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.  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.

Beth Ann conducts the Seattle Women’s Chorus and is on the music staff of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, conducting the Chancel Choir and Handbell choirs.  Beth Ann co-conducts Wanderlust Women’s Choir, a touring choir, traveling to Japan in 2027.  From 2013-2026, Beth Ann was a member of the music faculty at Seattle Pacific University and from 2000-2022, conducted the middle-school-aged division of the Northwest Girlchoir. In 2006, Beth Ann founded Mirinesse Women’s Choir with Rebecca Rottsolk and co-conducted the group through the 2019 season. 

Also an accomplished soprano, Beth Ann has sung with the Seattle Opera Chorus, has recorded movie and video game soundtracks and is a frequent recitalist in the Seattle area. She holds a B.Mus degree from St. Olaf College and an MM in voice performance from Arizona State University.