Meet Our Staff

Mary McCarty - Artistic Director

Mary has cultivated a lifelong passion for music via the choral and instrumental arts, performing on both sides of the baton as a singer, flutist and conductor within a wide range of ensembles taking her from her roots in upstate New York to her adopted home in Oregon. She is honored by the opportunity as the director of PLC to unite her love of music with the joy of creating community through choral collaboration. Mary holds a music degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam. Mary’s dedication, skill and passion has helped PLC grow in musical excellence and PLC is so thankful to have her share her gifts with the choir.

Colin Alexsei Shepard - Accompanist

Colin Alexsei Shepard is the staff collaborative pianist for the Portland State University internationally renowned choral studies program under Dr. Ethan Sperry and Professor Coty Raven-Morris, and the recently retired music director at Cedar Hills UCC. He is the pianist and organizer for the now nationally-acclaimed ‘opera-oke and musical theater-oke’ series at the live classical music bar—Mendelssohn’s Bar PDX on North Mississippi Avenue in Portland. An ardent opera fan and voice coach, Colin has played piano in recital with MET Grammy winner Audrey Luna with Portland Concert Opera, and played for masterclasses held by opera legends Lawrence Brownlee, Frederica von Stade, and more.

Alanna Hoyman-Browe - Choreographer

Alanna Hoyman-Browe has studied dance in different capacities and forms her whole life. She believes that every person is a dancer and loves being able to make movement with and for PLC. Alanna was involved in the dance department during her time at Reed College and has worked on several solo pieces and collaborations with other Portland dancers since graduating.