Artistic Staff

Erin Gray, a Nashville native, received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, specializing in vocal music, from the University of Minnesota where she studied with acclaimed conductor Kathy Saltzman Romey. Her teaching career has included both classroom and choral music education for more than twenty years.

Erin founded the Minnesota Saints Chorale in 2004 and served as Artistic Director and Conductor until her family relocated to San Diego in 2019. Under her leadership, the choir was featured at ACDA-MN (American Choral Directors Association) and invited to perform at Carnegie Hall under Dr. Mack Wilberg. She collaborated with over 50 outstanding ensembles and conductors in Minnesota, working with renowned artists like award-winning tenor George Dyer and Grammy-winning baritone Gabriel Preisser on major concerts, including the annual Easter concert Lamb of God by Rob Gardner.

Erin founded the San Diego Saints Choir in 2020. The choir has since been selected to perform at prestigious events, including the 2022 Washington D.C. Memorial Day Concert at the Kennedy Center with Dr. Craig Jessop and San Diego Sings! in 2022 and 2024 as part of the San Diego Choral Consortium. In 2023, it collaborated with Grammy-winning violinist Jenny Oaks Baker. Now, the choir has made Lamb of God by Rob Gardner a cornerstone of its annual Easter performances, striving to grow into a multifaith, ecumenical production that unites communities and strengthens faith in Jesus Christ.

Erin previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Oratorio Society of Minnesota under Dr. George S. T. Chu and as Director of Vocal Music at Nacel International High School in Saint Paul, MN. A church music specialist, she has led choirs, trained musicians of all ages, and served as a guest clinician. She is also a regional vocal adjudicator, an active member of ACDA-CA and has served on the Board of the Choral Consortium of San Diego. Her greatest joy comes from time spent with her husband, Matthew, and their five children.

Elan McMahan works in the arts community as a pianist, musical director, conductor and teacher.  She is first and foremost a pianist, having received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from BYU and master’s degree, also in piano performance, from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music.  

​

Elan has performed as soloist with several orchestras, including the Palomar Symphony, North Coast Symphony and Missouri Festival Orchestra.  Her musical theater work can be heard on many San Diego stages, including The Old Globe’s annual Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! She has received critical acclaim, including three Craig Noel Outstanding Musical Direction Awards from the San Diego Critics Circle, most recently for Moonlight’s award-winning production of In The Heights in 2017.

 

Elan taught elementary classroom music in the Carlsbad Unified School District and is currently an associate faculty member at MiraCosta College.