Leadership

Mark Helms, Interim Director of Choirs

Mark Helms is the newly-appointed Director of Choirs at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where he conducts the William & Mary Choir and teaches academic courses in music. Dr. Helms is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting. At Maryland, he served as primary conductor of the University Chorale, assistant conductor of the UMD Chamber Singers, chorus master for the Maryland Opera Studio, instructor of undergraduate conducting courses, and assisted in the preparation of choruses for the Baltimore and National Symphony Orchestras. His dissertation research at Maryland focused on shifting choral repertoire programming trends following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Helms previously conducted church, community, and collegiate ensembles in Pennsylvania for six years, where he served as director of choral activities and liturgical music at DeSales University and as director of music and the arts at Doylestown Presbyterian Church. In 2021, he received the Outstanding Young Conductor Award from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in recognition of his work in the state. Dr. Helms is also a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting, and of Furman University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in church music. He has studied conducting with Jason Max Ferdinand, Edward Maclary, David Neely, William Weinert, Brad Lubman, and Hugh Ferguson Floyd.

Kyle Sharma (he/him), President
  • Majors: English and Linguistics
  • Class Year: 2026
  • What Kyle’s position does: “As President, I oversee the student organization side of Kwah. I help lead the other ‘Kwahfficers’, serve as a liaison between the students and the director, and also plan our annual domestic tour!”
  • What Kyle loves about KWAH: “Despite how cliché it sounds, it’s the community aspect to Kwah that makes it my favorite group on campus. There truly is no other group of people that has made me feel so welcome, empowered, and loved quite like the William & Mary Choir. Plus, they’re just a fun group to hang out with! I especially love our “Kwah Dinners” after every rehearsal. If that’s too obvious of an answer, getting to perform at all of W&M’s most important events (including Commencement, Convocation, and Yule Log) is a pretty sweet deal.”
  • Other campus activities: “Musically, I sing acapella with the Stairwells, I play trombone with the Pep Band and with Wham Bam Big Band, and over Winter Break I am a part of the Sinfonicron Light Opera Company. In terms of other clubs, I am the Vice President of ODK and a member of the Films Committee of AMP. I also work as a Senior Resident Assistant in Landrum Hall and am a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary.”
Lydia Zambon (she/her), Vice President
  • Major: American Studies
  • Class Year: 2027
  • What Lydia’s position does: “In addition to assisting our amazing President, I manage our publicity and merch. I am also in charge of organizing our Homecoming Float in October!”
  • What Lydia loves about KWAH: “I love singing with such a wonderful community of kind and passionate musicians!”
  • Other campus activities: Wham Bam Big Band, Pep Band, Sinfonicron, AMP, and Music Student Action Committee (MSAC)
Katie Valentini (she/her), Treasurer
  • Major: Biology
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Katie’s position does: “I prepare Kwah’s budget in consultation with the other Kwahfficers and Dr. Helms, am responsible for all Kwah-related funds, and collect dues.”
  • What Katie loves about KWAH: “The community! Everyone is just as kind and welcoming as they are talented, and I could not be more grateful to be a part of this amazing group of people.”
  • Other campus activities: Genetics Research Lab, Delta Epsilon Mu Pre-Health Fraternity
Grace Harvey (she/her), Administrative Secretary
  • Major: Psychology with a minor in Music
  • Class Year: 2027
  • What Grace’s position does: “The administrative secretary is responsible for keeping track of attendance for all choir rehearsals and performances. I also create and maintain the yearly choir directory.”
  • What Grace loves about KWAH: “I love the strong community that has been built up over the last 100 years.”
  • Other campus activities: Crim Dell Criers, Sinfonicron, Delta Tau Omicron, Shakespeare in the Dark, TBD
Alina Cook (she/her), Student Alumni Correspondent
  • Major: Undecided
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Alina’s position does: “Oversee choir and alumni relations, maintain alumni address files and distribute Alumni Newsletter, and help plan alumni receptions during Homecoming Weekend and other alumni events.”
  • What Alina loves about KWAH: “Kwah is a community where different people can all come together to celebrate a shared commonality: a love for music. There is a certain, familiar satisfaction in working hard to learn and produce music, seeing all the different musical elements come together to create a greater work of art. One of my favorite moments is hearing the unison breath we all take before the start of a performance because there is a general understanding of the focus and effort needed to find flow and make music. And it’s not only the community that makes Kwah special, it’s also the purpose and history of our choir. We often represent the college by performing at important William & Mary events throughout the year such as Charter Day, the Olde Guarde, and Commencement.”
  • Other campus activities: “When I’m not in class, singing, or doing homework, you can find me at Cambridge House, running or hiking on some trails, or curled up with a good book.”
Alex Winkler (they/them), Librarian
  • Major: Government
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Alex’s position does: “I make sure everyone has their music for rehearsals and performances, I collect and organize music, and I maintain the choral library.”
  • What Alex loves about KWAH: “I love the fact that it’s such a welcoming community here on campus! Everyone is so kind and helpful and it just makes for a great group of people to sing with.”
  • Other campus activities: International Relations Club
Bryson Hetzel (he/him), Fundraising Co-Chair
  • Major: Government/English
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Bryson’s position does: “I’m new to the position of fundraising chair, but here’s my best approximation as to what it will entail: through booths at the entrances to our concerts, profit-sharing, and, most importantly, our annual Cabaret(TM), my co-chair, Emma, and I will be trying to raise as much money as possible for Kwah’s International Tour (aka I-Tour). Kwah’s Dessert Cabaret is an event wherein students across campus are invited to perform a musical theatre song of their choice, either solo or in a group. Audience members are encouraged to indulge in delicious treats provided and participate in a silent auction for items from local businesses. Most of the money from this event goes towards making I-Tour – we’re going to Central Europe this year – as cheap as possible for the Choir’s members.”
  • What Bryson loves about KWAH: “Dr. Helms’s direction is superb, and learning our songs with him is always a blast, even if I feel like I’m regularly messing up badly in the process of getting *performance-ready*. Beyond those factors that are given with a collegiate choir, I have to talk about how tight-knit we are – something bolstered by our many traditions. From our “toasts” at midnight after each concert, to our Kwah-wide “shindigs,” Kwah offers plenty of social opportunities for us to grow closer to one another outside of the rehearsal room. Yes, we’re TWAMPy, but I love having a group I can totally nerd out with, whether that be about music/singing, or something like Deltarune, mollusks, or even the history of the Choir itself.”
  • Other campus activities: “Beyond Kwah, I am also the communications/social media person for both The Stairwells (an all-male a cappella group at W&M) and the Wesley Campus Ministry. I have been taking banjo classes and am excited to join a cover band, Covercharge, as a vocalist this fall!”
Emma Foca (she/her), Fundraising Co-Chair
  • Major: Undeclared
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Emma’s position does: “Collaborate with Bryson to advertise and raise funds for all the lovely things our choir is doing!”
  • What Emma loves about KWAH: “I love the community and the feeling of singing with so many wonderful persons.”
  • Other campus activities: “I’m involved with Spotswood society, RUF, and Club Judo.”
Connor Murray (he/him), Social Co-Chair
  • Major: Film and Media Studies
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Connor’s position does: “As social chair, I plan events and activities that bring the group together outside of rehearsals, helping everyone bond and feel more connected as a choir.”
  • What Connor loves about KWAH: “I love getting to sing incredible music alongside my friends—the sense of community in the choir is truly something special!”
  • Other campus activities: “I’m involved in the Stairwells a cappella group, a Bible studies group, the We Make Filmmakers club where we create short films, and I’m also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.”
More information about the Social Co-Chair, Quinn Franklin, coming soon!
Gavin Salinas (he/him), Co-Historian
  • Major: History
  • Class Year: 2026
  • What Gavin’s position does: “Promote the choir on our socials and document our events with pictures.”
  • What Gavin loves about KWAH: “Bringing music to life with so many caring and unique people.”
  • Other campus activities: Culture Chair in the Filipino American Student Association.
Olivia Azzouz (she/her), Co-Historian & I-Tour Chair
  • Major: English
  • Class Year: 2026
  • What Olivia’s positions do: “The historians are the digital ( & sometimes physical in terms of scrapbooking ) storytellers for Kwah! We preserve all the lovely memories we make throughout our time here. Not only is it for us to look back on, but years & years of future Kwah members. This is just one of the ways we keep Kwah a community of connection and long-standing tradition.
    As the choir’s international tour chair this year, I will help plan the small details of our Europe itinerary alongside our Director and act as a representative of the choir when aiding in these decisions. I will also act as a liaison between director and student on all I-tour affairs. Abroad, I will be continuing these responsibilities and any other that arise in real time.”
  • What Olivia loves about KWAH: “Nothing brings people together like singing! Choir kids are something special and foster a community beyond just singing with each other. Kwah makes you feel like you are exactly where you are supposed to be.”
  • Other campus activities: Assistant Box Office Manager for W&M Office of the Arts
McKenna Withers (she/her), Webmaster
  • Major: Business with a minor in Hispanic Studies
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What McKenna’s position does: “I maintain the W&M Choir website, the family tree website, and manage the listserv for current members!”
  • What McKenna loves about KWAH: “I love the community that we’ve built in Kwah. On top of making music and having fun together, you build such incredible friendships with the people here.”
  • Other campus activities: “I am a member of the AMP Live Committee and a dancer with Pointe Blank!”
Meera Del Favero (she/her), Belonging Chair
  • Major: Human Health & Physiology
  • Class Year: 2028
  • What Meera’s position does: “I make sure that the members of Kwah feel represented individually within the ensemble and through the choral pieces we perform!”
  • What Meera loves about KWAH: “I love our rehearsals and Domestic Tour!!”
  • Other campus activities: “I am in NKE and play guitar. I also love baking, especially crème brûlée!”
William Burns (he/him), Robe Royalty
  • Major: Geology and Biology
  • Class Year: 2029
  • What William’s position does: “I assign and organize ceremonial robes, as well as harass people who forget to return them!”
  • What William loves about KWAH: “The people are so cool and are so much fun! Singing is a lot of fun, but it’s always the other singers that make Kwah a class I look forward to every other day!”
  • Other campus activities: Etymology Club and Piano Club
Allison O’Connor (she/her), Robe Royalty
  • Major: Environmental Policy
  • Class Year: 2029
  • What Allison’s position does: “I organize the choir robes that the choir wears for formal events! I make sure everyone has a robe, no robes are missing, and everyone’s robe fits!”
  • What Allison loves about KWAH: “I love the community, the Kwah is such a safe space for everyone to feel included and seen. It is my home away from home and I always look forward to classes at the end of a long day!”
  • Other campus activities: “I also participate in the Barksdale Treble Chorus, as well as the Crim Dell Criers A Capella group!”