Board of Directors
Stephanie Knol, President
Richard Snyder, Secretary
Parker G. Emerson, Treasurer
Lainie Lapis, Board Member
Leta Ming, Board Member
Amanda Sabicer, Board Member
Shaun Kolcz, Board Member

Artistic Director

Alan Wellman joined the Claremont Chorale as Artistic Director in 2018. Wellman previously served as Artistic Director of the Northwest Choral Society from 2010 to 2017, has directed choirs at several churches in Chicago, and recently at the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, CA. He joined the performing arts faculty at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, CA in the fall of 2017.

Dr. Wellman's degrees include a Doctor of Sacred Music from the Graduate Theological Foundation (Mishawaka, IN), a Master of Music Education from San Jose State University, a Master of Music in choral conducting from California State L.A., and a Bachelor of Music—vocal/choral emphasis from Roosevelt University. Dr. Wellman is pursuing an M.Div. through Mercer University, specializing in Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy.

Accompanist & Assistant Director

Matthew D. Swartz joined the Claremont Chorale as Accompanist and Assistant Director in 2023. Swartz began working as a collaborative pianist shortly after moving to Claremont in 2010, and has since developed a steadfast belief in the importance of choral singing and its many benefits across all ages, backgrounds, and communities. Starting in 2014 as an elementary school choir accompanist for Bonita Unified School District, Swartz gained the privilege of accompanying weekly all five award-winning choirs at Bonita High School beginning in Fall 2021. As a choral singer himself, Swartz has sung with Pomona College Choir since 2012. Swartz earned his DMA in Music Composition from Claremont Graduate University (2017) and his BM in Piano Performance from the University of Connecticut (2010).

As a composer, Swartz’s growing body of choral works has been decorated and performed by the Yale Glee Club, Indiana University’s NOTUS, McGill University’s Schulich Singers, Choral Arts Initiative, the 2019 CCDA SATB Honor Choir, and others. To learn more or to reach out to Matthew, please visit www.MatthewSwartz.com.