonestar. It was a fun experience for a handful of years, but road life of a hired musician is tough when you have a family at home! These days I'm happy that my wife and I get to live close to our adult children and two granddaughters.
Kat walsh, alto i
Lives in Novato
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
I've been with the group since Fall 2021.
What do you do outside of Sacred & Profane?
I am a lawyer for public interest copyright and internet policy, and am currently the General Counsel at Creative Commons, a nonprofit creating legal tools, educational materials, and programs to support better sharing of knowledge and culture. I'm also in a few other musical groups, playing bassoon and viola. And I make a pretty good fig jam!
What is your favorite piece you’ve sung with the group?
Till Ängeln med de brinnande händerna -- I loved the complex textures and the mix of dissonant and chillingly beautiful harmonies.
What is your favorite part of Sacred & Profane?
Getting to experience such a wide range of interesting, challenging music with a group that is extremely welcoming and fun as well as fantastic singers!
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I recently started competing in powerlifting!
Tia warren, soprano ii
Lives in Richmond
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
I joined S&P in 2010.
What do you do outside of Sacred & Profane?
I am a Kindergarten teacher!
What is your favorite piece you’ve sung with the group?
I loved the Together in Time and Space set when we first came together after COVID.
What is your favorite part of Sacred & Profane?
The people!
Tell us a fun fact about you!
I love Cal football!
Travis volz, Baritone
Lives in Livermore
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
I have been singing with Sacred and Profane since Fall 2021.
What do you do outside of Sacred & Profane?
I am a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where I get to use lasers and guns to study material at extreme pressures and temperatures. By studying materials at these extreme conditions (millions of times atmospheric pressure), we can better understand the interiors of planets and stars and violent events such as explosions or planetary impacts.
What is your favorite piece you’ve sung with the group?
The Angel by Tina Andersson
What is your favorite part of Sacred & Profane?
My favorite part is getting to sing with so many talented musicians from a variety of backgrounds. Learning the varried repertoire is a fun challenge and spending a few hours per week with the other choir members is one of the highlights of my week.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
This isn't a personality fact or something persistent, but I once ate homemade bread for a week to see how cheaply I could survive. I did it for $3.50 for the week and enjoyed some really tasty bread. Oh, I guess a persistent fact is that I like reading blogs and information on frugality and investing.
Hayley Tsukayama Thompson, alto
Lives in Dublin
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
I have been singing with Sacred and Profane since Fall of 2017
What do you do outside of Sacred & Profane?
I work as a state legislative activist for a digital rights advocacy non-profit called the Electronic Frontier Foundation on issues including broadband access, government surveillance and privacy.
What is your favorite piece you’ve sung with the group?
My first year we sang a totally insane and very cool piece in Estonian called "Curse Upon Iron" and I have never recovered. In a good way. I think.
What is your favorite part of Sacred & Profane?
Cheese alert! I joined Sacred and Profane to sing with my sister (a former chorister) but the whole choir welcomed me as if I were family. We tackle such ambitious and varied music and build an amazing community around it. I revel in my fellow choristers' voices, but I love their hearts.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
Before I became an activist, I was a technology reporter and I have been able to interview Bill Nye, will.i.am., and George Takei. It was a pretty cool job—though I like my current one better.
Dyana Vukovich, Alto
Lives in Albany
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
For 3 years now.
Describe your musical/singing background:
I have sung with many ensembles over the decades, including the Anna Crusis Women’s Choir of Philadelphia, and Music in the Blood and Coro Hispano, both of San Francisco. A pianist since the age of three, I also like to dabble in other instruments, including the dulcimer and recorder, and I occasionally compose pieces to share with my friends.
Who is/are your biggest musical inspiration(s)?
I'm inspired by musicians from around the world, including Johnny Clegg, Mercedes Sosa, Bela Bartok, and all those engaged in roots revival of any kind. At the same time, I love to champion new music by my friends (see potajemusic.com for works by Chus Alonso), including the fabulous composers in Sacred and Profane!
What do you like to do outside music?
I'm an avid volleyball player (textile version and otherwise), Scrabble aficionado, and traveler. I'm getting close to achieving my bucket list of visiting every Spanish-speaking country in the world (there is a pesky little country in Africa that’s not quite safe yet).
What's your favorite...
Season? Bay Area Indian Summer
Bay Area restaurant? Hamro Aangan, an Indo-Nepalese restaurant in my neighborhood.
Piece you've sung with S&P? One of my favorite memories was singing Song of Okogis, by choir member James Tecuatl-Lee. It involved movement, unusual sounds, and masks – very theatrical and evocative.
If you could be any animal, what would you choose and why?
It would have to be an eagle – the big picture from the mountaintop is my favorite perspective.
Jenn Ying, Soprano
Lives in Albany
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
I have been singing with Sacred and Profane since Fall 2013.
What do you do outside of Sacred & Profane?
I'm a financial advisor, mama of two preschoolers, low-brow Episcopalian, Pokemon Go trainer, and top-0.05% fan of Carly Rae Jepsen.
What is your favorite piece you’ve sung with the group?
Christus factus est by Anton Bruckner
What is your favorite part of Sacred & Profane?
I love that we are a community that does interesting, beautiful music together.
George-Ann Bowers, Alto
Lives in Berkeley
How long have you been with Sacred & Profane?
40 years! Hard to believe it’s been that long, but there’s the first photo on the timeline is of me with original director James Mayer from 1977 to prove it, plus many wonderful memories of fellow singers, musical experiences and adventures over the years.
Describe your musical/singing background:
I grew up in a musical household (both parents played in orchestras when young, Dad sang in choruses, led group sings, and played viola all his life), with exposure to classical music as well as contemporary repertoire. Years of piano lessons provided the basis for sight-reading, and in junior high school I was introduced to choral singing, which I continued all through high school. Played guitar and sang folk music during the 60’s, then came back to choral music after college, when I joined the California Bach Society in the mid-1970’s. I enjoyed singing the “big stuff” until an invitation from fellow singers to the “Wednesday Night Group” led to the next forty years of more intimate musical exploration, as well as some special friendships.
Your biggest musical inspiration(s)?
World music of all kinds, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Britten, Brahms and Schubert instrumental works, Wendy and Tim (ex-S&P singers and longtime friends), Jim Mayer
What do you like to do outside music?
In the non-musical side of my life, I’m an exhibiting artist, working in textiles, specifically weaving, plus recent forays into other fiber techniques. I’ve been working with fiber since the l970’s and maintain a studio in Berkeley full of looms, yarn, and other materials. Exhibiting my artwork in far-flung locations is a good excuse to travel, another favorite activity, along with reading, cooking, birding, wildflowers, hiking, and outdoor photography (inspiration for artwork).
What's your favorite...
Season? Spring, for wildflowers; Fall - great weather and no mosquitos
Bay Area restaurant?I don’t go out to eat that often; favorite spot for lunch with friends is Cafe Leila in Berkeley.
Piece you've sung with S&P? That’s a very difficult question, since I have 40 years worth of music from which to choose. Favorite choral composers, maybe…Britten (A Boy Was Born, Sacred and Profane), Josquin, Tallis, Poulenc….I could go on…..
If you could be any animal, what would you choose and why?
Probably a cat, since they’re quiet but complex, and I’m as drawn to them as other people are to dogs.