Conductors

Nikolas Caoile is a conductor, pianist, and music educator.

Jim Sisko has become one of the most sought after teachers, and performers in the Northwest. The Jim Sisko Quintet has been featured at countless festivals and concert venues, including the Port Townsend Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot, The Art of Jazz Series and Jazz Under the Stars.

William Berry received his Bachelor of Music Performance in Trumpet in 1982 from Indiana University, where he studied with Louis Davidson, Allan Dean and Charles Gorham. He has been principal trumpet for the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra since 1997 and from 1988 to 2012 was a member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

A member of the Cornish faculty since 1979, Roger Nelson performs frequently as a pianist and conductor. He holds a B.A. degree from Pomona College and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His early teachers were Adolph Baller and John Steele Ritter. As a pianist, he frequently accompanies for singers and instrumentalists.

Sandi Schwarz was violin faculty for many years from the time MMR started, so she is not unknown to the older participants. While living in the Seattle area (1974 to 2005) Sandi was active as a modern violinist, but since the '80s has specialized in Baroque- and Classical-style performance practice. One of her loves has been playing chamber music. In the early days there was L'Arianna Quartet with Sandi, Deede Cook, Eileen Swanson and Paige Smith.

Loren Pontén is founder and artistic director of Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble. Loren has been an assistant conductor for the Cathedral Choir of St. James in Seattle, and currently is a member of the Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Chant Choir and the professional ensemble, Cathedral Cantorei.

As a singer, he has also performed with the Tudor Choir and Choral Arts Northwest.

He holds undergraduate degrees in Music and Music Education and completed graduate studies in choral conducting at the University of Washington.

Michael Burch-Pesses is Director of Bands at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band, and teaches courses in conducting and music education. He holds Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.