About Us

We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in the Moscow/Pullman area.

Matthew Myers | Artistic Director
Dr. Matthew Myers works as assistant professor of choral music education at Washington State University, where he conducts the University Singers and Treble Choir and teaches courses in music education, conducting, and voice pedagogy. He earned his DMA in choral conducting from Louisiana State University, his master’s degree in choral conducting from Northern Arizona University, and his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and music education from Luther College. After completing his degree at Luther, he taught grades 6-12 choir at The American International School of Muscat in Oman. For the following five years, he worked as director of choirs and musical theatre at Boylan Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois. In addition to conducting five choirs, he taught AP music theory, class piano, and critical thinking and coordinated a middle school choral program at four of Boylan’s constituent grade schools. He has served as conductor of the NAU Men’s Chorale and Chamber Singers, the LSU Chamber Singers, the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, and the Flagstaff Youth Chorale and has held church music positions in Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, and Alabama. Prior to his time at WSU, Dr. Myers taught at the University of Alabama, where he conducted two choirs and taught courses in music appreciation, choral literature, vocal pedagogy, and diction.

Kobe Hagen | Children's Choir Conductor
Kobe Hagen, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, holds a degree in choral music education from Brigham Young University, where he was very active and involved in the singing and choral community. Kobe sang for 2 years in the university's top ensemble, the Brigham Young University Singers, where he was able to travel and sing internationally in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Spain. Kobe also had the opportunity to serve as the BYU Concert Choir bass section leader. Since graduating, Kobe has been actively teaching voice lessons as well as performing professionally in the Utah Symphony and Opera Chorus. He is thrilled to be here in the Palouse area teaching the PCS Children's Choir.

Alisa Toy | Assistant Director
Originally from Alberta, Canada, Alisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Mississippi University for Women where she was awarded the outstanding teacher intern award by MACTE. Now pursuing a Master’s in Voice and Choral Conducting from the University of Idaho, she is currently singing the role of Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Other accomplishments include singing the role of Gertrude in Hänsel and Gretel and soloing with the Mississippi State Symphony Choir and Orchestra, and the Greeley Chorale and Philharmonic Orchestra. She has soloed in Great Britain and Italy including a concert for Pope Benedict XVI. She recently won the University of Idaho Concerto/Aria Competition and placed first in the Southern Region NATS vocal competition in 2011. Alisa enjoyed serving several years in public and private schools teaching K-12 music and is in her 28th year of teaching voice and piano through her private studio.

Elena Panchenko | Accompanist
Elena Panchenko, born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, has been working with the Palouse Choral Society since 2005. Elena is also the music director at St. James Episcopal Church, an accompanist for Washington State University vocal ensembles, an in-demand collaborative pianist, and a private piano teacher. In her spare time, Elena enjoys singing in a local Klezmer band, Gefiltertrout. She lives in Pullman with her husband, Alex, a Washington State University math professor, her mother-in-law Margarita, and Amour, the family dog.

Deborah Collins | Children's Choir Accompanist
Dr. Deborah Collins has been the Children's Choir pianist since 2022 and enjoys singing with the Chorale and Chamber Choir as well. She studied piano performance at Iowa State University prior to deciding to go into medicine and has accompanied university choirs, church choirs, and voice students, directed a youth choir, and sung with multiple collegiate and community choirs in the past. Deborah is currently a family physician at WSU's Cougar Health Services and obtained her MD from Duke University School of Medicine and Master of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Pullman with her husband Brian and their three daughters Sophie, Lucy and Violet, all of whom have also sung with the Palouse Choral Society.

Board of Directors:

Darcy Howser | President

Gillian Sharma | Vice-President
Gillian has been singing with Palouse Choral Society for several years and enjoys serving on the board. She is a long-time resident of Moscow, though originally from England. A life-long teacher she has worked with children ranging from preschool to high school. Her most recent employment was teaching Music and French at the Montessori School of Pullman. Though now retired, she still enjoys composing songs and writing stories for young children.

Lizzie Stedman | Secretary
Lizzie Stedman is a lifelong musician and long-time Moscow resident with a vocal background that includes performing with Idaho All State Choirs, NAfME All Northwest Mixed Choir, and the University of Idaho's Vandaleers. She joined Palouse Choral Society in 2023 and currently serves as Board Secretary. Professionally, Lizzie owns a preschool center in Moscow, proctors standardized tests at the University of Idaho, and you can even occasionally find her working a booth at the Moscow Farmers Market. Her creative pursuits extend beyond choir to include playing string and wind instruments, photography, reading, and designing custom shirts—reflecting her passion for both the arts and education.

Jordan Hardy | Treasurer

Sylvester Bullock | Chorale Member Representative

Niko Efstathioy | Chorale Member Representative
I'm Niko Efstathioy, and this will be my second year singing with PCS. Like many members, I stepped away from music to focus on other parts of life, but as time went by I missed singing! PCS has been incredibly welcoming, and singing again has brought me so much joy. It’s a great break from the stress of work, and I’m so grateful for the friendships and memories I’ve made here.

Ally Fraser | Chorale Member Representative

Shelley Tomsovic | Chorale Member Representative
Shelley has lived in the Moscow/Pullman area since 1999. A recently retired special education teacher, she has sung in area choirs off and on over the years as her schedule would allow. Currently Shelley is one of the chorale representatives to the PCS board and heads up the music library team. When she isn’t singing with the choir, Shelley enjoys are paper crafting, watercolor painting, hiking on MAMBA trails in Moscow with her dog Sadie, traveling with her husband Steve, and learning about wine.

Maggie Rehm | Children's Choir Representative

Krystal Starkey | Community Representative
Krystal is a community member who grew up on the Palouse, graduating from Moscow High School and attending the University of Idaho. They recently moved back to the area and work at another nonprofit that focuses on protecting the environment, something they are very passionate about. They were in choir as a kid and attended many performances of friends in the music program, so even though they didn't continue singing themselves, choir performances have always been something they enjoy.

Vacant | Community Representative 2

Ken Bertapelle | Treasurer-Elect
Ken is the Treasurer-Elect of the Palouse Choral Society. He moved to Idaho from Virginia in 2023 and retired this past March. He grew up on Long Island, but spent most of his adult life in the western U. S. His working career was eclectic and included engineering, teaching, real estate finance, entertainment, and long haul trucking. He lives in Moscow and enjoys singing, gardening, and woodworking.

If you are interested in learning about serving on our board of directors, please contact Darcy Howser at president@palousechoralsociety2.org