lydia lane stout
Lydia Lane Stout is the Founding Artistic Director of common pulse. She received her masters degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University in 2018 and her undergraduate degree in choral conducting from Oberlin College in 2012. Between degrees, Lydia joined Chicago Children’s Choir as a conductor. While in Chicago, she founded and directed common pulse and the Admiral Chorus, an ensemble for singers living at The Admiral at the Lake. In addition to her conducting positions, Lydia sang with Peregrine Vocal Ensemble and Wicker Park Choral Singers.
Outside of common pulse, Lydia can be found directing youth choirs at Glenview Community Church, teaching music lessons, singing in mirabai, and cultivating community.
Catlin Watts
Catlin Watts is the Co-Artistic Director of common pulse and a member of the soprano section. She has been involved in choirs from a young age and enjoyed singing with her church, high school concert choir, and college chamber choir before joining common pulse in 2019. She began writing poetry in elementary school and became passionate about performing during her undergraduate career at Knox College. Catlin believes in the power of words, music, and art to help ignite lasting social change and is thrilled to work with artists in many disciplines that believe the same. She is a full-time teacher and enjoys practicing yoga, spending time with family and friends, and hopes to see more of the world someday.
kaleb sutherland
Kaleb Sutherland is the Director of Operations of Chicago Artists for Action and a member of the common pulse tenor section. He has been an active member of the Chicago choral community since 2015 and has sung with the Wicker Park Choral Singers, the Chicago Choral Project, and common pulse. Much of his choral formation took place in the vocal ensembles and studios of St. Olaf College. Kaleb comes to Chicago Artists for Action with a commitment to artistic collaboration and a decade of experience in nonprofit management and technology solutions. He currently directs a scholarship program for international students, focused on gender equity in access to education, and leads LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion initiatives.