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Top of Members

Meet The Members

Marlene Raney

General Member

  • B.S. Education

  • Soprano 2, Alto 1

  • Member since 2007

  • Retired Elementary school teacher

  • Church choir member

  • Plays piano and clarinet

  • Enjoys music, Bridge, crossword puzzles

Bonita Skidmore

Historian

  • Soprano 2, Alto 1

  • Member since 2017

  • Hails from Peoria. AZ

  • Grew up in Idaho and Utah

  • Accomplished Composer

  • Plays piano

  • Volunteer Family Search Consultant

  • Mother of 8; Grandmother of 38

  • Great grandmother of 1

  • Avid bicyclist

  • Married 50 years

Ellie Skon

Board Member At-Large

  • Soprano 1

  • Member since 2015

  • Arizona native

  • LPN (ret'd) with Associate of Applied Science Degree (Ob-Gyn)

  • Voice and piano lessons from an early age

  • High school soprano with touring concert choir and an a capella Madrigal group

  • Earned a voice scholarship to college

  • Has 4 grandchildren

  • Avid reader, loves history & politics

  • Enjoys hunting for antique furniture and all types of music

Ann Stephens

General Member

  • Soprano 1

  • Member 2012-2015, 2020

  • Past Sonoran Sounds board member

  • Lifetime chorus singer

  • Sings in Wickenburg's Cantata Singers

  • Retired public librarian

  • One time backup singer for Andy Williams

Janice Straight

General Member

  • Soprano 1

  • Member since 2010

  • Lifelong music lover and accomplished soloist

  • Participated in many choruses, bands and orchestras

  • Has taught instrumental and choral music

  • Sang with Middletown Civic Chorus as Messiah soloist

  • Performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center with Masterworks Chorus

  • Has been the featured soloist at many weddings, funeral and church services

  • Performed solo concerts

  • Choir director of Sun City West Christian Church since 2001

Beth Tewhill
General Member

  • Alto 1, Alto 2

  • Member since 2018

  • Registered Respiratory Therapist

  • Registered Polysomnagher (ret'd)

  • Lifetime choir/chorus singer

  • Toured Europe with Monmouth Civic Chorus

  • Loves Photography

Karla Thalman
General Member

  • Soprano 2, Alto 1

  • Member since 2021

  • Originally from Castle Dale, UT

  • Arizona resident for 22 years

  • Widow and Mother of 4 wonderful kids

  • Lifetime choir singer

  • Director of children's choir

  • Plays piano

  • Enjoys traveling, home decorating, walking

  • BS degree in Business

  • Financial Advisor with Edward Jones

Pam Willie

Secretary

  • Second Alto

  • Member since 2011

  • Previous Customer Service Rep for Educational Publisher

  • Lifetime choir singer

  • U of MN Chorus

  • Clarinetist in high school

  • Quilter

  • 2 granddaughters ages 4, 2 1/2

Kay Young

Concert Videographer & Publisher

  • Soprano 2/Alto1

  • Member since 2005 Voice and Flute

  • BS in French & Social Studies U of KS:KU

  • MA in Church History & Theology

  • Taught HS & College French & Religion 

  • 1st chair flute: 9th grade

  • Teen: 7 summers (6 wks) in the KU Music & Art Camp,

  • Sang + husband in Carnegie Hall, with CA’s St. Cruz Chorale

  • CA Cantori di Carmel Chorale;4 Episcopal church choirs.

  •  AZ Arts Chorale/PHX College Chamber Choir/CD Singers

  • 5 AZ Episcopal church choirs (PHX, Par.Valley & Sun Cities).

  • Plays flute in the Christopher Singers, Sun City (since 2005)

  • Does PC, Genealogy, French cuisine & French classes for Seniors

Kathie Watland
General Member (Retired)

  • Alto 1, Alto 2

  • Member since 2019

  • Hails from Superior, WI

  • Lifetime Church singer

  • Played French Horn

  • Sings with Husband in Community

  • Studied Piano

  • Former Administrative Assistant

Mary Lyn Kappert
General Member (Retired)

  • Soprano 2, Alto 1

  • Member since 2016

  • Home base in Olympia, WA

  • B.A., History & B.S. Occupational Therapist

  • Active Occupational Therapist

  • Has worked in adult rehabilitation, psychiatric and developmental disabilities, education, and home health

  • Sang with Sweet Adelines 17 yrs

  • Loves gardening, baking 

  • Environmental advocate

Shirlee Lansing
Retired

  • MSW, LICSW Treasurer

  • Second Alto. Member since 2016

  • Retired Clinical Social Worker

  • Accomplished clarinetist

  • Plays in multiple bands 

  • Lifetime choir singer

  • Enjoys making cards

Carol Snyder
Retired

  • Alto 1

  • Member since 2008

  • R.N.

  • Accomplished choir accompanist

  • Sang in mixed quartet

  • Lifetime choir singer

  • Taught Piano

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