Singers Bios - SLO Vocal Arts

Meet our singers for the 2024 season!

Meghan Behrens / Alto 2

Meghan lives in Los Osos with her husband and two beautiful young children. She and her husband own a well known local food truck, Bear City Social.

Dave Bernhardt / Bass 2
Dave is a retired physician and has sung in Vocal Arts for 21 years. He sang in choirs in high school and college but did mainly satirical skits until joining the choir.

Risa Brown / Soprano 1

Risa sang with our founder Gary at SLO High School. She has been a member of VAE on and off since 2002. She lives in Creston.

Jessica Devaney / Alto 1
Jessica sang under Gary’s direction at SLO High. She thanks her husband Bart and two beautiful daughters for supporting her in this adventure.

Reneé Dispensa / Tenor 1
Renee has been singing in choral groups since the 4th grade. She sings in a barbershop quartet in San Luis Obispo. She loves her four footed children.

Lindi Doud / Soprano 1
Lindi joined Vocal Arts in 1991, and has sung with the group in Europe, South America, and Scandinavia. She also plays Celtic harp and piano.

Susannah Fletcher / Soprano 2
Susannah sang with the Central Coast Children’s Choir. She and her husband Westley have a son and live in Garden Farms.

Jessica French / Alto 1
Jessica is a SLO local and sang in VAE, Voce, Chamber singers, Master chorale, Canzona and Resonance starting in junior high and through college and adulthood.

Don Gaede/ Bass 2
Don is a (mostly) retired physician, and enjoys performing in choirs, musicals, operas, and theater.

Tracy Gillson / Soprano 1
Tracy lives in Templeton with her husband and two daughters. After ten years away she is happy to be back home – with VAE!

Kathy Hamrick / Soprano 2
Kathy has been singing with VAE since 2001. Singing and harmonizing with others is one of life’s great joys.

Warren Hamrick / Tenor 2
Warren has been singing since high school. He has enjoyed being part of the VAE family since 2001. To him, music brings people together.

Kit Hansen / Alto 2

Kit is grateful for her two kids and six grandkids. Her 25 years as a Vocal Artist have given her wonderful music and travel and friendships.

Bob Holzhauer / Bass 2
Bob sang with VAE in the 80’s and returned in the 2000’s to sing again. He is a doctor specializing in allergies.

Howard Keele / Tenor 2
Howard has been singing with Vocal Arts since 1993. He has performed in musicals, choirs, show groups and melodrama. Bachelor of Music from CSULB.

Cynthia Kennedy / Soprano 1
Former history professor, Cindy began singing with and for others as a “wee one.” Her journey continues with VAE and sparks indescribable joy and fulfillment.

Jodi Kondo / Alto 1
I love singing with this group of friends. I’ve missed being a part of something joyful.

Pat Lamprecht / Alto 2
Pat has sung alto with VAE for 45 years. She also plays the viola. She and Gary have three children and three grandchildren.

Ralph Lewis / Baritone
Ralph is a founding member of Vocal Arts having sung with Gary Lamprecht in college. He enjoys camping, sailing, and spending time with his grandchildren.
...continued
Meet Our Singers for the 2024 Season!

Wendy Lewis / Alto 2
Wendy has been singing in Vocal Arts for almost 40 years. She enjoys camping with family and friends and playing with her three precious grandchildren.

Roy Lovtang / Bass 2
Roy is a retired teacher and a 40+ year (on and off) Vocal Arts participant. Pleasurable and productive habits persist.

Victoria Miller/ Alto 2
After a 12-year break raising her two children, Alto Victoria Miller is thrilled to be back performing with the Vocal Arts Ensemble.

John Morrow / Tenor 1
John has been singing in choirs since high school. He joined Vocal Arts in 2001. He is a Senior Environmental Scientist and resides in Atascadero.

Carol Oelker / Soprano 2

Carol is a retired school counselor and first sang with VAE in 1988. She loves to travel, visit with family, and volunteer with her therapy dog.

DD Patrick / Alto 1

DD has been a member of VAE for over 20 years. She and Mike are parents to three girls and four adorable grandchildren.

Mike Patrick / Tenor 2
Mike believes VAE is a wonderful treasure for he and his wife DD to share the gift of singing and forge lifelong friendships.

Logan Patrick-Miernicki
/ Tenor 1
Logan is a SLO native who has performed in band and choir at SLOHigh, Cuesta, CSU Long Beach, many Barbershop groups, and VAE twice before!

Steve Reams / Baritone
Steve is a longtime member of VAE. An electrician by day, Steve is deft at any stage construction, or lighting needs we might have.

Brian Reynolds / Bass 2
Brian has enjoyed music of all types and genres his whole life. He has studied classical and jazz piano. Singing with Vocal Arts is an honor.

David Ruiz / Baritone

David has always used singing as a creative outlet. Vocal Arts has given him a musical family to share his joy of singing

Jeff Spevack / Tenor 2
Jeff is a newbie to VAE. He loves singing, in fact, his last name means “singer”.

Greg Springer / Bass 2

Greg is a general contractor and a proud parent to six children. He is known for his excellent storytelling and BBQ skills.

Kris Springer / Soprano 2
Singing with Vocal Arts since 1996, Kris works as a tour guide at 101 Wine Tours and Road Scholar. Kris and Greg have six kids and a grandson.
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Mark Stengel / Bass 2

Mark first sang with Vocal Arts in 1999. A retired librarian living in Avila, he enjoys fly fishing, walking with his dog, and traveling with wife Anne.

Melody Svennungsen/ Soprano 1
Melody has over forty- five years of vocal and theatre experience. A member of VAE since 1986, Melody serves as Gary Lamprecht’s Assistant Director.

Steinar Svennungsen / Bass 2
I was born and raised in the high Montana Plains town of Shelby. I moved to San Luis Obispo in 1986 to make it easier for Melody to find me.

Leigh Tacker / Alto 1

Leigh joined VAE in 1994 and has been music librarian for over 25 years. She loves singing Alto with her mom, Valerie.

Valerie Tacker / Alto 1

Valerie says singing with Vocal Arts is a spiritual experience. She loves singing alto with her daughter Leigh
...continued
Meet our singers for the 2024 season!

Lindi Ward / Alto 2
Lindi is a musician and retired educator. She loves to sing, play cello & piano. Thrilled to sing in Vocal arts Ensemble!

Judy Robertson / Accompanist
Judy plays piano for services at the Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria. She says it’s an honor to be a part of the Vocal Arts Ensemble.
In Remembrance...
Barbara Hoff
Beloved Accompanist at Vocal Arts for 45 years. Her memory lives on.

Contact

Meet our singers for the 2024 season!

Meghan Behrens / Alto 2

Meghan lives in Los Osos with her husband and two beautiful young children. She and her husband own a well known local food truck, Bear City Social.

Dave Bernhardt / Bass 2

Dave is a retired physician and has sung in Vocal Arts for 21 years. He sang in choirs in high school and college but did mainly satirical skits until joining the choir.

Risa Brown / Soprano 1

Risa sang with our founder Gary at SLO High School. She has been a member of VAE on and off since 2002. She lives in Creston.

Jessica Devaney / Alto 1

Jessica sang under Gary’s direction at SLO High. She thanks her husband Bart and two beautiful daughters for supporting her in this adventure.

Reneé Dispensa / Tenor 1

Renee has been singing in choral groups since the 4th grade. She sings in a barbershop quartet in San Luis Obispo. She loves her four footed children.

Lindi Doud / Soprano 1

Lindi joined Vocal Arts in 1991, and has sung with the group in Europe, South America, and Scandinavia. She also plays Celtic harp and piano.

Susannah Fletcher / Soprano 2

Susannah sang with the Central Coast Children’s Choir. She and her husband Westley have a son and live in Garden Farms.

Jessica French / Alto 1

Jessica is a SLO local and sang in VAE, Voce, Chamber singers, Master chorale, Canzona and Resonance starting in junior high and through college and adulthood.

Don Gaede/ Bass 2

Don is a (mostly) retired physician, and enjoys performing in choirs, musicals, operas, and theater.

Tracy Gillson / Soprano 1

Tracy lives in Templeton with her husband and two daughters. After ten years away she is happy to be back home – with VAE!

Kathy Hamrick / Soprano 2

Kathy has been singing with VAE since 2001. Singing and harmonizing with others is one of life’s great joys.

Warren Hamrick / Tenor 2

Warren has been singing since high school. He has enjoyed being part of the VAE family since 2001. To him, music brings people together.

Kit Hansen / Alto 2

Kit is grateful for her two kids and six grandkids. Her 25 years as a Vocal Artist have given her wonderful music and travel and friendships.

Bob Holzhauer / Bass 2

Bob sang with VAE in the 80’s and returned in the 2000’s to sing again. He is a doctor specializing in allergies.

Howard Keele / Tenor 2

Howard has been singing with Vocal Arts since 1993. He has performed in musicals, choirs, show groups and melodrama. Bachelor of Music from CSULB.

Cynthia Kennedy / Soprano 1

Former history professor, Cindy began singing with and for others as a “wee one.” Her journey continues with VAE and sparks indescribable joy and fulfillment.

Jodi Kondo / Alto 1

I love singing with this group of friends. I’ve missed being a part of something joyful.

Pat Lamprecht / Alto 2

Pat has sung alto with VAE for 45 years. She also plays the viola. She and Gary have three children and three grandchildren.

Ralph Lewis / Baritone

Ralph is a founding member of Vocal Arts having sung with Gary Lamprecht in college. He enjoys camping, sailing, and spending time with his grandchildren.

...continued

Meet Our Singers for the 2024 Season!

Wendy Lewis / Alto 2

Wendy has been singing in Vocal Arts for almost 40 years. She enjoys camping with family and friends and playing with her three precious grandchildren.

Roy Lovtang / Bass 2

Roy is a retired teacher and a 40+ year (on and off) Vocal Arts participant. Pleasurable and productive habits persist.

Victoria Miller/ Alto 2

After a 12-year break raising her two children, Alto Victoria Miller is thrilled to be back performing with the Vocal Arts Ensemble.

John Morrow / Tenor 1

John has been singing in choirs since high school. He joined Vocal Arts in 2001. He is a Senior Environmental Scientist and resides in Atascadero.

Carol Oelker / Soprano 2

Carol is a retired school counselor and first sang with VAE in 1988. She loves to travel, visit with family, and volunteer with her therapy dog.

DD Patrick / Alto 1

DD has been a member of VAE for over 20 years. She and Mike are parents to three girls and four adorable grandchildren.

Mike Patrick / Tenor 2

Mike believes VAE is a wonderful treasure for he and his wife DD to share the gift of singing and forge lifelong friendships.

Logan Patrick-Miernicki

/ Tenor 1

Logan is a SLO native who has performed in band and choir at SLOHigh, Cuesta, CSU Long Beach, many Barbershop groups, and VAE twice before!

Steve Reams / Baritone

Steve is a longtime member of VAE. An electrician by day, Steve is deft at any stage construction, or lighting needs we might have.

Brian Reynolds / Bass 2

Brian has enjoyed music of all types and genres his whole life. He has studied classical and jazz piano. Singing with Vocal Arts is an honor.

David Ruiz / Baritone

David has always used singing as a creative outlet. Vocal Arts has given him a musical family to share his joy of singing

Jeff Spevack / Tenor 2

Jeff is a newbie to VAE. He loves singing, in fact, his last name means “singer”.

Greg Springer / Bass 2

Greg is a general contractor and a proud parent to six children. He is known for his excellent storytelling and BBQ skills.

Kris Springer / Soprano 2

Singing with Vocal Arts since 1996, Kris works as a tour guide at 101 Wine Tours and Road Scholar. Kris and Greg have six kids and a grandson.\

Mark Stengel / Bass 2

Mark first sang with Vocal Arts in 1999. A retired librarian living in Avila, he enjoys fly fishing, walking with his dog, and traveling with wife Anne.

Melody Svennungsen/ Soprano 1

Melody has over forty- five years of vocal and theatre experience. A member of VAE since 1986, Melody serves as Gary Lamprecht’s Assistant Director.

Steinar Svennungsen / Bass 2

I was born and raised in the high Montana Plains town of Shelby. I moved to San Luis Obispo in 1986 to make it easier for Melody to find me.

Leigh Tacker / Alto 1

Leigh joined VAE in 1994 and has been music librarian for over 25 years. She loves singing Alto with her mom, Valerie.

Valerie Tacker / Alto 1

Valerie says singing with Vocal Arts is a spiritual experience. She loves singing alto with her daughter Leigh

Singing with Vocal Arts since 1996, Kris works as a tour guide at 101 Wine Tours and Road Scholar. Kris and Greg have six kids and a grandson.
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