Executive Director

Rita recently moved into the position of Executive Director of the Montana International Choral Festival after wrapping a multi-year professional career in community development.

As a nonprofit consultant specializing in large-scale special-event fundraising, she has collaborated with hundreds of inspiring leaders, activists, artists and organizations advising on the business of nonprofit resource development.

She has produced highly-regarded, award-winning documentaries and high-impact fundraising events; and has been recognized for the national impact of her work.

Rita considers herself exceptionally fortunate to be working with a unique community-based arts organization and is continually impressed by the international recognition and artistic excellence of the volunteer-driven organization she currently serves. 

Artistic Director

Born in Broadus, Montana, David received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1976, and Master of Music Education degree in 1986, both from the University of Montana.

He taught choir in the Great Falls and Hamilton public schools until 1984. From 1984 until retiring in 2001 he was director of choirs at Sentinel High School in Missoula. During his teaching career, David was president of the Montana Choral Directors Association, and received the Montana Choral Director Association’s “Distinguished Service Award” in 2000.

Along with Dean Peterson, David was co-founder and co-director of the Missoula Youth Choir until 2000. He served on the International Choral Festival Board of Directors from 1990 until 2001; served on Spokane’s Musicfest Northwest Board of Directors, and was vice division chairman from 2004 until 2007.

David has adjudicated in festivals around the Northwest and has been the Montana International Choral Festival’s Artistic Director since 2007. In 2015, David was elected to CFN – The Choral Festival Network Board of Directors.

Now retired as a registered piano technician, he resides in Spokane, Washington with his wife, Michele.

President

Saxon Holbrook is from Missoula and participated in the first International Choral Festival in 1987 with the Missoula Youth Choir, studied in Vienna with Donald Carey and the UM Chamber Chorale, and continues to singing with numerous ensembles.

He returns to the MICF Board following a temporary hiatus due to term limits. Saxon is the Technical Director of Montana Public Radio and MontanaPBS in the Broadcast Media Center at the University of Montana.

When he isn’t working or singing, you’re likely to find him floating the Blackfoot River, enjoying the company of friends and family, or working on projects at Rainbow Gulch Farm.

Secretary

Sharon has volunteered with the Montana International Choral Festival since returning to the Northwest in 2006.

After her education at Pacific Lutheran University in music and education, she earned a Masters Degree from the University of Arizona in applied Voice.

Upon her retirement as a music educator and choral director in Omaha, Nebraska, she and her husband Dennis returned to their family in Washington.

She directed community based Youth Choirs in Tacoma, Washington, Omaha, Nebraska, and Spokane, Washington.

While in the Midwest, Sharon was very involved in the American Choral Directors Association, having served as the President of the NCDA.

She was honored to be given the Cornell Runestad Award for Lifetime Achievement in Choral Music in the summer of ’26 by the Nebraska Choral Directors.

Sharon and Dennis have three grown children and six grandchildren. It is with great joy and respect that she serves this organization.

Vice President

Stephen Kalm is currently Vice-President of the Montana International Choral Festival. 

He has sung with the Houston Grand Opera, Chautauqua, Lake George, Minnesota, Connecticut, Cincinnati Opera, Spoleto, BAM, Lincoln Center Festival, Pennsylvania Opera Theatre, and the Milwaukee Symphony.

He received a New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Award for Meredith Monk’s opera, The Politics of Quiet, Internationally, he sang in Avignon, London, Paris, Berlin, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Bern and Bogota.

He created the role of Franco Hartmann in Meredith Monk’s Atlas and appears on ECM’s recording of that work.

His six commercial recordings include Harry Partch’s The Wayward (Wergo),which he performed at Carnegie Hall and was hailed by the NY Times as “one of the ten best classical music perfomances of 2014”.

He is a Cantorial Soloist for Temple DeHirsch Sinai in Seattle and Bellevue. 

He is a Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Montana and a former Dean of the College of Arts and Media.  

Treasurer