Creative Arts Team

Koreen Hansen grew up in Highland and attended American Fork Junior High and High School. She spent her college years at Dixie College. Although her first love was sports, she has also enjoyed attending the theater throughout her life. When her daughters started participating in Timpanogos Youth Theater (formerly American Fork Youth Theater), Koreen gave up her dream of being their coach on a sports team and instead became the program manager and co-producer for TimpYT. She loves her association with the staff, participants and parents that have been involved in the program. She considers them her TimpYT family. She has been involved with Timpanogos Youth Theater for 10 years and credits the amazing staff, talented kids and awesome parent volunteers with the success of this program.

Miriam Burton graduated summa cum laude with university honors from Brigham Young University with a degree in Music Education. Miriam directs the Timpanogos Arts Choirs in American Fork and directs music for musicals at American Preparatory Academy (APA) in Salem. Miriam taught choir and elementary music at APA from 2017–2022, and she now works as Administrative Assistant for Brigham Young University (BYU) School of Music. Miriam is a passionate singer who has performed in many musicals, operas, and choirs. Some of her favorite roles include Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins, Miss Crookshank in Miracle on 34th Street, Spirit in Dido and Aeneas, and Do-do in The Merry Widow. She studied both in BYU’s voice studio and with Utah Vocal Arts Academy, performed in masterclasses for Wendy Bryn Harmer and Deborah Voigt, and sang for many years with the Grand Chorus of the Utah Valley Millennial Choirs and Orchestras. Piano has also been an important part of Miriam’s life, and she began teaching piano lessons when she was 12 years old. She studied in BYU’s piano studio, and was a featured soloist in Debussy/Ravel: An Anniversary Celebration. She has also accompanied many vocal and instrumental soloists and choirs, including the BYU University Chorale, BYU Welsh Choir, and BYU Asian Choir. In her spare time, Miriam loves snuggling with her cats, watching musicals, and traveling.

Art isn’t just a passion for Debbie Wood- it’s instilled in her blood through generations. As great-granddaughter to well-known Utah artist, Henri Moser. Wood exemplifies her grandfather’s ability and adoration for the arts.

As a young girl, her talent was supported by her entire family. Her grandfather gave her art books to study from and Wood recalls coloring at an early age with her great grandmother while she was laid up in bed. Wood has had numerous art lessons throughout her life. She studied art in high school and in college along with studying in Europe. She has taken workshops from Dan Wilson, Tina Garrett, Kyle Ma and has studied with Ron Escudero and Carol Merrill.

Wood enrolled at Weber State University in the hope of majoring in art, but after a slight change of plans received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

After working various jobs for the State of Utah, Wood’s attention began to turn to her family. When her children in elementary school Wood wanted to stay involved so she joined the school’s PTA. She was unaware that doing so would return her to her artistic roots.

For four years, Wood helped with the PTA Reflections program. While doing this, Wood was approached by teachers to help with art in the classroom and help put together art lessons. While volunteering in the school, Wood was approached by a parent asking about art lessons. This is where Debbie’s Art Academy began- in the basement of her home. Debbie’s Art Academy turned into a mobile art business in which she provided art classes, kid’s birthday parties and adult paint nights. Wood really enjoyed introducing and teaching other the love of art. Debbie’s Art Academy ran for over 12 years until COVID hit and ended her business. Even with it being an unfortunate event this gave the opportunity this has given Wood more time to focus on her professional career.

Wood states: I LOVE to paint! It makes me happy. It’s where I can go to escape and feel good about myself. I love that my art can make others happy. I love color, especially bright and bold colors. I love the beauty of the world. I don’t think there is a day that goes by without thinking about painting. It makes me proud when I see paint on my hands left over from creating.

Growing up in Pleasant Grove Utah, Kristi was surrounded by and had an interest in music beginning at a very young age. At age 4 her music lessons began at the piano and at age 8 the violin was added. As a youth, Kristi performed with her Elementary, Jr. High, and High School orchestras. She also played with “The Pageant of The Arts Youth Orchestra” under the direction of Conrad Dunn. Kristi spent her college years at UVU and was determined to keep her violin opportunities alive. Over the years she has played with The West Valley Symphony as principal 2^nd violinist, with the Salt Lake Symphony, Utah Valley Civic Orchestra, and is currently playing with the American Fork Symphony as principal 2^nd violinist. She has had many opportunities to play the violin and is thankful for the experiences that music has given her.  A couple memorable ones were, being a member of a Beetles tribute band and playing with the Bar J Wranglers on their Christmas Tour.  She was honored to be asked to play in a benefit concert for “Adoption Awareness Month” at the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. Adoption is near and dear to her heart. Kristi has been playing with the American Fork Symphony for over 15 years. She has served on the symphony team for 4 years and is currently serving as the American Fork Symphony Program Manager.

Susan Glenn, DTM, started on her speaking and presenting path very late in life with extreme fear and anxiety. Over the last 10 years, she has learned that it’s not all about her and her performance, it is in fact all about the golden moments she can share with her audience. Today she speaks to groups large and small, and her ultimate joy comes from encouraging, promoting and lifting others with their speaking and presenting skills and goals.

Marlene Myers is a seasoned professional with a career that seamlessly blends the performing arts with business acumen. Beginning as a child actor at age nine, Marlene developed her craft through commercials, TV appearances, and community plays. This early experience paved the way for a dynamic career that saw her take on roles as an actor, director, choreographer, and vocalist in various theaters and institutions, including Shire West Theatre and Weber State University. Her scriptwriting contributions to the TV series “Starsky and Hutch” further showcased her versatility.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Marlene expanded her expertise into the broader entertainment industry. She served as Resident Director at Disney Community Theatre and held key roles at Warner Bros. Music and Disney Studios. Her management of Intersound Sound Studio and ownership of the Musical Moose Theatre in West Yellowstone, MT, highlighted her entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability.

Since 1993, Marlene has balanced her professional pursuits with family life, raising two daughters while continuing to contribute to the arts. She has worked as a vocal coach, consultant, and high school play director, and has served as the Artistic Director for the Timpanogos Arts Foundation and Valentine Theater. Her extensive volunteer work with local arts organizations, focusing on fundraising and board activities, underscores her enduring commitment to the arts and her community.

Ryan is the former director the American Fork Children’s Choir, and oversaw its transition to become the Timpanogos Youth Choirs. For a time he also organized a ukulele choir, handbell choir, brass choir, and flute choir under TAF. He also produced and directed Utah’s first ukulele festival for ten years. He currently directs the Ukulele Youth Choir and the Happy Valley Ukes from his studio in American Fork, and sings with Cantorum. Ryan has degrees in vocal performance and composition from BYU, and has produced many concerts in the community, as well as two staged shows, The Other Wise Man and The Legends of Sleepy Hollow (Radio Show version) for which he wrote the music. As a performer he has sung with many choirs, performed in a number of musical and operatic productions, as well as at many solo engagements. As a composer, his opera ABINADI was performed, recorded and broadcast by BYU. In addition, he has written and published dozens of works for choir and voice, and continues to be active in producing new compositions and arrangements. Aside from writing many things specifically for the Timpanogos Youth Choirs, he also arranged an overture for TAF’s 1st Americana Festival that included all the musical groups under its umbrella at that time. Ryan has served for over thirty years as a Ward Choir Director, Stake Choir Director or Ward Organist at his church and currently lives with his angel wife Dixie and creative son Taavi in American Fork.