Rhodd F. Caldwell
Artistic Director

In September 2021 - still in the middle of pandemic lockdowns - the board of directors chose Rhodd as our new artistic director, immediately handing him a very challenging situation. How can you keep a choir together if you have to keep singers in isolation, sing with masks or avoid performances altogether? 

Two years later, he has answered that challenge. Our chorus is revitalized with abundant energy and a sense of purpose, moving forward with an innovative name and distinctive sound, while mixing new singers with long-time chorus veterans. 

Rhodd brings to Coastal Voices a wealth of knowledge and performance experience from nearly half a century as an actor, singer and dancer, having created widely divergent roles in drama, comedy, musical theatre and opera. Some favorites have included award-winning turns as Salieri in Amadeus, Harold in The Boys in the Band, Cervantes / Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Harold Hill in The Music Man. 

At the same time, he has also been coaching and conducting church choirs, community choral groups, and musical theatre and opera choruses. For the holiday season of 2018, Rhodd created a first time collaboration between three local performing arts organizations: the Newport Symphony Orchestra, Porthole Players, and Pacific Dance Ensemble - and the first production of an opera at the Newport Performing Arts Center in its more than 30 year history. 

Rhodd also worked for more than fifty years as an artist / musician in widely divergent faith communities and synagogues. He served in a variety of roles: music director, choral director, soloist, liturgist, and worship accompanist.  He has a BA in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Marylhurst University and is currently completing an MA in Choral Pedagogy through Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.

Along with his tenure with Coastal Voices, Rhodd has embarked on an exciting personal venture: working with young singers in the Lincoln County school district. In partnership with music faculty in our four high school / middle schools, he’s spending time weekly in classrooms as coach and mentor. “I’ve learned each generation has something unique to contribute to my own musical education, and this current crop of young people is no exception!”

Raleigh Bartholomew
Assistant Director

Raleigh Bartholomew comes to Coastal Voices after an eclectic journey from a vocal training, vocal pedagogy, and conducting curriculum at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, traversing through jazz band, wind symphony, opera, and wide-ranging vocal and choral ensembles.

Raleigh brings his experience formulating age and skill-appropriate curriculum for instrumental and choir in K-12 settings to bear once again to our adult sectional trainings and support to the artistic director as understudy. Beyond teaching and conducting, his rich baritone register has added depth to SoundWaves and the entire choir.

Milo Graamans
Accompanist

Milo Graamans started studying piano at the age of 4 and attended the University of Oregon School of Music from 2011-12. He left school to complete work on his original musical, “She Loves Me Not”, which ran in Newport in August 2019. In addition to his duties as Coastal Voices’ accompanist, Milo is the choir director and organist at Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, a member of the Lincoln Pops Big Band, regularly performs his own concerts of original and classical music, and also works as a freelance accompanist. Milo is also active in community theatre, playing in pit orchestras, and is on the Red Octopus Theatre Company’s board of directors. Yes, he is a busy man. Click here to learn more about what Milo is currently working on.