Member Bios
Meet the guys who make up the Artists and Resonance.
We're a collection of performers from various backgrounds and areas of study with one common interest: singing. Beware of what is contained within this page. You might be amused, or worse!
We're a collection of performers from various backgrounds and areas of study with one common interest: singing. Beware of what is contained within this page. You might be amused, or worse!
Scott Fikse
Bass, Director
Back in 7th grade I joined my middle school choir purely because I had a couple years of piano lessons under my belt and thought it might be interesting. To my horror, I was forced to participate in productions of mini-musicals with such horrendous titles as “A Better You, a Better Me” complete with tie dye shirts, khakis, and choreography that could make a grown man cry. And I'll never forget singing the alto part of “I Believe I Can Fly.”
Then my voice changed (to the bass persuasion), I joined high school choir, and I realized that I had found something special. Ever since then I’ve been the guy putting groups together, collaborating, arranging, and singing until I had no more voice left to sing with.
Being a music student at PLU exposed me to music and people unlike any I’d experienced before, but it wasn’t until Riley Pitts and I put together “I’ll Fly Away” in barbershop style for a concert that I found myself simultaneously amazed by the music, completely into singing it, and good at it.
So a couple years went by, I finished up school and found myself with an itch to create something. This group is the product of a seriously itchy itch - thanks for scratching, guys.
I'm a big fan of the Acoustix, King's Singers, Swingle Singers, Anuna, Divisi of University of Oregon, and Duke's Men of Yale.
Back in 7th grade I joined my middle school choir purely because I had a couple years of piano lessons under my belt and thought it might be interesting. To my horror, I was forced to participate in productions of mini-musicals with such horrendous titles as “A Better You, a Better Me” complete with tie dye shirts, khakis, and choreography that could make a grown man cry. And I'll never forget singing the alto part of “I Believe I Can Fly.”
Then my voice changed (to the bass persuasion), I joined high school choir, and I realized that I had found something special. Ever since then I’ve been the guy putting groups together, collaborating, arranging, and singing until I had no more voice left to sing with.
Being a music student at PLU exposed me to music and people unlike any I’d experienced before, but it wasn’t until Riley Pitts and I put together “I’ll Fly Away” in barbershop style for a concert that I found myself simultaneously amazed by the music, completely into singing it, and good at it.
So a couple years went by, I finished up school and found myself with an itch to create something. This group is the product of a seriously itchy itch - thanks for scratching, guys.
I'm a big fan of the Acoustix, King's Singers, Swingle Singers, Anuna, Divisi of University of Oregon, and Duke's Men of Yale.
Paul Walk
The best place to meet Paul is on a mountain somewhere, singing Gilbert and Sullivan songs while lunging his way to the top. Music and the outdoors have become some of his greatest passions in life. He recently graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in voice performance. Since his emergence into the real world he has worked as a performer at several local theaters such as Leavenworth Summer Theater and Harlequin productions. His greatest dream in life is to sing opera in Europe, and he never feels more at home then when he is on stage. He loves the challenges posed by music and loves his time singing with his fellow creative and talented musicians. His fellow group members say of him: "Paul has been known to have no less than a dozen ladies swooning for him in every audience he's performed for." Yes, it's tough being famous.
Paul Recommends: Hilliard Ensemble
Paul Recommends: Hilliard Ensemble
Bryan Stenson
Tenor 2
Surrounded by music for his entire life, Bryan returns to "official"
musical performance...though his wife and child will insist he never
stopped. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, he performed in musical
theater during high school, sang with the University Choir at the
University of Colorado at Boulder, and most memorably, sang with
CU-Boulder's In The Buff (an all male a cappella group).
When not singing, he's an unemployed airplane pilot, an employed
computer support engineer, and a homebrew hobbyist. However, it's rare
to find him without a tune in his head.
He secretly waits for the return of society's acceptance of
Hammer-pants.
Surrounded by music for his entire life, Bryan returns to "official"
musical performance...though his wife and child will insist he never
stopped. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, he performed in musical
theater during high school, sang with the University Choir at the
University of Colorado at Boulder, and most memorably, sang with
CU-Boulder's In The Buff (an all male a cappella group).
When not singing, he's an unemployed airplane pilot, an employed
computer support engineer, and a homebrew hobbyist. However, it's rare
to find him without a tune in his head.
He secretly waits for the return of society's acceptance of
Hammer-pants.
Esera Mose
Tenor 1
My most prized possessions as a kid were my cassette tapes. I'd play them in the house at all hours of the day and night, and I'd dance to them in the most embarrassing ways. My dad would give me "the glare" every time he walked in and caught me grooving to "Ice Ice Baby." The worst of it was my singing: I'd belt out Abba or Neil Diamond at the top of my lungs. I can distinctly remember the time I got in trouble with my dad for singing the naughty tune "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul. I found out later it wasn't just because he found the song inappropriate: I just sounded plain awful.
So I joined every choir I could as I grew, and after my piano lessons, I'd teach myself how to sing and read vocal music. I sang at every chance I could get, hoping to one day sing as well as guys like R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, and Brian Littrell. I only kept going because I had awesome support from friends and family; they lied about how good I was until I was trained enough to actually live up to their compliments. Now I sing in this awesome group with guys who sing really well, and put up with my random outbursts of recent Glee numbers. I'm still not allowed to sing "Rush Rush" in my dad's house, though.
Top A Cappella Picks: T Minus 5, InsideOut, and Straight No Chaser
My most prized possessions as a kid were my cassette tapes. I'd play them in the house at all hours of the day and night, and I'd dance to them in the most embarrassing ways. My dad would give me "the glare" every time he walked in and caught me grooving to "Ice Ice Baby." The worst of it was my singing: I'd belt out Abba or Neil Diamond at the top of my lungs. I can distinctly remember the time I got in trouble with my dad for singing the naughty tune "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul. I found out later it wasn't just because he found the song inappropriate: I just sounded plain awful.
So I joined every choir I could as I grew, and after my piano lessons, I'd teach myself how to sing and read vocal music. I sang at every chance I could get, hoping to one day sing as well as guys like R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, and Brian Littrell. I only kept going because I had awesome support from friends and family; they lied about how good I was until I was trained enough to actually live up to their compliments. Now I sing in this awesome group with guys who sing really well, and put up with my random outbursts of recent Glee numbers. I'm still not allowed to sing "Rush Rush" in my dad's house, though.
Top A Cappella Picks: T Minus 5, InsideOut, and Straight No Chaser
Matt Griffis
Baritone
No one is quite sure how John Matthew Griffis got into the group. He did not attend PLU nor is he classically-trained as a singer/musician and as such is something of a stranger in a strange land, but he is also an actor, so that may explain it. Despite being of an imposing stature he is light on his feet, and current theory holds that he hid behind the blinding brilliance of Eric Faris at rehearsals and stealth-sang until the guys dug his funky music. Mr. Griffis was indeed classically-trained in the great books of Western thought at St. John’s College in Santa Fe and will philosophize all over your face, so watch your step. Unless, of course, you want philosophy on your face. Dripping with liberal-arts abstraction and impracticality. Seasoned with idealism. Hold the sophistry. Mmm…Delicious.
JMG recommends: Rescue; Tonic Sol-Fa; Freshman Fifteen
No one is quite sure how John Matthew Griffis got into the group. He did not attend PLU nor is he classically-trained as a singer/musician and as such is something of a stranger in a strange land, but he is also an actor, so that may explain it. Despite being of an imposing stature he is light on his feet, and current theory holds that he hid behind the blinding brilliance of Eric Faris at rehearsals and stealth-sang until the guys dug his funky music. Mr. Griffis was indeed classically-trained in the great books of Western thought at St. John’s College in Santa Fe and will philosophize all over your face, so watch your step. Unless, of course, you want philosophy on your face. Dripping with liberal-arts abstraction and impracticality. Seasoned with idealism. Hold the sophistry. Mmm…Delicious.
JMG recommends: Rescue; Tonic Sol-Fa; Freshman Fifteen
JR Lakey
Tenor 2
JR is a music educator born and raised in the greater Tacoma area. He is a graduate of Pierce College and Central Washington University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education. When not waving his arms, loves to sing, especially to his beautiful daughter, Molly! When not playing daddy or director, JR spends his free time playing competitive 8-ball and 9-ball, going for long drives, and fishing whenever possible.
JR Suggests: King's Singers, Groove For Thought, Rockapella, Singers Unlimited, Coats
JR is a music educator born and raised in the greater Tacoma area. He is a graduate of Pierce College and Central Washington University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education. When not waving his arms, loves to sing, especially to his beautiful daughter, Molly! When not playing daddy or director, JR spends his free time playing competitive 8-ball and 9-ball, going for long drives, and fishing whenever possible.
JR Suggests: King's Singers, Groove For Thought, Rockapella, Singers Unlimited, Coats
Eric Faris
Baritone
This is the story of a man. A man named Eric Faris. In sonnet form.
In ol' Montana sev'ral years ago
A boy discovered singing as a kick;
Though destined not to steal away the show,
His talents swelled, the passion growing quick;
In Washington he's been five years and some,
He dabbled mostly instrumentally;
With honors his degree awarded from
Pacific Lutheran University;
Now music is the focus of his trade;
To teach? To sing? Or maybe play his horn,
Ensembles scramble to enlist his aid,
A jack of all the trades to you is born;
This a capella group of whom you read,
Your Eric Faris joined and helps to lead.
For a private, dramatic reading of this poem by the author please e-mail the website administrator with "Take me to heaven" in the subject line.
This is the story of a man. A man named Eric Faris. In sonnet form.
In ol' Montana sev'ral years ago
A boy discovered singing as a kick;
Though destined not to steal away the show,
His talents swelled, the passion growing quick;
In Washington he's been five years and some,
He dabbled mostly instrumentally;
With honors his degree awarded from
Pacific Lutheran University;
Now music is the focus of his trade;
To teach? To sing? Or maybe play his horn,
Ensembles scramble to enlist his aid,
A jack of all the trades to you is born;
This a capella group of whom you read,
Your Eric Faris joined and helps to lead.
For a private, dramatic reading of this poem by the author please e-mail the website administrator with "Take me to heaven" in the subject line.
Kyle Sinclair
Vocal Percussion, Tenor 1
Performing on the Diamond Princess cruise ship for New Year's Eve, Kyle was described as "the Phantom singing U2," "a level-60 Warlock beating up on level-1 rabbits," and "ooooohh...call me!" At 21, Kyle is an accomplished musical thespian with more than 20 productions under his belt. Two years ago, he joined PLU's a cappella group PLUtonic to their first year participating in the ICCA in Eugene, OR. Today, he teaches piano online. Search for "KingLucentio" on YouTube for a taste of his work.
Performing on the Diamond Princess cruise ship for New Year's Eve, Kyle was described as "the Phantom singing U2," "a level-60 Warlock beating up on level-1 rabbits," and "ooooohh...call me!" At 21, Kyle is an accomplished musical thespian with more than 20 productions under his belt. Two years ago, he joined PLU's a cappella group PLUtonic to their first year participating in the ICCA in Eugene, OR. Today, he teaches piano online. Search for "KingLucentio" on YouTube for a taste of his work.
Phil Edwards
Tenor 1
Once apon a time in a small village called Western Washington, a child was born with great high vocal range potential. As he grew up, all he wanted to do was be a great singer. The people of the village told him he had to be a medicine man or a lawyer or holy man or builder. But in his heart we wanted to sing.
He would run about the country side singing where ever he could. While he did quite well, the people still told him to be something else. And so he eventually became a merchant, studied mercantilism while still singing whenever he could. Those who met him told him he had a magical voice and even the animals agreed and would come from miles around to listen to him. Though he sang well on his own, he did his best work when he sang with some of the other young men of the village. While his low tones and medium tones were very fine, his high tones were some of the best ever in the village. He also spent several years singing with his life-mate and wife, a beautiful PLU graduate, dueting and performing for the people of the village.
One day he met a band of singers who sang as well as he. He battled several other tribesmen for a place in the group and won a spot with them. The new group of nine would one day become world dominant. Each member lived happily ever after, singing and doing the things that cheer the hearts of all that hear them.
While not singing, Phil Edwards spends time with his lovely wife Jackie (Bonneau), daughter Elisa. He also sells Infiniti Luxury vehicles for Infiniti of Tacoma, advertising and digital content for .advancedMethod, and ERP systems for Crystal Ledger. His favorite A cappella groups include, the Tetrachords, The Seattle Sound, the Hi-lo's, and the King's Singers.
Once apon a time in a small village called Western Washington, a child was born with great high vocal range potential. As he grew up, all he wanted to do was be a great singer. The people of the village told him he had to be a medicine man or a lawyer or holy man or builder. But in his heart we wanted to sing.
He would run about the country side singing where ever he could. While he did quite well, the people still told him to be something else. And so he eventually became a merchant, studied mercantilism while still singing whenever he could. Those who met him told him he had a magical voice and even the animals agreed and would come from miles around to listen to him. Though he sang well on his own, he did his best work when he sang with some of the other young men of the village. While his low tones and medium tones were very fine, his high tones were some of the best ever in the village. He also spent several years singing with his life-mate and wife, a beautiful PLU graduate, dueting and performing for the people of the village.
One day he met a band of singers who sang as well as he. He battled several other tribesmen for a place in the group and won a spot with them. The new group of nine would one day become world dominant. Each member lived happily ever after, singing and doing the things that cheer the hearts of all that hear them.
While not singing, Phil Edwards spends time with his lovely wife Jackie (Bonneau), daughter Elisa. He also sells Infiniti Luxury vehicles for Infiniti of Tacoma, advertising and digital content for .advancedMethod, and ERP systems for Crystal Ledger. His favorite A cappella groups include, the Tetrachords, The Seattle Sound, the Hi-lo's, and the King's Singers.
