Marshan Moultry (he/him), Cofounder & Artistic Director

Marshan is an accomplished musician with 30 years of choir conducting, vocal coaching, and service/ministry experience. He moved to Seattle from California after serving for 14 years as the Associate Pastor of Worship & Music at Quail Lakes Baptist Church in Stockton, where he grew and led a 140+ member choir, praise team, orchestra, and band. He also supervised the Worship Arts staff of directors that led a children’s choir, orchestra, drama, multimedia, and dance departments.

Marshan has served as Co-Pastor and Minister of Music for Liberation United Church of Christ in Seattle, Choir Music Head for Interlocken International Summer Camp in Hillsboro, NH, and as the Associate Choir Director for the Marin City Community Choir. In addition, Marshan has led choir and ensemble tours in Kenya, South Africa, Romania, Spain, Italy, and Costa Rica.

Marshan has a dual B.A. in Vocal Music and Pastoral Counseling from University of the Pacific and an M.A. in Relationship and Pastoral Therapy from Seattle University. Marshan is an Individual, Couples and Family Therapist in private practice where he works primarily with BIPOC communities, building strategies to manage mental health diagnoses, self-empowerment, identity, and healing from racial, familial, occupational and relational trauma.

When not working, Marshan enjoys hosting dinner parties, traveling internationally, and occasionally doing nothing while lying on a beach.

cindy ogasawara (she/her), Cofounder & President

Service is a way of life for cindy, who has been a hospice volunteer, crisis counselor, meal deliverer, fair-trade-store worker, funeral and wedding celebrant, and Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia.

RLCA represents a happy marriage of two of her biggest interests: music and social justice.  Musical from a young age, cindy has sung in gospel choirs; played organ, piano and handbells in churches; been a trombonist in marching and jazz bands; and is learning how to play the drums in her 50s.

As an organizational-change and DEI consultant, cindy designs and facilitates transformative experiences using skills she gained from nearly twenty years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Her obsession is the employee experience – helping organizations and their leaders create representative, fair, and inclusive environments where people can thrive.  

cindy has also had life-changing work experiences in other sectors, including a multi-million-dollar court case in Idaho and three austral summer seasons in Antarctica. She and her husband created their family through adoption and have two amazing children.

Shelton Dowd (he/him), Associate Artistic Director

Shelton is a passionate and accomplished singer and songwriter who has shared the stage with notable artists, including Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark Cole, Ernest Pugh, Kelontae Gavin, Shawn Bigby, John P. Kee, Miranda Curtis, Joshua Rogers, and many others. His journey in music began at a young age, cultivating his vocal talents through exposure to both gospel and choral music during his formative years in the church choir. In 2015, he marked his presence in the music industry with the release of his debut EP album ‘Try God,’ which features a captivating blend of soulful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. This work, celebrated for its unique sound and powerful messages, is available on various digital platforms. In 2016, he achieved a significant milestone by winning the prestigious Dorinda Clark Cole Showcase, where he stood out among emerging talent in gospel music. This accolade catapulted him into the spotlight, earning recognition from industry elites and fans alike. Beyond music, Shelton’s dedication extends to the concept of EQUITY. He passionately believes in the unifying thread that binds all individuals on their unique journeys, and he endeavors to infuse this message into every song, touching the very soul of humanity with the symphony of our shared experience.

Mary Forbes (she/her), Vice President

Mary has been a shower, karaoke, and choral choir singer since she was a child – notably competing with small groups at jazz and choral music festivals across the Pacific Northwest and performing as a lead soloist of hymnals and operas, as a trained opera singer. Mary is a Canadian immigrant to the Pacific Northwest and hails from ancestors across the British Isles, predominantly Scotland.

Resounding Love is a community Mary found after many years looking for a space to worship through gospel music, which she has felt spiritually connected to since she was a child, while also enabled to learn about singing music sacred to the Black experience in America as an ancestor of white colonial settlers raised in a non-gospel denomination. Resounding Love not only represents this intersection, but also an incredibly supportive community of growth and spiritual connection reminiscent of her church of origin, Eagle Harbor UCC Church on Bainbridge Island, WA.

In her day-job, Mary is a Senior Business Analyst and Change Manager for software tools at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she regularly manages projects that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the workplace. She describes herself as a daydreamer, student of life, and cat mom, and is honored to be a part of a responsible spiritual community like Resounding Love that allows her to continue deep learning about her racial responsibilities and opportunities to create psychologically safe spiritual spaces using music.

Willie Mullins (he/him), Board Chair 

Willie Mullins is an East Coast native, born and raised in Connecticut. He received his BA from Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in English with a minor in African American Studies. He went on to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and upon completion remained in New York, developing a career in theatre and music. In addition to performing, Willie is also the Head of the Styling Division for the agency Big Leo Productions, which represents photographers and stylists in the commercial photography industry. Relocating to the Seattle area in 2015, Willie has remained with Big Leo while also developing a commercial acting career locally. He is currently represented by Seattle’s TCM Talent and is in the midst of partnering with local artists to develop new music, as well as projects for both the stage and screen. He resides in Southern California with his husband.

Tracy Bowens (she/her), Vice Chair

Tracy Bowens has served on the board of directors with Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) and Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) for six years. She is also a former singing member of SWC and has been active with Seattle Choruses for 8 years. Since joining the SWC board, she has participated in the search for the organization’s Executive Director and Artistic Director. She is currently co-chair of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee for the Seattle Choruses and serves as liaison to GALA Choruses (GLBT choral movement).

Kara Laverde (she/her), Board Member

Kara is a (rare) northwest native. A social worker by training, she’s worked in primary care, family court, and with several local domestic violence nonprofit organizations. Currently Kara works as an organization development consultant helping individuals, teams, and organizations become more effective through a focus on learning and leadership development integrated with diversity, equity, and inclusion. She’s served on the boards of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Program for Early Parent Support. Kara received her BA from Smith College and MSW from the University of Washington. Kara’s a mom to two young adults and two old cats.

Rev. Angela Farrar Small (she/her), Chaplain

In addition to joyfully singing with the RL choir, Angela Farrar Small is honored to serve as the chaplain of the choir. She provides prayer support in a way that respects the many names, images, and concepts of the Divine represented in the beautifully diverse members of RLCA. To this role, Angela brings her experience as a social worker, a mind-body medicine practitioner, former church pastor, former university choir member, and lifetime lover of African-American heritage music in all its forms. Originally from New Jersey and the daughter of a USAF officer, Angela has lived in the Seattle region since 1996. She earned her MSW at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, her Master’s in Divinity at Seattle University, and her Master’s in Mind-Body Medicine at Saybrook University. In her day job, Angela is a clinical social worker in private practice.

Ambrielle Coco Gurley (she/her), Assistant Choir Director

Ambrielle Coco Gurley brings her considerable musical and spiritual experience and expertise to bear as the choir’s Assistant Musical Director.   Her core values are that God is for everyone, in everyone, will use anyone, and loves everyone; and she wants to love everyone just as God does.  

Coco grew up in Tacoma, Washington.  She became a licensed and ordained minister through the Full Gospel Pentecostal Missionary Association at the tender age of 11.  At age 13, she was nominated as president of her youth choir and became director of her district’s psalmody under the leadership of President Roberta Tyson, the same year her choir performed her original arrangements of several gospel hits.  She was also appointed director of the adult mass choir by Missionary Joanne Davis and Evangelist Norris Curtis, teaching parts and writing music, which led to work with the convention choir.  

Together with her siblings, she was part of a traveling performing-arts group called El Shaddai.  She has studied music composition, music theory, dance, and singing in multiple languages, and has created and sung in multiple well-known ensembles in the Washington area.  Her compositions have been performed by groups such as Christ Chaotic, Servant of Servants (S.O.S.), Redeemed, Another Chance, Zion, and Peculiar Sound.  She was ordained as the assistant pastor of Judah’s Temple in Dallas, Texas in 2017 and as senior pastor of Judah’s Temple North Carolina in 2019.  She is currently working on a gospel musical called Church Business.  

She loves the sisterhood they have created together – many singers, one voice.  As assistant musical director, she is honored to be doing what she loves with the people she loves – her chosen family.

Resounding Love is exactly what she imagines heaven looks like – a table where all are welcome to partake in the presence of the Divine and be changed for the better.  Says Coco, ‘After being displaced from multiple ministries for being transgender, my gifts were dormant – but no longer.  I found my tribe.  I’m home here and I’m so grateful for this amazing opportunity.’

Kim Becklund (she/her), Outreach Coordinator

Kim brings a history of connecting people and making things happen. She has served on a number of progressive non-profit boards and brings with her decades of public sector leadership. She joined Resounding Love in December 2022 and has contributed her time and talent to the Alto section and serves as our Outreach Coordinator which has helped us open doors to communities like Mary’s Place. Kim is a Washington native and lives in West Seattle. She is a people person and deeply embraces Resounding Love’s mission, especially: striving toward antiracism and doing the work to ensure that the transformation of ourselves brings about fruitful results in service of our mission to include, connect and celebrate all. 

Kito Cin’j (he/him), Sergeant-At-Arms

Kito’s core values – honesty, psychological safety, and love of family – come to life in his role as Resounding Love’s sergeant-at-arms.  In this critical position, he helps the choir have impactful rehearsals by maintaining order and keeping them focused on the task at hand.  He approaches this responsibility with a giant sense of humor, openness, and a firm and loving voice.  

Kito comes to Seattle by way of California and Chicago.  Now retired, he has held positions in food-service management and was at one time a semi-professional actor and singer.  His love of the arts continues to manifest as a founding member of Resounding Love’s tenor section. 

Kito is accompanied 24/7 by Keanu, an 8-year-old Standard Poodle PTSD support dog.  He calls Keanu ‘my son and my joy’ who supports him in leading a fuller and more active life.  Keanu greets his fellow choir members at every rehearsal before taking up his regular spot under the grand piano, ready to help Kito at a moment’s notice. 

March 2024 marked 35 years of Kito being clean and sober.  As a Black man living with PTSD and bipolar manic depression, he provides an important and valuable perspective to the choir as it takes its message of inclusion and hope to all kinds of audiences.  

According to Kito, ‘Resounding Love is my family – my chosen family.  It offers me a safe place to be myself.’