Our Directors

Beth Klemm

Beth Klemm, Artistic Director and Director of the Apprentice and Premiere Choirs, has taught music in Atascadero Unified School District since 1983 and is presently the Choral Director at the Atascadero Fine Arts Academy and Elementary Music Administrator for Atascadero Schools. Beth is the Children's Choir Repertoire & Standards Chair for the state of California. She has presented at the California Music Education State Conference, American Choral Director's Association conferences and local choral workshops. She served as Music Director at First Baptist Church in San Luis Obispo, and has sung with the Cuesta Master Chorale and San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble. Beth holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Butler University, and a Master of Education degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This is her twelth year working with Central Coast Children's Choir, and loves having her own daughter, Aubrey, singing with her.

Melody Svennungsen

Melody Svennungsen, Concert Choir and AVE Director, a San Luis Obispo native, has over 30 years of experience in vocal and theatre performance. She has appeared as soloist for the Cuesta Master Chorale, Cuesta Chamber Choir, Sing Along Messiah, San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble and Cal Polyís University Singers and Polyphonics. A member of Vocal Arts from 1986-2003, Melody served as Soprano Section eader, POPS Artistic Director, and Assistant Director to Gary Lamprecht, as well as voice coach for Ocean Pines Choir Camps. An instructor and advocate for the developmentally disabled for 20 years, Melody recently completed her Master Degree at Cal Poly where she served as assistant conductor for Dr. Davies and studied voice with Jackie Kreitzer. Melody is grateful for the opportunity to work once again with the great kids of the CCCC.

Cassandra Tarantino

Cassandra Tarantino, North County Apprentice Choir Director, has her Bachelors degrees in Church Music emphasizing Choral Conducting and Performance Flute, and English Literature. Ms. Tarantino took a six month sabbatical in Northern Ireland to study music and the Irish-Celtic Language. After receiving her Masters of Music Degree in Flute Performance form California State University, Northridge, Ms. Tarantino began teaching and performing vocal and instrumental music in Santa Barbara. In 2002, Ms. Tarantino began conducting and teaching music theory with the Santa Barbara Children's Choir. Shortly after moving to San Luis Obispo in 2003, Ms. Tarantino formed an Early Music ensemble with Guitarist James Edwards called the Lark Consort, which focuses primarily on Renaissance and Baroque music for lute, Period Guitars, recorder, transverse flute and continuo. Folk music and dance are a passion for Ms. Tarantino, and you will often find her playing and dancing traditional Irish, English Country and Contra Dance music.

Anne Olson

Anne Olson, Director of the North County Debut Choir, has taught classroom and choral music in the Atascadero Unified School District since 1999. She has led choruses at six of Atascadero's eight elementary schools and has also directed various children's church choirs. Anne served CCCC as an Apprentice Choir accompanist several years ago when her daughter was a member and then took a leap of faith to begin directing a Debut Choir in 2006! Anne is a native Texan and a graduate of Baylor University, where she sang in the school's Acapella Choir. She and her husband Don live in Atascadero and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Danielle and Alissa.

Paula Womble

Paula Womble, Debut Choir Director, started working with CCCC as an accompanist in the fall of 2008. She is originally from El Dorado Hills, CA. Paula is currently in her senior year as a music major at Cal Poly State University and is enjoying studying piano with Dr. Spiller and accompanying with Susan Davies. Paula is also the accompanist for Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church in San Luis Obispo. She is very grateful for the opportunity to expand her work with Central Coast Children's Choir by directing the Debut choir this year.

Thomas Davies

Dr. Thomas Davies has been at Cal Poly since 1983 as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Studies. As a Professor of Music, he conducts three choirs, teaches conducting as well as a course in Literature and Rehearsal Techniques. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Davies received his Bachelor of Music Education degree at Bowling Green State University and his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Southern California where his principal conducting teacher was Rodney Eichenberger.

In addition to his work at Cal Poly, Dr. Davies is conductor of the Cuesta Master Chorale, a 100-member ensemble which performs major works for chorus and orchestra. He also serves as one of several conductors for Pacific Repertory Opera. He is the Choral Conductor for the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, and is Associate Director of the Oregon Bach Festival Master Class in Choral Orchestral Conducting. He currently serves as the California representative to the National Collegiate Choral Association and is a former President of the Western Division of The American Choral Directors Association.