who we are
Lumia Ensemble is a small vocal ensemble committed to invigorating and diversifying the canon of choral repertoire. Through performance, we bring light to contemporary and lesser-known works and composers while still including effective and contextualized earlier pieces in our programming. The project-based ensemble is flexible in voicing and instrumentation in order to offer an artistic rendition that best fits the composer’s vision.
Our performances draw in those who may feel excluded by the religious and Eurocentric programming typical of the genre. By highlighting new stories and performing in a variety of venues, we bring the power and possibilities of vocal music to new audiences.
The name “Lumia” is an homage to the work of Thomas Wilfred, who considered himself an artist of light, creating brilliant and ethereal works out of ordinary materials. We hope you will join us as we use the most universal instrument to create something truly sublime.
mission
Lumia Ensemble presents exemplary performances of culturally-relevant and adventurous repertoire that is underrepresented in standard choral environments.
meet
the
directors
artistic director
Octavia McAloon
Octavia McAloon is a soprano, conductor, and singer-songwriter lucky enough to call the Pacific Northwest home. After graduating with honors from Cornish College of the Arts in 2013 (B.M. Classical Voice), she found her footing as a soloist and specialist in vocal ensemble performance in the greater Seattle area. She then earned her Master of Music from Yale University in Choral Conducting, as part of a joint program between the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where she directed and performed with numerous ensembles, including multiple international tours with the Yale Schola Cantorum.
Working as a singer-songwriter of atmospheric folk music, Octavia released her debut album, With Breath of Wind, in April of 2020 and loves performing virtual and in-person shows around the region. She is a lifelong lover of choral music and enjoys spending time in nature, cooking elaborate meals, buying too many houseplants, and appreciating a good pastry.
Robin Rae Valkren
managing director
Raised in the arid Texas plains on a steady diet of church, steak, and ballet, Robin fled to the verdant mountains of Washington where she became a whistling, jump-kick of a wizard with the veritable heart of a manatee. She teaches partner dance at Century Ballroom and across the globe, imbuing all bodies with courage to embrace one another and, indeed, themselves in any role.
current singers
Octavia McAloon
Artistic Director
Soprano 1
Robin Valkren
Managing Director
Soprano 2
Danya Clevenger
Alto 1
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Brittni Liyanage
Alto 2
Stephen O'Bent
Tenor 1
Mitchell Baier
Tenor 2
Robin Wyatt-Stone
Bass 1
David Hoffman
Bass 2
donations
Donations make our concert experiences possible. From venue rentals, purchasing music, audio and visual equipment, and paying the ensemble for their time and hard work, concert costs can climb quickly! As a new ensemble, your support is instrumental in keeping us afloat during these unprecedented times.
We are currently accepting donations through venmo and working on ways to make donating as easy as possible.
Thank you for your support and we hope to sing for you again soon!
