We are passionate about making music and supporting the arts in our community. Our annual spring and holiday concerts directly support the programs of local arts non-profits.
Beth Carter, Artistic Director & Soprano
Singing since the age of two, it was no surprise that Beth’s life would always revolve around music, learning several instruments by the age of 8. Her interest in music changed dramatically when she was first invited to sing in church choir at the age of 10, performing her first solo shortly thereafter. Seeing and feeling how singing could touch others became the “thing she wanted to do” most of all.
Beth earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance, with solo recitals throughout past decades and performing a world premier of a new setting of Walt Whitman’s “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” in 2016.
Beth joined the Valley of the Moon Chamber Ensemble in the Spring of 2011. In addition to her time with VOMCE she also has directed and performed with choirs across the country. With our 2021 season and retirement of founding Director Brian Sebastian, VOMCE is thrilled to welcome Beth as our Artistic Director. Beth’s current projects also include performing with the Consort Chorale of Marin, and various solo performances.
When not conducting or singing, Beth works as a Holistic Health Practitioner and Health Coach at Carter Wellness Clinic. She resides in Sonoma with her husband and two daughters.
Gail Chadwin, Alto
Gail joined VOMCE in the Fall of 2014, and is thrilled to be singing with such a talented group! She grew up in Sonoma, and has been singing most of her life – in the Children’s Chorale, at Altamira Middle School and Sonoma Valley High School, and with Voces at UC Santa Cruz. She took a hiatus from choral singing while living in El Salvador for five years, and is happy to be back in touch with her musical side.
Gail currently works as the Annual and Foundation Giving Manager at the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. In her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, kickboxing, singing with the Sonoma Valley Chorale, and volunteering. She lives in Sonoma with her husband and son.
John Christiansen, Tenor
Since moving to the Bay Area in 1995, John has been a member of various choral groups including most recently Chora Nova of Berkeley, Consort Chorale of Marin and North Star Vocal Artists. John joined VOMCE in the fall of 2017.
Professionally, John is a consultant working with law firms and corporate legal departments to help manage litigation. In his free time John enjoys playing golf, travel, reading and swimming. He lives in San Rafael with his wife Shane and their one year old Golden Retriever, Gracie.
Mago Huffman, Alto
Mago has been singing since she was about 6 months old. She was raised in Sonoma. She was a MADD NERD (Music, Arts, Dance and Drama) all through high school, college and grad school. She minored in music at the Conservatory of Music, University of the Pacific. She studied Die Historische Bewusstsein der Rock musik in Freiburg, Germany. She’s sung in small and large ensembles, in musical theatre, recorded as a backup and studio artist, as well as scores of solo performances. Her favorite genres are rock, broadway, gospel and contemporary classical, but she also loves choral music of most any era, as long as it doesn’t involve accordions or bag pipes. Mago joined VOMCE in Spring 2013.
Mago is an Intuitive life coach. Her practice integrates elements for the mind, body, heart, soul and spirit. She is also a published author.
Kevin Jones, Bass
After a taking time off, Kevin has returned to sing with VOMCE.
Kevin moved to Sonoma County in 2010, after a successful career in financial services and nonprofit management in New York City and San Francisco. In addition to singing with VOMCE since Fall 2014, Kevin is also actively involved with Sonoma Valley Chorale, both singing and serving on its Board. He currently owns a local sign franchise and serves on the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights. He and his husband live in Petaluma.
Rob Angus Jones, Baritone
Rob was born into a family of musicians, and began a lifetime of making music in his church choirs, school and university chorales, jazz bands, orchestras and marching bands, and brief forays into musical theater – and of course around the family piano at every opportunity. Rob has been a featured singer, performing his own compositions, for numerous events, including Durham, North Carolina’s first Gay Pride day. After a long break from choral performance, Rob happily discovered and joined VOMCE in 2011. He also sings in the Consort Chorale of Marin.
Rob and his husband David are local Realtors, moving their home and real estate practice – and small herd of rescue animal companions – to the Sonoma valley in 2010.
Jim Kamphoefner, Bass
Jim has been singing in Lutheran churches and schools from a very young age, but since moving to California in 1999 has become active with a number of local choirs, including the Winnifred Baker-Domincan Chorale, Marin Symphony Chorus, Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus, Consort Chorale of Marin, North Star Vocal Artists, and since Fall 2018, VOMCE. Jim also sings with, and occasionally arranges music for Sing We Enchanted, an a capella group that brings the joy and comfort of music to UCSF hospitals and other care facilities in San Francisco and Marin County.
Amanda Kreklau, Soprano
Born and raised in Santa Rosa, Amanda began singing and acting in childhood. After a break to focus on her education, she joined the Sonoma Bach Choir in 2010. Currently she sings with the SSU Symphonic Choir, and joined VOMCE in Fall of 2018. Amanda is a freelance editor and writer, and also runs a small graphic design and art print business. She lives in Santa Rosa with her spouse and her dog.
Erick Larson, Tenor
Erick began singing as a child in various church choirs and community choral productions. He studied voice at the University of Illinois where he sang with the University Concert Choir, Varsity Men’s Glee Club, and the University Opera Chorus. He moved to New York City and sang in numerous theater and opera productions and several church choirs. He sang with Musaic, an all male acapella ensemble in San Francisco for 10 years. He began singing with VOMCE in 2010 and happily returned to the ensemble after a 3 year hiatus.
Erick is the Regional Director of Operations for Hired Hands Homecare and lives with his spouse, Kelsey Maddox in Sonoma. He spends much of his free time cooking and entertaining.
Melissa Muller, Alto
Melissa loves music and has been singing her whole life. Music is probably her favorite way to spend time with people. Melissa started her musical education with piano lessons, and later oboe and guitar. She fell in love with choral singing while attending Sonoma State university, but was busy raising her family and didn’t pursue it.
Fifteen years ago Melissa traded her oboe for a nice guitar and started playing and singing again socially. One thing lead to another and she now sings in several choirs and music circles around the Bay Area. Melissa was excited to become a part of VOMCE in Fall 2015, and its commitment to beautiful choral music.
James Seitchik Sebastian, Baritone
James comes from a family of singers. His parents met in the Oakland Symphony chorus and his mom went on to sing with the SF Symphony chorus for the better part of 40 years. As boys, James and his brother both sang at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and all through high school and college. After an unexpectedly 12 year hiatus from choral singing, James joined VOMCE in Spring of 2019 and has found his people.
James is a residential carpenter and lives with his wife and three amazing kids in Petaluma. He spends what little free time he can muster working on their home, practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, knitting, and singing with VOMCE.