Staff_Bios

Staff Biographies

Peggy Spool, Artistic Director
     As founder and Artistic Director of the Vivace Youth Chorus of San Jose, Ms. Spool is leading the chorus into its
fifth season.

Ms. Spool attended Oberlin College, and received a B.Mus. in Voice from Boston University. She also holds a
Master’s in Voice from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a Certificate in Kodaly Music Education from
Holy Names University in Oakland, CA. She has studied conducting with Dr. Charlene Archibeque, San Jose State
University, Dr. Stephen Sano, Stanford University, and holds a Level Three Certificate from the Choral Music
Experience under Doreen Rao. She is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, National Teachers
of Singing, and Organization of American Kodaly Educators. Currently, she is a board member of the Northern
California Association of Kodaly Educators, and serves as recording secretary for Silicon Valley Arts Coalition.

Prior to founding Vivace, Ms. Spool was Assistant Director for Cantabile Children’s Chorus in Los Altos, CA from
1996-2003, and she has worked with children’s choruses in the Bay Area for 15 years. Ms. Spool also maintains a
private vocal studio in her home, and has taught at the Harker Academy, The Music School, and Saratoga Music.

Amy Cowan, Intermediate Instructor
     Amy Cowan earned a BM in Voice from Rice University in Houston (2001) and an MM in Opera from the
Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA (2004). As a singer she has performed extensively in opera, early music,
musical theatre, and recital with Lisa Spector, Coastal Repertory Theatre, Mercury Baroque, Stanford Savoyards,
Harvard Early Music Society, and Houston Grand Opera, among others. In addition to her work with the
Intermediate Choir this spring, she also taught the newly formed pre-school music class, Rising Notes. Amy also
holds several positions in Half Moon Bay, as music director for Coastside Lutheran Church, vocal director for
Coastal Theatre Conservatory, and teaches privately through Lisa Spector’s Music School. Other projects have
included frequent voice and choral work with children through San Francisco Arts Education Project and Key West
Symphony’s Summer Solfest. This summer, she will complete her second level work towards a Certification in
Kodály Methodology from Holy Names University. Amy lives in Half Moon Bay with her husband, tenor Brian
Thorsett.

Karen Johnson, Accompanist
         Ms. Johnson holds a degree in piano performance from California State University Sacramento where she
studied with Thomas Gentry. She has also studied with George Oliynyk, Patricia Taylor Lee, UC Davis, and Thomas
Schumacher, University of Maryland. In addition to being a staff accompanist at Santa Clara University, she plays at
Los Altos Union Presbyterian church and Stone Church of Willow Glen. Ms. Johnson maintains a private studio in
her home and is a member of the MTAC, CAPMT, MTNA and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.

Melissa Lin, Accompanist
     Pianist Melissa Lin is a graduate of SUNY-College at Purchase and the Curtis Institute of Music. Melissa has
performed extensively in the US, as well as Japan, France,and Belgium. She was previously a full time staff
accompanist at the University of the Pacific, Conservatory of Music, in Stockton, CA, and Encore School for Strings,
in Hudson, Ohio.

Melissa has been teaching piano and performing with singers and instrumentalists in the Bay Area since 2000. A staff
accompanist at Santa Clara University since 2003, she has collaborated with faculty members in recitals, and
performed with students in the Music and Theater/Dance Departments. Melissa has also served as rehearsal pianist
for Music and Theater Department productions. As a freelance musician, Melissa has worked as rehearsal pianist
with Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Mission City Opera, Notre Dame de Namur University, and Santa Clara
Chorale. She has also played in the band for Foothill Music Theater productions.