MURRAY C. WALKER has been the Director of Music and Choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church, Santa Cruz since 1996. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Mr. Walker holds music degrees in choral conducting from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver and California State University, Long Beach. He is retired from a forty-year career as a music educator, most recently at the York School in Monterey. His singing career has included the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the choirs of (the former) St. Paul’s Cathedral of Los Angeles, Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal and Norwich Cathedral in England. He served as conductor of the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony from 1988-1993. mwalker@calvarysantacruz.org
KATE SAPHIR, Organist has a special heart for chamber music, which has been a part of her family for generations, and a love of serving as church musician as she has done throughout her entire adult life. She is a pianist (BM in Piano Performance at San Francisco Conservatory), organist (Colleague of the American Guild of Organists), published composer (Episcopal Church Publishing), producer, and performer. Her Musical Soulmates program features a trio of musical projects: Performer’s Collective, Suzuki Piano Studio, and Harmony Youth Choir which showcase a kaleidoscopic range of music. Through Musical Soulmates Kate cultivates joy, healing, and connection through both process and performance of music. ksaphir@calvarysantacruz.org
2023-2024 CHORAL SCHOLARS
SOPRANO: ISABELLA WALSH is a classical singer from Newport Beach, CA. She began participating in choirs at the age of 8 and has sung in several choral ensembles for the past 12 years. She currently sings with the UCSC Chamber Singers and is the music director of Cloud 9 A Cappella in addition to singing at Calvary Episcopal Church. Isabella is also a member of UCSC Opera and has participated in multiple productions since Winter 2023. Isabella studies under Sheila Willey at UCSC and she will graduate with a BA in Western Art Music and a BA in Philosophy in June 2025.
ALTO: KRISTIANA BUDKE is a classical singer and aspiring linguist hailing from Santa Barbara, CA. She began participating in choral music at the age of 10, and has been a member of various choirs for over a decade; she currently sings with the UCSC Chamber Singers, and with Calvary Episcopal Church. She is also a member of UCSC Opera. Having previously studied voice with Agatha Carubia throughout high school and early college, Kristiana has been under the tutelage of UCSC’s Sheila Willey since 2022. She will graduate with a BM in Voice and a BA in Linguistics in June 2025.
TENOR : CONOR WARSHAWSKY. I am a UCSC Bachelor of Music Student focusing on Classical Voice training. I have been working as a Choral Scholar since January of 2021 and have loved the opportunity to get to sing for my community! I look forward to continuing to further my vocal training in both Calvary’s choir and UCSC’s Opera program.
BASS: GAVIN PINNOW is an undergraduate student at UCSC, pursuing degrees in both music and history. He has studied voice with UCSC’s Sheila Willey since 2020 and performed multiple productions with the opera program. He is grateful for the opportunity to engage with the community and enrich his musical experience with Calvary’s choir.
