Solving jigsaw puzzles involves dumping the pieces onto a table, surveying, flipping and sorting each by shape and color, and embracing the process of creating a final picture, hopefully complete.
Creating ensemble sound holds similarities to solving puzzles. But what happens when you reach concert time with a missing piece; a mute soprano or errant tenor? Before the Internet, panic and phone calls ensued. Once email became a household utility, Lisa Koehler was in her third year networking singers to help fill church and other job vacancies and create pick up ensembles for weddings and recording projects. Singer Source LLC was officially registered as a business in 2002 and exists today as a website to list jobs, services, and concerts of interest to singers, music directors, keyboard artists, and teachers.
Lisa holds an MMEd from Catholic University and a BA in Music Theory and Composition from William Smith College. She completed her Orff-Schulwerk Level III certification at George Mason University and received grants from then-employer St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes Schools to study conducting with Alan Crowell at Westminster Choir College and Orff-Schulwerk with Wolfgang Hartmann of the Orff Institute.
Having held a steady church job since 1976, Lisa just completed her twenty-second year with the St. John's Choir of St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square; The Church of the Presidents under Brent Erstad. Prior positions included fourteen years with The Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Dr. Leo Nestor) several with St. John’s Church, Norwood (Edwin Godshall), St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (David Hearn) and the St. John’s Chapel Choir of Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Dr. Lindsay Lafford) where Presiding Bishop Michael Curry received his undergraduate degree. Lisa currently serves as Music Administrator at St. John's in addition to her choral duties.
Lisa is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of The Thirteen, a professional vocal chamber group, Matthew Robertson, Artistic Director. She also serves as Registrar for The Royal School of Church Music - DC Summer Course.
Lisa was Department Chair and Music Specialist during her fourteen years with St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria and three years prior, Vocal Music Teacher with Fairfax Country Public Schools. She also served as Co-Chair and member of the Advisory Council on Instruction of the Arts for Arlington Country Public Schools for several years.
Lisa has been a singing member of numerous ensembles, including Chantry Early Music Ensemble (Dr. David Taylor), The Choral Arts Society of Washington (Norman Scribner), The Woodley Ensemble (Nicholas White), The Palestrina Choir (Michael Harrison), The Norman Scribner Choir (Norman Scribner), The Washington Symphony Chamber Chorus (Stephen Simon), Collegium Cantorum (Timothy Kendall), Jubilate Chamber Singers (Carleen Dixon - Webb), Continuum Chamber Singers (Joan Reinthaler) and Cathedral Choral Society (Paul Calloway and Douglas Major). She was a member of The American Repertory Singers (Dr. Leo Nestor) who throughout most of the ’90s to early 21st century was the primary new issue recording ensemble for ECS Schirmer Music Publishers in Boston. American Repertory Singers recordings are available on Apple Music, Sound Cloud, YouTube, and ARSIS Audio.
Lisa’s met her husband, Ted Faris, a bass, while both were singing in Choral Arts Society. Until parenthood became a priority, they sang together in several ensembles. Ted is a career professional for the U.S. Department of State. They live in Arlington with two insightful college-age daughters and one very sweet cat.