Board
Nada Marriott (she/her)
Chairperson
As an accomplished musician with decades of education leadership, Nada has been a featured soloist, seminar leader, and speaker, and has even sung backup for Mariah Carey! Nada is a skilled portrait photographer, specializing in capturing people’s essence, sweetness, and joy. She is an artist at heart, and through music, she is inspired by playing the piano, singing, crocheting, and even baking her famously delectable chocolate chip cookies. In her free time, she plays with her two darling little dogs, Little Buddy and Annabelle. Nada has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management.
Nat Johnson (he/him)
Vice Chairperson
Nat has been singing in the Bay Area for decades, including Palo Alto High School and Stanford University, and has performed as a tenor with The Choral Project for more than a dozen seasons. A strong believer inTCP’s mission and the power of music to heal and improve lives, he is happy to contribute his time and energy to advancing these goals behind the scenes and on the risers. Outside of music, Nat is a software engineer and enjoys bicycling, hiking, and spending time with his two teenage sons and his pups Miso (pictured!) and Harper.
Olivia “Libby” White (she/her)
Secretary
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Libby has always participated in the performing arts in any capacity, whether assisting nonprofit organizations, coordinating community performances, singing in university or community choirs, or working in the sound booth for local theaters. A graduate of Oklahoma City University’s Bass School of Music, she made the move to California in 2023 to support the International Education Program for the San Mateo County Community College District. Libby continues her passion of choral singing while advocating for the arts, culture, and education.
James Armstrong (he/him)
Treasurer
Born and raised in New England, James’ parents recall him being mesmerized by Beethoven symphony recordings before he started kindergarten. He moved to California for graduate school and has lived in the Bay Area ever since, teaching chemistry at a local community college until his retirement in 2020. In recent years, he returned to his musical roots, including playing the piano, singing with The Choral Project and West Bay Opera, and composing works for chorus, piano, organ, violin, and trumpet. He also enjoys hiking, birding, genealogy, map collecting, traveling, and doting on his identical twin daughters.
Kristin Baxter (she/her)
Though she does not think of herself as an activist, as a board member and singer in The Choral Project, she feels like she can be the voice of those in need as the power of music is realized and shared with the world. As a retired speech pathologist, she helped people to literally find their voice through neuro-atypical challenges, injury, or disease, often requiring divergent thinking and creative solutions. As a board member, Kristin strives to celebrate diversity and inclusivity, which gives everyone the power to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves.
Jason Brittsan (he/him)
Raised in Ohio, Jason began singing at age six and developed a deep interest in choral music. He studied voice and piano, performed in choir and band, and earned a degree in voice from Millikin University. After college, Jason built a career in the software industry with over 20 years of experience as a tester, developer, and program manager. Before joining The Choral Project, he served on the board of the Seattle Choral Company in various roles. He enjoys helping arts organizations leverage technology and continues to sing with passion. He and his husband share a love of travel and food.
Kathi Fay (she/her)
While living in New York, Kathi sang with and served as a board member of Charis Chamber Voices. She has always loved to sing and is unable to remember a time when she wasn't singing with a choir. As a lifelong music aficionado, Kathi also plays the piano and loves attending local Bay Area performances by artists like the San José Chamber Orchestra, the Peninsula Symphony, and local-area punk bands. She teaches English as a second language and continues perfecting her New York bagels recipe. Kathi lives in Campbell with her husband and two doggos. Her three grown children drop by often, mostly to play with the pups and have a home-cooked meal. She is a TCP soprano. Kathi is a past board chairperson and vice chairperson of The Choral Project.
Deborah Fong (she/her)
A lifelong choral singer, Deborah has always loved the power of music to inspire, connect, and build community. She recently joined The Choral Project, where she found renewed joy in making music with a talented and welcoming community of singers. Deborah has also volunteered with Crystal Children's Choir for more than ten years. There, she has supported young singers as they develop a long-lasting love of music. Outside of music, she enjoys solving puzzles, baking, traveling, and reading.
Summer C. Latimer (she/they)
Summer is a classically trained vocalist who built her craft through years of study and performance. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from San José State University and has experience in vocal pedagogy, choral work, and stage production. She has sung with The Choral Project for more than a decade and is passionate about sustaining the supportive community it fosters. By day, she is a graphic and web designer for Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. By night (and weekends), she writes, LARPs, and proudly indulges her inner sci-fi and fantasy nerd.
Stephanie Vergara (she/her)
A California native, Stephanie grew up in the Central Valley and moved to the Bay Area in 2006. She fell in love with choral singing in high school and continued singing with the CSU Stanislaus Chamber Singers. Stephanie has cantored for church services, weddings, and funerals with her pianist husband for many years, and in addition to singing with TCP she performs with Symphony San Jose Chorale. A lifelong passion for math and teaching led her to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and work in teaching, tutoring, and homeschooling. When not singing, Stephanie volunteers with several Bay Area organizations. She enjoys science fiction and fantasy, video games, family time, and visits to the ocean.