DIRECTORS AND STAFF
The Heritage Youth Choirs at American Heritage School is led by a staff of professional musicians and educators who work to provide a challenging but uplifting environment where choir members can refine their musical talents and grow spiritually. All our directors hold degrees in Music Education and have other music-related endorsements for teaching.
ROB SWENSON, YOUTH CHORUS DIRECTOR (Grades 8-12)
Rob Swenson is a DMA candidate in Choral Conducting at the University of Utah. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Brigham Young University and Level III OAKE-endorsed Kodály certification. He has taught choir at American Leadership Academy in Spanish Fork, Utah; at Timpanogos Academy in Lindon, Utah; and at Liahona High School in Liahona, Tonga, where he also served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 2008, he joined the faculty at American Heritage School, where he directs the high school choirs. From 2004-2007, he served as an assistant director with the Utah Valley Children’s Choir, leaving in 2007 to start the Heritage Youth Chorus. Under his direction, this faith-centered choral program for children and youth has grown to include over 200 members who perform free, inspirational programs for audiences throughout the United States. Rob resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah, with his wife, Kristy, and their four children.
WILL HATCH, YOUTH CHORUS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Will Hatch holds a bachelors degree in music education from Brigham Young University and a masters degree in instructional technology and learning sciences from Utah State University. He directed institute choirs in the Salt Lake Valley for 4 years and has directed choirs in worldwide devotionals and other large events at Temple Square. Will has worked for seminary and institutes for 12 years and currently works as the director of the Jordan Institute. He also works as an online religion instructor for Brigham Young University Idaho. He is currently serving as the bishop of his ward. He loves the gospel of Jesus Christ, music, and working with young people! Will resides in West Jordan, Utah, with his wife Stefanie and their five children.
Will Hatch holds a bachelors degree in music education from Brigham Young University and a masters degree in instructional technology and learning sciences from Utah State University. He directed institute choirs in the Salt Lake Valley for 4 years and has directed choirs in worldwide devotionals and other large events at Temple Square. Will has worked for seminary and institutes for 12 years and currently works as the director of the Jordan Institute. He also works as an online religion instructor for Brigham Young University Idaho. He is currently serving as the bishop of his ward. He loves the gospel of Jesus Christ, music, and working with young people! Will resides in West Jordan, Utah, with his wife Stefanie and their five children.
STEFANIE HATCH, TREBLE CHOIR DIRECTOR (Grades 5-7)
Stefanie Hatch graduated from BYU with a bachelors degree in elementary music education. She was a full-time music specialist at Wasatch elementary and conducted their 100 voice 4-6 grade choir. Stefanie participated in Kodaly certification at the InterMuse Academy and was later the choir director of a 2nd-6th grade choir in West Jordan. She has taught voice, piano, and guitar lessons and is a singer-songwriter. Stefanie served as a Spanish-speaking missionary in the Washington DC South mission and loves the gospel of Jesus Christ! She currently homeschools her 5 amazing children and loves to learn alongside them every day. Stefanie is thrilled to be conducting the Treble Choir at the Salt Lake campus of AHS!
KATY FRANCOM, CHILDREN’S CHOIR DIRECTOR (Grades 2-4)
Katy Francom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from BYU and a Master of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a certified OAKE Level III Kodály instructor. Currently in her fourth year of teaching music in a school setting – the first three in Colorado and now at AHS Salt Lake – she also has 25 years of experience teaching private music lessons. Katy has been the director of several choirs and loves the connection good music creates between choir participants. Katy has four grown children and a large extended family that make her life rich and fulfilling.
SARA CLEGG, JUNIOR CHOIR DIRECTOR (Grades K-1)
Sara Thomas Clegg has enjoyed a varied career as a choral director, private voice teacher, editor and author, and professional singer. She was an assistant director with the Utah Valley Children’s Choir for over 10 years teaching all ages from 3 to 18 in five different choirs with over 400 children. She has also operated her own private studio, taught group voice lessons and sight singing courses at Brigham Young University, and worked as assistant vocal coach to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She most recently appeared onstage as the role of Mother in The Savior of the World at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Other roles include Despina in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte in upstate New York, the Ghost of Christmas Past and Mrs. Cratchit in Seacoast Repertory’s sold-out production of A Christmas Carol in New Hampshire, and Lidka in Smetana’s Two Widows in New York City. Her performance as Mary in The Redeemer on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Easter Concert was released nationally on DVD. She worked as Editor in Chief of Classical Singer magazine from 2005 to 2018 and co-authored the book, Singing with Mind, Body, and Soul, currently used as a textbook for vocal pedagogy classes at colleges and universities. Sara has BM and MM degrees in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University. She lives in Bountiful with her husband and four children.
Kaci Uipi, Junior Choir Accompanist
Kaci was three years old when she began formal piano instruction, and learned at an early age how the power of creating music could help compensate for her shyness. The highlight of her childhood was being chosen as keyboardist for her Arizona high school’s popular show choir. This experience made her a passionate cheerleader for the performing arts in our schools. Kaci is honored to be part of the Heritage Youth Choirs staff because she knows she gets to work with some of the best conductors in Utah. She is grateful HYC has a choir for all ages. Last year, she witnessed how the choirs helped her two young sons grow and mature.After HS graduation, Kaci chose to study culinary arts in Alaska and New York, but has never hidden her musical talents. While waiting to depart on her mission to Argentina, she was selected to perform an original hymn arrangement for over 2,000 missionaries at the MTC. She continues to compose and arrange music for stake and ward programs. Kaci has been married since 2008 to Salesi, a US Navy veteran. They are the parents of three sons (their firstborn died as an infant from a rare genetic disease). Kaci and her family currently live in downtown Salt Lake City.