Mirinesse Women's Choir

Heidi blythe

Artistic Director

Heidi Blythe is a conductor and educator whose work explores the power and potential of treble choir music. At the University of Washington, she directed the collegiate Treble Choir and was the founding director of the Advanced Treble Ensemble. She served as Assistant Conductor of Seattle Pro Musica, working across the organization’s upper voice, lower voice, and mixed ensembles. During her tenure as Director of Music at University Congregational United Church of Christ, she cultivated a vibrant multi-ensemble program and founded Viriditas, an innovative young adult treble community. 

Beyond her work as a conductor, Heidi is active as a soloist and professional chorister. She has appeared with SoundCity Singers, Radiance, Byrd Ensemble, Epiphany Parish, St. James Cathedral Cantorei, and Women’s Compline at St. Mark’s Cathedral. She was the Gregg Smith Singers’ first choral fellow at the Adirondack Festival of American Music, singing with the ensemble under Gregg’s direction, as well as that of Margaret Hillis, Vance George, and Dave Brubeck.

Heidi holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, and Dance, where she studied voice with John Gillas and John Charles Pierce, and studied conducting with Sandra Snow and Jerry Blackstone. She was the recipient of the Margaret V. Hood Prize and appeared on the Classical GRAMMY-winning album “Songs of Innocence and Experience”. While at Smith College, Heidi studied conducting with Lucinda Thayer, voice with Jane Bryden, and organ with Grant Moss. She was the recipient of the Harriet Dey Barnum and Sarah H. Hamilton prizes in music, and the Imogene Mahony Memorial and Constance Kambour Edwards prizes for organ. 

Heidi is a doctoral candidate in choral conducting at the University of Washington, where her research focuses on the music of Imogen Holst and large-scale works addressing climate change. 

Kay Yeh
Accompanist

Kay Yeh is a piano soloist, collaborator, and accompanist. During her past few years in Seattle, she joined the UW Wind Ensemble as a pianist, and was invited by Cultural Affairs Bureau of Chiayi City, Taiwan, and Kin-Long Cultural and Educational Foundation, to give solo recitals at the Chiayi City Concert Hall in September, 2016 and August, 2018.

Kay earned her Master's degree in piano performance from the University of Washington in 2015, and is currently a DMA student under the tutelage of professor Robin McCabe. Prior to coming to Seattle to pursue her passion for piano, Kay's creativity expanded to graphic design and illustration as she earned her Bachelor's degree in Architecture from National Cheng-Kung University in Taiwan.

Rebecca Rottsolk
Artistic Director Emerita

Rebecca Rottsolk served as artistic director for Northwest Girlchoir from 1982 until 2001, building the choir into one of the most respected youth choral organizations in America.  She has enjoyed a national reputation as guest conductor and clinician, conducting many all-state and regional festival choruses and presenting workshops on conducting and rehearsal techniques and inspirational teaching. She edits a choral series for Alliance Music Publications. When Rebecca moved to Port Townsend in 2001, she began working with several mixed voice adult choirs on the Olympic Peninsula. Under her direction RainShadow Chorale developed into a professional level choir which became a vital part of the Olympic Peninsula arts community.  Her tenure with RainShadow ended in the fall of 2021 when she moved back to Seattle. Rebecca co-founded Mirinesse Women’s Choir with Beth Ann Bonnecroy in 2006 and retired after the 2026 season.

She received her Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College, Her M.A. from Pacific Lutheran University, and was the 1997 recipient of the Washington American Choral Directors Association Award for Choral Leadership. She also served as National R&S Chair for Children’s Choir from 1998-2004.

Beth Ann Bonnecroy
Artistic Director Emerita

Beth Ann Bonnecroy is in demand as a conductor, singer and teacher of voice. Beth Ann’s foundation as a singer and extensive experience as a voice teacher shape her priorities in conducting.  Healthy singing and development of singers’ personal vocal technique are emphasized in the choirs she conducts, and contribute to the free, beautiful sound her choirs achieve.

On the staff of Northwest Girlchoir, Beth Ann conducts Vivace, a choir of middle school level singers.  Under Beth Ann’s direction, Vivace performs extensively around the Puget Sound region and travels annually to share its music outside the Seattle area.  Past travels include choral festivals in Oregon, Montana, Colorado, British Columbia, and Hiroshima, Japan and a 2010 performance tour in Hawaii.

Beth Ann is a member of the music faculty at Seattle Pacific University where she teaches class and individual voice instruction and conducts the SPU Women’s Choir. 

A life-long church musician, Beth Ann has conducted church choirs and handbell choirs of all ages.  She is currently a member of the music staff of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle where she conducts the Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir.  

An accomplished soprano, Beth Ann is a frequent recitalist in the Seattle area.  Beth Ann holds a Bachelor of Music degree in church music/voice from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and a Master of Music degree in voice performance from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.