Faculty Bios

YMA Administration

Quinland Porter

Executive Director. B.A. Foreign Languages & Literature, Whitman College. Graduate studies, LMU (University of Munich, Germany) and Portland State University. Coaching licenses: levels D,E,F certifications. Currently pursuing an MPA degree through the Institute of Non-Profit Management, Portland State University. Involved with YMA from 1973-1996, then assumed the E.D. title and role in October 2007.

Galen Cohen

Director of Student Life. B.S. in Education and Social Policy, Minor in Music, Northwestern University. M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Boston College. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). YMA camper/CIT for 7 years, YMA counselor for 3 years. Currently employed as a child and family therapist for Trillium Family Services. Also active as a cellist in the Portland music community.

Amy Brase, RN

Nurse, Session 1. B.S., Nursing, University of Washington. Has been a pediatric and IV nurse with Salem Hospital and a pediatric nurse at Bess Kaiser Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Currently a school nurse in the Salem-Keizer school district.

Lyle Dockendorff

Assistant Director, Sessions 1 & 2. B.Mus., University of Iowa. M.M., Arizona State University. As a woodwind "Doubler," performances include: symphonies, operas, ballets, chamber ensembles, touring musicals and big bands. Over thirty years teaching experience. Currently maintains a private woodwind studio in Portland.

Eric Rausch

Recreation Director, Session 1. B.A., Chico State University, California, History. M.A., Boise State University, Curriculum and Instruction, Education. Eric has 8 years' experience teaching junior HS speech communication. 7 years as 8th grade varsity volleyball coach. Head ski and snowboard team coach. Currently involved with YMCA hiking camps and youth programs. Eric loves his dog Cody, climbs trees, is fascinated by junior high humor, splashes through puddles when available, and hopes to write a book about ant farms and croquet. Plan A is to "get rich" teaching and retire wealthy in his mid to late thirties. Plan B is to teach for a long, long time should Plan A not see fruition.

Ann Talamantes-Ristow

Recreation Director, Session 2. California State University-Sacramento, B.S., Physical Education. Activities Director, Athletic Director, Physical Education teacher for 11 years at Hogan HS, Vallejo, CA. Has coached softball, volleyball, badminton and girls basketball at Hogan for 13 years. Previously worked as Rec. Assistant for a Recreation and Park District in Sacramento.

 

Session 1 Faculty 2009

Instrumental Music Faculty

 

Scott Wright

Band Director. B.Mus., University of Michigan, M.Mus., and D.M.A., Arizona State University. Very active as a teacher, clinician, adjudicator, and performer throughout the nation. Currently Professor of Clarinet at the University of Kentucky.

David Martin Bebe

Cello Instructor. B.M. & M.M., Indiana University. Has studied with Helga Winold and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. Was on the faculty of the String Academy of Wisconsin at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee and served as principal cellist of the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Bebe has been active as both a performer and teacher throughout the United States, Canada, and France. He is currently pursuing his Doctoral Studies at the University of Miami, studying with Ross Harbaugh.

Jay Chen

Trumpet Instructor. Jay obtained his bachelor's degree from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China, and his M.A. from Oregon State University. Currently works as a Professor of Trumpet at O.S.U. and Willamette University. He also directs the brass ensembles at both schools. He is the principal trumpet for the Portland Opera. Mr. Chen has also performed with the Oregon Symphony, the Sunriver Music Festival, the Oregon Bloch Festival, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Cascade Music Festival. He has been a brass faculty member at the Marrowstone Music Festival and currently a visiting professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. Mr. Chen is in high demand as a soloist, clinician and adjudicator in China and around the Northwest. He is a clinician for the Yamaha Corporation of America.

Michinobu Iimori

Double Reed Instructor. B.A. (Oboe Performance) and M.A. (Woodwind Performance) Eastman School of Music. Has performed with the Oregon Symphony and Third Angle to name a few. Currently the principal oboe with the Salem Chamber Orchestra; Oboe instructor at George Fox University, Willamette University, Lewis & Clark College and the University of Portland in addition to maintaining his own studio.

Bill Stalnaker

Horn Instructor. Former Associate Principal Horn of the Oregon Symphony. Mr. Stalnaker studied with Christopher Leuba and has maintained a successful teaching studio for over 30 years. Currently president of the Music Education Assistance Project and serves on the Board of the Portland Brass Society. An active freelancer in the Portland area, he is also the horn instructor at Lewis & Clark College and Director of Bands at La Salle High School.

 

2009 Choir Faculty

Quinn Van Paepeghem

Choir Director. B.Mus., Boise State University. M.M.E., University of Oregon. Currently directs five choirs at Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho which involves more than 250 students. While Choir Director at Bend High School, the Vocal Jazz Choir won the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival in 1995 and 2001. Plays jazz guitar professionally with his wife. Current president of the Idaho Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

 

Shirley Van Paepeghem

Choir Instructor. B.Mus., Boise State University. Has taught private voice lessons for seventeen years. Teaches K-8 music at North Star Charter and directs choirs at Hillside Junior High in Boise. Performs as a jazz vocalist in Oregon and Idaho.

 

Session 2 Faculty

2009 Dance Faculty

Jason Davis

Dance Instructor (Ballet). Studied at the San Francisco Ballet School, Universal Ballet Academy (Kirov Academy), School of American Ballet and Ballet Aspen. Former member of the San Francisco Ballet. Currently teaches at Stites Performing Arts Center, Pacific Artist Dance Center, and Dance Vision.

Caton Lyles

Dance Accompanist (African). Accompanist for many choreographers in the field of jazz, modern, tap, ballet and West African Dance. He is also a studio musician, concert and club performer, sideman and leader. Currently accompanist/artist in residence, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. Teaches hand drum workshops at Rhythm Traders, Portland, Oregon.

Hakim Rashad Muhammad

Dance Accompanist (African). Studied with Abdy Kunta & Medoune Yacine Guye. Both of Senegal. Spent three years with The Northwest Afrikan American Ballet. Currently teaches African Drumming at Da Vinci Arts Middle School in Portland, Oregon.

Sekou Soumah (Derrell Walker)

African Dance Instructor. Spent four years with the Northwest Afrikan American Ballet Dance Company. In 1999 spent one month performing at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Has studied with Moustapha Bangoura, Alsemy Soumah, and Mamady Keita. Currently teaches African Dance in the Portland Metropolitan area.

 

2009 Theatre Faculty

Lorraine Bahr

Theatre Instructor. B.A., (Theatre) College of St. Benedict, MN; M.F.A. (Acting), University of Wisconsin. Drammy Award winning actress (The Treatment, Sowelu Theater and Lion In The Streets, Theatre Vertigo); performed in more than 300 Portland productions and local films; co-founder and Associate Artistic Director of Sowelu Ensemble Theater; Acting and Playwriting Instructor Portland State University, Literary Arts, Inc., The Attic, local high schools, and two Oregon State Prisons.

Damon Kupper

Theatre Instructor. B.A. (Theatre) SUNY Buffalo, M.F.A. (Acting) UC Irvine. Currently an "edu-tainer" who strongly believes in the power of theatre to promote peaceful relations and crosscultural understanding. He is a company member of Third Rail Repertory Theatre (The Pavilion, Grace) and has acted locally with Artist Repertory Theatre (Death of a Salesman), the Oregon Children's Theatre (Charlotte's Web) and the Well Arts Institute. He works for various theatre outreach programs and the Portland Theater Brigade as well as being a street-performer and walking tour guide in Portland.

 

2009 Musical Theatre Faculty

Jim Peerenboom

Musical Theatre Program Director. B.S.Ed. & M.A.T. (Theatre/Language Arts), Western Oregon University. Choreographer/ Director/ Actor in the Salem and Portland areas. Currently Theatre Director at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon.

Judy A. Rose

Musical Theatre Vocal Instructor/ Accompanist. B.S, Liberal Arts and M.Ed., Portland State University. She has worked as a director, performer and songwriter, with the Oregon Repertory Singers, Aurora Chorus, Oregon Catholic Press and churches in the Portland/Vancouver area. Her song, "Dream On, Sisters" was included on a compilation CD for the 2006 UCC/DOC National Women's Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is currently the Director of Choir and Music Production Classes at Renaissance Arts Academy (ra2) at the Marshall High School Campus. ra2, with Judy's leadership is a 2006-2010 recipient of a Portland Schools Foundation Grant. The "Pulse of Portland Music Project" is a partnership with ra2 and KBOO Community Radio. Judy also serves as the Director of Music at Ainsworth United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. She is a recipient of a 2010 Artsmith Residency.

 

2009 Creative Writing Faculty

Joanna Rose

Creative Writing Program Director. Author of the award-winning novel, Little Miss Strange and a regular reviewer on the "Books" page of The Oregonian. She has taught adults and youth in the Portland area for many years in such venues as Portland State University's Haystack Program, Lewis & Clark's summer writing program, and the Writers in the Schools program for Literary Arts. She is a student of writing herself, and believes that any study of the arts is a lifelong process.

 

2009 Photography Faculty

Nathan D. Helland

Photography Program Director. B.S. (English), Portland State University, M.A. (Teaching), Pacific University. Has worked at Portland Community College as an instructor in Developmental Education. Currently teaching English at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon.

 

2009 Piano Faculty

Dana Libonati

Piano Program Director. B.A., Music Composition & Theory; M.M., Music Composition from the University of Portland. The McMinnville Jay Cees Educator of the Year, 1996-97. Currently the Choral Music Teacher, McMinnville High School and Professor of Music, Linfield College. Private piano instructor.

Rhonda Ringering

Piano Instructor. B.A., Walla Walla College; M.M., Boston University. Has studied with Dr. Leonard Richter, Dr. Jill Timmons and Dana Libonati. CD's include Made in America,Oregon Impressions and A Lullaby for Innocence. Currently teaches at Linfield College, staff accompanist at Pacific University and teaches private piano lessons.

 

2009 Visual Arts Faculty

Lloyd McMullen

Visual Arts Instructor. Mixed media artist working with found/recycled materials to create 2-D and 3-D artwork. Co-founder of Artists Local 101: Central Oregon-based contemporary arts organization. Organizer of community art exhibits/ events in Central Oregon: annual performance/ installation for Altered Stations; Circular Logic: with Frame Design & Sunbird Gallery, Bend Downtowners Association, Cascades Cycling Classic; Excess Baggage and Altared Stations/Altared Books at Central Oregon Community College; ongoing community art events/exhibits. Regional Art Coordinator for Global Arts Project. Advisory board member Cascades a&e (Central Oregon monthly arts newspaper). Art awards include: Creative Eye Award, Third Place Award, multiple Juror's Choice Awards. Founding member 135 UP! Gallery. Journalism degree, University of Oregon; Art studies at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Lane Community College; A6 Print Studio in Bend, Oregon.