Laurie de Leonne (formerly Betts Hughes) is a spirited conductor of creative connection who fosters community through choral singing; both community within the choir as well as between the choir and the greater community. To this end, she builds choirs and is the founding artistic director of the Redmond Chorale, now in its 8th year, and its developing chamber ensemble. She directs the Women’s University Club Chorus of Seattle, the G# Choir at Google in Kirkland, and teaches music at Northwest University. She is an enthusiastic choral adjudicator and guest clinician. Laurie’s compositions have been published by Walton/GIA, Santa Barbara Music Publishers, and her own Dandelion Music Press. Many of her pieces are featured in Project: Encore’s catalogue of contemporary post-premiere vetted choral catalogue and several are semifinalists for The American Prize 2017. She is president of the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium, the initial conductor of project-based Summer Fling Vocal Ensemble, a founding vocalist of Seattle's professional Emerald Ensemble, and a guest vocalist with Choral Arts Northwest.