Meet our Directors

Chris Dobson, the artistic director for the Oregon Children's Choir (OCC) and the director of The Oregon Young Men's Ensemble, holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon. Growing up in Eugene, he was a member of the OCC for 10 years, an intern for two years, and has directed choirs in the organization since 2005. Chris was the 2005 recipient of the Max D. Risinger Award for Excellence in Choral Music Education. As an active local musician, he conducts and sings with various choirs throughout the performance season. He has performed and directed ensembles on stages around the world, including the Choirs of America Festival for Top Choirs at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2015. He has also served as clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor for various Oregon choral festivals such as the 2017 Varsity Vocals A Cappella Open, the 2017 International Championship of Collegiate Acappella Northwest Semifinals, and the 2013 Oregon Children’s Choir Festival. Chris currently teaches choirs at South Eugene High School and sings with the nationally-recognized contemporary acappella group, Rezonate. He is also an active composer and arranger, having won the best original arrangement award at the Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes competition in March of 2009.
Siera Kaup, a co-director of the Oregon Junior Girlhoir, is a certified music teacher. Siera Kaup is currently an elementary music specialist in Eugene’s 4J School District. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon with her bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Siera is a current member of The Motet Singers and previously performed for three years with University of Oregon’s Chamber Choir, with whom she competed in choral competitions abroad as well as performed in the Oregon Bach Festival. Siera has also served as Music Director at University of Oregon’s University Theatre. This is Siera’s first year with the Oregon Children’s Choir. We are so excited to welcome Siera to the OCC conducting team!
Kyle Ludwig, the director of the Oregon Boychoir, is a tenor vocalist, entrepreneur, and producer from Salem, OR. He is currently a senior seeking a Bachelor of Music in Music Education at the University of Oregon. During his time at the University of Oregon he has performed with the UO Chamber Choir directed by Dr. Sharon Paul and the all-male a cappella group On The Rocks. During his time with the UO Chamber Choir, they performed in Austria, Spain and Marktoberdorf, Germany where they placed 2nd at the International Chamber Choir Competition. During his time with On The Rocks, he has recorded on the album Alder Alley and performed all over the U.S. where they opened for Boyz II Men at the House of Blues - Chicago. Mr. Ludwig is also active in the church community leading worship at New Hope Eugene, the Eugene House of Prayer, and community wide worship nights by OneHope. He also directs and produces for the worship team, Collide Worship, who is currently working on producing their first album. Mr. Ludwig’s previous experience as a chorister, recording artist, producer, and performer will give students insight and an understanding of how to be a musician. He wants to enable the next generation to become whoever they want to be through the love of music making.
Andria Martin, the director of the Prelude Choir, is a certified music teacher with a Master in Education from Antioch University.  She holds a Bachelor in Communications from the University of Puget Sound with an emphasis in music. Andria is currently the music specialist at Ridgeview Elementary in Springfield. She has taught in Springfield since 2001. Andria’s classes are high-energy and engage students through movement, dance, instruments, singing, and games. In her spare time, Andria enjoys playing jazz piano at local venues.   Andria also loves traveling, hiking, running, and biking with her two daughters, ages 11 & 13, and her husband.  She looks forward to directing the Prelude Choir every Monday!
Megan Perdue, the director of Synergy, is currently the Director of Choral Studies at North Eugene High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from University of Oregon and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Washington. Megan is the Oregon State Representative for the A Cappella Education Association and is passionate about a cappella music, singing with University of Oregon's Divisi from 2003-2006. In addition to Divisi, Megan has performed with the University of Washington Chamber Singers, Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Luxe Women’s A Cappella, and the University of Oregon Chamber Choir and University Singers. Megan has previously taught at the University of Oregon, Lake Oswego High School, Miramonte High School (Orinda, CA), and Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir (Oakland, CA). As a former member of Oregon Children’s Choir, Megan is excited to bring this unique experience back to our community.
Brittany Rudoi, the director of Lyra, is a soprano vocalist and voice instructor based in Eugene Oregon. Originally from Minnesota, Brittany received her BA in Vocal Performance and Theatre from Concordia University St. Paul, MN as well as her Master’s in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota. She has performed as a soloist for the Oratorio Society of Minnesota, and worked with professional ensembles, such as Vocal Essence and “Mpls”. Here in Eugene Brittany has continued her work as a soloist, performing at First United Methodist’s Messiah Sing and working with Vox Resonat, the Monteverdi Chorus at the U of O, and the Russian choir at St. Mary’s Episcopal. As an instructor, Brittany taught private lessons at two separate high schools in Minnesota, and is also a private voice instructor at South Salem High School. She continues to manage her own private studio here in Eugene as well. With over 3 years working with the high school female voice on an individual basis, Brittany is excited to use her knowledge and expand her scope of teaching as she works with LYRA here at the Oregon Children’s Choir. Her previous experience as a section leader and as a chorister have helped Brittany understand the inner workings and dynamics of a choir, and she hopes to apply this experience as director of LYRA. Enabling the young women of LYRA with strong musicianship skills and confidence in themselves and their peers is of the utmost importance and something Brittany is honored to be involved with. She is extremely thankful for the opportunity to support the young women of LYRA and is incredibly excited to work with the Oregon Children’s Choir. 
Jennifer Searl, the director of the Oregon Girlchoir, received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Oregon. She and her husband, Bruce, are local composers and have a music publishing company, Aardvark Hill. They have been commissioned to compose over 10 works for the Oregon Children’s Choral Festival and became directors of the Festival in 2009. Jennifer is an award winning composer, receiving Malecki Music’s coveted Merit Series award for Our World, as well as receiving numerous Festival Favorite awards. She and her husband have written and composed two children’s musicals, one of which, A Mouse Christmas, has sold to schools and churches all over the world. She is also is the accompanist for Churchill High School and Kennedy Middle School and has a private piano studio. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family, bicycling, baking and cooking! Jennifer has been a part of the Oregon Children’s Choir since 1983 and was also our Executive Music Director from 2009-2013.
Jacob Steinberger, the director of Counterpoint, received both a bachelor and master of music education from the University of Oregon. Throughout his career, Jacob has taught students of all ages from all over the state of Oregon, directed and performed in many vocal and instrumental ensembles, including jazz, classical, musical theater and contemporary genres. Most notably was his appearance with On the Rocks on NBC’s a’cappella competition, The Sing-Off Season 2. Currently, Jacob is the Director of Choirs and teaches AP Music Theory at Churchill High School. He also holds positions as Music Director of the Emerald Valley Honor Choir, and is on the teaching staff with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music. Because music making and consuming have the potential to be such transformative experiences, Jacob looks to compel his singers to communicate the message of the music by singing with their whole body and soul, not just their voice.  In addition to being immersed in many musical endeavors, Jacob enjoys the outdoors, traveling with his wife, Amanda, and spending as much time as possible with his two Boston Terriers, Arlo and Marve. 
Wayne Strong, the director of the Oregon Junior Boychoir, was born and raised around Ashland, Oregon. He began playing the piano when he was two years old. In 1981, he moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon and became the Minister of Music and Youth at East Side Baptist Church in Springfield. In 1982, he became a Music Specialist with the Springfield School District where he has taught at Guy Lee Elementary, Walterville Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary and Goshen Elementary and Middle School. He was the musical director of Thurston High Schools production, “Spoke Song,” and has produced one or two musical theater productions a year since 1984, in Springfield elementary and middle schools. In 1987, he received a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon. He studied music education and Orff music education. In 2006, he began accompanying the Oregon Junior Boychoir and later accompanied the Oregon Boychoir. He has also directed OCC children’s vocal summer camps. Wayne has enjoyed being the Assistant Director, Musical Director and Orchestra Director for many of Rose Children’s Theater Productions. Wayne is a long time leader in children's music in the Eugene/Springfield community, and is currently the Music Specialist at Guy Lee Elementary and is on staff as an Associate Pastor of East Side Baptist Church. He continues to work with Rose Children’s Theater and the Oregon Children’s Choir. He received a Teacher Leader Licensure from the State of Oregon and served on the Teacher Leader Cadre’ for the Springfield School District. He also teaches the music, theater and arts classes for the Springfield STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) after school and summer school programs. He is excited to direct the Junior Boychoir and work with the OCC family.
Laura Wayte, a co-director of the Oregon Junior Girlhoir, has been a soloist and chorister most of her life. As a soloist she sang with opera companies such as San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Berkeley Opera and Nevada Opera, and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Berkeley Symphony, the San Francisco Choral Society and Santa Fe Symphony. Laura has taught voice at the University of Oregon, Loyola Marymount University, the Los Angeles Children's Choir and privately. Since moving to Eugene in 2006 Laura has performed with Eugene Opera in Nixon in China, The Turn of the Screw, Don Giovanni and Dead Man Walking, with the Eugene Symphony, the Oregon Mozart Players and the Eugene Concert Choirs, and is a frequent recitalist. More information at www.LauraWayte.com.