Artistic Staff

Ruth Huber

Ruth Huber, co-director and composer-in-residence, moved from Austin, Texas to the San Francisco Bay Area in early 1997. In Austin, Ruth founded and directed Tapestry Singers, a women's chorus. She is well-known for her music throughout the GALA Choruses network, and her commissioned work, "Rainbow Bridge," will be performed at the GALA 2000 Festival in July.

Ruth is also an accomplished singer/songwriter; her latest CD is Spirit of Nurture . She resides in San Jose with her partner, Brenda Meng, and an assortment of adorable cats.

The Rainbow Women's Chorus has had the privilege of presenting new works to the world, composed by our composer-in-residence, Ruth Huber. They are the following:

• Rainbow Women, Comin' Home, Ruth Huber, 1997. Premiered May, 1997 at RWC's first concert, New Beginnings, performed at Le Petit Trianon, San Jose.
• Rainbow Bridge, Ruth Huber, 1998. Funded in part by a Commission Matching Grant from GALA Choruses. Premiered November, 1998 at Holiday Spice performed at Christ, The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, San Jose with our guests, the Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus.

Betsy Wagner

Betsy Wagner, co-director, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education with a dual major in voice and piano (1975) from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. She has been teaching music to students in grades K-12 for 18 years, in New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, and California.

Since coming to the Bay Area in 1990, she has built an award-winning choir program at Morrill Middle School in the Berryessa School District of San Jose. More than 185 students participate in three different choirs, performing around the state every year and earning ratings of excellent and unanimous superior at CMEA (California Music Educators' Association) choral festivals. Betsy has a California teaching credential in music, a special education credential, and a multicultural language credential.

Kathy Disney

Kathy Disney, accompanist, has a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from San Jose State University. She currently teaches general music to students in grades K-3 at Eaton and Collins Elementary Schools and serves as director for the children's choir at her church in Cupertino. Kathy has accompanied both soloists and choirs for several years. She is a member of MENC ( National Association for Music Education) and CMEA (California Association for Music Education), has achieved Level I certification in the Orff Schulwerk, and in the fall she plans to begin the California single subject teaching credential process for music.