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Directors

Russ Young

Musical Director, June 2004 to present

A native of Chicago, Russ grew up in a musical family. It wasn’t unusual to spend evenings at home around Mom at the piano and his siblings each on a musical instrument. At that time Russ played the ukulele. While singing was a part of those sessions, his interest really developed as the result of attending barbershop shows and having a 5th grade class that performed as a choir throughout the community.

Being active in the school band was part of growing up for Russ. Although some theater and sports caught his interest, music was a true love. After being accepted into the pre-med program at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Russ had his heart set on going into the medical profession for as long as he could remember. However, his high school band director convinced him that he would enjoy music as a career more than the medical profession. It was in his final semester of high school that Russ decided to do just that. He studied at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago and graduated in 1978 with a degree in Music Education.

After finishing college, Russ moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he began his teaching career with the Apache Junction Schools. His interest in singing was revived when a fellow teacher mentioned his involvement with the Scottsdale Copperstatesmen Chorus. Before visiting the chorus, though, Russ formed a quartet with three other teachers, appropriately named "The Schoolmasters". The quartet sang for numerous social and school functions and quickly became a staple at teacher's social functions.

In 1978 Russ visited and then began singing with the Scottsdale Chapter. Taking a sabbatical after a year with the chorus to complete his Master's Degree, he returned to the chorus and became an Assistant Director under Lloyd Steinkamp, Russ joined the Phoenicians in 1984 and, under the wings of then chorus director Lou Laurel, Russ was moved into the Assistant Director position one year later and remained with the chorus until late in 1999.

As a member of the Far Western District Chorus Director's Guild, Russ served as a Board Member as well as on the faculty for several Director Seminars sponsored by the Guild. In addition, he serves as a faculty member for schools in other districts across the Society including Harmony College/Director's College, Harmony College East and Northwest.

Quartetting is nothing new to Russ. His most recent quartet, "Applause!" placed as high as 12th at International. But you may better know him as the baritone of the four-time medallist quartet, "Standing Room Only". Although he is not currently involved with a quartet, he claims there’s something in the works. Russ also devotes much of his time coaching both men’s and women’s choruses and quartets.

Russ continued teaching high school choral music until 1999. Following a 4-year administrative assignment, he missed teaching and decided to return to the classroom. This year marks his 26th year in that school system.

Russ recently retired as the Singing Category Specialist in the Society Contest and Judging Program and is currently serving as Chairman of Contests and Judging for the Far Western District. He and his wife Wendi live in Mesa. Russ' stepson, Jeremy, is married and has two sons.

Larry Wilson

Assistant Director

Larry Wilson got his start singing in his first barbershop quartet, "Three Dads and a Lad," at age 11. At 13 he sang with "The Squires" who went on to win "Stars of Tomorrow." Through the years he continued to sing in quartets, including one he formed aboard a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine, and is best known throughout the Society as the lead singer for 35 years with the "Classic Collection," our 1982 International Champions.

Larry majored in Liberal Arts -- Music and Performance at Hastings College. He auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera and the Sante Fe Opera. He served as Assistant Director for the "Aloha Chorus" in Honolulu, Hawaii, and "Chorus of the Plains" in Hastings, Nebraska. He served as the Director of the "Denver Mile-Hi Chorus" from 1975 to 1988, and the "Sounds of the Rockies" Chorus from 1989 to 1998, both being Top-Ten International choruses located in Denver, Colorado.

He served on the Harmony College staff for three years, as well as on the faculty for over 25 Harmony Education Program (HEP) schools around the Society. He was a committee member for the development of the Certified Chorus Director program, a certification which he also possesses.

In addition to barbershop singing, Larry is also a professional night club singer, voice teacher, choreographer, and coach. He is a Financial Services Representative for the Dwayne Aaron State Farm office in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Spirit of Phoenix is truly blessed to have Larry on our Music Leadership Team as Assistant Director.

Fraser Brown

Associate Director

Fraser has been a member of The Barbershop Harmony Society for over four decades. He has sung in numerous top quartets, including "Remember When," "Standing Room Only," "Applause!," "Broadway," "Dazzle," and currently is the Baritone with "Audacity." He currently has the unique distinction of more consecutive appearances in a quartet on the international competition stage than any member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and has earned several medals in competition.

He has been an active member of the chorus, as a singer, arranger, coach, associate director, and member of the Music Leadership Team since 1972.

Canadian-born, Fraser earned his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from Arizona State University in 1967. He is currently an associate choir director and soloist at Chaparral Christian Church in Scottsdale.

Directors Emeritus

Jim Casey

Director, November 1999 - April 2003

Jim Casey, (d. 5-May-2007) internationally noted vocal coach, director of award-winning choral groups, soloist and three-time district quartet champion, was musical director of the Phoenicians Chorus from November 1999 to April 2003.

A native Texan, he was a Phoenicians vocal coach for many years before becomming their Director. In his musical career he has directed scholastic and barbershop choruses, worked for a year as a music and quartet development specialist for the international barbershop harmony society (SPEBSQSA), and sang in three Southwestern District championship barbershop quartets. Scholastic choruses that he directed won numerous state awards during his 17 years as a high school choral director.

He has coached a number of men’s and women’s quartets and choruses, including several international champions, in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Among those are the three most recent men’s international championship quartets: FRED, Revival, and Platinum. He also is a frequent coach at SPEBSQSA and Sweet Adelines International vocal training schools.

As an accomplished vocalist, he has been a soloist with the Dallas Civic Chorus, Dallas Vocal Arts Ensemble, and Texas Music Educators Association Regional Choirs, among others. Casey has a music educator’s degree from Sam Houston State University and has done graduate work at Texas Tech University.

Russ Young

Interim Director, January - October 1999

See photo and biography above.

Gary Steinkamp

Director 1989 - 1998

Gary Steinkamp, past director of the Phoenicians, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Arizona State University in 1976. For several years after that he taught at the high school and elementary levels in the Phoenix Area. He has been an active member of the SPEBSQSA (the barbershop harmony singing society) since 1968. Gary has sung in quartets for over 25 years, and sang tenor with Standing Room Only, an international medalist quartet.

Gary served on the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Saguaro Chapter and was Assistant Director of the Phoenicians for 17 years before becoming Musical Director in 1989. Additionally, he served on the Society's Future II Committee, was a member of the Far Western District Director's Guild, was a long-time member of the Harmony College faculty, coached choruses and quartets all over the country, and was a Certified Judge in the Presentation Category. His devotion to the chapter knew no limits, and his commitment to excellence carried on the championship tradition in our organization.

Lou Laurel

Music Director 1966 - 1989

Lou Laurel (1918-1997) led the Phoenicians to 11 Far Western District Championships in as many tries, and to three International Championships. Prior to moving to Phoenix, he directed the El Paso, Texas "Border Chorders" to the Southwest District Championship and on to the International Championship. Lou was the first director in the Society to direct two different choruses to the gold medal. An outstanding quartet man, he was baritone of Desertaires quartet, who made it to the Top Ten in international competition.

Among his numerous credits are Phoenicians Barbershopper of the Year (1969), Chapter President (El Paso), Southwest District President, International President, quartet and chorus coach, Certified Judge in the Interpretation Category, and inductee into both the Southwest and Far Western District Halls of Fame.

Lou's contributions to the Phoenicians are beyond anyone's wildest expectations, turning rags to riches and molding an also-ran chorus into a world champion. He taught us how to sing, how to entertain, and how to make music. More importantly though, he taught us how to laugh, and how to love, and empowered us with a commitment to hard work, mutual trust, and graciousness that are the ingredients for "The Making of a Champion".

Glenn Wallace

Interim Director 1966

Lloyd Steinkamp

Director 1963 - 1966

Lloyd Steinkamp, (d. 02-Jan-2007) past director of the Phoenicians, is many things to many people. To some, he is known as arranger par excellence, to others, he is a great quartet man. Many consider him one of the Society’s outstanding Emcees, while others herald him as the founding father of many SPEBSQSA chapters all over the United States when he was a Society Field Representative. To some, he is the chorus director who teaches and leads with wit, humor and that certain "sparkle," while others know him as quartet coach and friend to many foursomes, near and far, who want to sing and entertain better. But to me, he’s the guy who sings in the shower, applauds himself, and takes out the garbage!
-- Judy Steinkamp