Co-Artistic Director and co-founder, Jennaya Robison, is in demand as a conductor, clinician, and soprano throughout Arizona and the United States. She has held faculty and teaching positions at the University of Arizona, Luther College, and the University of New Mexico. She has conducted orchestras at the University of Arizona, Luther College, and as well as community orchestras in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. She has been the conductor for the Collegium Musicum of the University of Arizona as well as the University Singers, Kantorei, and Honor Choir of the University of New Mexico. She was honored to prepare and conduct the Arizona Choir, the premiere choral ensemble at the University of Arizona, in concert and rehearsal.

 

As a soprano, she will make her debut with the Tucson Symphony in Handel's "Messiah" in 2010 and has sung the Scottsdale Symphony, St. Andrews Bach Society, Tucson Masterworks Chorale, University of Arizona Choirs and Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Choral Arts, Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, Luther College Symphony Orchestra and has held leading roles in operas in Iowa and New Mexico. Most recently she performed the Joshua Rifkin edition of the Bach Mass in b minor. Her performance with Steven Moeckel, concertmaster for the Phoenix Symphony, was heralded as "brilliant coloratura" by the Tucson daily star. She has sung as a member of the Dale Warland Singers in Minneapolis, Minnesota under the direction of Dale Warland, Las Cantantes under the direction of Bradley Ellingboe, and in the Nordic Choir of Luther College under the direction of Weston Noble as well as performing with the Des Moines Symphony, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

 

Her primary area of research is in the field of vocal health within the choral ensemble. Her dissertation topic includes the use of choral pivoting to alleviate tension due to high and low tessitura in the choral ensemble. The choral music of the Swiss composer, Frank Martin, is the focus of her research.

Her teachers include Bruce Chamberlain, Elizabeth Schauer, Weston Noble, Bradley Ellingboe, Timothy Peter, Richard Nace, Kristin Dauphinais, and Mary Kay Schmidt.

 

She serves as the secretary of the Arizona Chapter of ACDA and is a member of NATS, College Music Society, and Chorus America.  She is currently the director of music at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.