SAYC Staff
Passion and Dedication: SAYC’s staff supports our mission with expertise, commitment, and joy.
Jaci Cummings
Artistic Director
Jaci holds degrees in music education from Central Washington University and Pacific Lutheran University. A proponent of servant leadership and music education advocacy, Jaci currently represents choral music educators in her position as choral curriculum officer on the state WMEA board. Jaci has taught choral music at all levels, written and developed solfege-based curricula with Boston Children’s Chorus, and more recently, Seattle Girls Choir. In addition to her regular choral work, she is active as a guest conductor and clinician around the state. As a performer, Jaci is frequently hired for soundtrack recording sessions, previously sang with the Seattle Symphony Chorale, and a Last Call, a Seattle-area vocal jazz group comprised of music educators. Jaci moved to Spokane in 2021 with her husband (also a professional singer!) and two daughters, plus a whole slew of animals. She enjoys yoga, sewing, traveling, and a great laugh.
Sarah Hopkins
Executive Director
Sarah has been working with SAYC for a number of years, since being hired as temporary office help in 2000. Sarah handles all the many and varied administrative duties of the choir. She is grateful for her wonderful co-workers and for her ever-changing to-do list, and is glad that she always has something new to learn.
Hannah Kimball-Fuller
Director
Hannah Kimball-Fuller earned a BA in vocal performance and MA in music education from Whitworth University. She has taught K-6 music in Washington public schools for 7 years. Having completed two levels of Orff-Schulwerk training, Hannah serves on the board of our local Orff chapter. She enjoys attending regional and national conferences and presenting at local workshops. Hannah also enjoys performing and has sung with many Spokane area ensembles including Inland Northwest Opera, Spokane Opera, Spokane Civic Theatre, and Spokane Symphony Chorale, among others. As an alumna of the SAYC organization, it is with great joy that Hannah returns to this choral community as a director.
Anne Mileski
Director
Anne is thrilled to be back teaching young singers in SAYC! In addition to Sonetto, she teaches at Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, and St. Mary Catholic School. Currently completing her doctorate in music education at Boston University, Anne also holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Michigan. As a pedagogy enthusiast, Anne is certified in Orff-Schulwerk, Kodály, Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy, Music Learning Theory Elementary General Level I, and has completed coursework in Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She has presented at both the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and Organization of American Kodály Educators National Conferences, and has served on faculty for Kodály teacher education programs across the country. When she’s not teaching music, Anne enjoys traveling and adventuring with her husband and three children.
Victoria Solenberger
Director
Victoria Solenberger is thrilled to be directing Fiero! She earned a B.A. in music with an emphasis in vocal performance from Gonzaga University and an M.M. in choral conducting from the University of Washington. In past years, she has been a cantor and music director for several Catholic churches in western Washington, forming and directing many choirs of all ages and skill levels. Victoria also has experience teaching K-8 classroom music in Catholic schools and for homeschoolers, forming new church and school choirs for the students and community. Having recently moved to Spokane with her family, she currently enjoys singing in the schola of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, and cantors at various Catholic churches in the greater Spokane area. When not making music, Victoria homeschools her four children, which is a joy-filled and wild ride. She enjoys growing things, making things, and hearing all about the amazing things people do in their lives.
Allison Wagstaff
Director
Allison Steenblik Wagstaff was born and raised in Spokane and is an alumna of the Spokane Area Youth Choirs. She received a B.M. in Music Education with an emphasis in choral music from Brigham Young University and a M.M. in Music Education from the University of Florida. Prior to joining SAYC, she taught high school choirs in North Carolina, Colorado, and western Washington. She has performed with the Spokane Symphony Chorale as well as Inland Northwest Opera and enjoys her time onstage and on the podium. Allison is excited to once again be a part of the SAYC community and help the next generation of musicians develop a love for ensemble singing. When she is not musicking, Allison enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, being outdoors, learning ASL, and playing board games.
Barbara Tappa
Director
Barbara Tappa is the director of Le Donne. She retired from public school teaching in 2022, spending the last 15 years as the Director of Choral Music at Ferris High School in Spokane, WA. Barbara has been a cantor and choir director at Catholic churches in the United States, Japan and Norway. In 2016 Barbara was the WMEA Washington State High School Music Educator of the Year. Barbara has served as Choral Curriculum Officer for Washington Music Educators Association and is currently Past President of Washington American Choral Director’s Association.
Carly Blair
Accompanist
Carly is an alum of Whitworth University (BA in Music, emphasis in Piano Pedagogy), where she studied with Dr. Judith Schoepflin; and Eastern Washington University (MM in Piano Performance), where she studied with Dr. Jody Graves and Scott Rednour. In addition to playing for Spirare and Grazioso, she teaches music theory and class piano at Whitworth University and has a thriving private studio of piano students of all ages. She enjoys performing solo and chamber music and was recently featured on KPBX Spokane Public Radio’s Piano Bench. In addition to playing and teaching music, Carly loves to hike, read, cook, and care for her many houseplants.
SAYC Board
Learn more about the 2026-2027 board members.