Conductor and Staff
Dr. Edith A. Copley
Music Director
Edith A. Copley is in her seventeenth year as the music director of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff. She is also professor of music and director of choral studies at Northern Arizona University where she conducts the renowned Shrine of the Ages Choir and Vocal Chamber Ensemble. Dr. Copley coordinates the graduate choral conducting program and teaches courses in graduate conducting and choral literature.
Prior to coming to Flagstaff, Dr. Copley served as the assistant and interim principal conductor of the May Festival Chorus that performs with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops. She has prepared major choral/orchestral works for the late Robert Shaw, James Conlon, Jesus Lopez-Cobes, Randall Fleischer, and Eric Kunzel.
In April 1995, Dr. Copley became the first woman to conduct the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra in a classic series concert, and in 1999-2000 served as the resident conductor of the FSO for their 50th anniversary season, conducting three performances, including Brahms' German Requiem. She has also led the Master Chorale and FSO in performances of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (2005) and Mozart's C Minor Mass (2006). Dr. Copley conducted Verdi's Requiem with the Würzburg Philharmonic in Germany in 2004, and in April 2008 she conducted Britten's War Requiem with the FSO and the NAU Choral Union.
Dr. Copley received her MM and DMA degrees in conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a BA degree in music education from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Choral ensembles under her direction have performed at state, regional, and national conventions and have toured abroad to the People's Republic of China, Western Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
Dr. Copley was named the Centennial Teacher of the Year in the School of Performing Arts at Northern Arizona University in 1999. In 2004, she received the Arizona Music Educator of the Year Award, a Distinguished Service Award from Luther College, and the Arizona Outstanding Choral Director Award in June 2007.
Dr. Copley is currently the past-president of the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association and has her own choral series with Santa Barbara Music Publishing. Dr. Copley is in high demand as a guest conductor and clinician for choral festivals and conventions throughout the U.S. She also has conducted international choral festivals in Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Tasmania, Luxembourg, and Australia. In November 2008, she conducted an international honor choir in Beijing.
About Us
Joshua Palkki
Assistant Music Director
Joshua Palkki is a native of Michigan's Upper Peninsula who identifies very closely with Garrison Keillor's tales of Lake Wobegon. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in choral conducting at Northern Arizona University. In 2004 he graduated cum laude from Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana) where he earned a bachelor's degree in vocal/general music education; that same year the Indiana Music Educators Association named him Outstanding Future Music Educator. He also attended San José State University as an exchange student where he studied under renowned choral director Dr. Charlene Archibeque and sang with the SJSU Choraliers. From 2005-2009 he served as choral director at Hoover Middle School and Lincoln High School, two inner-city performing arts schools in San José, California. HMS and LHS choirs won top honors at several state and national festivals. He also performed with and served as assistant conductor of The Choral Project, a semi-professional ensemble based in San José, and has solo and conducting credits on their 2008 album "Tell the World." He has a great interest in middle school choral music and all things Finnish.
He is excited to be part of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff!
Brian Lockhard
Accompanist
A native of Arizona, Brian began his piano studies at age five. After receiving many awards in competitions around northern Arizona, he attended Northern Arizona University where he studied with Dr. Frank Scott. While at NAU, Brian was chosen as a Presser Scholar, won the NAU Solo Competition, and received first place in the Arizona division of the MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition. After graduating summa cum laude and being chosen Outstanding Music Student at NAU, Brian attended Texas Christian University in order to study with Steinway Artist John Owings. Having received his Master of Music in Piano Performance from TCU, Brian now makes his home in Flagstaff where he teaches privately, composes, and accompanies regularly both at NAU and in the surrounding community.
For recordings, concert dates, and more information, visit Brian's website at www.brianlockard.com.
Kim Overton
Business Manager
Board of Directors
Katherine Pastor, President
Tom Phelan, President-Elect
Barbara Soderblom, Treasurer
Marge Johnson, Soprano Section Leader sopranos@masterchorale.net
Deb Roberts, Alto Section Leader altos@masterchorale.net
David Shaffer, Tenor Section Leader tenors@masterchorale.net
Jamey Hasapis, Bass Section Leader basses@masterchorale.net
Jeanne Dustman, Member at Large
Misha Luther, Member at Large
Mary Lynn Quarteroli, Member at Large
Jean Hockman, Community Member
Troy Lorents, Community Member
Shirley Pastor, Community Member
Dr. Edith A. Copley, Music Director
Josh Palkki, Assistant Music Director
Master
Chorale of Flagstaff (Arizona)
