Who we are
The Prescott Camerata Chambers Singers started in 2010 as a quartet of friends who enjoyed singing together.
Over time, the group grew and has evolved into Prescott’s premiere auditioned chamber choir, now 20 voices strong.
While our singers draw from a variety of backgrounds, from teachers to engineers to physicians to students, we all share a love of singing gorgeous choral music.
Camerata enjoys performing a widely ranging repertoire, from classical to contemporary and everything in between.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Camerata places high value on building strong community relationships and bringing together music-lovers of all kinds.
Get to know us
EMILY SPENCER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Emily Spencer is thrilled to join Camerata in carrying on the tradition of beautiful music-making that our Prescott audiences have come to love and expect!
Emily also directs the Yavapai College Women’s Chorale and assists with directing the Prescott Chorale.
Previously, she directed the Yavapai College Master Chorale and co-founded and directed the Tri-State Choral Society, which brought together singers from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. Emily also directed the Women’s Chorale at the University of Iowa, where she received her Masters Degree in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy. Emily has also directed numerous church choirs on local and regional levels for over twenty years.
She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University and remains active as a concert soloist. Locally, she’s been a soloist with the Arizona Philharmonic, Quartz, Camerata, Prescott Chorale, and Master Chorale. Other concert solo highlights in Arizona, Utah, Maryland, and throughout the Midwest include J.S. Bach's St. John Passion and Magnificat, Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and Mass in Time of War, Mozart's Coronation Mass and Vesperae solennes de confessore, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Brahms' Neue Liebeslieder, and Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living. She was the recipient of a scholarship to study with Lyric Opera of Chicago coach, Timothy Shaindlin, and also studied with Jamie Johns, Associate Musical Director of The Phantom of the Opera National Tour.
Emily loves singing as a choral artist and enjoyed being a section Principal with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Emily has sung under the batons of such greats as Nicholas McGegan, Andreas Delfs, Doc Severinsen, Mack Wilberg, Anton Armstrong, and Weston Noble.
She resides in Prescott with her husband, Warren, and their five children.
HEIDI PIERCE
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
Heidi Pierce was raised in a home full of music, learning piano and developing her musical skills from a very early age under the guidance of her parents, who were accomplished musicians and educators.
Heidi earned her degree in Music Education and later completed a Master of Arts in Teaching, both from Grand Canyon University. After grad school, she moved to Portland, Oregon, where she worked as the Choir Director at Riverdale High School and maintained a thriving private piano studio of 30 students. She also served as the pianist for Central Lutheran Church, sharing her skills as an accompanist for worship and special events.
In June 2025, Heidi and her family moved to Prescott, where she now serves as Director of Music Ministries at Prescott United Methodist Church. Her favorite style of music to play is Gospel Jazz, and she loves bringing energy and creativity to worship through music and congregational involvement.
Outside of music, Heidi is enjoying her new life in Prescott with her husband and their 3-year-old son, also music lovers!
Our Singers
Sofia Guzman
Soprano
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Sofia Guzman grew up in Santa Monica, California, where she became a classically trained singer. She participated in competitions across the state, including the Kiwanis solo competition where she held first place. She was a state finals competitor in the Music Teachers Association of California’s VOCE.
Sofia moved to Prescott in 2023 to attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where she is currently studying human factors engineering.
In her free time she enjoys singing with the Prescott United Methodist Chancel Choir.
Patricia McCarver, PhD
Soprano
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Patricia McCarver has lived in Prescott since 1989, and has been singing with Yavapai College Master Chorale since 1991, and the Camerata Chamber Singers since 2017.
Pat has been a featured soprano soloist for performances of Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, John Rutter’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat in D, Faure’s Requiem and Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Vesperae solennes de confessore.
Linda Hoover
Alto
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Coming Soon
Johanna Shipley
Soprano
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Johanna Shipley has been singing since she was very young. She enjoyed being in choirs and community musical productions first in St. Louis growing up, and then here in Prescott since 2011.
Johanna even met her husband, Sky, through music. They formed a professional acoustic trio along with a friend. Johanna sang, and Sky played guitar and bass.
She currently sings with several choirs, plays handbells, and studies voice with Darrell Rowader. When she's not making music, Johanna also works as a jewelry artist.
Kirsta Phelps
Soprano
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Kirsta Phelps has been singing at church and in choirs since childhood, including work in a trio and touring choir in Texas.
She has been participating in Master Chorale at Yavapai College and living in Prescott for several years, and is pleased to be a part of Camerata Chamber Singers.Kirsta facilitates bi-monthly group sound healings at Elk’s Theater and the love and healing power of music permeates her life.
Kirsta also enjoys reading, hiking, creating herbal salves and tinctures and baking sourdough bread.
Kristin Sargeant
Soprano
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Kristin Sargeant moved to Prescott in 2022, and has been singing with Yavapai College Master Chorale and Prescott United Methodist Church Chancel Choir ever since.
She has been singing in choirs most of her life, including the St. James Episcopal Church Choir in San Diego and the Lutheran Church of Honolulu Choir.
Kristin earned her master’s degree in history from UNC Chapel Hill, and is currently a middle and high school history teacher. She is excited to be singing with Camerata Chamber Singers!
Gretchen Sargeant
Alto
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Diane Thornbrugh earned a Masters in Business and a Music Minor. She is presently retired from her career in Finance, and serves as the Camerata Singers Treasurer.
Diane also sings with Womansong, CCS, Arizona Musicfest, and Yavapai College Master Chorale.
Her past choral affiliations include: Prescott Chorale, and Santa Clara Chorale in California.
Diane plays the piano, and she exercises her passion for gardening as a volunteer Master Gardener with Yavapai County extension office and in th Sharlot Hall Museum garden.
Teri Schwan
Alto
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Diane Thornbrugh earned a Masters in Business and a Music Minor. She is presently retired from her career in Finance, and serves as the Camerata Singers Treasurer.
Diane also sings with Womansong, CCS, Arizona Musicfest, and Yavapai College Master Chorale.
Her past choral affiliations include: Prescott Chorale, and Santa Clara Chorale in California.
Diane plays the piano, and she exercises her passion for gardening as a volunteer Master Gardener with Yavapai County extension office and in th Sharlot Hall Museum garden.
Helen McDowell
Alto
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Helen has performed with various choral groups, from church choirs to community ensembles, since early childhood. One highlight from her performance experiences was singing Rene Clausen's Memorial under his direction at Lincoln Center on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
Helen is a retired teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing who enjoys travel, hiking, reading, and time with her family, especially her two granddaughters.
Dianne Tennant-Rucker
Alto
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Dianne moved to Prescott from Illinois in 2013, and continued her career as an occupational therapist in schools, homes, and clinics. She has sung in church choirs, performed with bands, and now sings with several ensembles, including the Yavapai Master Chorale, the Women’s Choir, the PUMC Chancel Choir, and the Kindred Sisters Trio!
Dianne also plays French horn with both the Arizona Central Concert Band and the Yavapai College Concert Band.
In 2022, she was honored to perform the Verdi Requiem at Carnegie Hall with the YC Choir.
Throughout her life, Dianne has combined her dedication to therapy with a passion for music.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Troy Eagar
Tenor
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Troy is a fifth generation Arizonan. He grew up in the small town of Eagar in the White Mountains.
Troy received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he had a music scholarship for both trumpet and voice. He performed daily at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a member of the Polynesian Brass Band.
Troy has been singing with choirs since he began performing as a member of a boys’ choir when he wa seven.
He enjoys singing with Camerata Chamber Singers, Yavapai College Master Chorale and the Prescott Pops Symphony Chorus. Troy received his Master’s Degree in Human Resources and currently is the Director of Human Resources at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.
Joseph Jenkins
Bass
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Joe graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in accounting and a minor in voice. While in school, he sang with the Wittenberg Choir and Collegium Musicum. He later moved to Baltimore where he sang with many groups including the Baltimore Symphony, and Handel Choir.
Joe directed the Emory Methodist Church Choir for 25 years.
He and his wife, Jill, moved to Prescott in 2014 and he began singing with Prescott Chorale. He recently began singing with The Camerata Chamber Singers as well.
Gary Kemp
Tenor
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Joe graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in accounting and a minor in voice. While in school, he sang with the Wittenberg Choir and Collegium Musicum. He later moved to Baltimore where he sang with many groups including the Baltimore Symphony, and Handel Choir.
Joe directed the Emory Methodist Church Choir for 25 years.
He and his wife, Jill, moved to Prescott in 2014 and he began singing with Prescott Chorale. He recently began singing with The Camerata Chamber Singers as well.
Karen Thompson
Alto
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Karen jokes that she came out of the womb singing! She has lived in Prescott Valley for over 13 years and has sung with the Prescott Chorale, the Community & Master Chorales at Yavapai College, and the Prescott POPS Symphony chorus.
Karen likes to hike and spend time with her sister and her pups.
Cliff Elliott
Bass
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Cliff has had music in his life almost from the beginning, including church and school choirs. He also performed and traveled internationally with the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble for 20 years. He occasionally accompanied the choirs with clarinet and flute.
Cliff also played clarinet in the USMC Fifth Marine Division Band at Camp Pendleton, CA.
He has sung with the Prescott Chorale and recently joined the Camerata Chamber Singers. He and his wife, Lois celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. They have two children, Heather in Chico, CA and Phil here in Prescott, as well as 4 grandchildren.
Adam Stephenson
Bass
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coming soon
Dave Cavanaugh
Bass
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Troy is a fifth generation Arizonan. He grew up in the small town of Eagar in the White Mountains.
Troy received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University – Hawaii where he had a music scholarship for both trumpet and voice. He performed daily at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a member of the Polynesian Brass Band.
Troy has been singing with choirs since he began performing as a member of a boys’ choir when he wa seven.
He enjoys singing with Camerata Chamber Singers, Yavapai College Master Chorale and the Prescott Pops Symphony Chorus. Troy received his Master’s Degree in Human Resources and currently is the Director of Human Resources at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.
Mike Wendorf
Bass
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Mike and his wife, Glennise, moved from Wyoming to Prescott in 2020. After his retirement from a career as an environmental engineer in the chemical and mining industry.
He started to focus on volunteer work and became an active member at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. He is currently singing in the church choir at Shepherd of the Hills and has previously sung with church choirs in Wyoming and Minnesota.
Mike and his wife share a love for contemporary jazz music and attend jazz performances throughout the U.S. and beyond. A daughter and her husband, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson fill out the Wendorf family.
Mike is excited to be part of the Camerata Chamber Singers!
Timothy Jordheim
Tenor
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When Tim and his wife, Mary, retired and moved from Minnesota to Prescott in 2016, he had not sung in a choir since high school or even thought about doing so.
However, the universe had other plans and through a couple of serendipitous encounters, Tim found himself singing in the Unity Church choir. With the joy of singing reawakening, fellow choir members pointed him to Yavapai College Master Chorale where he's been singing since 2017.
This led to the opportunity to sing with Camerata Chamber Singers, where he's been singing since 2022.
Although unexpected, Tim is very grateful for how singing has become a beloved and essential part of his life.
Lance Sandleben
Tenor
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Lance is a retired pharmacist having served the Prescott community for almost 40 years. He credits his mother for giving him the love of music, which has served him well in retirement.
He sings in the Yavapai College Master Chorale and the Camerata Choir, and has also appeared in several community musicals. Lance also sings Indian Classical Music, having studied both in India and in the U.S.
Lance truly believes that music is life!
Dennis Houser
Bass
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Cliff has had music in his life almost from the beginning, including church and school choirs. He also performed and traveled internationally with the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble for 20 years. He occasionally accompanied the choirs with clarinet and flute.
Cliff also played clarinet in the USMC Fifth Marine Division Band at Camp Pendleton, CA.
He has sung with the Prescott Chorale and recently joined the Camerata Chamber Singers. He and his wife, Lois celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. They have two children, Heather in Chico, CA and Phil here in Prescott, as well as 4 grandchildren.
Bill Wollam
Bass
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Bill has been singing in church choirs most of his adult life and has been a guitar player and vocalist since his early teen years.
He and his wife, Pat, moved to Prescott in 2004 and after retiring from a career in the computer industry in 2013 he began singing with the YC Performing Arts Community Chorus and the YC Master Chorale. Bill has also been a singer with the Prescott Pops Chorus since retirement. He performed in his first stage musical in YC’s production of “Phantom of the Opera” in 2019. He is excited to be singing with such a talented group in the Camerata Chamber Singers.
James McCarver, M.D.
Bass
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Jim has been a practicing physician in Prescott for over 40 yrs. He has also had a lifelong interest in music.
Jim has been singing in Master Chorale at Yavapai College for 20+ years, and he recently performed in the musical “Beauty and the Beast” at PCA. He has been a member of Camerata for several years.
Singing and strumming in a local ukulele group has also been a fun musical outlet for him.
Jim also enjoys competitive cycling and volunteering at the Sharlot Hall Museum.