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
Margaret Houck
Collaborative Pianist
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.
Margaret's 55-year music career encompasses many facets: piano performance, collaborative piano, choral and instrumental conducting, vocal coaching, private piano instruction and classroom music instruction.
As a conductor, she has led the Music Ministries of several churches in So. California, and was a full time conductor at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, where she directed the Cathedral Chorale.
As a collaborative pianist, Margaret has worked with many well known conductors, including Helmut Rilling, Robert Craft, Gerard Schwartz, and David Thorsen.
She has served on the Music Faculties of Cerritos College, Vanguard University, and Orange Coast College.
She was also a member of the Accompanying Staff at Aspen Music Festival, where she worked with master classes of Dorothy Dulay, violin, Per Brevig, trombone, and Gerard Schwartz, trumpet, and studied piano there with Brooks Smith. Most recently Margaret accompanied the Prescott Chorale under the direction of Dennis Houser.
Margaret earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in piano performance from the University of Tennessee and California State University Fullerton, respectively.
Our Singers
Cassie Kreyling
Soprano
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Cassie Kreyling spent her teen and adult years participating in various church and community choirs. After moving to Prescott in 2021, she has been a member of the Yavapai College Master Chorale, Chamber Choir, and Women’s Chorale. She also previously played violin with the North Valley Symphony Orchestra in Phoenix.
Cassie holds a BA in History Education from Brigham Young University and a Master’s in Educational Technology from Northern Arizona University. She taught social studies for 10 years and worked as an instructional coach for two years.
In the Prescott area, Cassie taught general music at Mountain View Elementary and choir at Granite Mountain Middle School. She currently teaches violin in her home.
Arlene Hardy
Soprano
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Arlene is delighted to be singing with the Camerata Chamber Singers and to be on the other side of the baton!
Arlene holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from North Dakota State University.
Her performance repertoire spans a wide variety of genres, from opera to jazz. Her solo repertoire includes: Handel’s Messiah, Brahm’s Requiem, Stravinsky’s Les Noces, and Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras.
She has previously been seen on the Yavapai College stage, where she has over 20 years of experience conducting the Women’ s Chorale and Master Chorale.Arlene is currently the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Yavapai Youth Choirs, as well as the Artistic Director of Una Voce Women’s 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.
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.
Anna Schumaker
Soprano
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Anna is excited to be joining Camerata this season. Her family of two tired parents and four young girls have been in Prescott since 2022 and the little ladies are juuuuust getting old enough that Anna is getting back to performing and participating in the arts (after a 10-year hiatus from the stage and her vocal performance degree to follow her military husband around the world and embark in several IVF cycles to get those children earthside). Anna has been singing and performing since she could breathe. Some of her most fun memories include performing at Tuacahn Amphitheater in southern Utah, joining the Savannah Philharmonic while in Georgia under the baton of Peter Shannon, performing as a featured soloist in the Savannah Women in the Arts series as Jo March, and singing under Ryan Murphy, Z Randall Stroupe, and Dr. Cherilyn Worthen. Most recently she played a nun in Yavapai College's production of Sound of Music. She is loving conducting her church choir -- having caught the conducting bug she wants to add that to her educational path soon! She loves teaching a few voice students after bedtime. So excited for a fun new adventure alongside musicians she admires!
Melanie McCally
Alto
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Melanie McCally studied voice and choral studies at BYU-Idaho and earned her B.A. in Music Education in 2004. In Prescott, she’s been singing in various ensembles for over 13 years. These include the Prescott Chorale, Una Voce Women’s Chorale, Prescott POPS Symphony Chorus, and the Sanctuary Choir at Mountain Reformed Church.
Her solo opportunities include singing Messiah with the Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus in Biloxi, MS, as well as Bach, Mozart, & Hasse with the Prescott Chorale. Her favorite solo was Pie Jesu from the Fauré Requiem with the Yavapai College Master Chorale.
She conducts with Yavapai Youth Choirs and directs the Prescott Chorale Children’s Choir that performs with the Prescott Chorale every December. She has enjoyed being an adjudicator for a number of local music festivals. Melanie enjoys teaching piano and voice privately in her home studio in Dewey, where she lives with her husband and four children.
Annette Lum
Alto
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Inspired by her mom, Annette began singing in choirs in high school. Growing up in the Los Angeles area, she sang in local church choirs, learned to cantor for the Catholic Church, and then received a Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance degree from Cal State Northridge in 1994. After receiving her degree, she became a Vocal Coach at the Vibe Performing Arts studio, where she met her husband, studio guitar musician, James Lum. She continued to cantor at various churches, and sang with multiple choirs in the Los Angeles area, such as Angeles Chorale, Sunday Night Singers, and the Santa Clarita Master Chorale.
In 2023, she and James moved to Prescott, where she continues to enjoy the musical and choral surroundings this town provides, such as the Prescott Chorale and singing for the Prescott Pops choir. She's also sung with TrebleSong and the St. Luke's Choir.
She and her husband have recently started a local duo called Crossover, playing music they love to sing together. She is excited to be a part of Camerata Singers!
Teri Schwan
Alto
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Coming Soon
Johanna Shipley
Alto
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Johanna Shipley has been singing since she was very young. She enjoyed being in choirs and community musical productions in St. Louis, her hometown, and started singing in prescott in 2011. She met her husband, Sky, through music. They formed a professional acoustic trio with a friend where she sang and 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 is a jewelry artist.
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.
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.
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.
Gary Kemp
Tenor
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Coming soon!
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!
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.
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.
Jeff Clark
Bass
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Joey Adams was involved with his Eastlawn Baptist Church Youth choir growing up, as well as the Pascagoula High School Choraliers from 1979 to 1981.
A local radio station manager discovered Joey’s natural bass voice while recording one of the school’s Christmas concerts, which led to a 40-year career as a radio broadcaster.
After nearly 40 years away from singing, Joey miraculously survived a catastrophic crash and made a spiritual promise to share his gift of singing in return for God sparing his life.
Joey currently performs with the Yavapai College Master Chorale and Vox Profundo, Prescott Pops Symphony Chorus, and is honored to be joining the Prescott 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.
Joey Adams
Bass
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Originally from Allen, Texas, Jeff never imagined how music would introduce him to a world he otherwise would have never known, if not for the insistence of a few brave music teachers. He received his training in music and musical theatre from Stephen F. Austin State University, the University of North Texas, and the Performing Artist Musical Theatre Conservatory in Dallas.
Jeff has performed in numerous commercial and industrial shows, as well as summer stock at Oklahoma Lyric. His notable roles include Nick in Baby, Richie in A Chorus Line, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Javert in Les Misérables. As a classical soloist, he has been featured in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fauré’s Requiem, and Schubert’s Mass in G. A true highlight of his life was touring the cathedrals of Europe in 2001 with a small ensemble from the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California—an experience that deepened his love of sacred music and his gratitude to his Creator for making it all possible. Having recently moved to Prescott from Morongo Valley, California, Jeff feels honored to be here and is deeply grateful to be a part of the Prescott Camerata Chamber Singers.
Scott Rieck
Tenor
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Scott started singing with the John Glenn High School Concert Choir. He spent 20 years with the Livonia Civic Chorus and at the same time sang with the Kingsmen and Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, Michigan for 27 years. He also spent five years with Dr. Jackson of the Jackson Chorale.
Scott moved to Prescott in November of 2025 and sings tenor with both the Prescott Camerata Chamber Singers and Trinity Presbyterian Church.
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.