Our Directors
Claire Barker
Claire Barker is currently a choral director of grades 9-12 at Seneca Valley School District. She has worked in the district for 11 years and has held a variety of roles, including being an integral part in starting and building the orchestra program. She has experience teaching choral and individual vocal instruction to students in grades 7-12 and has been the Vocal Director of the 7/8 musical productions for six years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Duquesne University in 2011 and her Master’s in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University in 2017.
Email me: barkercl@svsd.net
Bobi-Jean Alexander
Bobi-Jean L. Alexander received a Bachelor of Music degree from Duquesne University, where she was President of the Student Council for commuting students, graduated summa cum laude, and received the Mu Phi Epsilon Music Honor Society scholarship. She then studied at the Eastman School of Music and Harvard University before returning to Duquesne to complete her Master of Music degree in 2000.
She began teaching music at Seneca Valley in 1992, taught Junior High Choirs for two years, and has been a conductor of the Seneca Valley High School Choirs since 1996. At that time, there were three ensembles. Since then, the program has grown from 80 students to an average of 400. Mrs. Alexander added five ensembles to the curriculum which have achieved countless Superior ratings, first place awards, and several PMEA All-State Qualifying performances. Mrs. Alexander founded the Seneca Valley Choral Booster organization in 1997.
She has performed as a professional singer in New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. She was once known as the ‘Red Hot Mama’ with the historic Kennywood Park Razmataz Dixieland Band as well as other roles in and around Pittsburgh. She was the Carlisle’s of Pittsburgh Bridal Show Vocalist from 1996- 2006. She has sung with the professional Trinity Cathedral Choir and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.
In addition to performing, Mrs. Alexander managed professional stage shows for Show Biz International for eight years. Since 1999, Mrs. Alexander has continued to serve as the choir director of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Zelienople, where she also directs the youth performing group, EPIC. Most recently, Mrs. Alexander created and has grown the SV Fall Musical, as there was a significant need to give more opportunities to students, which is her passion.
Mrs. Alexander is a grandmother to her step-daughter Annie’s son, Auden. She and her husband John live in Cranberry and are the proud parents of daughters Allison (17), and Ayla (15). She and John perform as a professional guitar/vocal duo in their spare time.
Email me: alexanderbl@svsd.net
Chessa Fernandez Crum
Chessa Fernandez Crum (Mrs. C) is a graduate of Seneca Valley. Chessa went on to major in Music Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she also received a Minor in Piano. After her acceptance into Teach For America, she spent a summer in the Mississippi Delta teaching summer school and then began teaching in Appalachia in the Fall of 2012. Lynn Camp Schools (Middle and High School) in Corbin, Kentucky gave her first full time teaching job where she taught Middle/High School Choir, Theater, General Music. Under her direction, Lynn Camp had their first All School Musical where she was the director, choreographer, and producer. She participated in the Union College Adult Chorus and Musical Theater productions under the direction of Diane Montgomery.
Her next adventure took her back to Pennsylvania to continue to teach Choir and General Music in the Plum School District. Montour School District gave her the opportunity to teach 5th-8th Chorus before the opportunity opened to return to Seneca Valley in 2019. She began teaching Chorus and General Music at Haine Middle School and is now the Choir Director at Ryan Gloyer Middle School.
Chessa conducted a 200 piece children’s choir for four years at the Byham and has performed with ensembles at the Benedum. You can also find her assistant directing a Circle of Friends Choir and directing musical theater productions at Lutherlyn. She has her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Point Part University and has completed Level 1 and Level 2 training in the Estill Voice Method.
Chessa lives in Cranberry with her husband David, and daughters Violet (4) and Ivy (2). She enjoys cooking, gardening, and teaching private lessons in her free time. She happily spends most of her time on adventures with her family making forts, playing in the backyard, and finding new places to visit.
Email me: crumcf@svsd.net
William Brewer - Accompanist
William W. Brewer graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in Clarinet performance and Music Education. He immediately thereafter entered seminary and has since served as a pastor of the Lutheran Church. For almost thirty years, he has faithfully served as accompanist to the various SV Choirs. In addition to his musical activities at the schools, he teaches piano and clarinet privately. He also serves as accompanist for many community theatre productions, church functions, and other programs, including C.A.T. Y.A.C.K. and now EPIC which are Christian Youth Productions at St. Paul’s Church in Zelienople, where he is Pastor emeritus.
In addition to being an accomplished choral accompanist on piano, Pastor Brewer (lovingly referred to by SV students as P.B.and J. along with his wife, Joy) is also a composer of many compositions, including children’s musicals for an Arts Camp each summer. He is currently also a local organist. He has 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren.
