Our Performers
Jennifer Graf-Domijan (Soprano and Founder/CEO) has appeared in over thirty productions of opera, operetta, and musical theatre, in shows such as The Pirates of Penzance, The Magic Flute, La Boheme, HMS Pinafore, The Marriage of Figaro, The Mikado, Camelot, Meet Me in St. Louis, and The Student Prince, among others. She has been soprano soloist in oratorios by Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel. Jennifer has a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory and has released three solo CD recordings: Voices of Spring, Echoes of Christmas Past, and Tidings of Christmas. Ms. Graf made her European debut in 2007 at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival where she was nominated for the award of Best Female Voice. She founded Olde Towne Carolers in 2005 to provide Christmas carol singers for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and the mid-Atlantic region.
Matthew Knecht (Tenor and Music Arranger) is a singer, pianist, and music teacher currently teaching general music and band at Chichester Middle School, southwest of Philadelphia. Matt studied voice and conducting at West Chester University, graduating with a degree in Music Education, and has done graduate work at West Chester and the University of the Arts. Over the last 30 years Matt has directed vocal and instrumental ensembles in Chichester, Upper Perkiomen, Salisbury Township, North Harford County (MD), Pequea Valley, Allentown Central Catholic, Phoenixville, Springfield, and Emmaus High Schools, Gwynedd Mercy College, East Stroudsburg University and West Chester University. Matt has served as tenor soloist at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in the Great Valley and St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Allentown, alto soloist at St. Catharine of Siena Catholic Church in Great Falls, VA, and as the choir director and organist at Chestnut Hill Church in Coopersburg, PA. He currently serves as a substitute tenor or baritone soloist and organist at several churches in Delaware County, and sings when time allows with the choir of Marple Presbyterian Church in Broomall, PA. You might also find him playing his tuba at one of those churches around Christmas and Easter.
Meghan Williams (Alto) graduated from The Hartt School of Music, and has performed leading roles with The Connecticut Opera Company, Connecticut Concert Opera, Pennsylvania Lyric Opera Theater, and has also been a featured soloist at the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall. Meghan has performed in several musical theater productions with The Shawnee Playhouse, Sight and Sound Theaters, and was a Disney Cast Member. Meghan is currently recording her first full length album, is the alto soloist at Arch Street United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, and maintains a private studio where she teaches voice, violin, and piano.
Kristen Conrad (Soprano) studied voice at Cornell University and is currently a soloist and ensemble performer with the two choral arms of Vox Ama Deus: Ama Deus Ensemble and Vox Renaissance Consort. She serves as the soprano section leader for the Adult Choir at St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church in Devon, PA, as well as the song leader for the church's contemporary worship band Turning Point. Kristen also sings and plays keyboards with the Philadelphia-area '80s tribute band Basic Cable and occasionally also sings/plays keyboards with other area bands and performers on an as-needed basis.
Susan Greene (Soprano and Alto) has been a music director for 20 years and teaches voice and piano. She studied vocal performance with a minor in piano at West Chester University, has two professionally recorded recitals, performs locally both privately, and with local theatres, including Bravo Theatre Company, The Media Theatre, GSSCC, PCS, RVCO, Footlighters, and Hedgerow Theatre, on stage, as well as music director, vocal arranger, rehearsal/performance accompanist, and choreographer. Performances include appearances at Carnegie Hall, Philly’s WOGL-98.1, CW-57, Channel 69 News and The Rachael Ray Show, and singing internationally by opening for Olivia Newton-John.
Christopher Lenz (Tenor/Baritone) holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Temple University. Professional classical appearances include concerts at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, The San Juan Symphony Hall of Puerto Rico, and the Academy of Music and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Mr. Lenz has performed as one of the Voices of the Philly Pops under Maestro Peter Nero for the last ten years and is a member of the Philadelphia Singers, Singing City, and Masterworks Chorale choirs. In addition, Christopher is one of the East Coast recording artists for Alfred Music Publishing Company. He was recently awarded first prize in the Advanced Division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). He has performed in more than forty musicals/operas throughout the United States and has also appeared in the movies Unbreakable and Jersey Girl, and in the TV series Hack.
C. Douglas Ballard (Bass) is the director of performing arts at North Brandywine Middle School in Coatesville Area School District. Musical performance experience includes The Scarecrow (Wizard of Oz) at East Penn Musical Theater in Emmaus, PA, as well as Mr. Bumble (Oliver), Vitorio Vidal (Sweet Charity), and Bernardo (West Side Story) at Center Stage Productions in Aston, PA. Douglas also is the baritone soloist and section leader at Marple Presbyterian Church, and additionally performs professionally for weddings and other private venues throughout the Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey area.
Jeremy Blossey (Tenor) enjoys an international operatic career that has taken him all over North America, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. His career has included performances of over 50 roles, recently including the title role in Werther, Rodolfo in La Boheme, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Camille in The Merry Widow, The Governor in Candide, Alfredo in La Traviata, Male Chorus in Rape of Lucretia, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Sam Polk in Susannah, Sam Kaplan in Street Scene, Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, and Romeo in Romeo et Juliette. Recent appearances include roles with Opera de Quebec, Hawaii Opera Theater, Shreveport Opera, Opera Hamilton, Opera on the Avalon, and Opera Cleveland.
Samantha Dango Blossey (Soprano) has performed recently as Gianetta (The Gondoliers), 1st Lady (The Magic Flute), and the Plaintiff (Trial by Jury), all with Light Opera of New Jersey. She has appeared with the Portland Opera, the Princeton Festival, New Jersey State Opera Outreach Program, Ridgewood G&S Opera Company, New York Lyric Opera Company, and performed the role of Paulina in the US premier of Il Racconto D’Inverno with International Opera Theater. Samantha also acts as a soloist and concert producer for non-profit organizations such as the Susan G Komen for the Cure. She regularly appears as the National Anthem singer for the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Ross Druker (Tenor) has performed lead roles in numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas with The Savoy Company, Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra, and the Bucks County G&S Society. He won the Best Male Character Actor award at the International G&S festival in Harrogate, England. Ross sang for many years with The Philadelphia Singers core ensemble and with The Philadelphia Orchestra as a member of The Philadelphia Singers Chorale. He also performs in local theater including recent roles at the Chestnut Hill Stagecrafters, Old Academy Players, and Playcrafters of Skippack.
Elizabeth Holmes (Soprano & Alto) actively performs in opera, operetta, and musical theatre, and has professional experience in plays, cabaret, and more. She has been featured in numerous leading roles with regional Gilbert and Sullivan companies, and appeared as Angelina in Trial by Jury, which won“Best American Production” at the 2011 International G & S Festival. She has also pioneered roles in new operas, including Gwendolyn in The Crowded House at the 2010 Philly Fringe Festival and Zelda in Black Horses with OperaDelaware at the 2009 Wilmington Fringe Festival. Elizabeth holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from West Virginia University, and has completed training programs in Austria and Italy. She is currently a doctoral fellow in voice performance at Shenandoah Conservatory. Upcoming engagements include Jerry Springer: The Opera with Bootless Stageworks in Wilmington and a featured performance with New Voices Cabaret in Center City. She teaches voice and piano at her private studio in Conshohocken and has been singing with Olde Towne Carolers since 2012.
Amy Armstrong (Soprano) has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas. She has been a two-time Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist and regularly sings with the Voices of the Pops, the featured vocal ensemble for Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, the former Philadelphia Singers, where she sang with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Saratoga Music Festival. She has performed with Bristol Riverside Theatre, the Broadway Theatre of Pitman and the Eagle Theatre. Favorite roles include Sarah in Guys and Dolls, Margaret in The Light in the Piazza, Julie in Carousel, Louisa in The Fantasticks, and Sister Angelica in Suor Angelica. Amy has performed with Children’s Opera most recently. Amy had the pleasure of being asked to perform in the background chorus for Sarah Brightman’s Hymn World Tour when it came to the MET in Philadelphia.
Paula Gonzalez (Alto), a resident of Newark, DE, actively performs in musical theatre around the Philadelphia area. She has been featured in several lead roles including Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense II: The Second Coming, Venus in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Thespis, Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard, Edith in The Pirates of Penzance, Leila in Iolanthe, and Cousin Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore. She also cantors and performs as a soloist and with the choir at St. Peter the Apostle in New Castle, DE, and was honored to have been selected to sing in the Philadelphia Papal Choir in September 2015.
Jamie Beth Weist (Alto) is a Philadelphia-based actress and singer. Some of her recent credits include Aline in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Sorcerer (Theater at Monmouth), Francine O’Ryan in the national tour of Ellis Island Stories (American Family Theatre), Mrs. Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theatre), Rona in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Millbrook Playhouse) and Maria in The Sound of Music (Broadway Theatre of Pitman). She studied theatre performance and communications at Susquehanna University.
Stacy Gabel (Alto) is an award winning artist and songwriter based in eastern Pennsylvania. She has an educational background in musical theater, TV/Film, and Children's Television Production. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared in several TV & film roles, including "General Hospital" and "Charmed." Her credits include several radio/TV jingles and voiceovers, including Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. Stacy enjoys singing anything from Bach and Broadway, to Pop, Rock, and Country Music.
Rachel Cetel (Soprano) has performed extensively with Boheme Opera New Jersey: as Flora in La Traviata and Sally in Die Fledermaus, The Second Lady in The Magic Flute and The Young Shepherdess in Tosca as well as ensemble for Faust, The Pirates of Penzance and Messiah, and La Cugina in Madame Butterfly. She also performed with Opera New Jersey as The Aunt in Madama Butterfly and ensemble in Die Fledermaus, Carmen, The Merry Widow, Roméo et Juliette, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Rachel holds an M.M. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and a B.M. in Voice Performance from Boston University. A NATS member, Rachel currently resides in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where she teaches voice privately.
Mark Shoemaker (Baritone) is a musician and private teacher in the Lehigh Valley. Having sung in professional and semi-professional choirs along the east coast, Mark currently a serves as a core member of the Bach choir of Bethlehem, and is a section leader at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem.
Katy Gentry Hutchings (Soprano and Alto). Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Katy Gentry Hutchings received her B.A. in Music from Haverford College and completed her M.M. in Voice Performance as well as a Professional Studies Certificate at Temple University. Favorite opera roles have included the Countess (The Marriage of Figaro), Mimi (La Bohème), Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Micaëla (Carmen), and Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief). A fan of both opera and musical theater, recent theater roles include Maria (The Sound of Music), Marian (The Music Man), and Jenny (Company). Katy is a board certified music therapist and also works as a soprano staff singer at Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Ryan Walden (Tenor) graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Roles of note include Ralph in HMS Pinafore, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, Danilo in The Merry Widow, and Colonel Fairfax in Yeomen of the Guard, and he won Best Male Performance at the Gettysburg Gilbert and Sullivan Festival for his portrayal of John Wellington Wells in The Sorcerer.
Marisa Robinson (Soprano) has performed opera, operetta, and musical theater all over the greater Philadelphia region. Favorite roles include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Ännchen in Der Freischütz, Angelina in Trial by Jury, and Casilda in The Gondoliers. Offstage, Marisa is the Executive Director of Wilmington Concert Opera, a Pure Barre addict, and a ridiculous fan of peanut butter with chocolate.
Dan Pantano (Bass) is a baritone that has performed with the Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Delaware, Augusta Opera, The Pennsylvania Opera Theater, Banff Opera in Canada, Des Moines Metro Opera and The Academy of Vocal Arts. Recent singing credits include solo recitals for the Hadley Memorial Fund of Chester County, and the Brown Bag Recital Series at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. Orchestra appearances include the Helena Symphony, The North Penn Symphony and the River City Brass Band. Mr. Pantano is the Executive and Artistic Director of Concert Operetta Theater in Philadelphia (www.concertoperetta.com).
Lyssandra Stephenson (Soprano) has recently performed in The Gondoliers (Casilda) with Light Opera of New Jersey; in The Magic Flute, Elektra, and The Marriage of Figaro with Manhattan Opera Studio; and in a new opera called Made In America: The Interview with OperaOggiNY, which has been performed in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Connecticut, and Vermont. Lyssandra was awarded the “Rising Star Award” from the Continuo Arts Foundation, and was invited to sing as an Artist in Residence with their choirs. Performances include Cornaccholioli’s Diana Schernita, The Merry Widow, The Mikado (Yum-Yum), Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, Bach’s St. John Passion, and Handel’s Te Deum. Lyssandra is originally from Buffalo, NY, and holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.
Ryan Doncsecz (Baritone) graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2011 with a BA in Vocal Performance and an Elementary Education Certificate. Ryan was a four year member of Muhlenberg’s College Choir, Chamber Singer, and Musicum Colegium vocal groups. He has been cast in over 20 musical theatre productions and 5 operettas in his career as a performer. Highlights include Ko-Ko (The Mikado), Abel/Hamm (Children of Eden), Marius (Les Miserables), and Curly (Oklahoma!).
Eve Edwards (Soprano) has performed over 50 leading roles in the operatic repertory including Mimi (La bohème), Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Violetta (La traviata), Nedda (Pagliacci), Desdemona (Otello), Pamina (The Magic Flute), Marguerite (Faust), Donnas Anna and Elvira (Don Giovanni), Micaela (Carmen), and Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus). Companies and orchestras with which she has appeared include Boheme Opera NJ, The Amato Opera of New York, Pennsylvania Lyric Opera Theater, Buck Hill/Skytop Music Festival, Lansdowne Symphony, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Opera, Piccola Opera of Philadelphia, and many others. Eve also appeared in the title role of the American concert premiere of Roland Fiore’s opera, Linda, under the baton of the composer.
Milo Morris (Bass) has had a long and successful career as a vocalist and performer. Credits include Opera Philadelphia, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Singers, ConcertOPERA Philadelphia, Bucks County Choral Society, and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in England. He studied music at Boston Conservatory, University of the Arts, and Temple University.
Tyler Lawson (Tenor) is an active singer and music teacher in the Philadelphia area. He has sung with many choruses and a cappella groups in Philadelphia, and he currently sings with the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus and their select group, Brotherly Love. Tyler holds a degree in Music Education from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, and he teaches elementary school music in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Elizabeth Oliver (Soprano) performs regularly as an opera and concert soloist in the Philadelphia area with the Delaware Valley Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera on Tap, Wilmington Concert Opera, Opera Roundtable of Moorestown NJ, and others. Favorite roles include Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula, Clorinda in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Madame Goldentrill in Mozart’s The Impresario, Frasquita in Carmen, Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and Francesca in Victor Herbert’s Naughty Marietta. Oratorio credits include soprano soloist in Bach’s Mass in B-Minor, Schubert’s Mass in G Major, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Maja Lisa FritzHuspen (Mezzo-Soprano) has sung numerous operatic roles and has been featured as a soloist with orchestras, in concerts and Oratorios. Performance venues include, Boheme Opera NJ, ConcertOpera Philadelphia, Wilmington Concert Opera, Opera Lancaster, Delaware Valley Opera Company, Manhattan Opera, Center City Opera Theatre, and Independence Symphonia. She sings professionally with Vox AmaDeus and Olde Towne Carolers. She also teaches voice at Muhlenberg College and her voice studio in Glenside PA.
Sara Nealley (Soprano) is a native of Ardmore, Pennsylvania, USA. She completed her undergraduate studies in Vocal performance at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and her graduate studies in opera at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and in voice at the Wales International Academy of Voice in Cardiff. She is currently based in Philadelphia and studies with Randall Scarlata. Her previous roles include: Violetta, La Traviata, Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival; Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte, Opera in the Ozarks; Lucia, The Rape of Lucretia, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Sister Catherine, Dead Man Walking, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; First Witch, Dido and Aeneas, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Hanna Glawari, The Merry Widow, College Light Opera Company; Krystyna Zywulska, Out of Darkness, Eastman Opera Theatre. Sara has sung in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and was a finalist in the Elgar/Spedding Memorial Lieder Competition and the Ye Cronies Opera Award at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Sara has performed in several outreach concert series, as the soloist in David Liptak’s “Folgore’s Months” with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and in the World Premiere of Lori Laitman’s “Are Women People?” for Eastman’s Anniversary Celebration of Susan B. Anthony.
Rebecca Shimer (Soprano & Alto) received a Bachelor’s in Music Education from West Chester University, and an MM in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. She performs in local and regional theaters, opera houses, and choral ensembles. Some of her favorite roles include Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), and Gilda (Rigoletto).
Raffaella Lo Castro (Alto) is delighted to sing with the Olde Towne Carolers as a seasonal ensemble member. Recently, Raffaella made her role debut in the world premiere of Girondines as Madame Germaine de Staël, a character that was created for her by Wilmington Concert Opera. With WCO, Raffaella has performed the role of Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, a role she also performed with Opera Lancaster. Other highlights include Madame de Croissy in Dialogues of the Carmelites and the title role of Carmen with Delaware Valley Opera Company, the title role of Zanetto with Capitol Opera Harrisburg, and First Mother in Heggie's Dead Man Walking (and cover role of Jade Boucher) with Opera Delaware. Raffaella has performed with numerous ensembles including Opera Philadelphia, Delaware Symphony Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Ballet. Symphonic concert highlights include performing as alto soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with VoxAmaDeus at the Kimmel Center, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra (South Africa) and The Wayne Oratorio Society. As a recital soloist, Raffaella has performed in the US and abroad in South Africa, Singapore and Japan.
Kirsten Kunkle (Soprano & Alto) has been hailed as an outstanding singing actress with a voice that has been described as beautiful, ethereal, powerful, fiery, and bewitching. She is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Wilmington Concert Opera. Her career highlights include singing at Carnegie Hall, having her original commissions and recording acquired by the Smithsonian Institution, being included on the list of Classical Native Artists and Musicians at the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian Institution, and creating numerous roles with the Philadelphia Opera Collective. Most recently, she has had her European Symphony and NAXOS recording debuts as Arabella in the world premiere recording of “Blindekuh” by Johann Strauss II with the Sofia Philharmonic. Favorite roles include Mimi, Agathe, Contessa Almaviva, Suor Angelica, Madga (“The Consul”), Donna Elvira, and Marguerite. She received her undergraduate degree in voice performance with minors in Italian and German. Her graduate degrees are from University of Michigan.
Elise Bjordammen (Mezzo-Soprano) is originally from Lancaster County, PA. She is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and received her masters in music education from West Chester University. She has sung oratorio and choral music in Germany, Austria, and Hungary and has performed opera in the Philadelphia region with Lancaster Opera Workshop, Opera Delaware (Wilmington), Opera Modo (Princeton), Concert Operetta Theatre (Philadelphia), Delaware Valley Opera Company (Manayunk), Gilded Angel Opera (Lansdowne), and Baroque Opera Workshop (NYC). She has also ventured into operetta, singing Gilbert and Sullivan roles with Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra, Ardensingers, Bucks County Gilbert and Sullivan Society, and The Savoy Company of Philadelphia.
Michael Howell (Bass) is currently the director of choral activities at Chichester High School in Boothwyn, PA. He graduated from West Chester University with a bachelor's in music education in 2007, a master's in school leadership in 2017 from Wilmington University, and a master's in music education from Boston University in 2019. Outside of the school setting, Michael performs as a bass for the choir at Mt. Hope United Methodist Church and saxophone for West Chester Community Band.
Joel Bauman (Bass) is a performer based out of New York City. Recent credits include, Nat’l Tour: Cabaret (Swing); NYC Workshop: The Hello Girls (Prospect Theatre Company); Regional: Jersey Boys, Cabaret (Ogunquit Playhouse), Footloose (Willard), Oliver, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Peter Pan, Grease and more!
Susan Blair (Mezzo-Soprano) is an active singer/actress with choral, opera, operetta and theater groups in the greater Philadelphia area. She has sung several Gilbert & Sullivan lead roles with the Savoy Company and as Lady Sophy (Utopia Limited) at the International G&S Festival in Buxton, England. She founded and performed with the PhilaAria Vocal Quartet for ten years, singing opera and Broadway excerpts in various concert series. She has performed several cabaret shows and sung with the a cappella groups Libertytones and Mistletones.
Logan Laudenslager (Soprano & Alto) is a Philadelphia-based soprano performing in the realms of opera and choral music. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, her operatic appearances include Amici Opera, Hub City Opera & Dance Company, Wilmington Concert Opera, Opera Fresca, and Delaware Valley Opera Company. In choral settings, Logan has sung with the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Princeton Pro Musica, Vox Humana, Rise Up Chorus, VoceNova, Summit Chorale, Calvary Episcopal Summit, Olde Towne Carolers, Chestnut Street Singers, The Philadelphia Chorale, ABVM Havertown, and is the soprano section leader and cantor at Old St. Joseph’s in Old City, Philadelphia.
Lyndsay Spaziani (Soprano) studied Vocal Performance at West Chester University. Lyndsay enjoys being active in opera and theater, performing with several groups in the area including Bravo Theatre Co, The Brandywine Singers, The Chesco Pops, Footlighters Theater, Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra, The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Chester County, and Opera Tutti. She has performed as a soloist in such works as Handel's Messiah and Judas Maccabeaus, Orff's Carmina Burana, Vivaldi’s Gloria, the U.S. Premier of Fasch's Mass for 16 Voices and Bach's Cantata 191. Roles most recently played have been Pearl in Spongebob the Musical, Little Red in Into the Woods, Rose Maybud in Ruddigore, The Fairy Godmother in The True Story of Cinderella, Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Svetlana in Chess. Lyndsay is currently the Soprano soloist and section leader at First Presbyterian Church in West Chester and teaches private voice lessons in her studio.
Kevin Grace (Bass) moved to the Lehigh Valley after 18 years of living and performing in Manhattan and the NYC metro area. He has extensive experience singing in ensembles including New York City Opera Chorus, New York Choral Artists, Philadelphia Singers, and Vox Ama Deus. He has a BA in Music Performance from Moravian College and has performed roles with such companies as Boheme Opera, New Jersey Verismo Opera, New York City Opera, Delaware Valley Opera, Bronx Opera, and Hudson Opera.
Angela Mitchell (Soprano & Alto) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from West Chester University in 2007, where she majored in voice and trombone and performed in many elite musical ensembles, including the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band, Cantarri Donne, Statesmen Jazz Ensemble and Collegium Musicum. She received a diploma in Band Instrument Repair from Southeast Technical School in Red Wing, MN in 2012. She was previously employed by the Northampton School District as the Pit Orchestra Director for the annual Spring Musical. She served for five years, most recently directing “The Addams Family Musical” and “Mary Poppins.” She also served as the co-director and brass technician for the Northampton High School Big "N" Marching Band from 2007-2010. She is a current member and President for Concord Chamber Singers of the Lehigh Valley. She also sings with the Allentown Symphony Chorus, where she serves as the soprano assistant section leader and Chorus Manager. She currently works full-time as an Optician in Bethlehem.
Gina Ricci (Soprano) is a singer, actor and native New Yorker who has been wowing audiences with her exquisite, effortless voice and enigmatic Italian charm for many years and on many stages. A true crossover performer, Gina has performed in every style from Opera and Musical Theatre all the way to Country and Rock & Roll. Her versatility, musicality and vocal prowess has afforded her the opportunity to perform professionally in a multitude of theatrical and operatic productions, concerts, recitals, cabarets, festivals, and various other special events throughout New York, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nashville, TN and abroad! Gina studied Vocal Performance at The Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY and the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Alyce Daubenspeck (Alto) is a celebrated actress, singer, and voice teacher. She has performed in dozens of operas in the past two years, with companies including; Boheme Opera NJ, Salt Marsh Opera, Opera Ithaca, and Opera Raylynmor, to name a few. She won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2019, and placed first in the American Prize in the same year. Alyce graduated from Westminster Choir College in 2018 with her M.M in Voice Performance and Pedagogy. She is in her fifth year of a voice adjunct faculty position at DeSales University in P.A. where she teaches classical and musical theater singing styles. Alyce also teaches voice and piano both privately and at the Denville Music Academy in NJ, and enjoys a regular staff singer position with the Union Congregational Church in Montclair, NJ. Now based out of northern NJ, with her husband (Nikolay) and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Leo), Alyce continues to perform with the help of her agent, Jim Harwood.
Jeff Edwards (Bass/Baritone) is a singer, trumpeter, horn player, and bagpiper in the greater tri-state area. Jeff has a B.S. from West Chester University in Music Education (majoring in both trumpet and French horn and minoring in voice). Jeff has served as a paid bass section leader/soloist with numerous churches and is currently a professional substitute for area churches (including St. George’s Episcopal Church in Ardmore, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in the Great Valley, Ardmore Presbyterian Church in Ardmore, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Wilmington, DE, and St. Nicholas’ Eastern Orthodox Church in Philadelphia). Jeff has also performed several operatic roles and has sung in the chorus of various opera companies, including Boheme Opera NJ.
Victor Khodadad (Tenor) has performed all over the United States in opera, operetta, musical theatre and plays. He received his MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and a Graduate Professional Diploma in Vocal Performance from The Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT. Some of Mr. Khodadad’s operatic work includes leading roles at companies such as Mississippi Opera, Natchez Opera Festival, Hot Springs Music Festival, Music By The Lake, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Commonwealth Opera, Philadelphia Concert Opera and Taconic Opera.
Victoria Zajac (Soprano) is a soprano and a graduate of the University of the Arts. She has a bachelors in voice and a masters in music education. She currently teaches at the Pennsbury School district as a choral director. She has sung with the philly pops, choral arts, and is a core member of Vox Amadeus’ coro ensemble and the renaissance consort. She has sung with the University of Delaware as ringer in their international program, and is a professional church musician having sung in Catholic, Anglican, and Episcopalian churches in the Philadelphia area. She is also a certified sommelier and loves Christmas carols.
Emilie Storrs (Soprano) has sung operatic heroines from Mozart to Verdi, and from Tchaikovsky to Carlisle Floyd, throughout the United States as well as in England, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. She most recently sang Chrysothemis in a new English translation of Richard Strauss’s opera Elektra presented by The Elektra Company at The DiMenna Center in NYC. Other recent performances include Kate in If This Be Madness with NYU’s IMPACT Festival. An avid birdwatcher, she has toured a recital of songs about birds, the program notes of which were illustrated by photos she took of the birds about which she was singing. Ms. Storrs was a Semi-finalist in the 2017 Art Song division of The American Prize, celebrating American excellence in the arts. An avid fan of improv (both acting and musical), Emilie relishes any opportunity to flex her comedy muscles, to balance out all of her operatic characters’ weeping and dying.
Nathania Sigmund (Soprano) has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia as a singer and voice teacher. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music with Honors Degree from Moravian College. She also studied opera at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Since then, Nathania has been a featured soloist in many different musical styles, from the Beatles to Monteverdi. She was a member of the San Diego Master Chorale and the South Coast Chamber Choir. Currently, Nathania sings with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and as a featured soloist at Berwyn United Methodist Church.
Andrew Roberts (Tenor) is a vocalist and trombonist currently serving as the general music and choral director at Wind Gap Middle School in Wind Gap, PA. He sings as a tenor section leader at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, PA and is a member of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem. Andrew holds a Master of Music degree with a focus in trombone performance from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor of Music Education from Penn State University with a focus in choral music.
Michael Spaziani (Bass) is from West Chester, PA. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, and made his main stage operatic debut in 2014 at Spoleto Festival USA in Janacek’s Kat’ya Kabanova and has spent three seasons as a part of the Sarasota Opera. Michael has kept a busy schedule performing Broadway and classical pieces with groups such as the Brandywine Singers, OperaDelaware, Vox Amadeus and the Chesco Pops.
Arianna Armon (Soprano) is based in NYC. She has performed in musicals, opera/operetta, concerts, and cabaret in the US, UK, and Italy. She is thrilled to be making her debut in 2022 with Olde Towne Carolers and looks forward to spreading some holiday cheer!
Julia Urich (Soprano & Alto) studied music and theatre at Colgate University and Muhlenberg College. Her passion is vocal performance, particularly musical theatre. Beyond the stage, Julia co-owns FireRock, an Emmy Award-winning video production company, with her husband, Rocky. They live in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania with their two sons.
Lorin Barry (Alto) is a singer and music teacher for the School District of Philadelphia, where she teaches choir, piano, bucket drumming and music appreciation. She holds a Bachelor’s in Music from Temple University and a Master’s in Education from California University of Pennsylvania. In addition to education, Lorin spends her time singing professionally for the Christ Church Christiana Hundred. When she isn't teaching or singing, Lorin enjoys practicing various fitness activities, spending time with her family and pets, and relaxing with a good book.
Shelby Tipling (Soprano) is an up-and-coming performer in Philadelphia and greater surrounding areas. Known for her warm and lyrical voice, Shelby made her international opera debut in July of 2021 with the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar as La Contessa di Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro and as Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. She is also an experienced operetta, musical theater, and concert performer in shows such as Light in the Piazza, The Sound of Music, The Pirates of Penzance, St. Matthew’s Passion and more. An Iowa native, she holds degrees from University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Arts with an Honors in German Studies. She is a current Soprano Staff Singer for Bryn Mawr’s Church of the Redeemer.
Erik Potteiger (Bass) is a professional singer, percussionist, pianist, composer and educator currently based in Philadelphia, PA. He received his bachelor’s of music in choral music education and vocal performance from the University of South Carolina. Erik has performed in solo and ensemble settings with professional choral ensembles and chamber music ensembles across a multitude of cities and states in the US, as well as eight countries across three continents. Away from his performing engagements he enjoys video/audio editing, producing, recording, as well as creating online music content and practice tracks for clients.
Bethann Dilione (Soprano) is thrilled to be a member of the Olde Towne Carolers. She is the soprano soloist for the Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli, and performs regularly with the Musicalia Ensemble and Brandywine Singers. In 2022, Bethann made her debut with Delaware Valley Opera Company as Antonia in Tales of Hoffman, and Mother Jeanne in Dialogues of the Carmelites. She sang with the Philadelphia Singers in their farewell season. While earning her degree in vocal performance from Kutztown University in 2007, Bethann performed in a variety of styles and ensembles, including solos with the University Choir as well as the Jazz Orchestra. After graduation, she relocated to Pittsburgh, PA, where she sang with many of the area’s prestigious organizations as a soloist and chorister, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Akron Symphony, Pittsburgh Opera, Resonance Works Opera Company, Overarts New Music Ensemble, and Undercroft Opera.
Rachel Schachter (Mezzo-Soprano) is a vocalist whose passions straddle centuries of repertoire, from Renaissance and Baroque to modern folk, pop, and musical theatre. Recent performances consist largely of her original acoustic music under the stage name Rachel Marie, playing such cornerstone folk venues as Club Passim in Cambridge, MA and Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, PA. As a performer, and especially as a songwriter, Rachel seeks to foster genuine human connection and encourage empathy. Rachel holds an MM in Early Music Performance from the Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Brittany Palmer Carbone (Soprano & Alto) resides in New York City where she performs as a soloist, choral soprano, and chamber music collaborator. Trained at Florida State University and the Eastman School of Music, her performing career has included solo performances with Opera North, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Company XIV, Columbia Collegium, Opera Gaya, University of North Florida, and the Trinity Church at Wall Street, among others. Some of her favorite performances include Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), La Comtesse Adèle (Le Comte Ory), Ariane (Ariane – Martinů), Drusilla (L’Incoronazione di Poppea), Blondie (The Abduction of Figaro), Adina (L’Elisir D’Amore), as well as the soprano solos for the St. Matthew Passion, Carmina Burana, the Fauré Requiem, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. In addition to Ms. Palmer's performing career, she is also a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist who specializes in voice communication and disorders.
Nicholas Fox (Tenor & Bass) is a veteran of the Mid-Atlantic area a cappella scene, with over twenty years of arranging, music directorship, and performance experience. His work with contemporary a cappella vocal bands has won awards at the New York Harmony Sweepstakes (2006-2008, 2010), and his barbershop quartet Spruce Street scored top-ten in the Mid-Atlantic District of the BHS (2016). He joined OTC in 2023 and is looking forward to celebrating his birthday (Christmas Day) at every performance.
Gwynne Richmond (Soprano) is excited to join Old Towne Carolers this season! She holds a bachelor of fine arts from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and an MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. She founded Lady Grey Theatrical to produce new musicals & Lady Grey Sheets, a sheet music transposition service, and she enjoys flipping real estate in her spare time. Richmond has performed regionally at Walnut Street Theatre, The Media Theatre, Theater Horizon, Peregrine Theatre Company, and Joe's Pub. In addition, she enjoys singing with local choirs such as Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Norristown Chorale, and Collegeville Trappe Ministerium Choir.
Clifford Bechtel (Tenor) has been compared with the voice of the legendary German tenor, Fritz Wunderlich, and praised as one with maturity, projected softness, flexibility, and absolute control. He was a featured artist at the International Malta Arts Festival. About his Malta appearance the Times of Malta wrote: “Tenor Clifford Bechtel has a pleasant and expressive voice that he uses very well in this genre. Whether singing in Polish or German it was agile, precise and crisp and above all a pleasure to listen to. I simply loved his Two Grenadiers op. 49 no 1 by Schumann...”. Some of his operatic roles include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Alfredo in La Traviata, Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore, Romeo in Romeo et Juliette, Faust in Faust, Fenton in Falstaff, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, and Rodolfo in La Boheme. He is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory.
Cristina Dinella Makowicz (Alto) is a Lehigh Valley, and Philadelphia based pianist, organist, music director, cantor and choristor. Cristina is VOICE choir director, and piano instructor at Cedar Crest College in Allentown PA. She serves as the accompanist for Allentown Symphony Chorus and Concord Chamber Singers, and has served as accompanist at Temple University and Cairn University. Cristina is organist and cantor at John Paul II parish in Bethlehem, PA and a frequent choral ringer for liturgies in PA and NJ. Cristina holds a Master’s in Piano Performance from Georgia State University and a Bachelor's of Music Education from the Eastman School of Music.
Ben Boecker (Baritone) is a teaching artist and singer-songwriter who has been living and working in NYC for 11 years now. In 2011, Ben sang on Broadway in the one-night only concert version of Camelot at The Shubert Theater, as a benefit for the Irish Repertory Theater, and last fall, he made his 54 Below debut with his solo show, “10 Years in New York." In addition, Ben has performed solo shows at The Duplex, The Triad Theater, Pangea, and Michiko Studios, as well as singing regionally at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, the College Light Opera Company, and with Plaza Productions on Long Island. Ben studied voice at the University of Chapel Hill, is a member of the BMI Musical Theater Writing Workshop, the Dramatists' Guild, and Actors' Equity and is on the adjunct faculty of the Dalton School and Leman Conservatory.
Brian Reid (Tenor) is a native of the Chester County area and has been performing in the greater Philadelphia area since graduating from Ithaca College, where he studied French horn performance and music education. He has been a member of the Philly Pops (now the No Name Pops) Festival Chorus, the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, the Philadelphia Singers and the Mendelssohn Chorus. Brian is currently a member of the Bloom Consort (Renaissance ensemble) and a staff singer for the Nativity BVM chorale in Media.
Chris Davis (Baritone) is a holiday Caroling enthusiast with music and theatre degrees from snowy St. Olaf College. Born on Christmas Eve, he met his fiancé, Jordan, while professionally Caroling in downtown Chicago several years ago. They have since relocated their two cats to New York City, where they are both overjoyed to join the Olde Towne Carolers. Aside from performances with the Murder Mystery Co. and as the Baritone section leader at Second Reformed Church, his favorite roles include Captain von Trapp in Sound of Music (New Jersey,) Julian Marsh in 42nd Street (Colorado), Count Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music (Chicago), Ernst in Cabaret (Indiana), The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors (Illinois), and Frederick in Pirates of Penzance aboard the Tall Ship Windy at Navy Pier!
Jordan Grzybowski (Tenor) comes from the Choral Wonderland of Northern Minnesota. He studied Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance at Columbia College Chicago and Augsburg University, respectively. Jordan has performed professionally in the Midwest and East Coast Theatrical Scene, Notable performances in Next To Normal as Gabe (Madkap Theatre), Featured Dancer in Follies (Artistry Theatre), and was seen as a principal character in the Off-Broadway workshop of Safe Travels. He also met his fiancé Christopher Davis while Christmas caroling with The Chicago Carolers and is so happy to be singing alongside him again with OTC. His favorite Christmas song is The Christmas Waltz.
Maranda Rossi (Soprano & Alto) is a singer, actress, seamstress, creator, and early childhood music teacher. Maranda received her BFA in Musical Theater from The Shenandoah Conservatory. Some of Maranda has been seen around the country as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Mary Lane in Reefer Madness, Nellie in South Pacific, Elsa in A Forever Frozen Story, Amalia in She Loves Me, just to name a few, and performed in many concerts and cabarets around NYC. Maranda teaches kids ages 0-5 early childhood music education at The Diller Quaile School of Music. She has been carolling professionally since 2017, and loves bringing musical joy in the most wonderful time of the year.
Georgia La Rue (Soprano & Alto) currently teaches choir at Paxon Hollow Middle School and is a soloist for St. John the Baptist Church of Bridgeport. She also sings with Brandywine Singers, Singing Owls Community Choir at Temple, and Chesco Pops. In the summer she serves as a music director for Upper Darby Summer Stage productions such as Junie B. Jones, Roller Coaster Ride to Happiness, Honk Jr., Flat Stanley Jr., Moana, and R&H Cinderella. Her stage performance credits include Karen in Spongebob the Musical, Olive in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Amy in Company, Diane Lorimer/Ensemble in 42nd Street, and Mad Maragret in Ruddigore.
Emily Caplan (Mezzo-Soprano) is a graduate of West Chester University of PA where she studied Music Education: Voice. In addition to choral and solo vocal performance at WCU, Emily is an active theatre participant. Her favorite and most recent roles have been Cinderella in Into the Woods (Phoenix Festival Theater) and Olive Ostrovsky in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Street Lamp Productions). Emily teaches middle school choir and general music in Delaware County, PA, and serves as Music Director for Artistic Children's Theatre in MD.
Julie Smith (Soprano and Alto) has been performing in the Philadelphia area since 2017. She has performed with Delaware Valley Opera Company, Wilmington Concert Opera, and Bucks County Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Favorite performances include Pitti-Sing from The Mikado, Marcelline from The Marriage of Figaro, and Suor Dolcina from Suor Angelica. Offstage, Julie is a photographer specializing in performance photos and headshots. She received her Master's in Music from Temple University.
Additional Singers:
Mandy Frantz (Soprano)
Jackie Dunleavy (Soprano & Alto)
Faith Donaher (Alto)
Eve Sheldon (Tenor & Bass)
Instrumentalists
Terry Musselman (Piano) accompanies Jennifer Graf for Olde Towne Carolers' Vocal and Piano Duo. Terry has offered piano entertainment in southeastern Pennsylvania for over forty years. He has performed regularly in many Lehigh Valley restaurants, including the Well House, the Black Forest Chalet, the Bay Pony Inn, the Chit Chat Club, Trainer's Restaurant, Benetz's Inn, and Krista's Restaurant. He has also entertained at weddings, private parties, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and country clubs, including the Saucon Valley Country Club, Lehigh Country Club, Brookside Country Club, and Northampton Country Club. In addition to performing solo, Terry played piano as part of the Terry Randall Trio for over thirty years. He often provides piano music at McCoole's Red Lion Inn in Quakertown on select Saturday evenings.
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