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Dr. Bruce Cochran – Conductor and Founder

For more than thirty-six years, Bruce has directed church choirs and small ensembles in New England, California and Arizona. From 1991-1999, he directed the Sanctuary Choir at Crossroads Nazarene Church in Chandler, Arizona. He studied Choral Conducting at University of Southern California in Los Angeles and at the Bonner Institute for the Advancement of Choral Music in Glendora, California. Every year, he attends a Master Conducting Seminar in California to continue growing as a leader, educator and communicator in the art of choral conducting.

In addition to conducting, Bruce Cochran has produced six CDs since 2011. Many of his East Valley Chorale recording selections may now be heard on ten Radio Broadcast Networks and Internet radio stations with listeners worldwide.

Audiences enjoy Dr. Cochran’s sharing of humorous and inspirational stories that underscore the meaning behind musical selections. As an avid reader, he delights concertgoers with favorite author excerpts including Philip Gulley of the acclaimed “Harmony series” and “Frontporch Tales”; Jan Karon; Bob Benson; Tim Hansel; Chris Fabry and Chuck Swindoll. Notably, his engaging connection with singers and musicians becomes an infectious joyful exchange, which ministers to audiences of all ages.

Outside of his EVC Chorale leadership, Dr. Cochran is an Electrical Engineer at General Dynamics in Scottsdale. He previously taught Graduate Electrical Engineering at Arizona State University for ten years. He is married to Kathy Cochran, also a singer in the Chorale. They have one married son and two grandchildren.

Barbara Willey – Accompanist

Barbara Willey played for the East Valley Chorale for the first ten years of its existence, and has recently returned to that role. Barb grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana, spending the summers baling and stacking hay. Her first piano teacher was her mother, and she was involved in both band and choir throughout high school and college.

Barbara attended the University of Montana in Missoula, where she earned two bachelor degrees – one in piano performance and the other in music education. She always enjoyed accompanying soloists and choirs, so when she was offered a teaching assistantship at ASU she left her beloved Montana and made the move south. Barbara received her master’s in piano accompanying in 1985 and was hired by the music department as a staff accompanist. She currently spends much of her week playing for the choirs at Campo Verde High School and Gilbert High School, in addition to other freelance work playing for young soloists who study in private studios throughout the valley.

Barbara and her husband have twin adult sons. She coordinates the blood drives at her church and in conjunction with that promotes organ donor registration. She enjoys opportunities to volunteer, watching the Cardinals, and spending time with her family and friends.

Chorale Staff

Singers From The Following Churches