Meet the 2024 Directors and Visual Leaders Seminar Co-Chairs, Guest Faculty and Faculty!

Anne has been singing barbershop since 2000, when she joined Westcoast Harmony Chorus. She became co-director of Westcoast in 2005 and sole director in 2011. She was the youngest person ever to attain Master Director status, at the age of 24. Most recently, Westcoast placed sixth in the 2023 International Chorus Competition. Anne is a member of the International Faculty of Sweet Adelines and has served Region 26 as Education Coordinator and on the Regional Education Faculty. She has also served on the International Music Sales & Marketability Committee, and as Chair of the Directors’ Resource Task Force. Anne sings baritone with the 2017 International Quartet Champions, Frenzy.

Joan’s degree in Music Education was a springboard for Sweet Adelines accomplishments which include Master Director, Certified Sound Judge, Approved Candidate Judge in Expression, chorus, and quartet coach. Since joining Sweet Adelines International in 1989, Joan has served on the International Board of Directors, including International President from 2020 – 2022, in addition to her work on several international committees, She is the tenor of 2008 International Champion Quartet, Four Bettys. Joan has been a front-line director since 1996 and is Master Director of River City Sound Chorus, which has competed on the international competition stage multiple times under her direction.

Ben Bram is a two-time Grammy and Emmy Award-winning vocal arranger, producer, engineer, and educator from Los Angeles, California (USA).

He is a co-creator of pop a cappella group Pentatonix, R&B girl group Citizen Queen, kids music brand Acapop! KIDS, and summer vocal program A Cappella Academy. In addition to these primary projects, Ben also has extensive experience in film and TV, working behind the scenes on NBC’s The Sing-Off, Glee, Pitch Perfect 1 and 2, and on commercials for Super Bowl LVII, Honda, Covergirl, Lifetime, and more. To learn more about Ben, visit www.thebenbram.com.

Jamy Claire has been a member of Sweet Adelines International since 2009 and began directing Heart of Columbia Chorus in 2015. A member of Song of Atlanta Chorus, she is also a regional quartet singer and serves on the Region 14 faculty. As a trained Speech-Language Pathologist and Listening & Spoken Language Specialist, Jamy Claire is a clinical assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, specializing in the vocal mechanism, healthy vocal production, resonance, breathing and breath management, and word-sound production.

Thérèse is a member of five-time International Champion North Metro Chorus. During her Sweet Adelines tenure, she has served in a variety of roles at the International level and is on the International Board of Directors. As part of the Executive Committee, she served as International President from May 2022 to April 2024. Therese is a Panel Secretary and joined the International Faculty Program in 2023, where she brings her knowledge and passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to all Sweet Adelines

Since becoming a Sweet Adeline in 1972, Karen has won nine international quartet medals, including two International Quartet Champion titles (Jubilation, 1985 and "the BUZZ", 2005) and received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2017). Karen is a Master Director, having directed Melodeers, Choral-Aires, and Spirit of the Gulf Chorus. She is a past president of Sweet Adelines International (1998-1999) and has served on Sweet Adelines International Board of Directors.

A 24-year member of Sweet Adelines International, Caitlin has been on the International Faculty since 2020. She is Master 600 director of Diablo Vista Chorus and sings baritone for International Champion Quartet, LoveNotes (2014). She created and directs The Starlettes, a chorus comprised of past Rising Star champions. In 2012, she received a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and focuses on promoting healthy singing in her classes and coaching sessions.

Kathleen Hansen has been working in the field of music education and performance since 1998. She is currently working on her Doctor of Musical Arts degree through Boston University. Kathleen is Master Director of San Diego Chorus, Artistic Director of San Diego Women’s Chorus, and serves on the Sweet Adelines International Faculty. She is an active clinician, musical adjudicator, presenter, voice teacher and coach and runs a popular YouTube channel dedicated to vocal pedagogy and warmups.

A Sweet Adeline since 1981, Erin Howden is Master 700 Director and Choreographer of five-time International Champion North Metro Chorus. She is a repeated regional quartet champion and International Top 10 Quartet Medalist, a member of Region 16 Faculty and International Master Faculty, and has been acknowledged with Sweet Adelines awards in coaching and leadership.

Mary is Sweet Adelines International President-Elect and Master Director of OK City Chorus. A previous DVLS co-chair, she is a member of 2010 International Champion Quartet Zing!, a Certified Sound Judge, and a member of the International Board of Directors and Education Direction Committee.