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Eilana Lappalainen, of Finnish-Canadian descent, has performed title roles to critical claim in the world’s premier opera venues including Teatro alla Scala, Opera di Roma, Hamburgische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opéra de Montréal, Bellas Artes, Teatro Verdi Trieste, New Israeli Opera, Lithuanian National Opera, Finnish National Opera, Polish National Opera, Opera North, Staatstheater Essen, Prague State Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, New York City Opera, Seattle Opera, San Francisco Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Michigan Opera, Minnesota Opera, Nashville Opera, Kentucky Opera, Portland Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Hamilton, Opera Ottawa, Marin Opera, Arizona Opera, and Opera San Jose, and in cities such as Wiesbaden, Dessau, Halle, Mannheim, Bremen, Würtzburg, Bielefeld, and Winterthur.

Her repertoire includes leading roles in Salome, Der Rosenkavalier, Arabella, Der Fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Fidelio, Peter Grimes, Wozzeck, Der Freischütz, Jenůfa, Giovanna D’Arco, Un ballo in maschera, I masnadieri, Il trovatore, Pagliacci, Cavalleria rusticana, Medea, Andrea Chénier, Madama Butterfly, Suor Angelica, Il tabarro, La fanciulla del West, Turandot, and Tosca. At Carnegie Hall, she has sung Verdi’s, Mozart’s and Fauré’s Requiems; Zanetto; A Gala Concert; Vivaldi’s Gloria; a recital in Weill Recital Hall, and recently, the New York premiere of To Be Afraid of the Dawn. Her recording of Zanetto was released in 2008, and a CD of Mahler songs was released in 2013, both by Elysium Recordings. This past summer she sang the role of Nedda in Pagliacci at Festival of the Aegean. Recently, she has performed in such diverse places as New York, Arizona, Catania, Calabria, Florence and Macao. Her future engagements include Aida in Thessaloniki, and concerts in Taormina, Paris, New York, Prague, and Passau, Germany. She is working on a new recording, “Dramatic Divas,” which will be released in 2017.

In addition to her singing career, she is the Artistic Director of Opera Productions of the Festival of the Aegean, General & Artistic Director of Greek Opera Studio, Festival of the Aegean Manager, and Artistic Administrator, Director of the Vocal Division at MidAmerica Productions.

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A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, James Redcay joined MidAmerica Productions in April of 2015. A graduate of New York University, Redcay spent years in New York City as an accomplished pianist, composer and teacher, performing and composing for numerous concerts and institutions. During this time Redcay also held the position of Composer-in-Residence at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. After graduating from NYU, Redcay moved abroad to Macao, where he taught music at the Conservatory of Macao and created and managed large-scale arts and entertainment programs and daily operations for Sands China Ltd., a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands. After six fruitful years, Redcay relocated to the United States and now resides in the Philadelphia area.

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With experience teaching Middle School and High School vocal/general music, Eric Spiegel holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. As a performer, Eric has sung and acted in choirs, jazz groups, a cappella ensembles, and musicals across the United States and around the world. Eric also conducts the Brooklyn chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir, and sings with the Manhattan Holiday Carolers and Pella Productions.

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C.J. Harden, a devoted husband to his wife, Rebecca, and father to his daughter, Zoe, brings his passion and dedication to family as well as his experience as a teacher, director and singer to the MidAmerica team. Growing up in a musical home and influenced greatly by his first performance in New York City’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall following graduation from high school, has given C.J. the motivation to bring the gift of music to others, both through education and performance.

As a teacher, he has worked with large and small ensembles at both the Elementary and Secondary school levels and continues private instruction in voice and piano to students of all ages. He has experience leading vocal and instrumental ensembles to multiple superior ratings at their district music contests and also helped lead in worship when he presided as Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

C.J. has extensive performance experience as a countertenor in choirs, madrigal and chamber ensembles, jazz groups, symphonic choruses for multiple major symphonic works, a cappella ensembles and opera choruses. He has performed alongside the New York Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Omaha Symphony and the Richard Alston Dance Company. C.J. Holds a Master of Music degree in Performance from Montclair State University as well as a Bachelor of Music in Education from University of Nebraska Omaha.

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Sonja Sepúlveda is Director of Choral Activities and professor of music theory at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and conducts the Salem Chamber Choir, Chorale, and SuperTonics. She came to Salem College following positions at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky and Brewton Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Georgia. Graduating from Winthrop University with Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music degrees, Sonja Sepúlveda earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of South Carolina where she studied under Larry Wyatt and Carol Krueger.

Sonja Sepúlveda is former SC Choral Festival Chairman and served as SC All-State Chairman for four years. She also served as her state ACDA Chairman for Jazz and Show Choirs. Her choirs have toured Europe, Mexico, and Canada. She sang with the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus for eight years and with the Carnegie Hall Chorus in 2000 and 2002. She is well known for her work with youth choruses and is in demand as a choral adjudicator and clinician.

In 2006, she founded the Palmetto Voices, a choir of alumni students from Western Kentucky University, University of South Carolina, Brewton Parker College, Salem College and Sumter High School. The choir strives to preserve the legacy of the Negro Spiritual and share the vision that this unique American choral art form is for everyone.

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Matthew Harden is the founder and artistic director of the adult chamber ensemble Madrigali et al., the fourth choral ensemble he has built over his career. His collegiate teaching experience includes being Director of Choral Activities at three different universities, The University of Nebraska at Omaha, The University of South Dakota, and East Carolina University.

Matthew earned his doctoral degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Choral Music Education) from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, his master’s degree from Portland State University, and two bachelor’s degrees (Performance and Education) from Southern Oregon State College. His studies and degrees are in conducting, organ performance, music education, and vocal performance. He has studied conducting with Bruce Browne, Eph Ehly, Eric Ericson, Gary Hill, and Charles Robinson; in master-class settings, he has worked with Harold Decker, Helmuth Rilling, Robert Shaw, Muray Sidlin, and Dale Warland. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Shellie, is very proud of his three children, Tim, Noelle, and CJ, and enjoys spending time with his grandson Berry and granddaughter Zoe.

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Hailed by the European Academy of Arts and Sciences as an “electrifying and virtuosic” performer with “exquisite taste and rare talent,” Canadian violinist, Preston Hawes is a laureate of the Concours de Musique Du Canada, the Andrews International Music Competitions, the Prix de Musique de Chambre à Fontainebleau, and recipient of the JC Van Hulsteyn award and Peabody Career Grant. He has been heard as a soloist in over 35 countries and in venues such as Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Plovdiv Symphony Hall. He holds a Master of Music degree and the coveted Artist Diploma at Yale University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Peabody Institute of Music. He is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Strings at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, MD and is artistic director of the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

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Joyce Howard-Brazel came to MidAmerica Productions in 1997, after serving for eight years in the U.S. Army as an Electronic Warfare Systems Repairer, attaining the rank of Specialist Promotable. Previously, she worked as a Customer Account Coordinator for WTGS-28, a FOX network affiliate station in Savannah, Georgia. A native of Brooklyn, New York, she attended the State University of New York at Purchase. She is currently studying music composition. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, crocheting, reading, cooking and traveling.

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Giovanna Boyd is a graduate of Spelman College with a degree in Mathematics and currently resides in Houston, TX. She works as an Account Operations Associate with MidAmerica Productions, a classical concert production company based in New York City's Carnegie Hall. Giovanna is slated to graduate from Rice University MBA program with a concentration in Finance Strategy. Inspired by Spelman's mantra “It's my choice, and I choose to change the world”, Giovanna has been instrumental in expanding and promoting the engagement opportunities for students through her involvement with student government. When she is not working or studying, Giovanna enjoys spending time with her family, attending art and fashion events, and trying new restaurants.

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Sherry Manokara, a Native New Yorker, originally worked for the MidAmerica Productions Account Operations team from 2017 until 2020 and left during the Covid pandemic. Prior to rejoining the team in early 2024, Sherry completed her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. She comes with an extensive background in customer service and enjoys helping clients achieve their dream of performing in Carnegie Hall, as well as other venues across the world. Although Sherry does not have a musical background, she enjoys listening to many different genres of music whenever she can. She enjoys going to Broadway shows, long drives, and finding new restaurants to try. During her spare time, she also enjoys reading and watching true crime documentaries.

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Julie Kahn joins MidAmerica Productions bringing a wealth of experience from a variety of administrative and operational roles in the theater, film, television, music, event and touring industries.

Approaching her projects with a meticulous attention to detail and enthusiasm, her career has brought her to concert venues across the US as well as internationally. Working with well known singers and theater artists she has managed the logistics for numerous concerts, special events and tours. From coordinating communication between artists, managers, and support teams to implementing marketing campaigns, organizing travel details, photo shoots and social media. Julie knows that every detail helps bring a performance to life and she strives to create the setting that will make each and every performance memorable.

Originally from California, she had the opportunity to work on Broadway with the star of a Broadway revival that brought her to New York City 12 years ago. She has since made it her permanent home where she lives with her husband, Paul, her children, Finley and Parker and her dog, Wilson. She loves family time and when not working or volunteering she can be found spending time with her family outdoors and at museums. She also enjoys playing tennis, sailing, reading, exploring new restaurants, visiting her family on the west coast and spending summers at the beach on Fire Island.

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Active within the handbell industry, Robert James Lamb is a multifaceted artist, excelling as a handbell musician, conductor, composer, and administrator. Since 2016, Robert has served as Handbell Director at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ. Before becoming part of the dedicated team at MidAmerica Productions, he made significant contributions to the handbell community as part of Malmark Bellcraftsmen, Inc. in Plumsteadville, PA, where he demonstrated excellence in various roles, including sales, marketing, production, and refurbishment.

Recent engagements include the International Handbell Symposium in Nashville, TN; the MidCarolinas Handbell Festival in Charlotte, NC; the Ecumenical Handbell Festival in Toms River, NJ; Montreat Conferences on Music and Worship in Montreat, NC; the Handbell Musicians of America (HMA) Area 2 Festival Conference in Lancaster, PA; the HMA Area 5 Spring Festival on Mackinac Island, MI; and several HMA National Seminars with locations including Anaheim, CA, Grand Rapids, MI, St. Louis, MO, Phoenix, AZ, Nashville, TN, and Dallas, TX.

Robert is a published composer, authoring music frequently described as "dramatic" and "expressive." His works have been published by Beckenhorst Press, Inc., the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Inc., and From the Top Music.

Robert's musical education includes studies at Westminster Choir College, where he played in the Westminster Concert Bell Choir under the direction of Kathleen Ebling Shaw. Equally accomplished as a vocalist, he currently sings with the Philadelphia Orchestra Symphonic Choir under the musical and artistic direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Joe Miller, with performances at the Kimmel Center and the Mann Center in Philadelphia, PA, and Carnegie Hall in New York, NY. As a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, he also shared the stage with renowned ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

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Sara Wunsch discovered her passion for music as a flutist in marching/concert band and a performer in the musical theatre program of her high school. She studied classical voice at California State University, Fullerton, then finished her Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She earned her Master of Music in Music Education from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and later studied as a librettist-lyricist-composer through the Canadian Musical Theatre Writers Collective in Montréal, Canada, where she currently resides with her two daughters.

Sara has performed in musicals and choirs in California, Boston, New York City, and Montréal, including a holiday tour with the Boston Pops orchestra and singing at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of renowned film composer John Williams. Her music career also includes five years as a music teacher in elementary and secondary schools, two years directing and producing musicals in private schools, and ten years as a vocal and orchestral musical director for musicals and operettas. She has also been a vocal coach and is the founder of Broadway Music Theory, which teaches musical theatre performers how to read music.

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Rebecca Pereira is a mother, educator, and musician. She joins the MidAmerica team with five years of experience directing middle school choirs in Dallas, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. During her undergraduate years, Rebecca was a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir which performed with renowned orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Berlin Philharmonic.

Rebecca has a keen interest in aesthetic and educational philosophy. She holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she primarily focused on aesthetic and progressive educational philosophies.

Rebecca values good conversation, loves learning, and enjoys exploring new ideas. She currently resides in South Florida where she delights in the long, sunny days, and taking her three-year-old son, Theodore, on all sorts of adventures.

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Praised for his captivating performances, visionary musical leadership, and engaging personality, American conductor Marc-André Bougie is rapidly establishing himself as a highly sought-after conductor in North America and abroad. Now entering his eleventh season as Music Director for the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, he has also conducted the Pleven Philharmonic (Bulgaria), Orchestra Cantelli (Italy), Orchestre des Sources (Canada), Shreveport Symphony, Shreveport Opera, Shreveport Chorale, Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, Texarkana Regional Chorale, Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Northwest Louisiana, St. Pius X Choir & Orchestra, Sacred Heart Choir, the University of Missouri Philharmonic, Contemporary Chamber Players, and University Singers, the Columbia Youth Orchestra, and the Show-Me Opera Studio – a sum of experiences which speaks to the versatility and adaptability of his conducting style. He made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2010. He has collaborated with world-renowned performers such as Zuill Bailey, Jimmy Brière, Michael Brown, Tony DeSare, the Harlem String Quartet, Sharon Isbin, Jean-François Normand, Sandi Patty, Jane Redding, Elena Urioste, Bradley Welch, and many more. In January 2016, he conducted the premiere of the new educational program Dvořáks’ New World, created by Michael Boudewyns and Sara Valentine – and for which Marc-André was the music collaborator. He has also been active working with contemporary American and Canadian composers, and he has commissioned and premiered many new works – most lately Southern Air and Flourish by award-winning composer Clint Needham.

Marc-André is married to soprano Candace Taylor with whom he collaborates as composer, pianist, and conductor. They have recently worked on an album featuring one of their new compositions, Ave Maria. He has won the 2001 MTNA National Composition Competition, and holds a Master’s Degree in Orchestra Conducting from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition to his conducting engagements, Marc-André teaches at Texarkana College, and he was recently awarded the Texarkana College 2016 Endowed Chair of Teaching Excellence.

His involvement in the advancement of music in the areas of the conducting profession, choral music, religious music, and college education is reflected through his work with organizations dedicated to these disciplines. He is a board member for the Conductors’ Guild and the Texas Two-Year College Choral Directors Association, member of the Liturgical Commission of the Diocese of Tyler, and member of the Music Field of Study Advisory Committee for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He is also on the Arts in Education Artist Roster for the state of Arkansas.

In his spare time, Marc-André enjoys cooking, travelling, and spending time with his wife and daughter, Miriam Taylor Bougie.

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Michael J. Glasgow is originally from Michigan and now lives in North Carolina. He holds B.A. degrees in music theory/composition, and in journalism; as well as a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin as a rare double-emphasis student, in both choral and handbell music. In 2017, he made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting his Requiem for choir and orchestra, on his 40th birthday. Five years later, he returned to the iconic venue to conduct the world premiere of his Gloria for choir and orchestra.

In addition to working as a full-service freelance conductor/clinician, composer/arranger and music instructor, Michael conducts the Tar River Chorus (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) and serves as Bass Section Leader for the North Carolina Master Chorale. He is a dynamic, energizing conductor who connects well with people and music, and as such is sought after for conducting engagements throughout the country and abroad.

Summer 2013 marked his international conducting debut, with the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain Ringing Residency Week in Sheffield, England; a return appearance was booked for 2015, followed by one for 2017. He has also conducted in the Eastern Caribbean, Canada, Hong Kong, Austria, Iceland, and Singapore (where he serves as a Principal Guest Conductor for the Ministry of Bellz).

A composer heralded for his “abundant melodic gift” (New York Concert Review), Michael keeps busy his own projects, has fulfilled more than 60 commissions, and has been honored with numerous composition awards for organ, handbell and choral works. His first published choral piece, Welcome the King (an SATB carol accompanied by solo viola), won the 2009 VocalEssence "Welcome Christmas" composition contest. In 2013, Michael was commissioned to compose Concerto for Castings, a multi-movement symphonic work featuring a virtuosic part for a solo percussionist on a handbell-keyboard instrument.

Michael is proud to be an integral part in the development of new handbell events, having served as inaugural conductor for the annual Anthornis events for advanced ringers in Minneapolis, and its counterpart, Anthornis North in Fargo. He is a member of ASCAP, American Composers Forum, Mensa, and several other professional organizations.

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Terre Johnson holds degrees in choral music from Troy University, Auburn University, and Florida State University, and serves as Chair of Performing and Visual Arts at Clayton State University. His career has included notable success as both a composer and conductor of choral and orchestral music, teaching in public middle and high schools and public and private colleges and universities, and serving in church music positions.

As a conductor, Dr. Johnson founded and conducted the acclaimed Birmingham Chamber Chorus and the Southeastern Chamber Orchestra. A Life Member of the American Choral Directors Association, he has served as National Chair for Music in Worship and is currently National Coordinator for Lifelong Singing, providing resources and advocacy for those who conduct in houses of worship or community chorus settings. In addition, he serves as Editor for ACDA’s regular publication for Music in Worship, the "Hallelujah, Amen!" extended column that appears quarterly in the Choral Journal. For several years Dr. Johnson was Conductor-in-Residence for Midamerica Productions in New York and Music Director of the New Jersey Choral Society. His fourteen concerts in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall have met with critical success. In 2004 the New York Times lauded the “robust choral sound” of the chorus he prepared for a concert conducted by Midamerica Productions General Director Peter Tiboris, featuring Metropolitan Opera Soprano Angela Brown, and narrated by Academy Award Winner Olympia Dukakis. While in New York Dr. Johnson became closely associated with composer and conductor John Rutter, and in addition to sharing the concert stage, traveled around the country to prepare over 100 choruses for performances with him. While at Florida State University, he served as accompanist and rehearsal assistant to Robert Shaw, who visited the campus frequently to conduct concerts, as well as accompanying for conductors Colleen Kirk, Andre Thomas and Clayton Krehbiel, and guest conductors Harold Decker, Larry Wyatt, Maurice Casey, Morris Hayes, Rhonda Fleming, Hugh Thomas, Kenneth Jennings, Doug McEwen and Morton Gould.

Dr. Johnson is receiving increasing acclaim as a composer. His sacred compositions are published by Morning Star Music Publishers, Choristers Guild and Southeastern Music. He has conducted the premieres of four extended works under the auspices of Midamerica Productions: "Missa Femina" for women’s chorus and orchestra, and “The Wind” for mixed chorus and orchestra in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall; and "Song of the Captive" and “Story of a Soul” in Florence, Italy. In the premiere of “The Wind” he had the honor of sharing the podium with his daughter, Cameron Johnson Weiler. His arrangement of the hymn "Come, Ye Disconsolate" is a best seller, and has been recorded by the St. Olaf Choir and the Baylor University A Cappella Choir. Other recent premieres have included a commission by the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, an extended work for chorus and orchestra presented by the Masterworks Choir of Florence, SC, a series of choral/orchestral Christmas pieces for the Georgia Boy Choir, and multi-year choral/orchestral commissions for the Luther College “Christmas at Luther” broadcasts.

In 2006 Terre Johnson served as Guest Conductor and Assistant Artistic Director for the Voices in the House Festival in the Sydney Opera House, and held similar positions in the International Haydn Festival 2009 in Vienna, and in the International Festival of the Aegean in Greece in 2010. His choirs have received invitations to perform at ACDA conferences, and performed in the Warsaw Mozart Festival in 1995, and in the Rome Easter Festival in 1999. His conducting and administrative skills are in demand, and in recent years he has conducted three opera productions for Samford University, two music theatre productions and an opera production at Troy University, and two concerts with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra of the University of Alabama, and he has served the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra as its Managing Director.

Terre Johnson has three children. Daughter Cameron Weiler is Choral Director at Enterprise High School in Alabama, daughter Kelly Baxley is an elementary school teacher in Port St. Joe, Florida, and son Christopher is a medical resident at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

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Fueled by a passion to share new music that engages conductors, ensembles, and audiences alike, Michael John Trotta (b.1978) is fast becoming one of the most “exciting and prominent new composers of choral music.” Drawing on his experience as a conductor and clinician, he brings artistry and excellence within reach for thousands of musicians each year.

From Carnegie Hall to classrooms all over the world, Trotta’s unique blend of engaging and artistic music creates opportunities to experience new music and empowers individuals to realize their artistic potential. His engaging style fuses tradition and innovation to create moments of beauty that “effectively carry out a dialogue between the [music] and the modern listener.” (Choral Journal)

Prior to his work as a full-time composer, his experience as an educator at the elementary, middle school, high school, and university levels – as well as a church music director – infuses his works with “an intimate knowledge of the human voice” and a “rare sensitivity to the capabilities of a choral ensemble.” This, combined with his degrees in music education and a doctorate in choral conducting, have grounded his style in tradition, which blend with his modern sensibilities to “inform the thoughts and aspirations of the people and the time” (Choral Scholar) and to create “tender harmonies and a palette of glowing vocal and instrumental colors.” (Gramophone)

Driven by a desire to support hardworking directors who work to bring out the best in their ensembles, Trotta has developed keynotes that connect conductors to the educational and artistic goals that drew them to the profession in the first place. “Your Perfect Choir,” “Developing Artistry,” and “Empowering Ensembles” create experiences that connect people to the power of music and its ability transcend barriers and teach us more about each other and ourselves.

An ardent advocate for under-resourced and overworked arts organizations, Trotta has pioneered the development of the consortium model of commissioning. As a result, the opportunity to premiere a major work for choir and orchestra is now within reach for more choirs than ever before. The Carnegie Hall premiere of the inaugural work, Seven Last Words, was heralded as a “modern classic.” Passionate about removing barriers to new music and artistic excellence, Trotta’s “Win a Free Commission” initiative allows any choir the opportunity to have a work written for them at no cost to the ensemble.

Recently, Dr. Trotta has had world premieres commissioned for conventions at TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), in addition to being invited to conduct premieres of commissioned major works at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, and at St. Paul’s Papal Basilica in Rome.

His works are published through JW Pepper, Carl Fischer, ECS Publishing, MorningStar Music, Hal Leonard, Choristers Guild, BriLee Music, Shawnee Press, Alliance Music, GIA, Kjos, Colla Voce, and Walton Music.

Read reviews of his works in Choral Journal, Choral Scholar, and Gramophone, or watch his Inside Voice interview with JW Pepper.

Recordings can be found on iTunes for the following works: For a Breath of Ecstasy, Light Shines in the Darkness, Seven Last Words, Totus Tuus and Gloria.

When he is not traveling for guest conducting and composer residencies, Dr. Trotta spends his time at the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey, where he lives with his wife Rachel.

You can connect with Michael John Trotta at www.mjtrotta.com

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Throughout his professional career, Jack Hill has gained a reputation as a pre-eminent choral conductor. During his years as Director of Choral Activities at Clearview Regional High School, he built a program which achieved international recognition. His choirs were invited to sing for both National and Divisional ACDA Conferences. Mr. Hill serves as Minister of Music at The Presbyterian Church in Woodbury, New Jersey. Mr. Hill is also known in the area as a director of musicals and serves as Conductor, Musical Director, Director, and a member of the artistic team at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman. As a member of the faculty at Rowan University, Mr. Hill has conducted the Women's Choir and teaches classes in the music department. Mr. Hill's formal training was at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey where he received both his Bachelor and Masters of Music Degrees. Mr. Hill had the privilege of studying choral music for several years with Robert Shaw, one year serving as his assistant. He has served as Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Eastern Division ACDA and two terms as President for New Jersey ACDA.

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Cailin Marcel Manson, baritone and conductor, a Philadelphia native, has toured as a soloist and master teacher at major concert venues throughout the United States, Europe and Asia with many organizations, including the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, SWR Sinfonieorchester, Taipei Philharmonic, Bayerische Staatsoper - Münchner Opernfestspiele, Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro San Carlo, Konservatorium Oslo, and the Conservatoire de Luxembourg.

He has also been a guest cantor and soloist at some of the world’s most famous churches and cathedrals, including Notre Dame, Sacré-Coeur, and La Madeleine in Paris, San Marco in Venice, Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, San Salvatore in Montalcino, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome, Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, and Wieskirche in Steingaden.

Cailin has held positions as Music Director of the Vorarlberger Musikfest, Music Director and Conductor Laureate of the Chamber Symphony of Atlantic City, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra, Chair of Vocal Studies at the Hazleton Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Director of Music at The Putney School, and as Music Director of the Bennington County Choral Society. He has also served as a member of the faculty of the Vermont Governor's Institute on the Arts and the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary. He also founded and directed the Germantown Institute for the Vocal Arts and the Germantown Concert Chorus.

Cailin is a frequent guest conductor, clinician, presenter, panelist, and adjudicator for conventions, conferences, competitions, and music festivals. Cailin studied voice performance at Temple University, and opera performance and orchestral conducting at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.

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Stephen Pu is a choral-orchestral conductor, teacher, pianist, and singer. As a performer, has appeared on many notable stages, including Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and most recently, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of Mid-America Productions. His students have won local, regional, and national awards. Currently, he serves as a General Music Teacher in Anaheim Elementary School District and Artistic Director of Hollywood Master Chorale. He holds a Doctor of Musial Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University and degrees in Music and Physiological Science from UCLA. Dr. Pu hopes to provide all people with the opportunity to experience self-empowerment through making music at the highest caliber, in the world’s most wondrous and musically significant places. He is thankful for the experiences he has had through Mid-America Productions, and he is proud to work alongside them in their shared missions.

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Adam Stich is an in-demand conductor and performer. He is most well known for engaging rehearsal techniques and innovative performances. He has held conducting positions at Eastern Illinois University, Middle Georgia State University, Wesleyan College, and Scottsdale Community College where he was tenured faculty and the Music Department Chair. Comfortable leading many different ensembles he has conducted large oratorio choruses, chamber choirs, jazz vocal ensembles, bands and orchestras. He has also taught courses in music history, theory, conducting, and songwriting. He is a frequent clinician for high schools and festival choruses. For seven seasons he was the Conductor and Artistic Director for ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra. His pit conducting credits include Sweeney Todd, South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, among others. Prior to his position at Eastern Illinois University Adam spent five years teaching orchestras, band and choir at the middle and high school level in South Carolina.

Adam made his Carnegie Hall performance debut on double bass in 2016 and his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2018 with Mid-America Productions. He was the recipient of the Innovation Award for the Arizona Commission on the Arts for development of the audience choice concert “The Unpredictable Adventures of Henry Hicklebee”. His programming has been recognized by the American Choral Directors Association, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and the Phoenix Mayor’s Awards for outstanding innovation and collaborations. He also is the recipient of the Global Awareness Grant from Scottsdale Community College for his continued implementation of inclusive practices within his rehearsals and concerts. His research interests include best rehearsal practices, ensemble recruitment and audience development.

Adam earned a BA in Music and Theatre from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where he studied with John Sinclair. He then won a graduate assistantship and earned an MM and DMA from the University of South Carolina where he studied with Larry Wyatt.

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Hailed as a ‘true maestro’ conductor Candace Wicke made her Carnegie Hall debut with MidAmerica Productions in 2002. As a champion of new music, Dr. Wicke has premiered many compositions in her appearances in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall and was recently featured in the nationwide PBS documentary “Requiem for my Mother.” Sharing the stage with the likes of the Vienna Philharmonic, Christoph Eschenbach, and Helmuth Rilling, she was the first woman conductor to appear on the prestigious Festival Internazionale pro Musica e Arte Sacre Series in Italy and also conducted the first concert in history by a US organization inside the Sistine Chapel. Wicke served as Chorus Master for the world premiere of Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the Paper Mill Playhouse and according to the New York Times, “…the signal pleasure of the show was the Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus.” Her international experience includes conducting the City of Prague Philharmonic, the Festival Internazionale Di Arte Per Giovani Musicisti in Italy, the United States representative Wind Ensemble at the Taipei Presidential Inauguration and concert tours in Ireland, France, Italy, Australia, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic.

Wicke is the founder, president, and executive director for the Continuo Arts Foundation and conducts the Continuo Arts Intergenerational Choral Ensembles. She is the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni of the Year for Evangel University, New Jersey’s 2016 Women of Excellence in Arts & Humanities Award Winner and received a 2016 Congressional recognition for dedication and excellence in the Arts.

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George Berry comes to MAP with a wide variety of administrative and performance experience. He has held various communications positions, including for the New York Philharmonic; as a consultant for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra; for music downloading Web site HDtracks.com and its co-owner, multi-Grammy-nominated composer David Chesky; and for the JCC Thurnauer School of Music, where his responsibilities included promotion of concerts with Alan Gilbert and Paquito D’Rivera, among many other duties. George has experience in operations management with The Curtis Institute of Music, and in librarianship with both Curtis and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A professional trombonist, George performs with the Somerset Symphony Orchestra and Garden State Opera; was a member of NYC’s Greenwich Village Orchestra for 15 seasons; toured the U.S. and Canada in the pit orchestra for Bye, Bye, Birdie; and continues to enjoy a varied performance career in the New York City area. He holds a master’s degree in public relations and a bachelor’s degree in music from Boston and Northwestern universities, respectively.

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Sydney Weiss joins the MidAmerica team with a genuine love for choral music and a background in music education. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Sydney worked as a high school choir director for four years in her home state before relocating to NYC in 2023.

Sydney earned her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado, where she served as president of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) student chapter and founded Northern Lights, an a cappella ensemble. Currently, Sydney is furthering her education at New York University, pursuing a Master’s in Performing Arts Administration to better understand and support the arts community.

Sydney's dedication to choral music and leadership was ignited by her own high school choir director, Dr. Clelyn Chapin, who continues to inspire her and countless others in the choral community and beyond. Beyond her professional life, Sydney is an avid runner, regularly participating in half marathons, most recently the NYC Half in 2023. She’s excited to bring her love of music and commitment to supporting artists to her role at MidAmerica.

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Carla Wesby has been a professional singer in NYC for over 20 years. She has sung solos with New York Philharmonic, American Symphony Orchestra, and New York City Ballet, to name a few. She has sung in the Chorus at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and Bard Summerscape, and many other performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She has toured with Mark Morris Dance Group and collaborated with pop stars Paul McCartney and Song Zuying. Favorite gigs include memorized and staged performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, music of Joe Hisaishi from Studio Gibli/Miyazaki movies, and live performances of Danny Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas. Carla also created a cabaret, which she performed at The Duplex, Don’t Tell Mama’s, and The Townhouse.

Carla received a Bachelor of Music Education from Valparaiso University and a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music. She was a cantor and choir member at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for many years, which allowed her to sing for for Pope Benedict, Pope Francis, and for thousands of people on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and YouTube. Discography includes several recordings with Alice Parker, “Les Huguenots” with Bard Summerscape, and most recently “Émigré” with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Carla co-founded Woodside Arts Collective in fall of 2021, which is currently in its 4th season.

Carla resides in Queens with her husband and son. She enjoys yoga, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and singing and supporting fellow artists. She is excited to continue to work in the Arts with MidAmerica Productions.

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Madison Zahorsky, soprano, holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Mannes Conservatory, The New School NY and a Bachelors of Music in the same field from Westminster Choir College. In addition to her position as Program Development Associate with Mid-America Productions, Madison is the Assistant Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, PA, and she leads a private music studio. She recently made her debut with Teatro Grattacielo in Phoenicia, NY as ‘Donna Anna’ from Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In addition to her operatic performances, Madison is a renowned concert and oratorio soloist as well as a teaching clinician and masterclass artist. She was a featured clinician for the Grammy-Nominated Artefact Ensembles’ summer program, The Artefact Scholars, and has given several lectures and masterclasses with renowned programs such as the Mannes Conservatory and The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts. Madison also presents a recital tour annually in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas, including her famed “Nine Greek Definitions of Love” program that was featured in a WVIA interview.

When she isn’t singing or teaching, Madison can be found in the kitchen cooking up new recipes and making perogies from scratch. She also enjoys reading, gardening, keeping up with the latest pop-culture, and acrylic painting. Madison is thrilled to join the MidAmerica Productions team as Program Development Associate and Assistant in Concert Operations.

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As an Audience Development and Marketing Consultant, Andrea Niederman’s collaborations include The Turtle Creek Chorale at Carnegie Hall, The John W. Engeman Theater, The Young People's Choir of New York City, The Nouveau Classical Project, The A Cappella Education Association, International Partnership for Choral Music Education, Schola Cantorum on Hudson, The Boston Cantata Singers, the Empire City Men's Chorus and many more.

As the Director of Marketing, Promotions, and Box Office for Distinguished Concerts International New York for nine years, Andrea spearheaded the marketing efforts for over 200 concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Town Hall, and Disney Hall in Los Angeles with premiere artists such as Eric Whitacre, Christopher Tin, Sir Karl Jenkins, Pitch Perfect’s Deke Sharon, The King’s Singers, Ola Gjeillo, and Rosephanye Powell. In 2016, she was a semi-finalist for the Box Office Star Award by Venues Today Magazine.

In addition to her work with DCINY, Andrea led the Community Relations and Marketing Department at the Port Washington Public Library for over two years, collaborating with community leaders, business owners, local non-profits, and patrons of all ages to continue making the Port Washington Public Library, "a center for community engagement, knowledge, and personal enrichment."

Andrea holds a dual degree in Theater and Journalism from The College at Brockport with a semester exchange at the University of Oxford. She resides on Long Island with her husband and two young children.

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Jisoo Ok joined MidAmerica Productions in 2024, after serving as the executive director of the Stowe Tango Music Festival for ten years.

A Juilliard-trained cellist and a Latin GRAMMY nominee, Jisoo has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, and Richmond Symphony. She has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival, La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest, the Chautauqua Institute, Carnegie Hall, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, Festival de Musica dos Capuchos in Portugal, and the National Concert Hall in Taiwan, among many others.

Her performances have been featured on Public Radio International’s The World, BBC News, the Peabody Award-winning classical music radio program, Performance Today, and the PBS Performing Arts Series, Next at The Kennedy Center.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, but raised in New Zealand, Jisoo earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The Juilliard School.

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Mia Kovalyak is a designer, strategist, and singer. She has built a robust career in design and strategy by working with a wide variety of clients ranging from non-profit organizations and dance companies to CPG brands where she developed and implemented design and digital marketing strategies.

Mia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Design with a minor in Music from Fordham University where she was an active member of the Collegium Musicum Fordhamense vocal ensemble. She also holds a Master of Design (MDes) in Brand Design and Strategy from Art Center College of Design where she focused on developing strategies for brand inception, adoption, and integration with an emphasis on design.

In addition to Mia’s design and strategy work, she also has a passion for music. She is a classically trained singer whose repertoire consists of folk, sacred, and renaissance pieces.

After living in NYC for 4 years, she now resides in her home state of Pennsylvania. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is passionate about cooking, thrifting, and discovering new music.

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Born and raised in New Jersey, Teresa-Marie Gotanco is a music educator, director, and performer based in north New Jersey. She currently serves as a program coordinator with Paterson Music Project in Paterson, New Jersey.

Ms. Gotanco also enjoys a fruitful career as an accomplished pianist, traveling around the New York/New Jersey region to play for various churches, choral performances, and musicals. Among the musicals she has played for are Once on this Island, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (for which she also served as Choirmaster and Assistant Musical Director), Sweeney Todd, and Cats. With a passion for voice science, vocal health, and authentic expression in performance, she has led choirs, taught voice classes, and provided vocal coaching to clients from all walks of life — from beginners, to college students, to emerging professionals.

Ms. Gotanco has also worked as a professional vocalist since 2018, when she made her professional singing debut as a soprano concertist and soloist with the Princeton Baroque Chorus. In 2019, Ms. Gotanco was featured as part of a septet at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Mr. John Rutter, and during that summer, she had the privilege of performing at the Apollo Theater in Syros, Greece, during the Festival of the Aegean. While there, she was able to hone her craft as an operatic coloratura soprano, performing iconic pieces such as the famous Queen of the Night's aria from Mozart's The Magic Flute and the Doll's song from Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann. Most recently, she took part in the launch of a new professional choir, Q'ara, based out of Rockland County, New York.

Beginning in September of 2024, Ms. Gotanco will be taking up the mantle of Artistic Director for the Teaneck Community Chorus. Ms. Gotanco holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Music from Rutgers University.

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Originally from Chicago, Lisette Gonzalez is a web developer who joined MidAmerica Productions in 2012. For the past 6 years, she has worked in web development and digital communications for arts organizations in New York City. Lisette is a Microsoft Certified Professional in HTML5/JavaScript/CSS3 and is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop. Her hobbies include WordPress and Drupal development, hiking, cooking, and attending live musical performances.