ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
ARIA DIRECTOR
MUSIC LITERACY DIRECTOR

Ms. Pyper received her Bachelors and Masters of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and her Kodály Certification from Brigham Young University. She spent time performing professionally at various theatres in Northern California, Arizona, and as part of Maximum Entertainments touring cast. For the last 14 years, Ms. Pyper has served as music teacher, administrator, and Headmaster in various school settings in California, Arizona, and Texas. She is currently the Assistant Headmaster for Great Hearts Online Texas, and continues to fill her spare time performing at local theatres in the valley. In addition to her great love of music, Ms. Pyper enjoys spending time with her family and aussiedoodle, Maverick.

AMABILE DIRECTOR

Melissa Iglesias is a passionate musician and music educator with an extensive background performing pop, sacred, theater, and opera genres as a soloist and ensemble musician. She sings at various venues ranging from church soloist to recitalist, is an active member of the Chandler Opera, and performs with the Euphony ensemble directed by Prof. Emeritus at ASU, Dr. David Schildkrit.

Originally a Floridian, Ms. Iglesias graduated with her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the opera program at Florida International University in Miami, FL in 2017. She continues to take lessons to maintain her abilities and frequently auditions for music festivals locally and abroad. Most recent festivals include performing the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Magic Flute with Trentino Music Festival in Italy, Proserpina from Monterverdi’s L’Orfeo with Miami Music Festival, and a variety of soprano solo repertoire in concert with Opera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.

 Ms. Iglesias is also excited to invest in the next generation daily as she serves as a K-8 music educator at Liberty Arts Academy in Mesa, AZ. In the role of music educator, she is skilled with curriculum development, choral directing, music theory, ear training, percussion ensemble, and performance preparation and planning. With over 9 years of experience as a music teacher, her teaching practices are motivated by the desire to enrich student’s lives with valuable music skills, performing experiences and exploration. This also translates into her practices as a voice teacher with 8 years of experience as a voice instructor both in studios and at her home.

ANGELI DIRECTOR

Brooke Durborow’s love for singing and music started the day she was born. She grew up singing and playing piano with her grandmother and attending shows at ASU Gammage with her mom – it is the ongoing joke in the family that she was singing before she could even talk. From elementary school through high school, she was active in several youth theaters in the valley, studied piano with her grandmother, and took private lessons for both flute and voice. In high school, she was on the leadership team in both band and choir, which is what sparked her love for education.

Ms. Durborow received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Arizona State University, where she graduated in May of 2021 Summa Cum Laude and received the Outstanding Resident Achievement Award. While at ASU, Brooke also served as the President of ASU’s American Choral Directors Association Student Chapter, was on the leadership team with both Gospel Choir and Concert Choir, and worked as the Choral Librarian in the School of Music.

Ms. Durborow teaches 5th-8th grade choir at both Apache and Frontier Elementary in the Peoria Unified School District. She is currently on the District’s Leadership Team as both an Advisory Member and a Mentor to the other choir teachers in the district.

She is excited to be in her fourth season with the Arizona Girlchoir team to share her love of music with young girls throughout the community.

ALLEGRIA DIRECTOR

Erin Tompkins is an accomplished theater, sacred, and concert musician. She has contracted with Arizona and Phoenix Opera Companies, graduated with her Bachelor’s of Music in Voice from Southern Methodist University in 2003, and performs in seasonal appearances with professional and voluntary ensembles locally. Her experience in the performing arts and academic communities has inspired students to pursue auditions in several languages, including but not limited to Spanish, French, Italian, Hebrew, German, and Latin.

Ms. Tompkins takes pride in helping her students connect to a focus, power, confidence, preparation, and joy of sharing the music they love across genres. She worked as a music minister of Via de Cristo United Methodist Fellowship/Faith Community for 10 years and several other congregations.

Ms. Tompkins was a voice instructor for Arizona Girlchoir’s 2024-25 season and is looking forward to working with our adult choir.

ARIA COLLABORATIVE PIANST

Heather Pryse is an internationally performed young American composer and recent graduate of Music Composition from the University of North Texas. Her most notable achievements include a 3rd prize in the Pure Classic Vienna International Composition Competition in 2024, a fellowship with No Divide KC for the “Come as You Are” initiative in partnership with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, performances at SEAMUS National Conferences in 2024, an Honorable Mention Finalist placing in the 2023 Flute New Music Consortium Flute and Electronics Category, a Semi- Finalist placing in the Instrumental Chamber Music category of the American Prize 2018, being featured on National Public Radio for the premiere of her first symphony by the Crozet Community Orchestra, and receiving performances on the Italian radio station Gingiana RadioArte.

Ms. Pryse’s music focuses on exploring improvisation and other forms of collaboration as well as theatrical multimedia productions which utilize live and fixed electronics, poetry recitations, cake decoration, and other performance elements that create narrative impact. Ms. Pryse recently accepted a teaching position with Great Hearts as the 3-5th grade music teacher at Archway Lincoln and is excited to become an educator and mentor for young artists.

AMABILE COLLABORATIVE PIANIST

ANGELI COLLABORATIVE PIANIST

Jean-Luc Villamor was born in the Philippines but was raised here in the Valley. He started piano lessons in the 2nd grade and started accompanying ensembles in the 6th grade. He furthered his musicianship in piano, voice, and band at Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics and graduated in 2017 with an Arts diploma for completing 23 extra music credits, student directing the honors choir, marching band, and orchestra. During this time, Jean-Luc also joined the Phoenix Children’s Chorus, Class of 2017, and has continued to be involved with the organization ever since.

Mr. Villamor attended Arizona State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and a focus in Jazz Piano. He’s had the honor of performing around the world including The Nash Jazz Club, Carnegie Hall in New York, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Vatican City. He’s worked with the ASU Gospel Choir as both a vocalist and pianist under directions of Dr. Jason Thompson and Prof. Nathan Myers, Grammy award-winning artist Myron Butler, the York University Gospel Choir under direction of Karen Burke, and has led workshops with the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).

Currently, Mr. Villamor is the choir director of a children’s choir for homeschool kids, the assistant music director at his church, a worship leader for numerous churches around the valley, and a private piano and voice instructor.

ALLEGRIA COLLABORATIVE PIANIST

Lindsey Johnson is a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology at Arizona State University and her research focuses on Black female musicians from the early 20th century, investigating the intersections of music, race, gender, and spirituality within American history. In 2023, she earned a Master’s in Organ Performance from Arizona State University, studying under Kimberly Marshall. She has performed throughout the United States and abroad, including in Spain, Mexico, and Belgium. Ms. Johnson currently serves as the Organist and Bell Director at North Scottsdale United Methodist Church.

PRIMA INSTRUCTOR

Ashlie Lauren Smith is a dedicated and accomplished mezzo-soprano based in Phoenix, AZ. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Stetson University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Throughout her academic career, she has consistently excelled, earning numerous scholarships and competition awards, including the William E. Dukwitz Talent Scholarship and multiple first-place wins in the NATS Competition.

Ms. Smith’s extensive performance experience spans various roles and soloist appearances in renowned operas and concert works, such as Handel’s Messiah, Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri, and Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. Her recent engagements include performances at the Arizona Bach Festival and as a soloist for the Arizona Piano Institute. Ms. Smith has also performed in the Arizona Opera Chorus’s production of Aida and Seattle’s Skagit Symphony Orchestra presentation of Elgar’s Sea Pictures.

In addition to her performance career, Ms. Smith has a strong background in music education. She has maintained a private voice and piano studio since 2004 and has taught Music Together in Phoenix since 2019. She currently teaches voice and piano at Prestige Music Academy, and is the music and theater director at Desert Marigold School. She also has been a soloist and section leader for the All Saints Choir Episcopal Church in Phoenix since 2021.

Fluent in German and proficient in several other languages, Ashlie brings a diverse skill set to her roles. Her professional memberships include Sigma Alpha Iota, Kaleidoscope Club, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Ashlie is passionate about sharing her love for music with others and is excited about the opportunity to inspire and instruct the Prima Class at Arizona Girlchoir.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Prior to accepting the position of Executive Director in 2019, Mrs. Shenk spent six years on the Board of Directors of Arizona Girlchoir, with one year as secretary and three years as treasurer. She is a graduate of the University of the Pacific with a BA in English.

Her 10-year career in technical writing for Silicon Valley tech companies included designing templates for manuals (remember those?), working with software engineers on user interface design, testing products, developing online help strategies, and forays into web design and databases. She also co-edited and wrote articles for the journal for the Silicon Valley Chapter of Society for Technical Writers.

After the birth of her first child, Mrs. Shenk stayed at home and eventually homeschooled her four children. She was the Children’s Ministry Director for her church in San Jose for nine years, managing all aspects of children’s programming, including planning and executing yearly Vacation Bible School. Her passion for supporting mothers and babies led to volunteer work with La Leche League International and Breastfeeding USA, where she led meetings, managed over 200 breastfeeding counselors nationally, and assisted with branding, marketing strategies, and organizational development, including redesign, testing, and editing of the website and education modules for Breastfeeding USA. She has also served on leadership teams for her churches in California and Arizona.

In her spare time, Mrs. Shenk facilitates a monthly support group for mothers at her church. She knows firsthand the important role that choir can play in development and growth of young women (and men) as her children have been in choir since they could talk. Her two older daughters are choir alumnae and now sing with Allegria.

SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING MANAGER

Miriam Harding is a wife of 11 years and mother of 5 children. With 4 boys, she is pleased that her daughter has a creative outlet in Arizona Girlchoir that she loves. Miriam and her husband, John, own a marketing agency and Real Estate Team in Phoenix, and she shares her experience with Arizona Girlchoir as the Social Media/Marketing Manager.

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT MANAGER

CHOIR PHOTOGRAPHER

Gary’s passion for photography started at a young age. In high school, he was promoted to chief artist and photographer for the newspaper, cutting his teeth covering chess club championships, volleyball games, etc.

After college, Gary was ready to see the world through the lens of his Canon. He joined the Navy, of all things, and after graduating from the esteemed US Navy Schools of Photography, worked his craft aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln for five years, then was chosen for a prestigious position with the White House Communications Agency in Washington, DC, where he served four more years, traveling twice overseas with the President. After his stint in Washington, he continued his career stateside—shooting creative campaigns for some of the top agencies in the Southwest.

Gary lives in Avondale with his wife Kimberly and 7 wonderful children. He recently retired as a Senior Chief in the Navy Reserve. His youngest daughter has been singing with the choir since 2019.

Many thanks to G Man Studios for creating nearly all of the beautiful photographs on our site! Gary volunteers to photograph many of our concerts and events so we have amazing pictures of our choir and singers.

MUSIC LIBRARIAN