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Ron Bayer, Artistic Director
Ron Bayer has been the artistic director of the Rainier Chorale since the 1996-1997 concert season. Ron recently retired from Green River College where he served as Chairman of the Fine Arts Department. Ron was inducted into the Washington Music Education Association Hall of Fame in 2004. He began his teaching career at the high school level in Wisconsin and Minnesota, where he gained recognition as a strong, traditional choral director and also a leader in the then-emerging vocal jazz scene. After completing a nine-year stint in the upper Midwest, he came to the Pacific Northwest following the lure of the mountains, teaching briefly at Mount Vernon High School before coming to Green River. Ron received a bachelor's degree in music education (in both vocal and instrumental music) at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and a master's degree in choral music and conducting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Harold Decker. Further graduate studies in jazz education were pursued at Western Michigan University where he studied piano with and assisted Steve Zegree. An avid mountaineer in his off time, Ron is currently in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, pianist, and arranger.
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Julia Swienty, Principal Accompanist
Julia earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She is principal accompanist for the Rainier Chorale, and she served as accompanist for Rainier Youth Choirs and was instrumental in the formation of their Consonare ensemble. Before moving to Seattle, she was a professor of music at CSUN, and principal accompanist for the Moorpark Masterworks Chorale. She teaches at Green River College, maintains a private teaching studio, and volunteers in school activities.
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Jim Goodman, Organist
James Goodman, a native of Vashon Island, is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. He continued extensive studies in organ performance and accompaniment at Pacific Lutheran University under the direction of Dr. Calvin Knapp. Jim pursued further graduate studies in keyboard performance at the University of Colorado. He holds a teaching certificate from the University of Washington and has taught in Seattle Public Schools and in Alaska. Jim has served as organist for various churches in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area. Jim has been a member of the Rainier Chorale since 1993, serving as piano and organ accompanist. He founded and directed two contemporary choirs and is in demand as an accompanist and clinician. Jim devotes much of his time to creating original compositions and when not actively engaged in music, he and his wife spend weekends at their beach home at Ocean Shores.
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Clayton Murray, Pops Accompanist
Clayton Murray has been performing professionally for the past 28 years both here in the Pacific Northwest and overseas. He currently lives in Seattle, and can usually be found at his weekend solo piano gig at the Marlai Thai restaurant. Although most of his gigs are as a solo pianist, he also works with small combos, plays for singer showcases and tap dance shows, and plays tuba in four ensembles. He feels it is a privilege to make a living at what he loves doing, and is happy to be able to share music with others.
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