Meet Our 2023 Board of Directors
Stephanie Thompson
Stephanie studied art and music at the University of North Texas but ultimately transferred to Texas A&M and earned a degree in business management. Her career in program management focused on helping clients across a broad spectrum of industries including utilities, banking, transportation, and healthcare. While in Columbus, Ohio, she served on the sustaining board for ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and on the board of directors for the Dublin Arts Council; she also sang with the Harmony Project Community Chorus.
Jane Hamilton
Jane was born and raised in New York and then lived for many years in Boston before moving to Tucson in 1990. A licensed psychologist since 1981, she currently maintains an independent clinical practice. She has served as the president of the Southern Arizona Psychological Association and as a board member for various community agencies serving the needs of families, women, children, and the arts. Throughout high school and college, Jane studied vocal music and singing and has been in every choir she could find since third grade. She has sung with AWC since 1995. From 2005–2006, she served as the chorus president.
Lauri Latack
Lauri has been active in singing and dancing groups since childhood and has held leadership positions in both areas. Lauri received her MS in speech language pathology from the University of Michigan and ran a practice specializing in accent modification. She has also had careers in marketing and management, and she co-owned a designer lingerie firm. Her passions include travel, writing poetry, music, cooking, and all types of creative endeavors. Her two children live in NYC, which offers many opportunities for exploring her interests.
Carol Swanson
Carol lived in Colorado until she moved to Tucson in 1991. She worked as an environmental health sanitarian before embarking on a career as a pediatrician. She is passionate about treasuring each day, maintaining hope, learning, practicing tolerance, loving her family and others, and striving for the best. She enjoys reading, playing the piano, biking, doing needlepoint, and spending time with friends and family. Carol participates on the Casa de los Ninos board of directors, volunteers at The West, and loves to explore the outdoors.
Denise Cochran
A Minnesota native and snowbird, Denise currently sings in five choirs in Minnesota and two in Arizona. She credits her love of music to her grandmother, who sang to her when she was little. Denise retired as a school counselor, both in Minnesota and in international overseas schools. Her husband is also a retired educator and they have two Cardigan Welsh Corgis. When she’s not not singing, you can find her playing bad golf and even worse pickle ball. Denise uses her guitar and therapy dog when she volunteers at hospice organizations.
Els Duvigneau
Els was born and raised in the Netherlands. She retired from her nursing career in 2017 after having worked for 44 years in several different countries and in different specialties — the most satisfying of which was a long stent in oncology nursing. Besides singing and listening to music, Els loves to go to plays and movies, make jewelry, read, and spend time with her two granddaughters. She stays active by hiking, biking, practicing yoga, and swimming. Els is a board member at the local Rogue theater and volunteers at the Assistance League of Tucson.
Janelle White
Check back soon for Janelle’s bio.
Michael Melton
Michael has been active throughout his career as a conductor, singer, pianist, coach, and teacher. He retired from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, where he he served as Director of Choral Activities and Opera Conductor and taught voice, conducting, diction, and secondary methods. He continues his summer work in Chicago as score reader for video productions of Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts at the Ravinia Festival. He enjoys spending the winter months in Tucson.
Joan Hall
Joan was born in Delaware and moved to Tucson at 16. She has a B.A. in psychology and a B.S. in biology from the UA, along with master’s in International Development from the American University. Joan worked in the field of microfinance, living in Viet Nam, El Salvador, and West Bank (Occupied Territories). She returned to Tucson in 2007 and retired last year. Joan has served on the boards of Watershed Management Group and Iskashitaa Refugee Network. She has also served on the board for Jefferson Park Neighborhood as president, secretary, treasurer, and chair of numerous committees.