Board of Directors

Matthew Tenney, Board Chair, enjoyed several musical avenues growing up, including performing with the Utah Youth Symphony, the Orchestra at Temple Square, the American West Symphony and Chorus, and his high school madrigal choir. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Brigham Young University and an MA and MBA in arts administration at the University of Cincinnati; he has worked in development at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and has served on the board of trustees of Hale Centre Theater in Sandy, Utah. Having also earned a JD from BYU, Matthew practices law as general counsel for a Utah-based technology company.

Rachel Cox, Executive Director, is both an active performer and voice teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University with a minor in Choral Conducting. Following graduation she completed post-graduate opera studies at the AIMS Institute in Austria. Rachel has been a member and soloist with fine choral chamber ensembles including the BYU Singers, the Lexington Chamber Chorale, and the da Pacem singers. Rachel has toured and performed throughout the US and abroad, including performances in Canada, South Africa, and throughout Western Europe. She is currently the conductor of the St. George Children’s Choir, is an active classical soloist and musical theater performer, and maintains a private voice studio.

Jared Davis

Jared Davis, Marketing Director, has loved music his entire life. In addition to singing tenor, he plays the violin, cello, and piano and enjoys music in a wide range of styles. Sought-after in the arts community, Jared has worked as a choral conductor, a musical-theater director, an accompanist for soloists and groups, and an actor in over thirty musical-theater productions. Professionally, Jared works as the Washington County Network Manager. He enjoys serving on the Chamber Singers Board and expanding his musical interests as a member of the St. George Chamber Singers.

Mary Illions Wilde, Children’s Choir Program Director, has been a member of the St. George Chamber Singers since its second season. She previously sang with the Minnesota Chorale (the symphonic chorus of the Minnesota Orchestra), World Voices, and the Radio Choir for NPR. She has had the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of projects and professional productions, such as Verdi’s Aida, Mahler’s Symphonies, and world premier pieces composed and conducted by Eric Whitacre. Wilde has also done solo performances and recordings, including a series at Grace Episcopal Church benefitting the community soup kitchen. She and her husband are parents to 8 sons, who also enjoy and actively participate in music. Professionally, Dr. Wilde is a pediatrician and owner of Imagine Pediatrics, a consulting practice focused on child behavioral issues.

Paul Wiens, Conductor and Artistic Director, earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa where he studied with Don V. Moses, sang as a member of the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Choir under the legendary Robert Shaw and taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Robert Fountain.  During his 44-year academic career, he conducted choirs at Fulton High School-Atlanta (3), Clayton State University-Georgia (6), Bethel College-Kansas (1), University of Wisconsin-Madison (3) and Wheaton College (31).   While a member of the Wheaton Conservatory of Music faculty from 1981-2012, he conducted the Concert Choir at 11 ACDA conventions: National (2), Central Division (6), State of Illinois (3).  In 2012 he conducted Bach’s B-minor Mass with the Concert Choir and the Metropolis Chamber Orchestra.  Under his leadership as Artistic Director and Conductor, the West Suburban Choral Union presented major choral/orchestral masterworks at Wheaton College from 1983-2006.  He served as Chorus Master for five Wheaton College Artist Series performances under the baton of John Nelson. Upon retirement and appointment as Professor of Music Emeritus in 2021, Wiens has conducted the Chamber Singers since its founding in 2015.

Roger Hale, Assistant Conductor, joined the faculty at Utah Tech University in August of 2014. He received a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Choral Conducting from the University of Utah, and a Ph.D. in Choral Music Education and Conducting from Florida State University. Dr. Hale studied with John Cooksey, André Thomas, Kevin Fenton, and Clifford Madsen and is Director of Choral Activities at UT where he conducts the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Women’s Chorus.  He is a sought-after clinician and guest conductor. His singing instruction videos have been viewed over 6 million times by his more than 116k subscribers. He enjoys living in the St. George area with his wife KayDe and their five children.

Mark Robertson, Treasurer, has been a life-long singer and supporter of the Arts. His participation in the Arts includes membership in the BYU Oratorio Choir and the Southwest Symphonic Chorale as well as many performances with the St. George Musical Theater including leading roles such as George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life,  Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz, and the Stage Manager in Our Town. A supporter of local choral music, Mark has sung with Lieto Voices since its inception and has served as both president and board member for the organization. Mark has performed in Carnegie Hall under esteemed director John Rutter and has assisted local youth choruses for over ten years.

Kaylee Mason, Secretary, grew up at the piano, where she developed a love of classical music at a young age and studied with the late Lynn Dean. This love led her to the world of choral music, and she began accompanying and singing during her high school years under Norman Lister. At Brigham Young University, she minored in music, sang in the BYU Women’s Chorus, and furthered her private piano study. She spent seven years teaching piano; has accompanied many church and local choirs, congregations, and soloists; and now sings with the St. George Chamber Singers. She loves running, baking, and houseplants and currently works as a copy editor. Kaylee lives with her husband, Daren, and four young children in Washington, Utah.