Member-Powered Leadership

The Director's Music Team is responsible for developing musical and performance excellence in the San Diego Chorus at all levels. This invitation-only team is selected by the Director for one year terms. Together they work closely to bring the director's creative vision to life through section leadership, visuals, choreography and music education.

Kim Vaughn

INTERIM DIRECTOR

As the San Diego Chorus conducts its search for a new Musical Director, the organization is pleased to welcome former director, Sound Judge, and three-time Queen of Harmony Kim Vaughn as Interim Musical Director. Her leadership provides continuity and confidence during this transition.

​Kim served as Musical Director of the San Diego Chorus from 1985–2014, leading the chorus to International Championships in 1978 and 2001. A Master Faculty Member of Sweet Adelines International and Region 21 Hall of Fame inductee, she is a Master Director 700 and recipient of the 2014 SAI Lifetime Achievement Award.

Leah Rippetoe

ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Leah Rippetoe serves as Assistant Director of the San Diego Chorus and brings a rich background in musical theater, performing on both sides of the footlights. She has sung in high school and collegiate ensembles, as well as worship teams in Las Vegas, Louisville, and San Diego.

A Certified Director since 2009, Leah joined the San Diego Chorus in 2016 and has been a member of Sweet Adelines International for 28 years, with experience in Regions 8, 11, and 4. She currently sings bass in the quartet Nick of Time and has participated in multiple quartets throughout her chorus career.

Leah has served Sweet Adelines International in numerous leadership and education roles, including the 75th Anniversary Task Force and as Region Music Team (RMT) Education Coordinator. Within choruses, she has held a wide range of leadership positions, including President/Team Coordinator, Visual Coordinator/Choreographer, Music Staff Chair, Performance & Show Coordinator, Production Manager/Coordinator, and Section Leader.
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Professionally, Leah brings experience from the Convention & Visitors Bureau industry, along with extensive background in meeting and event planning. She has also served as a ministry assistant and office manager.
Leah’s contributions have been recognized with several honors, including Sweet Adeline of the Year (2019), Rookie of the Year (2016), Team Coordinator Award (2018), and the Director’s Award (2019).

Meg Adams

VISUAL COORDINATOR

Meg joined Sweet Adelines in 2000. She spent a year singing with White River Sound, in Indianapolis, IN, before moving to Southern California and joining the San Diego Chorus in 2001. Meg started working as the assistant choreographer in 2004, and took over as the Visual Coordinator in 2006. Meg starred as Mary Poppins in the school musical in second grade and has been singing and performing ever since! Meg is a former classroom teacher and brings her teaching experience and love of dance and theater to the chorus each and every week. Meg was named Sweet Adeline of the Year 2012.

Rachel Jones

LEAD SECTION LEADER

Rachel joined the San Diego Chorus in 2023 and quickly became a standout presence. Originally from Kentucky, she brings a deep passion for the performing arts with musical experience in various choral groups and guitar, along with boundless enthusiasm and heart. Though new to Sweet Adelines, Rachel jumped in full force and was soon making front-row cameos and stepping into musical leadership.  Rachel recently expanded her musical journey to include quarteting, making her debut at Holiday Glow Up! as Mrs. Claus, as well as organizing a ukulele ensemble for the chorus. 

​Outside the chorus, Rachel works in corporate finance and is an accomplished baker who generously shares her confectionery talents with Cake4Kids, a nonprofit providing custom birthday cakes for underserved and at-risk youth throughout San Diego

Marina Hayden

BASS SECTION LEADER

Marina was introduced to barbershop harmonies in high school and sang in an award-winning barbershop quartet at Spring Sing while at UCLA.  She has been singing bass and a member of the front row of the San Diego Chorus for almost 30 years. Marina loves singing with her beautiful friends in SoloVoce Quartet and is so proud to share the title of Region 21 champions with them. SoloVoce is currently ranked 2nd in Region 21 Golden West and has represented the Region twice on the International stage. A registered nurse by training, she is now an editor for the Journal of Emergency Medicine and also works part-time at a martial arts studio.

AMANDA PRUETT

BARITONE SECTION LEADER

Amanda joined the San Diego Chorus in March 2025 after attending the January Open House. A professional singer, she has performed with a wide range of organizations, including The Walt Disney Company, The Lil’ Dickens Carolers, The King’s Singers, and the Dioceses of Orange and San Diego.
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Amanda holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from California State University, Fullerton and has sung in multiple choruses under the direction of renowned conductors including John Williams, Keith Lockhart, Grant Gershon, John Alexander, and Howard Shore.

Keri Leasure

TENOR CO-SECTION LEADER

Keri joined the San Diego Chorus and became a member of Sweet Adelines International in 2017. Keri has been singing since a very young age; starting her singing career at the age of two in her church's Christmas show. She sang in high school choruses, college groups, and several worship teams at various churches in the San Diego area. Recently, Keri joined a chorus quartet as the tenor and looks forward to learning more about the craft of barbershop. Her skills as a makeup consultant help prepare the chorus for performances and competitions.

Lori Shelley

TENOR CO-SECTION LEADER

Tenor Section Co-Leader Lori Shelley was practically born in harmony — her mom was a Sweet Adeline too! With years of piano and vocal training behind her, Lori’s musical roots run deep. She started her barbershop adventure with the Virginia Coast Chorus and now sings with the award-winning San Diego Chorus, where she also helps lead the tenor section.

​Lori’s sung with more quartets than she can count and even snagged the Sweet Adelines International Novice Quartet Award early in her journey. She currently sings tenor with Nick of Time. Simply put, she was born to ring chords.

Kayla Rodgers

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Kayla is a dedicated music educator who recently earned her Master’s degree in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis from VanderCook College of Music—an achievement that reflects exceptional focus, discipline, and commitment to musical excellence. She has served as Musical Director of the California NoteCatchers, a Harmony, Incorporated Chorus, since 2023.

Within the San Diego Chorus, Kayla elevates music education and organizational history as Education Coordinator. She has sung bass and tenor with the chorus and tenor with Seascape Quartet. A passionate youth educator, Kayla plans to launch a community youth barbershop ensemble in the near future.

Julissa Trahan

SECRETARY

Julissa sings Lead in the San Diego Chorus and stepped into chorus leadership in 2025 as Secretary on the Chorus Management Team. A member of Sweet Adelines International for more than a decade, she brings a deep passion for performance and musical collaboration to every role she serves.
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Julissa currently sings Lead in the quartet Fantastique, performing alongside friends from both Region 21 and Region 11. Her musical journey began early in San Diego, where she appeared in numerous productions with San Diego Junior Theatre and other
community theaters, and later continued as an adult member of the San Diego Choral Club.

​She has been a member of the San Diego Chorus since 2014. Outside the risers, Julissa has an established career as a Clinical Researcher, with professional experience supporting respected institutions including UC San Diego, the Veterans Medical Research Foundation, and the Cardiovascular Institute of San Diego.

Pam Murray

CHORUS MANAGEMENT TEAM LIAISON

Pam became a Sweet Adeline in 2016, joining the San Diego Chorus as a Baritone. She has been singing and performing in vocal ensembles and musical theater since the age of four, bringing a lifelong love of music and performance to the risers.
Pam holds a degree from UC San Diego, with a major in Drama and a minor in Music (Vocal Performance).

Pam also brings more than 30 years of corporate leadership experience, including extensive tenure with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, where her work spanned global supply chain, procurement, contracting, and entertainment management. She now applies those skills in the service of Sweet Adelines, International.

In addition to singing baritone with the chorus, Pam plays guitar and has sung and competed in multiple barbershop quartets, including So Noted and Offbeat.