Rob Swenson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Brigham Young University and Level III OAKE-endorsed Kodály certification. He has also completed a DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Utah. He has taught choir at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, Utah; at Timpanogos Academy in Lindon, Utah; and at Liahona High School in Liahona, Tonga, where he also served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2008, he joined the faculty at American Heritage School, where he currently directs the curricular high school choirs. From 2004-2007, he served as an assistant director with the Utah Valley Children’s Choir, leaving in 2007 to found the American Heritage Youth Chorus. Under his direction, this faith-centered choral program for children and youth has grown to include over 300 members who perform free, inspirational programs for audiences throughout the United States. Rob received the 2016 Indianapolis Symphonic Choir Christmas Carol Commission for his “Christmas Hosanna.” In Fall 2016, his original composition, “Go Forth From This House,” was recognized as a second-place winner and was performed at the state conference of the Utah ACDA. Rob resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah, with his wife, Kristy, and their four children.

Childs has been dedicated to education since 1999, serving in a variety of teaching and educational leadership roles both overseas and within the Jordan School District. She earned an Associate of Science degree from Ricks College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University, providing a strong educational foundation for her career in teaching, youth development and travel.

Since 2017, Chandra has been actively involved with Heritage Youth Choirs, where she has played an integral role in coordinating and supporting choir tours. Her commitment to creating meaningful experiences for youth has led to her current position as Events Director, where she oversees events and travel while helping provide memorable opportunities for choir members and their families.

Chandra is passionate about working with youth and finds great joy in helping them learn, grow, and experience the world through music and travel. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys traveling, reading, attending baseball games, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Kristen Jansen is a Utah transplant with deep Texas roots. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Texas Tech University. Her professional background includes experience in the financial sector, communications, small business ownership, teaching, and school administration.

Coming from multiple generations of educators, Kristen developed a lifelong love of learning and a strong work ethic shaped by their example. She has been associated with American Heritage School since 2018 and continues to find purpose in supporting its mission and students. She and her husband are the parents of three daughters and one son, all of whom attend or have graduated from AHS.

Kristen’s interests include hiking, photography, travel, and spending time with her family and dogs. She finds great fulfillment in helping youth “learn to lead” and in providing opportunities for them to reach their potential. Kristen values her association with such an inspiring, faith-based institution as AHS and the Heritage Youth Chorus.

Julie Erwin has been a dedicated member of the Heritage Youth Chorus admin team since 2017, serving as Youth Chorus Tour Director and Youth Chorus Secretary. She is passionate about working with youth, and finds joy in supporting their spiritual and musical growth, as well as in hearing the beautiful music they create.
In addition to her work with the choir, Julie is a professional interior designer. She collaborates with businesses and homeowners to guide them in creating floor plans that work well for their needs as well as selecting finishes, colors, and materials that bring their vision to life.

I have been involved with HYC since its beginning in 2007, working with the Youth Choir, Junior Choir, and Children’s Choirs. My passion for teaching and music has guided my entire career. I studied Music Education at Ricks College and Brigham Young University and am a certified Kodály music specialist through the InterMuse Kodály Center affiliated with BYU.

For more than 30 years, I have taught elementary music education, most recently spending 20 wonderful years at American Heritage School in American Fork before retiring in May 2025. Creating music with children and inviting the gospel into our singing has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. There is nothing quite like watching young singers develop not only musical skill but a deeper spiritual connection through song.

Outside of teaching, I love to read, exercise, travel, and spend time with friends. Lately, I’ve also been exploring genealogy and enjoying the discoveries it brings. I’m a proud mother of three, and my youngest sang with HYC for five years.

Tresa graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Elementary Education and went on to teach and develop curriculum for multi-age classrooms in several charter schools. She has homeschooled her own children for 15 years.

A certified birth doula since 1998, Tresa has spent many years supporting families through some of life’s most meaningful moments. She has also been a professional photographer for 19 years, and her work with American Heritage School has been featured in their annual magazine, marketing materials, and events.

Now in her seventh year as Social Media Specialist for the Heritage Youth Choirs, Tresa loves sharing the choir’s music and message with the community. One of the highlights of her work has been documenting the choir’s annual summer tours, capturing their most memorable experiences through video and photography.

Thalea Longhurst has served as the Heritage Youth Chorus secretary at the American Fork campus since 2021. With a rich background in education spanning 36 years, Thalea has dedicated her career to teaching and administration, working with both high school and middle school students. Her passion for education is matched by her love of traveling, reading, crafting, and enjoying a great nap. She also plays the piano and organ. Thalea sincerely enjoys volunteering her time to help students develop a love of music while watching them grow into wonderful young adults.

Matt Thornton graduated from Utah State University with a bachelors degree in music education. He also holds a masters degree in music education from BYU. As an undergraduate, Matt served as the Music Vice President of the Logan Latter-day Saint Institute as well as the Dance President. He was also president of the New Horizons Institute Choir. While in Cache Valley, he worked with the Cache Children’s Choir and taught in their summer music camp. He has also worked as a music and dance specialist for Opera by Children. Matt has been trained in Orff, is Kodály certified and is currently an instructor at the BYU InterMuse Academy. He is the fine arts department head at American Fork Jr. High where he has taught choir for eight years.

Dr. Neil Harmon lives in Provo, Utah, where he enjoys a career as a teacher, performer, composer, consultant, and accompanist. He teaches organ performance and organ-related classes at Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Utah Valley University. Dr. Harmon is the accompanist for the Heritage Youth Chorus. He performs regularly on Temple Square in Salt Lake City as Guest Organist, a service he has rendered since 1991.

Dr. Harmon completed a Bachelor of Music degree at BYU, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music.

He served a two-year volunteer mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in São Paulo, Brazil.  He and his wife, Anese, are the parents of five children.

Erin began touring and performing in shows at a young age. She grew up singing with the Opera West Children’s Choir and went on to dance with the BYU Theatre Ballet while still in high school. She received a B.F.A. in Music, Dance, and Theatre from BYU, performed with theBYU Young Ambassadors, then went on to perform in two New York City Broadway productions of The Phantom of the Opera and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Later, Erin attended grad school in Choreography and Dance at Shenandoah University in Virginia. Erin has five beautiful children, one with Down syndrome, and is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. Erin also founded a non-profit performing arts center in Sunnyside, Washingtoncalled The Valley Performing Arts Center, and for 10 years it has brought meaningful opportunities to kids in the area where performing arts programs are scarce. Erin now splits her time between Utah and Washington helping to bring performing arts opportunities to kids in these great communities.

Liz Washburn holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University. While at BYU, she performed with all of the university’s choirs, including two years touring with the BYU Singers. She also served as an assistant director for two university choirs and later sang with the Tabernacle Choir.

She currently serves as one of the choir directors at American Heritage School, where she leads the Men’s Choir, Patriot Chorale, and Treble Choir. Her previous experience includes teaching choir at Oak Canyon Junior High and Valley View elementary, directing school musicals, and building a successful private voice studio.

Liz finds great joy in making music with others—especially when it is rooted in the gospel. Outside the classroom, she enjoys running, hiking, and playing ball with her kids.

Above all, she treasures her role as wife to her fun and supportive husband, and as mother to their three wonderful children.

LauraLyn Eberting loves music and is delighted to be a part of American Heritage School’s Children’s Choir. She grew up singing and making music with her family and then went to law school and became an attorney. While in college she taught piano lessons, played the violin with a BYU orchestra, sang with the Mormon Youth Chorus, and performed as an entertainer in Lagoon’s Music USA.

Emily Halverson is so excited to be at American Heritage! She has spent the last sixteen years as a music curriculum specialist where she also taught music and choir at another private school. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from BYU and is Kodaly Level III certified. In 2003, she auditioned for the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square where she served for five years. She is the youngest of six very musical siblings and enjoys singing with them. She also enjoys singing duets with her husband with whom she has a combined family of eight awesome children. She absolutely loves teaching music to children and accompanying choirs, and is definitely looking forward to an incredible future at American Heritage!

Cindy has been a private music instructor for over 20 years with award-winning students. She is an active member of the Northern Utah Valley Piano Teachers’ Association and received pedagogical training from piano performer/instructor David Glen Hatch. She began accompanying in her 8th-grade year of school and has continued to accompany and perform vocally throughout her life. She has taken multiple years of vocal training and actively leads singing time with the children in her local congregation at church. Cindy received an elementary education degree and a minor in music from BYU. She studied choral music, conducting, and organ with Mack Wilberg, Ronald Staheli, and Don Cook. She received further musical training at Boise State University and, most recently, at BYU Intermuse Academy. Her six children have all attended American Heritage, with many of them participating in the school’s phenomenal after-school choirs. She is thrilled to be involved with the incredible music program at American Heritage!

Brigham Young University graduate September Howard was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia, and moved to Utah in 2016 to pursue her studies. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a K–12 Choral Emphasis, along with a minor in Family Life. During her time at BYU, she participated in A Voice for Good as well as the university’s Women’s Chorus, Concert Choir, and Singer’s ensembles. Professionally, September has completed Levels I and II of the Kodály Intermuse Academy and currently holds a Professional Educator License in the state of Utah. Since 2021, September has served as the Middle School Choir Director at American Heritage School, where she teaches students in grades 6–8. In 2023, she received the Teacher Recognition of Excellence Award, which honors exemplary teaching at the school. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she serves as the Curricular Fine Arts Department Chair, overseeing and supporting the choir, band, art, and drama programs. She also serves as the Junior Choir Director for the Heritage Youth Choirs Program, leading weekly rehearsals for kindergarten and first-grade students. September is passionate about helping students use their voices to uplift and inspire others as they contribute to something greater than themselves. She believes choir provides meaningful opportunities for students to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and express their testimonies through music. Outside of her professional responsibilities, September enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. As a family, they enjoy visiting parks, taking walks, and watching movies together. She also enjoys trying new experiences, building meaningful connections, and encouraging those around her.

I am ecstatic to join HYC this year as an accompanist for the Junior Choir. I have been playing the piano since I was six years old, and I am forever grateful to my mother for encouraging me to stick with it. I am married to my beautiful wife, Ashley, and we have four children (ages 8, 7, 5, and infant), three of whom are in the Junior and Children’s Choirs. HYC has already been such a wonderful blessing in our lives and brings a remarkable spirit to our home.

Last year, during a performance at BYU, our oldest daughter—then in the Children’s Choir—turned around mid-song and gazed in awe at the back rows where the older Youth Chorus was singing. Afterwards, she said, “I want to be like them when I’m older.” We hope our kids grow up to be like them, too! We love the HYC choirs!

By day, I’m a software engineer, and outside of music, I enjoy just about any sport—especially basketball, football, and volleyball—along with a good mini-series or movie, and spending time with my family.

Emma Hunsaker, from Lehi, Utah, has always felt that music is part of her heartbeat. She has sung in and directed choirs, written musical programs, and is an accomplished accompanist. Over the years, she has shared her talents at the LDS Institute, the MTC, and as a rehearsal pianist for choirs preparing to sing in General Conference. In addition to her piano and accompanying work, Emma finds deep joy in singing–both personally and with others, and studied voice under renowned coach Debra Bonner. She also teaches piano and voice and enjoys playing a variety of instruments, including piano, organ, violin, and ukulele. Emma studied Film and TV Production at Utah Valley University, where she developed a love for creativity and storytelling.

Family is at the center of Emma’s love for music. She and her husband are the proud parents of four children, all of whom have sung with Heritage Youth Choirs. Watching her children grow in confidence, faith, and joy through music has deepened her appreciation for HYC’s mission. For Emma, Heritage Youth Choirs is more than a program—it is a community that uplifts families, inspires children, and strengthens faith through song.

Will Hatch loves music, teaching, and helping young people grow in their faith. He holds a degree in Music Education from BYU and a master’s in Instructional Technology from Utah State. For the past 15 years, Will has worked for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. He currently teaches institute and conducts the institute choir at the University of Utah. He’s led choirs across the Salt Lake Valley and at major events on Temple Square. Will also teaches online religion classes for BYU–Idaho. He and his wife, Stefanie, live in West Jordan, Utah, with their five amazing kids. He’s passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ, great music, and creating meaningful and uplifting experiences for youth. This is his fourth year working with the Heritage Youth Chorus. He loves being part of something so inspiring and impactful.

For the past four years, I have had the privilege of serving as the Salt Lake HYC secretary since the campus first opened. Having grown up in a choir much like this one, I was thrilled for my own children to experience the same joy and sense of community that music brought to my life. With a background in Social Work and Criminology, and after 22 years as a stay-at-home mom, being part of HYC has allowed me to combine my love for youth and music.

My favorite part of working with HYC is the kids—they are truly remarkable. Watching them grow in confidence and spirit, especially as they connect with the music during choir tours, is profoundly moving.

Outside of HYC, I’m passionate about health and wellness. I’ve developed a love for juicing, smoothies, and experimenting with new recipes—much to my kids’ dismay. You can often find me hiking the Bountiful hills with my two golden doodles. I’m also a proud mom of five, two of whom have sung with HYC—one now graduated, and another currently performing as a junior at AHS, with my younger two in preparatory choirs.

Stefanie Hatch graduated from BYU with a bachelors degree in elementary music education.   She was a full-time music specialist at Wasatch elementary and conducted their 100 voice 4-6 grade choir.  Stefanie participated in Kodaly certification at the InterMuse Academy and was later the choir director of a 2nd-6th grade choir in West Jordan.   She has taught voice, piano, and guitar lessons and is a singer-songwriter.  Stefanie served as a Spanish-speaking missionary in the Washington DC South mission and loves the gospel of Jesus Christ! She currently homeschools her 5 amazing children and loves to learn alongside them every day.  Stefanie is thrilled to be conducting the Treble Choir at the Salt Lake campus of AHS!

Carrie was born in Canada and grew up playing the piano and singing with her family. She worked with many musicians in Canada before moving to Utah in 2016. She began attending Salt Lake Community College, where she met her husband, got married, and started collaborating with various bands, solo musicians, theater companies, and choirs throughout the Valley. She has been blessed to work with the Salt Lake Community College Choirs, Taylorsville Institute Choir,Jordan Institute Choir, Olympus High School Choirs, Glee Girls youth choir, Salt Lake Valley Institute Choirs, and now the American Heritage Choirs at the Salt Lake campus. Carrie has 2 music Degrees from SLCC, and has been playing for the choirs there since 2017. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and 2 sons. 

Katy Steele holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from BYU and a Master of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado.  She is a certified OAKE Level III Kodály instructor.  Currently in her fourth year of teaching music in a school setting – the first three in Colorado and now at AHS Salt Lake – she also has 25 years of experience teaching private music lessons.  Katy has been the director of several choirs and loves the connection good music creates between choir participants.  Katy has four grown children and a large extended family that make her life rich and fulfilling.

Mary Gilmore loves serving as an accompanist for Heritage Youth Choirs. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a Music minor from BYU and a master’s degree in Education from USU. Mary currently teaches 6th grade at American Heritage School’s Salt Lake Campus and has taught piano for more than 20 years. She and her children treasure their involvement in Heritage Youth Choirs and are grateful for the blessings that music brings to their lives.

Sara Thomas Clegg has enjoyed a varied career as a choral director, private voice teacher, editor and author, and professional singer. She was an assistant director with the Utah Valley Children’s Choir for over 10 years teaching all ages from 3 to 18 in five different choirs with over 400 children. She has also operated her own private studio, taught group voice lessons and sight singing courses at Brigham Young University, and worked as assistant vocal coach to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She most recently appeared onstage as the role of Mother in The Savior of the World at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Other roles include Despina in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte in upstate New York, the Ghost of Christmas Past and Mrs. Cratchit in Seacoast Repertory’s sold-out production of A Christmas Carol in New Hampshire, and Lidka in Smetana’s Two Widows in New York City. Her performance as Mary in The Redeemer on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Easter Concert was released nationally on DVD. She worked as Editor in Chief of Classical Singer magazine from 2005 to 2018 and co-authored the book, Singing with Mind, Body, and Soul, currently used as a textbook for vocal pedagogy classes at colleges and universities. Sara has BM and MM degrees in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University. She lives in Bountiful with her husband and four children.