About Us

Vocal Artists of Iowa is a semi-professional choir based in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City whose membership draws primarily upon the region’s community members, music professionals, and music educators. VAoI is a project-based group that performs 5-6 concerts per year, with rehearsals and performance dates dictated by the availability of its constituency. Featured and invited performances have included the Iowa Choral Director’s Association Choral Showcase in 2018 and 2023, the Luther College Dorian Summer Music Festival, the ICDA Summer Symposium, and, most recently, the Midwestern American Choral Directors Association Convention. In addition to regular choral performances, Vocal Artist of Iowa has additionally hosted brief composer residencies, including collaborations with Moira Smiley, Storm Large, Eric Barnum, Z. Randall Stroope, and Stacey Gibbs.

Artistic Director

Dr. David Haas

David Haas, Ph.D., is the Founder and Artistic Director of Vocal Artists of Iowa as well as a Choral Director and Digital Music Production Instructor at Iowa City West High School. At West High, Dr. Haas directs the Treble Choir, Iowa City West Singers, and Showtime Show Choir and teaches several sections of Digital Music Production. 

David completed his Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Iowa. Before his time in Iowa City, Haas held church choir and public school teaching positions in Iowa, South Dakota, and Florida.  Haas has a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he served as Graduate Teaching Assistant for Undergraduate Conducting as well as Assistant Director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus and the FSU Men’s Glee Club.  In addition to conducting and performing, his research interests include audience engagement, incorporating music production coursework into high school curricula, and the fusion of traditional ensembles with digital media. More about David’s research and work can be found at davidshaas.com.

David resides in North Liberty, Iowa, with his loving wife Sarah, daughter Cadence, and son Dawson.  

Collaborative Pianist

Leslie Hyland

Leslie Hyland is a musician living in Coralville, IA who accompanies Vocal Artists of Iowa, the Quire of Eastern Iowa, and a variety of school choirs in the area. She has been involved with musical productions (playing and directing) at Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theater, Prairie High School, Iowa City Community Theater, and a number of other theater companies and schools in the Corridor. In addition to accompanying choirs and soloists for recitals and contests, Leslie is a member of the Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra, teaches private lessons, and is an accompanist with the UI Department of Dance.

Meet Our Singers

Garret 
Baumler

Kai
Bouma

Rachael
Brolin

Jeremiah
Brook

Andrew 
Bryant

Kinsey
Collins

Amber
Cummer

Lyn
Curry

Pier
Debes

Meredith
Diebold

Pat
Fagan

Dr. Sarah
Fairfield

Lauren
Fladland

Kylie
Garringer

Stephanie
Goff

David
Gorman

Emma
Gostonczik

Sarah
Haas

Dr. Maria
Hagan

Tyler
Hagy

Dr. Rayford
Harrison

Caleb
Haselhuhn

Grace
Huber

Leslie
Hyland

Colton
Ironside

Dr. Amy
Kotsonis

Matthew
Kucmanic

Ellen
Larsen

Kelsey
Legore

Jeanine
Link

Isaac
Logeman

Michala
Martin

Collette
McClellen

Casey
McClenathan

Emma
Melick

Bryan
Mullen

Sarah
Nolte

Nick
Oswald

Katelyn
Peterson

Jaelyn
Potvin

Marie
Riechers

Andrew
Robinson

Janet
Satern

Karl
Smith

Alex
Spragle

Ryson
Stuart

Julie
Thomas

Noah
Tiegs

Meredith
Voight

Rishi
Wagle

Matt
Walker

Adam
West

Bradley
Wilson

Hannah
Wollack

Madeline
Yankell