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.

ZHANHONG KUANG, Collaborative Pianist

Zhanhong Kuang is an active collaborative pianist in the Seattle area. With a BA degree in Piano Performance from Seattle Pacific University, Zhanhong has accompanied numerous choir concerts, musicals, music festivals, and competitions. She currently serves as a collaborative pianist at Seattle Pacific University. In addition, she has been working as an accompanist for the Seattle School District since 2017, and Shoreline School District since 2023. Zhanhong is also the collaborative pianist of the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle and Magnolia Chorale.

Assistant Directors

Andrew Burgmayer, Tenor Assistant Director

ALIVIA JONES, Soprano Assistant Director

Alivia Jones grew up on Vashon Island, immersed in local theater and music from the age of eight. She received her Bachelor of Musical Arts from Pacific Lutheran University, where she sang with the University Chorale. In PLU Opera's production of "The Marriage of Figaro" she played the role of Barbarina. She has also sung with Vashon Opera and the Emerald Ensemble. Alivia has been a featured soloist for Vashon Island Chorale (Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Serenade to Music") and Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus (Handel's "Dixit Dominus"). She is continuing her vocal studies with countertenor José Luis Muñoz. Outside of choir rehearsal, Alivia teaches music to beginning voice and piano students of all ages, tutors K-12 students in English language arts, and reads books from the teetering stacks in her room. 

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 is the General Manager of 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.