Directors
Nathan Balser, Artistic Director
Nathan Balser is an associate professor of dance at Brigham Young University and the new artistic director of the Young Ambassadors. He completed his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University with a BS in Therapeutic Recreation and his Master’s of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Utah.
Nathan’s professional career includes performing on Broadway in the revival cast of Promises, Promises with Kristen Chenoweth, 9 to 5: The Musical with Allyson Janney, Damn Yankees with Cheyenne Jackson,
and Legally Blonde. He also appeared on CBS’s Tony Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Nathan danced professionally with choreographers and groups including Repertory Dance Theatre, Odyssey Dance, Molissa Fenley, John Malashock, Scott Rink, and Utah Regional Ballet.
Prior to his assignment as director of the Young Ambassadors, Nathan had multiple opportunities to set choreography on the group, travelling twice with them to China. Nathan also directed BYU’s Contemporary Dance Theatre and choreographed at Sundance, Hale Center Theatre Orem, Lagoon Entertainment, Nauvoo, IL, and Utah COPA. He readily teaches workshops on dance, music, choreography and performance. He is married and has four beautiful kids.
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Nathan’s professional career includes performing on Broadway in the revival cast of Promises, Promises with Kristen Chenoweth, 9 to 5: The Musical with Allyson Janney, Damn Yankees with Cheyenne Jackson,
and Legally Blonde. He also appeared on CBS’s Tony Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Nathan danced professionally with choreographers and groups including Repertory Dance Theatre, Odyssey Dance, Molissa Fenley, John Malashock, Scott Rink, and Utah Regional Ballet.
Prior to his assignment as director of the Young Ambassadors, Nathan had multiple opportunities to set choreography on the group, travelling twice with them to China. Nathan also directed BYU’s Contemporary Dance Theatre and choreographed at Sundance, Hale Center Theatre Orem, Lagoon Entertainment, Nauvoo, IL, and Utah COPA. He readily teaches workshops on dance, music, choreography and performance. He is married and has four beautiful kids.
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Sadie Holdaway, Music Director
From Carlsbad CA, Sadie Holdaway is a music director, accompanist, and piano teacher based in Provo, Utah. She has played piano her whole life and has enjoyed performing in pit bands ever since she was 14. She is especially passionate about musical theater and teaching modern and popular styles of music.
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Troy Streeter, Technical Director
With his experience as technical director for BYU performing groups Synthesis, Ballroom Dance Company, and Theatre Ballet, the Young Ambassadors are lucky to have Troy D. Streeter. Troy was raised in central Illinois in a family heavily immersed in the arts, which allowed him to gain exposure to and perform in bands, orchestras, choirs, and live theater productions. He graduated from BYU in 2005 with a BA in theatre arts studies and a minor in electronics engineering. He also recently completed the executive MBA program at BYU.
Before graduating, Troy was hired full-time to do audio support on campus. As the audio production manager of BYU he was in charge of all live sound—totaling more than 1,000 events a year—and also taught sound design for many years as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. Along with working as technical director for various groups, Troy served as tour manager for the Synthesis tour to Brazil in 2013. Troy is looking forward to working closer with the students in his new job. “I’m excited to interact with them on tour and to see them grow and succeed,” he says. “That will be the most fulfilling.” Troy and his wife, Rachel, have five children. More
Before graduating, Troy was hired full-time to do audio support on campus. As the audio production manager of BYU he was in charge of all live sound—totaling more than 1,000 events a year—and also taught sound design for many years as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. Along with working as technical director for various groups, Troy served as tour manager for the Synthesis tour to Brazil in 2013. Troy is looking forward to working closer with the students in his new job. “I’m excited to interact with them on tour and to see them grow and succeed,” he says. “That will be the most fulfilling.” Troy and his wife, Rachel, have five children. More
Anjanette Mickelsen, Vocal Coach
Vocal & Studio Coach
Anjanette Mickelsen has followed a lifelong passion as a world class vocal coach. With over 25 years of experience, she continues to train and coach successful singers across the globe. Her clients have found success as professional artists, social media artists, pro musical theater performers, and received scholarships and awards, and made top categories on American Idol, The Voice, and The Sing-Off. Her clients for vocal technique and studio coaching have received many millions of views. She is the youngest teacher in the world to receive the highest certification level from prestigious Speech Level Singing program, a ten-year process. She has taught at the renowned VocalizeU Summer Vocal Program, and trained students and teachers as a Mentor Instructor in the Institute of Vocal Advancement.
Songwriter
As a songwriter alongside her writing partner Stephen Nelson, they have written for successful artists such as GENTRI, Mat & Savana Shaw, Madilyn Paige, Lexi Walker, David Archuleta, Hilary Weeks, BRIT, Mercy River, and Calee Reed. They have also written songs for companies such as Renatus, 7TK, Raw Focus, and Spike 150 State of Utah Celebration. Their music has made #1 on multiple Billboard charts, top ranks on iTunes Charts, and can be heard on Emmy-winning films, and they are published writers for Sony Masterworks.
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Anjanette Mickelsen has followed a lifelong passion as a world class vocal coach. With over 25 years of experience, she continues to train and coach successful singers across the globe. Her clients have found success as professional artists, social media artists, pro musical theater performers, and received scholarships and awards, and made top categories on American Idol, The Voice, and The Sing-Off. Her clients for vocal technique and studio coaching have received many millions of views. She is the youngest teacher in the world to receive the highest certification level from prestigious Speech Level Singing program, a ten-year process. She has taught at the renowned VocalizeU Summer Vocal Program, and trained students and teachers as a Mentor Instructor in the Institute of Vocal Advancement.
Songwriter
As a songwriter alongside her writing partner Stephen Nelson, they have written for successful artists such as GENTRI, Mat & Savana Shaw, Madilyn Paige, Lexi Walker, David Archuleta, Hilary Weeks, BRIT, Mercy River, and Calee Reed. They have also written songs for companies such as Renatus, 7TK, Raw Focus, and Spike 150 State of Utah Celebration. Their music has made #1 on multiple Billboard charts, top ranks on iTunes Charts, and can be heard on Emmy-winning films, and they are published writers for Sony Masterworks.
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