Artistic Staff

Dr. A. Barron Breland - Artistic Director

Dr. Breland accepted the position of Artistic Director in January 2011. With degrees in Music Theory and Choral Conducting from the University of Georgia and Indiana University, Dr. Breland has a diverse background in many different fields of music, including the piano and saxophone. His first exposure to professional choral music was at the age of 6 as a member of the Atlanta Boy Choir where he performed with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, as well as in tours and festivals throughout Europe.

Dr. Breland is emerging as one of a new generation of conductors, set apart from others by his eclectic interests and skills equipping him to perform everything from masterworks of the Baroque and Classic eras to great contemporary works. He completed his doctorate in choral conducting at the Jacobs School of Music in 2009. Currently he is on faculty at Creighton University in Omaha, conducting the University Chorus, the auditioned Chamber Choir and teaching classes in history, theory, conducting, voice, appreciation, and diction.

Stacie Haneline - Assistant Artistic Director

Stacie Haneline is on the piano faculty of the University of Nebraska Omaha. She also coordinates the Collaborative Program and serves as the collaborative pianist for the department. She holds degrees in Piano Performance from Converse College under Dr. Douglas Weeks and the Manhattan School of Music under Dr. Marc Silverman.

Ms. Haneline has performed extensively with artists in opera houses, symphonies, chamber programs and choral society’s throughout the United States and Australia. As the Executive Director of the Omaha Chamber Music Society, she has worked throughout the Omaha community artistically with development of outreach programs, educational programs and concerts series.

Ms. Haneline is a member of “I, the Siren”, faculty trio for the University of Nebraska Omaha where she enjoys performing, lecturing and commissioning new works for the ensemble.

Salli Compton - Accompanist

As the beloved accompanist for the River City Mixed Chorus, Salli particularly enjoys the weekly privilege of playing for the most talented chorus in town directed by the most accomplished conductor. Playing for singers has always been her musical passion. As a youngster, Salli's mother taught her to accompany by singing Broadway tunes from the kitchen with a variety of tempos and dynamics.

Salli's gifts from the universe have included many different church choirs, numerous Community Theatre folk, elementary school children, vocal students of all ages, and her extended River City Mixed Chorus family. When she is not playing the piano, she is thinking and breathing the art of teaching children. Joyce, Whit, Luke, Mack, Laci, Henry, and Maggie learn every show right along with her while keeping her in the now. She believes that music is the expression of the essence of life.