Staff & Board
Jordan Rakita, Artistic Director
jordan.rakita@boyschorus.org
Jordan Rakita serves as the Artistic Director of the Tucson Boys Chorus, the longest standing community boys chorus in the country. He is honored to continue the legacy from his predecessors, including Director Emeritus, Dr. Julian Ackerley, as he conducts the TowneSingers, TAYME, and Touring Chorus, along with the neighborhood choirs in the surrounding Tucson area. He is currently completing his doctoral degree in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University where he has directed the tenor/bass ensemble Canticum Bassum. During his time at ASU, he served as the director for the Phoenicians, a premier barbershop chorus in the Metro Phoenix area. He holds degrees in Music Education and a Masters in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University under Dr. Edith Copley. He is a sought after conductor and clinician, with an emphasis on tenor and bass voices as well as middle school ensembles.
Rakita has been fortunate to pursue performance as an established tenor in the Phoenix area. He was thrilled to be a part of the Grammy-award winning Phoenix Chorale under Charles Bruffy. He also sang in Helios, a unique early music vocal ensemble made up of seven voices. As an educator, Rakita is the former director at Gilbert Christian High School as well as Heritage Academy, instructing hundreds of local high school students. His ensembles have consistently received awards both locally and regionally. As an advocate for secondary education, Jordan has presented at various local and regional conferences, emphasizing the role of the educator as both facilitator and artist.
Rakita is thrilled to join the thriving arts and education community in Tucson, and to serve the educators in the surrounding area. His desire is to provide opportunity for boys and young men to thrive in a safe environment that encourages musical excellence and strong leadership skills.
Renee Shane-Boyd, Administrative Director
shaneboyd@boyschorus.org
(520) 296-6277
Renee Shane-Boyd has been a music educator and administrator in Tucson for 39 years. She has served as president of the Arizona Music Educators Association, and is the Western Division President for the National Association for Music Education. She served for five years as the TABC Parent Executive Committee President and for four years as the President of the TABC Board of Directors. In addition to her role as the Administrative Director for the Chorus, Renee is the Director of Bands at Catalina Foothills High School.
Guillermo Keymolent, Associate Conductor
guillermo.keymolent@boyschorus.org
Guillermo is a dedicated music educator from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. After receiving his Master's in Music Performance from Cal State, Northridge, Guillermo returned to Tucson accepting a position in the Tanque Verde Unified School District, working with elementary, junior high and high school ensembles. He has helped to revitalize the choir program, providing exchanges with vocal artists like Dr. Hugo Vera, the Director of Voice and Opera at CSUN, and collaborating in performance with the University of Arizona Symphonic Choir and Dr. Elizabeth Schauer. Alongside his teaching, Mr. Keymolent is an award-winning tenor who has performed roles such as Rodolfo in La Bohème while serving as children’s chorus master. He is thrilled to be a part of the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus!
Trissina Kear, Principal Accompanist
Trissina Rose Kear holds a degree in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University and brings over two decades of experience as a pianist, accompanist, vocalist, teacher, and music director. She spent many years in Los Angeles collaborating with schools, churches, ensembles, recording studios, rock bands, and soloists in a variety of music genres. While in L.A., she also released a solo instrumental piano album, Heart of Worship, and the four-hand Fauré’s Dolly Suite.
Since relocating to Tucson in late 2018, Trissina has become an active figure in the local music scene, performing with organizations such as the Arizona Repertory Singers, Tucson Girls Chorus, Prism, the University of Arizona Wildcat Honor Choir, and many more. She has also served as a keyboardist for musicals such as Into the Woods, Mamma Mia, Working, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and A Christmas Carol. Trissina enjoys being a regular sub for choirs, productions, churches, and schools across Southern Arizona, while maintaining a consistent piano role at St. Mark’s Catholic Church and operating as Marketing Director of Enclave Publishing.
Mary-Gray Mahoney, Office Manager
tabc@boyschorus.org
(520) 296-6277 ext. 3
Mary-Gray has a B.A. in English Literature from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. She was raised in Prescott, AZ and has lived in Tucson since 2013. She comes to TABC after working in the hospitality industry - she has worked for Xanterra in Yellowstone National Park, Marriott International, and Canyon Ranch. In her spare time, Mary-Gray is an avid reader, ceramicist, enjoys traveling, and hanging out with her cats.
Duncan Davenport, Roping Instructor
Duncan is a native Tucsonan and a Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus alumni, graduating in 2002. In his last year of chorus, he was captain of the roping team and later he performed for the Trail Dust Town stunt show. After college, he moved to Seattle as a Senior Developer for Microsoft. While there, he taught trick roping at a local circus school. He recently returned to Tucson and is thrilled to rejoin TABC as he looks forward to passing on his roping knowledge to future generations of young men.
Willy Aldaz, Roping Instructor
Willy is a 2001 Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Alumni who graduated captain of the roping team. After his time in TABC, Willy worked at Trail Dust Town as a roper, and has also spent several years at the chorus summer camp on Mt. Lemmon. Willy is currently a Quality Analyst for Garmin who enjoys spending time with his wife, dog, and cat.
Jon Kroc, Roping Instructor
Jon is a TABC alum (1999–2004) and former roping team captain. A Tucson native, he was accompanied by his rope while living in Spain and on other international travels, offering casual street performances that celebrate an art form with intertwined roots between Mexico and the American West. He resides in Tucson with his partner, Gigi, where they’ve begun work on a new busking act that blends roping with song and story.