The Artists

 Artistic Director: 

Kimilee McCreary earned a B.S. in Music Education (emphasis in choral conducting) from Grand Canyon University in 1988 and a Master of Music from Arizona State University in 1991. From 1988-1995, she was a member of the music faculty at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, serving as Director of Choirs from 1993-1995. Her conducting experience includes university level mixed choirs, women's choirs, small chamber and jazz vocal ensembles, opera and musical theatre. In addition, McCreary has also taught studio voice, studio conducting and conducting classes covering beginning and advanced conducting technique. She has studied conducting technique with Donald Bailey, David Stocker and Douglas McEwen. Ordained to the ministry in 1998, McCreary serves as the Minister of Worship and Music at Community Church of Hope in Phoenix. She has been with Arizona Women In Tune since 1997.

 Accompanist: 

Mamak Dahnad Mamak Dahnad has been an active accompanist in the Valley of the Sun for over 10 years, accompanying singers and instrumentalist in recitals, master classes and competitions. She has performed in master classes for Jean Pierre Rampal, Margo Garrett and Eckart Selheim and was principal pianist for the Mesa Symphony for 6 years. In addition, Dahnad collaborated and performed with soprano Magda Silva in an original work entitled “Opera Seria…not,” and toured with several singers from the Valley in an all African-American Art Song Lecture Recital. She received her Masters in Music from Carnegie Mellon University and her Masters in Collaborative Piano from Arizona State University. She is the proud mother of three very active and wonderful children.

 Volunteer Interpreter: 

Haley Ritter Many people have asked me, “Well, how can deaf people appreciate music if they can’t hear it?” My answer to this question is simply that, just because a deaf person doesn’t necessarily hear the music, it doesn’t mean that they can’t feel it! As someone with a tremendous passion for American Sign Language (ASL), music, and dance, this is where I come in… The women of AzWIT put so much life and passion into their songs; I simply take this form and transfer it into a visual, live piece of expression. My goal is to paint a moving picture of their music which conveys the same spirit and elegance that flows from their beautiful voices! As I’ve spent my whole life converting song lyrics, beats, and rhythms into movement, and since the beginning my career as an ASL interpreter, it has been one of my goals to have the opportunity to combine these talents and bring musical interpretation to the Deaf Community. Thank you, to all the ladies of AzWIT, for giving me this chance!

 Active Singing Members: 

First Sopranos

Dawn Bates
Becky Bartlett (sabbatical)
Jackie Beckett (sabbatical)
Ruth Carter (section leader)
Lisa Genuit
Kelly Hutchison (sabbatical)
Julie Martinez
Barb Morrissey
Karen Nunley (section manager)
Karina Sandweg
Ashley Sullivan
Jamie Torner
Michele White
>

Second Sopranos

Tarah Ausburn
Debbie Beck
Lee Campbell
Gail Carns (section leader)
La Dessa Coleman
Sarah English (section manager)
Gloriana Hunter
Dee Krull
Diana Latimore (sabbatical)
Christina Long
Roe Macaulay
Amy Pennock
Rose Swarts
Valissa Witmer
Patricia Wolfe

First Altos

Lisa Aragon
Anna Arnold (sabbatical)
Robbynne Archia
Shelley Brittan
Sue Caudill (sabbatical)
Liz Fairman
Sally Harmon
Trish Haskell
Lee Kovacsevics
Kristin Koptiuch (sabbatical)
Carolyn Lange
Darlene Martinez
Jane Murdock
Jill Preston (sabbatical)
Marge Ray (sabbatical)
Marcella Sullivan
Elsa Trujillo
Chris Wagner (sabbatical)
June Wagner

Second Altos

Maria Aguilera (sabbatical)
Carole Baumgarten (sabbatical)
Mandy Fried (section leader)
Jackie Pat Hallett (sabbatical)
Betty Hamlin
Nola Johnson-Munoz
Jill Jones
Judy Kite
Laurie Lackland (sabbatical)
A. Kaweah Lemeshewsky
Mary Lyverse
Melinda Murphy
Sandy Munoz-Johnson
Pam Page (section manager)
Bobi Pellegrino
Jackie Ricker
Lisa Rosenfeld
Gail Sattler
Michelle Teichner