Artistic Staff
Erin Gray
Artistic Director and Conductor
Erin Gray, a Nashville native, received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, specializing in vocal music, from the University of Minnesota where she studied with acclaimed conductor Kathy Saltzman Romey. Her teaching career has included both classroom and choral music education for more than fifteen years.
Erin founded the Minnesota Saints Chorale (formerly MN Mormon Chorale) in 2004 and served as its Artistic Director and Conductor until 2019 when her family relocated to San Diego, California. During her tenure, the choir was a featured performer at the American Choral Director's Association (ACDA-MN) and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Mack Wilberg. Other favorite memories include collaborations with over fifty outstanding ensembles and conductors in Minnesota as well as working with talented guest artists from around the country for major concerts including the annual Easter Oratorio Lamb of God by Rob Gardner.
Erin previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Oratorio Society of Minnesota under the direction of Dr. George S. T. Chu as well as Director of Vocal Music at Nacel International High School in St. Paul. As a church music specialist, she has been a clinician, a regional adult and youth choir director, and a children’s music leader.
Erin serves as a regional vocal adjudicator and is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association of California (ACDA-CA). She also enjoys serving on the Board of the Choral Consortium of San Diego (CCSD).
Her happiest moments are with her family, especially her husband, Matthew, and their five children.
(Photo Credit: Pink Parasol Photography)
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Elan McMahan
Accompanist
Elan McMahan works in the arts community as a pianist, musical director, conductor and teacher. She is first and foremost a pianist, having received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from BYU and master’s degree, also in piano performance, from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music.
Elan has performed as soloist with several orchestras, including the Palomar Symphony, North Coast Symphony and Missouri Festival Orchestra. Her musical theater work can be heard on many San Diego stages, including The Old Globe’s annual Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! She has received critical acclaim, including three Craig Noel Outstanding Musical Direction Awards from the San Diego Critics Circle, most recently for Moonlight’s award-winning production of In The Heights in 2017.
Elan taught elementary classroom music in the Carlsbad Unified School District and is currently an associate faculty member at MiraCosta College.