Musical Staff

Jacob Finkle, Music Director

Jacob Finkle is proud to serve as Music Director of the Seattle Jewish Chorale. He started working with the Chorale as the Bass Section Leader in 2013 and took over as Music Director in 2016. Finkle teaches K-5 General Music at Silver Firs Elementary in Everett, WA. He received a BA in Music from Vassar College with a correlate sequence in Early British Literature. At Vassar, he served as conductor of the Camerata Choir, a student-run early music group. Upon completion of his degree, he moved to Seattle, WA, where he completed an MM in Choral Conducting and a Music Education Teaching Certification at the University of Washington. As part of his degree, he served as the Non-Residential Differential Fellow for the Men’s Glee Club. Finkle is also currently serving as the Conductor of the University Unitarian Church’s Intergenerational Choir. Because he evidently prefers to avoid free time and joy, Finkle is currently pursuing a principal certification through Western Washington University. His favorite color is purple.

Alex Fang, Collaborative Pianist

Recently arrived from San Francisco, pianist Alex Fang is delighted to join for his first season with the Seattle Jewish Chorale. He is currently pursuing his DMA at the University of Washington, where he performs TA duties for the Modern Music Ensemble. He has earned his MM at San Francisco Conservatory of Music and his BM at Northwestern University. Most recently, he is honored to have received first place in the SFCM’s Piano Concerto Competition (2022), alternate winner prizes in the MTNA Young Artist Performance Piano Competitions in Washington (2022) and Illinois (2019), and the opportunity to have performed alongside renowned concert pianists in a Beethoven sonata marathon held at SFJazz (2021). He is excited to continue contributing to Washington’s musical community after performing alongside faculty at the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival (2022). Throughout his studies, he has immersed himself with solo performance as well as collaborative experiences through teaching, chamber music, and collaborative piano.

Assistant Directors

Tim Morrisey, Tenor Assistant Director

Timothy Morrisey received both his Bachelors of Music in Education (2003) and Masters of Music in Performance (2005) from the Julia E. Crane School of Music in New York. While attending Crane Mr. Morrisey had the opportunity to tour Europe as a featured soloist of the elite Crane Chamber Choir, in partnership with the Ottawa Choral Society. Among his awards are recipient of the 1997 Outstanding Musician Scholarship (Chautauqua County) and the Brotherhood Award (2001), given by the National Music Fraternity Phi Mu Alpha to non-members for achieving excellence in musicianship while exhibiting the ideals of the Brotherhood. From 2002 to 2009 Mr. Morrisey joined the faculty at the renowned Crane Youth Music Program as a professor of conducting. After graduating, Mr. Morrisey moved to Gainesville, Florida where he was an active member of the music community. He is a former member of the University of Florida Glee Club, Jacaré Brazil, UF Motet Choir, a member of Canto Verista Camerata since its inception in 2005, and has sung as a guest soloist and chorister for a number of student recitals at the University. Mr. Morrisey was recently the Director of Music at St. Augustine's Church and Assistant Director of Music at Holy Faith Catholic Church, both in Gainesville. He was also an Adjunct Professor of Music at Santa Fe College. Since moving to Washington Mr. Morrisey has joined the prestigious rosters of Illumni Men’s Chorale, Choral Arts, and Seattle Jewish Chorale. Mr. Morrisey teaches voice and piano at his music studio in the Everett area.

Rachel Rosenman, Soprano Assistant Director

Rachel is proud to be a founding member of the Seattle Jewish Chorale. She holds a BA in Psychology and Women's Studies from Brandeis University and an MA in Organizational Development from Antioch University Seattle. Rachel has sung in choirs since the fifth grade and in Jewish choirs since her days singing with the Temple Emanuel Youth Choir in Newton, MA, under the direction of Cantor Charles Osborne. She had the privilege of singing in Germany and the Czech Republic and was one of three featured soloists singing the Dedication Anthem for The New England Holocaust Memorial in Boston, MA. As a child, Rachel studied violin, flute and piano, but eventually left them all to pursue an athletic career as a gymnast, figure skater, soccer player and dancer. Many years later, as an early childhood educator, Rachel enjoyed teaching preschoolers how to spell their own names through music, as well as teaching her nephew the amazing "Baby Shark" song with accompanying hand gestures. Today, Rachel most values facilitating relationship-building and community engagement, and she appreciates her work as the Legacy Development Manager at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. She is continuously inspired by the generosity and love shared among the SJC membership which extends to the network of people and organizations that support SJC's mission.

Naomi Adele Smith, Alto Assistant Director

Naomi has participated in choirs and instrumental ensembles since childhood. They joined SJC in 2011 due to a serendipitous bus exchange. In addition to their work with the Chorale, Naomi plays synthesizers for local rock bands Rat Queen and Johnny Unicorn. When not rehearsing, recording, or performing music, Naomi hosts games at Locurio, an enchanting escape room venue in the heart of Fremont.

Kevin Wyatt-Stone, Bass Assistant Director

Kevin is known for his strong, bright sound, and excellent musicianship. He received his Bachelors of Music from the University of Oregon, where he discovered a love for early music singing with and later managing the Renaissance ensemble Vox Resonat. Kevin now sings regularly with The Byrd Ensemble, Oregon Bach Festival, and Radiance, as well as holding a staff singer position at Epiphany Episcopal Parish in Madrona and making appearances with The Tudor Choir and the St. James Cathedral Cantorei. As a soloist, Kevin has performed Mozart's Reqiuem with the Musicking conference, appeared alongside the Seattle Medieval Women's choir, and originated the role of Angel in the new opera Woman of Salt by Anice Thigpen. When not singing, Kevin is a pianist and sound engineer, collaborating frequently with friends on recording projects. Outside of music, Kevin mostly pets cats.