EXCELLENT MUSIC. Cantabile Chamber Choir is an auditioned ensemble dedicated to fine choral music-making. Our repertoire spans traditional works, appealing modern pieces, and innovative crossover music. We've supported the Skagit Valley through challenge and celebration alike, representing our community across the greater Puget Sound region and beyond.
ARTISTIC COLLABORATION. Music is most powerful when shared. Cantabile partners with premier ensembles and educational programs to stage large-scale works and build community connection. Recent highlights:
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Regional Premieres: Joined the Sno-King Chorale and Kulshan Chorus for the Pacific Northwest premiere of Christopher Tin's The Drop That Contained the Sea, with full orchestra.
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Community Heritage: Partnered with Mount Vernon High School's choral program on our Celebrate Latine Heritage concert, pairing student energy with seasoned artistry.
MENTORSHIP & EDUCATION. With many educators among our ranks, Cantabile invests in the next generation of singers through scholarships and performance opportunities. Our Young Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievement in choral singing — past recipients have received instruction scholarships and performed as featured soloists during our concert season.
What We Do
Artistic Leadership
Dustin Willetts
Artistic Director
Dustin Willetts is one of the most in-demand conductors of the Pacific Northwest, currently directing for Cantabile Chamber Choir in Mount Vernon, Kulshan Chorus in Bellingham, and Sno-King Chorale in Edmonds.
Willetts is the founding director of the Salish Sea Orchestra, and serves as the Director of Worship at Mountain View Presbyterian Church. He is a performing member of Choral Arts Northwest in Seattle, and served on the board of directors of the Seattle Children’s Chorus for over a decade.
As an artistic director, Dustin has received critical praise from around the world as he blurs the lines between various artistic mediums. His performances tell stories and take audiences on a journey. Willetts has received the Whatcom Peace Builder Awardas well as the Ken Gass Community Building award for previous projects including “Breaking Silence.”
With a passion for education and lifelong learning, Willetts is a frequent adjudicator and clinician throughout the Pacific Northwest and describes working with youth as, “One of my absolute favorite things to do!” When not working with choirs and orchestras Dustin can be found performing as an instrumentalist (saxophone, guitar, and percussion) for various shows and sessions. He has conducted in over 20 countries, some favorites being - Norway, China, and Bulgaria. Dustin and his wife, Lauren own and operate an ensemble-based tour company where they are able to help make touring more accessible for all, while sharing their love for other cultures. In those brief still moments between the adventures Dustin is rumored to be found sipping on something brewed while enjoying the beauty of Camano Island.
Debbie DeMiero
Collaborative Pianist
Performer, educator, adjudicator, arranger, and vocalist, Debra DeMiero brings a wealth of versatile artistry to her role as Collaborative Pianist for Cantabile Chamber Choir. She earned her Master of Music from Washington State University with an emphasis in piano performance, following degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Seattle Pacific University and an A.A.S. from Edmonds College. Her distinguished training includes studies with renowned pedagogues Béla Nägy, Ruby Bailey-Ronald, and Marcile Mack.
A cornerstone of the Puget Sound choral community, Debbie serves as the Collaborative Pianist for the Sno-King Chorale in Edmonds and has frequently collaborated with the Seattle Children’s Chorus. Her expertise extends beyond the keyboard into high-level production and artistic contracting; most notably, she contracted the full professional orchestra, the Salish Sea Orchestra, for Cantabile’s landmark Pacific Northwest premiere of Christopher Tin’s The Drop That Contained the Sea.
In addition to her work with Cantabile, Debbie is a dedicated educator on the Music Department faculty at Edmonds College, where she teaches piano, music theory, and accompanying. She further serves as the Director of Music at St. Thomas More Parish in Lynnwood and maintains a thriving private piano studio in Brier. Her professional history includes serving as the musical director and accompanist for the La Stella Duo and a long-standing tenure as a regular performer and adjudicator for honor choirs and all-state groups throughout the region.
Board of Directors
Eric Goetz
Board President | Tenor
Brian Nelson
Treasurer | Tenor
Terril Hayes
Member at Large | baritone
Ken Henry
Member at Large | Bass
Sarah Russel
Vice President | Soprano
Delaney Bullinger
Secretary | Soprano
Susan Easthouse
Member at Large | Tenor
Kelly Visten
Member at Large | Membership Chair | Alto
Specialists
Kathleen Roche-Zujko
Grant Writer | Soprano
Allie Pinnock
Program Design | Alto
Rae Larson
Graphic Design | Alto
Join Our Ranks
Sing With Cantabile
At Cantabile, we believe that "Excellent Music" is only possible when every singer feels seen, heard, and celebrated. We are more than an auditioned ensemble; we are a supportive artistic community where you are invited to bring your full, authentic self to the riser.
Our goal is to create a space where musical rigor meets radical belonging. Whether we are performing the Pacific Northwest premiere of Christopher Tin’s The Drop That Contained the Sea alongside the Sno-King and Kulshan chorales, or sharing the stage with Mount Vernon High School for our Celebrate Latine Heritage concert, we lead with intentionality. We collaborate across generations and cultures because we know that diverse voices make our harmony richer.
In Cantabile, you aren't just a voice part—you are a vital contributor to a collective soul. We provide the mentorship and professional leadership to help you find your own authentic resonance, ensuring that as we grow toward our goal of 40 singers, we never lose sight of the individual artist.
Ready to Perform?
Audition Application Form
We are currently looking for motivated singers across all voice parts—particularly tenors and basses—for our upcoming concert cycle. Please complete the form below to share your choral experience and schedule a private audition with our Artistic Director. Let's make beautiful music together in the heart of the Skagit Valley.
Audition FAQ
What should I prepare for my audition?
Please prepare two contrasting pieces, that highlight your vocal range and expressive capabilities. One selection should be an art song or aria, and the other can be a choral excerpt of your choice.
Is sight-reading part of the assessment?
Yes, a short sight-reading exercise is included to help the conductor understand your musical literacy and how quickly you might learn new repertoire within the ensemble setting.
When do regular rehearsals take place?
Cantabile Chamber Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:15 PM in Mount Vernon, with additional dress rehearsals scheduled before concert weekends. Cantabile has a limited rehearsal schedule (typically no more than 8 rehearsals)—thus singers are expected to learn the music on their own time.
What is the audition fee or membership cost?
There is no fee to audition. If accepted, members pay bi-annual dues of $135 to help cover operational costs, and they also pay for sheet music (typically $25-$50 per concert program). Scholarship opportunities are available for singers for whom these dues may present a barrier to participation.