Staff Directory
Ms. Atkinson, a painter and illustrator, came to the West Coast after teaching Visual Art in Brooklyn, NY. She obtained her Master's degree in Art and Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Pratt Institute.
Mrs Brown is one of the founding music teachers of the PBA. She has a Masters in Early Childhood Music Education with an emphasis in Kodaly techniques from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, Connecticut. For the past ten years, she has taught music to both adults and children in various settings, as well as piano pedagogy at the University of Montemorelos in Mexico.
Ms. Cisin comes to PBA from the American Indian Public High School in Oakland, the third-ranking public high school in California. As an administrator at AIPHS, Ms. Cisin completed major projects including the school's charter renewal, WASC accreditation, and California Distinguished School award applications, all of which were approved with great praise from the organizations involved.
A native of Chicago, Ms. Cohn recently moved to the Bay Area after completing her undergraduate studies and Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a focus in History and Science education at Brown University. Before coming to PBA she worked with several middle-school enrichment programs in Rhode Island and Oakland, including the Partners Program at the College Preparatory School.
In addition to working with PBA, Ms. Conley-Holcom is Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Chabot College in Hayward, and Director of Music at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Santa Rosa.
Mr Fox has been involved with boys choirs since the age of eight. He holds degrees in Music (with Honors) and Economics from Wesleyan University, Connecticut, where he studied voice with tenor Wayne Rivera, conducting with Mel Strauss, composing with Neely Bruce, and received the Lipsky Prize for outstanding scholarship in choral studies.
Ms. Glatter is a graduate of Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Latin and Classical Civilizations. Ms. Glatter is especially interested in grammar and comparative history and politics. Prior to coming to PBA, she worked extensively as a tutor, coaching students of all ages and abilities. At PBA Ms.
Ms. Angela Lebakken has a long history of Spanish teaching and scholarship. She obtained her undergraduate degrees in both Spanish and Comparative Literature, magna cum laude, and went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Spanish Literature and Linguistics.
John Lynch received his B.A. in English literature from Yale University, and his M.A. (with Distinction) in English Language, Literature, and Research from the University of Virginia. He has been a Charlotte Newcomb Doctoral Fellow, as well as a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University.
An organist by hobby and native of San Francisco, Noble Macfarlane grew up singing in the Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. While in high school, Noble joined the PBA as a Troubador, singing soprano on the PBA's first Grammy Award-winning recording. After earning an AB in Mathematics from Brown University, where he sang with the Choir of St.
Ms. MacIlvaine grew up in Oakland and moved to Tacoma, Washington, where she graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Prior to taking on the PBA's fourth grade class, she worked as a second grade teacher in Tacoma. She has a special interest in geological sciences and drama. Ms.
Kim Rankin studied piano, organ, voice, and choral and orchestral conducting at Duke University (undergraduate) and U.C. Berkeley (graduate). She has been active as a conductor, singer, and accompanist in the Bay Area for twenty years. She has conducted choirs for the San Francisco Girls Chorus, U.C.
A native of Finland, Heli Roiha received her Ph.D. degree in biochemistry at Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, England. After moving to California to pursue postdoctoral studies in molecular biology at UCB, she moved to a senior research position at UCSF.
Ms Roy is a founding member of the Pacific Boychoir staff. She has a Masters degree in Music from California State University, Hayward, and has been the organist at Montclair Presbyterian Church in Oakland for over 20 years. Formerly, Ms Roy served as choral conductor at Holy Names High School in Oakland and at the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
San Francisco-based countertenor and educator, William Sauerlan enjoys a varied career of teaching, singing, and conducting. In addition to teaching at the Pacific Boychoir Academy, Mr. Sauerland is currently the Director of Vocal Music at Lick-Wilmerding High School, and Artistic and Music Director of the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco.
Ms. Quinn-Duggan joins PBA in the new role of Artistic Program Manager. A UK native, she studied voice, cello, and classical Indian music, obtaining her undergraduate degree in Performing Arts from Leeds College of Music.
Mr. Thompson grew up in Birmingham Michigan, where he began swimming at the age of 6. Throughout his school years, Mr. Thompson continued swimming, and ended his career as an Olympic Trials Qualifier and the Captain of the University of Florida swim team.