lead musicians

Katherine Nelson-Tracey

Originally from North Dakota, Katherine Nelson-Tracey holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Dakota. In 1998 she earned a second Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from George Mason University. Katherine teaches voice and piano in her private studio in Woodbridge, VA, and serves as an adjunct professor for the Woodbridge campus of Northern Virginia Community College, teaching voice and piano. She is the founding director of NDC through which NVCC students can earn ensemble credit. She is active in the American Choral Directors Association and has served as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Community Choruses and 2-Year Colleges on the Virginia ACDA Cabinet over the past ten years. She sings with the National Philharmonic Chorale at Strathmore Music Center in MD and is the soprano I section leader. Katherine lives in Woodbridge with her husband, Bill, and is the proud parent of four children and grandparent of nine grandsons and two grandaughters.

Position: Director

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Tom Meier

Originally from the suburbs of New York City, Tom has mostly lived in the suburbs of Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, plus two winters in exile in Rome, NY. He holds a liberal arts degree from Haverford College with a major in music composition, and he spent his working years as an IT contractor, mostly for the federal government. He has directed a number of choral ensembles in the Washington area, including the Friday Morning Music Club Chorale's a cappella group, the Collegium Musicum, and barbershop choruses in Centreville, Loudoun County, and Fairfax, Virginia. He sings baritone in a barbershop quartet called Just Four Grins, with the Friday Morning Music Club Chorale, with his wife in their church choir, and of course with the New Dominion Choraliers, where he is also the Assistant Director. Tom and his wife have, collectively, four sons, four daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren, scattered across North America from New Hampshire to California to Mexico.

Position: Assistant Director

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Joe Swetnam

Joe is originally from Columbus, Ohio. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University; a Juris Doctorate from Capital University; and an L.LM. from The Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate, a career that included tours in Germany and Korea. He is currently a lawyer with Gross, Pring & Associates, and serves as a Board member and treasurer for Project Mend-a-House. He is the Director of Music at Bethel United Methodist Church and church organist. He provides music for various choirs at Bethel, along with weddings and funerals. He also provides music from time to time for senior citizens’ homes. He, his wife Terri, and their children came to the Woodbridge area in 1989.

Position: Lead Accompanist

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Kathy Tuttle

Kathy Tuttle has lived in Woodbridge since 1986, relocating from northern Ohio with her husband Jeff and their four children. Her father taught her to play the piano when she was five years old, and she began playing for her church when she was 12. Since then, amazing opportunities have unfolded, allowing her to use her accompanying talents in a wide variety of ways. What she really enjoys is accompanying young students in their recitals and competitions, providing support and encouragement (and adding a bit of fun to the process). Of course, being an integral part of the New Dominion Choraliers for many years has been an incredible journey and wonderful experience.

Position: Feature Performance Accompanist

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