Artistic Director and Encore Conductor

Troy Meeker, Phoenix Children’s Chorus Artistic Director and Conductor of Encore, has taught with the organization since 2011. Mr. Meeker is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Music Education, and Master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Choral Conducting while studying under Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder.

Mr. Meeker has taught at the middle, high school, and collegiate levels most recently as the Choir Director at Trevor G. Browne High School, a thriving urban choir program which he helped grow to over 350 singers. He has also served as a director for the Church of the Red Rocks Choir and the prestigious Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers.

Mr. Meeker is an in-demand presenter and clinician. He has presented at the Western Division and Arizona Choral Directors Association (AzACDA) Conventions as well as the Arizona Music Educators (AMEA) Convention on topics ranging from rehearsal techniques to technology integration in the choral classroom. He has served as a clinician for Arizona Choral Educators (ACE) and AzACDA, as well as a conductor for various honor choirs throughout Arizona.

Mr. Meeker enjoys the opportunity to serve. Having served the Arizona choral community in a variety of positions he is currently the AzACDA Men’s Choir Repertoire and Resources Chair. He also enjoys mentoring young educators, guest lecturing for state universities, and providing professional development workshops for districts throughout the state.

Mr. Meeker was recently recognized for his outstanding teaching winning the O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award from the Arizona Music Educators Association and the Arts Educator of the Year Award from the Arizona Department of Education. In addition, his choir Encore performed for the AMEA Convention in 2020 marking the 3rd performance appearance of ensembles under his direction.

In his free time, Mr. Meeker enjoys watching movies, cooking, cycling, and studying karate with his son. His home is in Glendale, Arizona, with his wife, Adrienne, and their children Grant and Annika.

E-mail: troymeeker@pcchorus.org

Bravo Conductor & Music Literacy Instructor

Jennifer Paz joined the artistic staff of Phoenix Children’s Chorus in the summer of 2019. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in Choral/General Music Education. Mrs. Paz has been fortunate to use both aspects of her degree as a General Music Teacher for Gilbert Public Schools and then as a Director of Choirs and Piano Lab Instructor for the Paradise Valley Unified School District. Mrs. Paz is certified in Level 1 Orff and Levels 1-3 of the Kodály Coursework.

During her time in the classroom, Mrs. Paz increased the enrollment of the ensembles and the collaboration of the fine arts. The students in her ensembles established a dominant presence in the West Region Honor Choirs and the Arizona All State Choir. Mrs. Paz instructs students in her voice studio in classical, jazz and music theater technique. Mrs. Paz has continued to be an active member for local and state organizations to further the choral music education community. Through her workshops as a music literacy and vocal instructor, Mrs. Paz continues to work with multiple schools and choral groups to successfully utilize techniques to refine the rehearsal process in pursuit of greater literacy and passion for the choral art.

Outside the choral rehearsal, Mrs. Paz enjoys spending time with her husband Roberto, daughter Cecilia and their two dogs.

E-mail: jenniferpaz@pcchorus.org

Cadenza Conductor & Music Literacy Instructor

Andrea Squires, Conductor of Cadenza since 2012, is a native of upstate New York. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She continued her studies at Arizona State University, where she received her post-baccalaureate certification and Master of Music degree in Choral Music Education.

Ms.Squires runs a private voice studio in Phoenix and loves helping students realize their potential. She previously taught at Desert Canyon Middle School in Scottsdale for 13 years. Under her direction, the size of the choral program doubled and DC Voices was invited to sing at the Arizona Music Educators Association Conference three times. Ms. Squires and the choirs have presented at Arizona Choral Directors Association (AzACDA) conferences and even had one of 2017’s most popular viral videos.

Ms. Squires is an active member of American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education, having served on both organizations’ boards. She has made conference presentations on topics from teaching music reading to young singers to selecting repertoire. Multiple honor choirs, including Junior High All State and Cantaremos Honor Choir, have invited Ms. Squires as a guest conductor and clinician. Ms. Squires has had the honor of conducting the Phoenix Children’s Chorus Concert Choir at the Oregon Bach Festival, at Carnegie Hall, and at the Sydney Opera House.

In her free time, Ms. Squires loves to hike and spend time with her husband, Nate, and their 3 cats.

E-mail: andreasquires@pcchorus.org

Canto Conductor & Music Literacy Instructor

E-mail: katiesheridan@pcchorus.org

Presto/Vivo Conductor & Music Literacy Instructor

Mrs. Huyett began working with Phoenix Children’s Chorus in 2006. Her first role with the organization was as a Prep Choir parent and music literacy instructor. She became the Prep Choir director in 2008.
Mrs. Huyett is originally from the mid-west but considers Arizona her home. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts in Education: Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix.

Additionally, Mrs. Huyett serves as a general music teacher in the Mesa Public School District. Mrs. Huyett is a member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, the
National Flute Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Arizona Music Educators Association. She has presented conference sessions on elementary vocal warm-ups and has had both her elementary band and choir perform at state conferences.

E-mail: janelhuyett@pcchorus.org

Encore Accompanist & Music Literacy Instructor

Caia O’Toole attended Northern Arizona University on full scholarship from 2009-2013 earning dual degrees in Choral Music Education and Piano Performance with collaborative emphasis. She moved to the valley in early 2014 to begin her teaching career. She is currently in her 7th year teaching choir, general music, and piano in DVUSD. Joining the artistic staff of Phoenix Children’s Chorus in July 2014, Mrs. O’Toole has accompanied Bravo through Spring 2018 and is now in her third year as accompanist for Encore. Mrs. O’Toole also teaches music literacy classes for the organization. With an extensive collaborative background, Mrs. O’Toole has accompanied various groups throughout Arizona. She accompanies several middle school and high school programs in Deer Valley as well as vocalists and instrumentalists for various state/region festivals and performances. In her spare time, Mrs. O’Toole teaches group fitness, private piano and voice lessons, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Brett, and her dog, Archie. Mrs. O’Toole and her husband are expecting their first child in February.

E-mail: caiaotoole@pcchorus.org

Bravo Accompanist & Music Literacy Instructor

Lori Woods joined Phoenix Children’s Chorus in 1996 as the accompanist for the newly formed Encore Choir.  Over the years, she has worked as the Encore Choir Director, the Prep, Concert, and Encore accompanists.  She is currently enjoying working with Mrs. Paz in Bravo as her assistant.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Choral Education and has worked in the Mesa Public School District since 1996. Her work as a vocal coach, and accompanying choirs gave her opportunities at Summit Academy, Poston Jr. High, Dobson and Mtn View High where she is currently working.  Her work also included 15 years in the Maricopa Community Colleges, in Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler.  She also accompanies many Regional Honor Choirs, both in the Junior High and High School Divisions.

Lori runs a professional vocal studio from her home in Mesa since moving here in 1995.  She has extensive expertise in teaching languages and sightreading. She prepares numerous students for successful auditions for the Regional and State Honor Choirs, and for Musical Theatre.

She started her studies as a pianist at age six, spending four of her early years enrolled with the Royal Schools of Music, and the Trinity College of Music through the British system.  Lori is married to Scott Woods and three of her four children are PCC alumni.

E-mail: loriwoods@pcchorus.org

Cadenza Accompanist & Music Literacy Instructor

Jennifer Griffith has taught since 1997 for Noah Webster Schools in Mesa and Scottsdale where she teaches General Music, Orchestra and Ukulele, as well as Yearbook and Student Council. She also works with the Trevor G. Browne High School choir program as their collaborative pianist. Mrs. Griffith has taught private piano, voice, violin, and music theory lessons since 1988. She also performs with “Cinematic Pop”, a group that appeared on “America’s Got Talent”. Mrs. Griffith has been with the Phoenix Children’s Chorus since September 2000. Jennifer was married on 11-11-11 to her husband, Gravity and they live in Glendale with their three dogs.

E-mail: jennifergriffith@pcchorus.org

Canto Accompanist & Music Literacy Instructor

A native of Pennsylvania, Chris Granger obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a concentration in Piano Performance from Westminster College in rural New Wilmington, Pennsylvania and his Master’s in Choral Music Education From Kent State University. Mr. Granger is currently the Choir Director at Horizon Honors High School in Ahwatukee and has been there since 2018. As an active collaborative pianist, he has performed with several school ensembles, chamber ensembles, and soloists in the Phoenix Metro area. He is also the Pianist in Residence for the La Forza Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Granger is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NafME), Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA), and Arizona Choral Educators (ACE), and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He currently serves on the AMEA Board as the Vice President of Junior High Activities and serves as the ACDA Board Secretary. In his spare time, Mr. Granger enjoys spending time being outdoors camping, fishing, boating, and hiking.
E-mail: chrisgranger@pcchorus.org