About
LuAnn Higgs
LuAnn Higgs is the director of the Junior High and Intermediate Choirs, assisted by Patty Shade. LuAnn is an experienced choral director, voice teacher, accompanist, and performer. She directs many choirs in the Sacramento/Davis Area; is rehearsal pianist for the Davis Chorale, has been rehearsal pianist for the UC Davis Chamber singers and Early Music Ensemble; and has vocal directed several musical theater productions at California State University, Sacramento. She is a longtime member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Patty Shade
Patty Shade will lead the Beginning Choir, assisted by LuAnn Higgs. Patty is a former Primary and Elementary trained Montessori teacher with 20+ years of experience working with children as a teacher and music specialist. She has directed children’s choirs and music theater productions throughout her teaching career. She is also an actor, voice artist, and singer. She is very excited to work with the younger children to teach them basic singing and choral group skills as well as very basic music concepts.
History of DYC
The Davis Youth Choir was brought under the wing of the Davis Chorale in 2022. The initial children’s choir in Davis was founded by Don and Rachel Kessler in 1995, under the name "Davis Children’s Chorale". Both the Davis Chorale (adults) and the Davis Children’s Chorale were founded by Rachel and Don Kessler under the umbrella arts non-profit Valley Artist Productions. Ms. Kessler conducted the Davis Children’s Chorale until her retirement in 2012. Since her retirement the group was led by Tania Mannion, Janie Knudsen, Mica Gaard, Andrew Hudson, and the current director, LuAnn Higgs. In 2022, the choir shifted to become the Davis Youth Choir, and moved its non-profit affiliation to the non-profit Davis Chorale. The long running history of these two ensembles makes for a strong partnership today. Both choirs are thrilled to be working together.
The Davis Youth Choir operates under the umbrella of the Davis Community Chorale, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit corporation, EIN 45-3534143.