South Sound Classical Choir

Sheri-Ann Nishiyama, artistic director (2019 – present)

Sheri-Ann Nishiyama was born and raised in Tacoma, WA and has earned her bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in teaching at the University of Puget Sound. Most recently, Sheri-Ann was featured as one of the conducting students for the inaugural class of the Cascade Choral Conducting Masterclass and has sung in the chorus for the Tacoma Bach Festival under the direction of Dr. Steven Zopfi. Currently, Sheri-Ann serves as the director of choral and musical theatre activities at Mount Tahoma High School, artistic director for South Sound Classical Choir, the music director for Peninsula Lutheran Church, and in her final term as the treasurer for Commencement Bay’s region of Washington’s Music Educators Association.

Ken Potter, collaborative accompanist

Ken Potter was born and raised in Billings, MT.  He received his musical education at the University of Colorado in Boulder, studied briefly at Cal State Long Beach, and also completed the film scoring certificate program at UCLA. 

For the past 35 years Ken has been a professional pianist, organist, singer, arranger, and director in and around the Los Angeles and Seattle areas.  He was previously choir director (2002-07) at Community Lutheran Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, and also choir director/organist (2007-14) at Torrance First Christian Church in Torrance, CA.  He is a 43-year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and formerly a certified music judge in the organization. Ken’s Barbershop Society accomplishments include seven Gold medals with the Masters of Harmony, and three District Quartet Championships (Rocky Mountain, Far Western, Evergreen). 

Ken relocated to the Seattle area in 2015 to become the musical director of Acappella Northwest (2015-2025), and is currently staff musician at Brown’s Point Methodist Church in NE Tacoma (2017-2025). He also organizes singing groups around Puget Sound and coaches quartets and singers throughout the Seattle area.

Glenn Walp, substitute director, collaborative pianist, bass section leader

Miranda Boettger, soprano section leader

Cathy Williams, tenor section leader

Jane Elam, alto section leader