About | Bainbridge Youth Choir

Our story

Bainbridge Youth Choir is under the auspices of the Bainbridge Chorale, which has been the largest community choral organization in Kitsap since 1971. Created in 2007, our youth choir offers quality choral education and performance opportunities for young singers ages 5 through high school. An inclusive program requiring no audition or prior choir experience, Youth Choir teaches young singers healthy vocal technique and the fine art of ensemble singing, while they share the JOY of singing together, gain self-esteem and forge deep connections with their fellow singers.

Learn more about the many academic, emotional and social benefits of choir for youth from a study published by Chorus America. See: https://chorusamerica.org/sites/default/files/ImpactStudy09_Report.pdf

Bainbridge Youth Choir Staff

Bainbridge Youth
Choir Artistic Director

Katie Gibbs

Katie Gibbs is thrilled to step into the role of Artistic Director for Bainbridge Youth Choir—a position that feels like a true homecoming. A proud Bainbridge Island native, Katie sang with Bainbridge Chorale as a high school student and is deeply honored to return under its umbrella to lead the next generation of young singers.

Ms. Gibbs brings over a decade of experience as a choral conductor and music educator, having taught and directed choirs from kindergarten through high school in Portland, Chicago, and Bainbridge Island. She currently teaches General Music and leads the middle school choral programs in the Bainbridge Island School District—where she was once part of Sakai’s first 6th grade class in 1999.

Ms. Gibbs holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Education from Portland State University. As a performer, she has sung with acclaimed ensembles and artists including Josh Groban, Ara Lee, Amadee, Morten Lauridsen, Eriks Esenvalds, the Portland State Chamber Choir, the Oregon Repertory Singers, and the brass-funk band River City Riot. As a conductor, she has led ensembles such as the ORSYC: Expanding Voices Choir, Reynolds High School Chamber Choir, Portland State University Singers, the Kairos UCC Choir, and the Mirabella Community Chorus.

With a deep belief in the transformative power of choral music, Ms. Gibbs is passionate about fostering joy, belonging, and artistic excellence in young singers. She is excited to build musical community and inspire lifelong musicianship through BYC.

Outside of music, she enjoys hiking, fly-fishing, gardening, cooking, reading fantasy novels, and making music with friends and family.

Bainbridge Youth Choir Managing Director

Wendi Olinger

Wendi Olinger is excited to be joining the Bainbridge Youth Choir team as managing director. She has spent over 25 years in music education and loves all things music. Wendi began her teaching career as a high school choir teacher and then moved to preschool when her kids were little. She is now the music teacher at Ordway Elementary and Odyssey. Wendi is also the music director for the BHS spring musical and director of Crescendo, an adult community choir under the Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest umbrella.

Wendi's teaching career has taken her from Connecticut to Texas and now Bainbridge Island, WA. She has been a choral director, private voice teacher, bakery owner, music director and overall cheerleader for her own two teenagers. She loves spending time with her family and exploring all the PNW has to offer!

Bainbridge Youth
Choir Collaborative
Pianist

Theodora Carson

Theodora, born and raised on Bainbridge Island, is a versatile pianist and accompanist with extensive experience in both academic and choral settings. She has served as the BYC accompanist since 2022. Prior to this she was a professor of piano at the University of San Francisco, where she also accompanied all choral ensembles. Her collaborative work spans organizations including San Francisco Girl Choir, Young Women’s Choral Projects, Master Chorus Eastside, Seattle Boy Choir, Columbia Youth Choirs, Piedmont East Bay Youth Choir, Seattle Wind Symphony, and Cornish College. She has collaborated in performance with members of the Seattle Symphony, San Francisco Opera, and San Francisco Symphony.

As a staff accompanist she has held positions at University of San Francisco, University of Washington, and at the Boston Conservatory of Music.

Ms. Carson received a Bachelors of Music from Rice University and a Masters of Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In addition to her work as an accompanist, she is dedicated to teaching piano lessons at Island Music Guild.