Meet Our team

Dr. Coreen Duffy

MCC Artistic
Director /

Conductor

Coreen Duffy is director of choral activities at the University of Montana School of Music, where she conducts Chamber Chorale and University Choir, teaches conducting, choral methods, and supervises student teachers. She has served as Artistic Director for the Missoula Community Chorus since 2019. A specialist in Jewish choral music, Duffy has presented sessions on the subject at national and regional ACDA conferences, as well as the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), and at the international conference of the European Center for Jewish Music (EZJM) in Hannover, Germany. Duffy serves as President-Elect of the Northwest Division of ACDA, which she previously served as Co-Chair for World Musics and Cultures. She recently served as Northwest Division Representative on the NAfME Council for Choral Education, and on the Editorial Board for The Choral Scholar, a publication by NCCO. She also co-chairs the General Education Committee at the University of Montana.

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Malcolm Lowe -

MPower

Voices -Director/

Conductor

Malcolm received a bachelor in voice performance from Western Washington University and a masters in composition for theater from San Diego State University. Following college he worked professionally in Theater on the west coast as a composer, performer and sound designer. When he moved to Missoula in 1993, he started a small business, The Loose Caboose, which continues to keep Missoula caffeinated. He has performed numerous roles on stage at Missoula Community Theater, and he has sung for many years with Dolce Canto. For the past 20 years he has been fortunate enough to have conducted this chorus of adults with disabilities, formerly known as the VSA Arts choir.

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Linda Stratton -MPower Voices

pi

anist


Linda Stratton moved to Missoula in 1990 and has since collaborated with many musicians from Masters in Performance candidates at the University of Montana to preschool. She has worked extensively with the Missoula Children’s Theater on community productions and accompanied for many public schools throughout the region. One of the organizations that is close to her heart is the MPower Voices choir where she has collaborated with Malcolm for 17 of the 20 years it has been in existence. It is a privilege to work with him as he encourages and enables these special individuals to both expand their abilities and realize their love of performing music.

RENIE HAll GIBSON

Director,
Missoula FORTE

Youth Choir

Renie Hall Gibson is a veteran music educator and choral conductor who has taught high school choral music, early childhood music and conducted community choirs for thirty-five years. She founded the Eastern Idaho Childrens' Choir in 2001, and worked with the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Council teaching musical theater classes. In 2006 she moved to Missoula and currently teaches at Rattlesnake Elementary School. She has served as president of the Idaho American Choral Directors Association, board member for Treasure State Orff, Idaho Falls Symphony, Missoula Symphony, and the Missoula International Choral Festival. In addition to singing in choral groups, including the Missoula Community Chorus, Renie enjoys playing a variety of instruments: piano, fiddle, ukulele and the hammered dulcimer. She is thrilled to be the founding conductor for the Missoula Forte Choir, developing musicianship and preparing young singers for a choral performance experience.

Lexi Vine
Assistant Director
Missoula Forte Choir

Lexi Vine is the K-5 General Music teacher at Paxson Elementary School, the Assistant Band Director at Hellgate High School, and the Assistant Conductor for the Missoula Forte Children's Choirs. As a trombonist, she performs with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra, Great Falls Symphony, Ed Norton Big Band, and the Missoula Jazz Orchestra. She earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Montana in 2019. When not in school, Lexi enjoys solving twisty puzzles, juggling, and spending time outdoors.


Kevin wille
operations manager

Kevin Wille is a graduate teaching assistant in the vocal music department at the University of Montana. Through his assistantship, Kevin teaches private voice lessons and assists in the choral and opera theater programs. Though he pursued a career outside of academia, Kevin eventually found his way back to school and began his undergraduate degree at 27 years of age.

Before finding his way back to school, Kevin fostered a love and appreciation for cooking. He usually can be found hand rolling pasta and listening to audio books while he cooks.


Chris cain
bookkeeper

Chris joined Missoula Community Chorus as a singer (second soprano) in the fall of 2003, after moving to Missoula from Kalispell. Her husband, Carl, a baritone, also sings in the chorus.

With a career background in full charge bookkeeping for many private and non-profit businesses and organizations, she is pleased to use her skills in recordkeeping to help manage Missoula Community Chorus accounting.