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Sherri Jensen

Founder, Chairman of the Board

Sherri Jensen has been immersed in classical music her entire life. She began piano studies at age 5 and was in demand as an accompanist for choirs and soloists as a teenager, accompanying her first school choir at age 13. Music has been her focus and soul-renewing passion since earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Piano Pedagogy, and Performance from Brigham Young University.

Sherri chose to forgo pursuing advanced degrees in order to raise her eight children, all of whom are marvelous musicians themselves. The family toured for many years and was on national television as “The Sizzling Strings,” thrilling audiences with the children’s proficiency and excellence on their string instruments. Sherri not only taught and guided her own children in learning the language of music and mastering their instruments, but she has also maintained a large piano and strings studio, creating her own successful teaching methods and positively influencing hundreds of other young people over the years.

In addition to keeping up her own piano skills, Sherri has conducted many church choirs in different locations in Utah. In 2017, she founded the Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society of which she is the Artistic Director. The group performs four concerts a year, usually in Abravanel Hall, the premier concert hall in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sherri’s vision and leadership are apparent in the professional quality of the concerts she conducts and in the warm reception these concerts receive from astute patrons. Her goal is to bring light and hope to the world through masterful uplifting music, and she is looking forward to bringing this music to concert halls in Europe.

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David Jensen

Vice President & Director of Operations

David Jensen graduated with a B.S. degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from BYU. During his career as a computer “IT guy,” he has worked for WordPerfect, Panasonic and most recently, FamilySearch.org, where he really enjoys working with the world's largest private database of genealogical data. Recently he founded his own company in real estate investment, Mountain Home Enterprises. David oversees the Operations of the Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society as well as singing Bass in the choir. He has been grateful to fulfil many of the logistic, accounting, purchasing, sound reinforcement and Information Technology needs of the Society.  His favorite hobbies are water skiing, hiking, camping, and running marathons.

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Randy Karren

President of the Board

Randy Karren is a native of Salt Lake City and has spent most of his life living in the Draper & Sandy area of the South end of the Salt Lake Valley.  He has spent 40+ years career in the Mechanical HVAC & Energy Services industry involved with design, engineering, construction management, construction implementation, energy reduction of building systems and is currently Director - Design Build for a national energy services company designing and implementing energy projects in mechanical and electrical systems, “Saving the World” one project at a time by reducing energy consumption and energy costs for commercial and industrial facilities.

Randy has always loved music, playing brass instruments in elementary school through High School and loves to sing.  He currently participates in the Society, singing Bass in the Choir, and loves sharing this music with the community.  His other interests involve golfing, boating, horses, and the outdoors.  He also loves serving the Society.

Randy loves his family with his wife, Tonya, 4 biological children, 1 adoptive daughter, 3 step-children and currently 22 grand-children and attributes his love and success to his Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

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Joan Davis

Managing Director / Music Librarian / Human Resources

Joan’s love of music was nurtured early. She grew up in Salt Lake City, studying violin with a prominent Utah Symphony member and regularly attending Symphony concerts. She received a BA in History and English from BYU and taught high school History. She and her husband Kumen raised their seven children in Draper, Utah, and gave them opportunities to study a variety of musical instruments. She has seen first-hand the benefits of music in the lives of children and the importance of high-quality music lessons and performance opportunities, which is what she is hoping her work with this organization will help provide the rising generation.

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Lisa Nievaard

Marketing & Social Media Director

Lisa has loved music all her life and has been singing since she can remember.  She graduated from BYU and has worked in marketing, media and brand management throughout her career.  Lisa enjoys serving as the Director of Marketing on the board of the Draper Philharmonic and Choral Society.  She feels honored to sing with so many talented people who love to bless the community with unforgettable, inspiring performances.  Lisa also enjoys running, reading and traveling as much as possible!

Jannalee Hunsaker

Production Director

Music has been an integral part of Jannalee’s life. By age two, she was singing, by age four she was playing the piano, at age 13 she sang her first solo and at 15 landed her first role in a theatre production. Performing has been her lifelong passion and her happy place. Jannalee has performed all over the state of Utah, along with her group One Accord, has sung the National Anthem at NBA games, recorded both radio and TV commercials, and performed for many local events. Jannalee has been a vocal coach, piano teacher, choir director, music director, and producer for several community theatre productions and served as president of her city's arts council. Jannalee loves being involved in all aspects of music productions, seeing all the magic and miracles that happen when stage productions come together! If she can give but one person a glimmer of hope, a moment of joy, or uplift a heart that needs lifting, it's all worth it! Jannalee calls Cottonwood Heights home with her husband Scott, who is her number one supporter, and best friend.