Meet your Music Team
Artistic Director; Singing Seedlings, The Grove
Anne Vaaler
Anne grew up in a musical family. Family reunions included four-part choral singing, and Anne and her siblings regularly sang with her dad for church services and community events. No surprise that Anne majored in vocal performance at Luther College, and then went on to study voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and SFSU. Anne has performed with Seagle Music Colony, North Bay Opera Company, and the Placer Community Theatre, and serves as Choir Director and soloist at Peace Lutheran Church. After 35 years as a California music educator, singer/voice teacher, and director of award-winning choirs, Anne now operates her own voice studio, teaching private voice, small group classes, and Women Sing!, a casual women’s chorus. In Anne’s world, everyone gets to sing, and that includes at camp!
Director, Cedar Tones
Talen Anderson
Talen Andersen join the SMMC staff in 2023. Talem studied Music Education at Jessup University and currently teaches elementary music and leads the choirs at Bradshaw Christian School in Sacramento, CA. Talen has been involved with choirs and music for most of his life, and has performed in multiple choirs across the state, including working with Artistic Director Anne Vaaler for many years. He recently performed the Star-Spangled Banner for both the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats. Outside of music, Talen enjoys tabletop games, drinking coffee, eating cheeseburgers, and planning his next Disney vacation with his wife and new baby. SMMC is a highlight of his summer and he hopes you feel the same!
Director, Mighty Oaks
Sarah Irvin
Sarah Irvin has been a music director at SMMC since 2017. This is one of her favorite events of the year because she gets to collaborate with passionate musicians who work hard, but also know how to be silly and have fun! Since 2016, Sarah has directed elementary, middle, and high school choirs, as well as collegiate and community ensembles throughout Nevada, Arizona, California, and Oregon. Sarah now lives in Bend, OR, where she teaches choir at Mountain View HS and Sky View MS and serves as the music director at Trinity Episcopal Church. Wherever she’s lived, Sarah has been an active member of community choirs including the Las Vegas Master Singers, Arizona Mountain Chorale, Master Chorale of Flagstaff, Bend Camerata, and Central Oregon Mastersingers. Sarah received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at the University of Nevada, Reno, and her Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Northern Arizona University.
Director, Singing Aspens
Lydia Noland Jones
Raised by musical parents, Lydia Jones grew up in Sacramento and graduated from Del
Campo High School. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Converse
Women’s College, Spartanburg, SC, followed by a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from
New England Conservatory, Boston, MA. Lydia has performed with companies such as
Seagle Music Colony, Shreveport Opera, Ashlawn Opera, and the Sacramento Opera. Currently, she teaches music/choir/drama at Victory Christian School in Carmichael, maintains a private voice studio, is a guest director at Royal Stage Performing Arts, and leads worship and directs the children’s choir at Christ Community Church. When she has a free moment, Lydia loves spending time with her husband and children, and enjoys cooking, dancing, and experiencing new things!
Director, Sequoia Strings
Killian Kelly
Killian Kelly, an accomplished cellist, taught elementary music in the Folsom-Cordova Unified School District for two years, and in 2023 he took on the role of Orchestra Director at Sutter and Folsom Middle Schools. He completed his studies at UCLA, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music along with his California teaching credential. Killian loves Sierra Mountain Music Camp so much that he’s attended every summer since 2008! First as a camper, then as a cabin counselor, and now as the orchestra director. He just can’t stay away, and that’s a wonderful thing! For Killian, SMMC is the perfect blend of music, nature, and fun!
Accompanist
Thom Greathouse
Thom Greathouse is an accomplished pianist, organist, and accordianist. He has been entertaining people with his unique musical stylings since he was “knee-high to a flea.” Growing up in a large, musical family, Thom is adept at playing a wide variety of styles, can mash up tunes into medleys faster than than a hot knife through butter, and can tell stories about his life ‘til the cows come home! We love having Thom as part of our camp family!
Accompanist
Charlene Noland
Charlene Noland has been playing for kid's choirs since she was ten years old. Choral music is her passion, and helping new generations experience the joy of singing is her purpose here at camp. While Charlene is not one to toot her own horn, the team at SMMC is loud and clear about how happy we are that she joins us here at camp!!
