Madeleine Stephens has always been involved in the music performance world, from her early days in church choirs and in piano lessons to her current position as BYC’s Executive Director. Along her journey she has performed, worked backstage, and managed events -- accumulating a variety of experiences on both sides of the curtain.

Madeleine received her Music and Management Studies degree from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. There, she spent most of her time working as the Coordinator of the campus concert venue, where she hosted popular bands as well as jazz ensembles, theatre productions, and student presentations. In addition to managing an active concert venue, she spent summers working at the Music @ Menlo Chamber Music festival in California, and teaching concert production at the summer camp Explo at Yale.

In 2017 Madeleine moved to Seattle, where she began working as a Studio Coordinator at the Seattle School of Rock. She spent a year building relationships with students and their families, puzzling out the complex teaching schedules, listening to late-night rock rehearsals, and performing as a singer with the staff at concerts. In 2018 she accepted a position as part-time Music Series Manager and Choir School Administrator at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, which she still holds today. At Saint Mark’s she creates all publicity for the Music Series, including organizing an artist performance on KING FM’s NW Focus Live, and stewards donors on the recently-created Friends of the Music Series program.

Madeleine began her work with Bellevue Youth Choirs in 2017 as a non-profit consultant, but was quickly asked to step up as Executive Director. Madeleine stayed on as ED with BYC during years of transition, acting as a steady compass throughout big changes. BYC received non-profit status when Madeleine first began, and so over her three years she has initiated new fundraising campaigns which include planning the first auction and receiving three grants in the past two years. In addition, Madeleine has designed a new website and database system, added new social media platforms to BYC’s reach, and organized the first international tour. Madeleine loves doing this behind-the-scenes work because she knows that everything she does provides learning opportunities and life-changing education for young singers.

Always a choral singer, Madeleine grew up singing with Tacoma Youth Chorus, where she traveled to Europe to perform at Canterbury Cathedral and Notre Dame; and her high school choir, the Meistersingers, who performed at Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan. Her college years were spent singing with the Chapel Choir and for smaller gigs such as a soloist for Jazz Band Swing Night. She currently sings with the Seattle Choral Company, with which she has performed at the Paramount for Zelda: Live! and at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra; and with the Wellspring Ensemble, a new group that performs primarily compositions by local artists. With the Wellspring Ensemble she looks forward to rescheduling their previously cancelled trip to sing at Carnegie Hall.