Artistic Director

John Baker

John is the Director of the Milwaukie Lutheran Church Choir and the former Interim Artistic Director of Pacific Youth Choir. He taught choral music at Rex Putnam High School for 32 years, during which his A Cappella Choir and Choralaires performed at state, regional, and national ACDA and MENC conventions. In 1993, John and his wife, Sandy, founded the North Clackamas Children’s Choir, a program that thrived for 15 years and grew to include about 125 singers across three choirs. He continues to serve as a guest conductor and clinician for honor choirs, workshops, and retreats in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Montana, Canada, Alaska, and Thailand. John remains passionate about nurturing young musicians and sharing the joy of choral music with singers of all ages. John and Sandy live in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Associate Conductor

Amber Schroeder

Amber earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Portland State University in 2001 and a Master of Education in 2005. Most recently, she completed a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Simpson College in 2023.

Her teaching career has focused on choral music education in the Portland area, working with school and church choirs ranging from elementary through adult. In addition to her work with TCC, she also teaches at Sam Barlow High School and with the Pacific Youth Choir. Choirs she worked with have performed at events throughout the Northwest, including both OMEA and ACDA conferences. She regularly adjudicates music events in Washington and Oregon and serves as a clinician for honor choirs and retreat settings. Amber and her husband reside in Gresham, Oregon.