Meet the Chorale | The Singers of the Virginia Chorale
Click on a button below to view the singer's bio.
Bruce Brown | Bass
- BM from Wheaton College; DMA from the University of Southern California.
- A member of faculty at Houghton College from 1974-2003, where he was head of the Voice Department, directed choral ensembles, and taught a variety of music courses.
- Sang with the Roger Wagner Chorale and the Dale Warland Singers.
- A member of the Virginia Chorale and its Board of Directors since 2006.
- Active in the music program at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.
Julia Coberly | Alto
- BS in Music Education from Baylor University; MS in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas.
- Has sung locally since 1992 with the Virginia Symphony Chorus, Virginia Pro Musica, McCullough Chorale, Virginia Chorale, Norfolk Chamber Consort, and various churches.
- Currently a school counselor for Chesapeake Public Schools and singer at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk.
Scott Crissman | Tenor
- BM in Vocal Performance from Christopher Newport University.
- Has sung with Virginia Opera and Opera Roanoke, where he made his opera debut as Goro in Puccini's Madama Butterfly.
- Currently sings with the Virginia Symphony Chorus, Freemason Street Baptist Church, and the Virginia Chorale (he is also the Chorale's chorus manager).
Christopher Hanson | Bass
- Has sung with Opera Roanoke, Virginia Opera, the Virginia Symphony Chorus, the New Rome Opera Festival, as a soloist with Symphonicity, and as an apprentice artist at the Seagle Music Colony.
- Currently staff singer and soloist at First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach.
John Charles Holman | Tenor
- BM from James Madison University; studies with Dr. John Little.
- Has appeared in the chorus of several Virginia Opera productions.
- Covered principal roles for recent Virginia Opera and Lyric Opera of Virginia productions.
- Made his opera debut as Monostatos in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Middle Saxony Opera in Freiberg, Germany.
Shannon Jennings | Soprano
- BM in Voice Performance from Florida State University.
- Made her professional operatic debut as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Middle Saxony Opera in Freiberg, Germany.
- Recently sang Monica in Menotti's The Medium with Florida Opera Theatre in Orlando, Florida.
- Currently sings in the choruses of Virginia Opera and Lyric Opera of Virginia, and as a soloist with Wycliffe Presbyterian Church; recently covered Tuptim in Lyric Opera of Virginia's production of The King and I.
- Will be a Studio Artist with the Wolf Trap Opera Company this summer.
Steve Kelley | Bass
- BM and MM from Valdosta State University.
- Won top honors in two National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions.
- Has sung with the Miami Civic Chorale, the Valdosta Choral Society, the Virginia Choral Society, in the professional core of the Virginia Symphony Chorus, the Virginia Chorale, the Virginia Opera chorus, and at Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk.
- While not singing, works for the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Hampton.
Kathryn Kelly | Soprano
- BM in Vocal Performance and MM in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College.
- Performed at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall with the Westminster Symphonic Choir.
- Has covered roles with Virginia Opera as well as performing with their Spectrum Artist Program and in the chorus. Currently sings with St. Paul's Episcopal Church choir as their soprano soloist.
Anne Kincaid-Luna | Alto
- BM in Music Education from James Madison University; concentrations in voice and organ.
- Has sung with the Master Chorale of Washington, D.C., and in the professional core of the Virginia Symphony Chorus.
- Has served as alto soloist for Larchmont Methodist Church, Royster Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk.
- Recently retired after 37 years teaching pre-K in the Portsmouth Public Schools.
- This is her 21st consecutive season with the Virginia Chorale.
Lynn Kontrady | Alto
- Solo credits include Bach's B-Minor Mass, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Mendelssohn's Elijah.
- Frequent soloist at "Centenary Classics," an early music event in Richmond.
- Alto soloist for Richmond's St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Congregation Beth Ahabah.
Michael Kontrady | Tenor
- Graduate of the University of Richmond.
- Staff singer at Congregation Beth Ahabah in Richmond.
- Has sung with many ensembles, including the Richmond Symphony, Virginia Symphony Chorus, and eighth blackbird.
Lindsey Marie Kowalik | Sorpano
- 2011 recitalist in New York City premiering new works.
- BM from Old Dominion University; MM from Texas State University - both in Vocal Performance.
- Performed with Charles Duffy, Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, and Dr. Doreen Rao.
Bonnie Lambert-Baxter | Soprano
- Has sung with the Virginia Chorale, Symphonicity, the Williamsburg Symphonia, and Virginia Musical Theater.
- Has served as soprano/alto soloist for Larchmont United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Churches of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and as Director of Music at First Christian Church of Norfolk.
- Currently a speech/language pathologist for Norfolk Public Schools, private piano teacher, and mother of two fantastic children.
Steven Martinez | Tenor
- BM from Christopher Newport University; MME from Old Dominion University.
- In his second season singing with the Virginia Chorale.
- Serves as section leader at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Yorktown.
Barbara Paul | Alto
- Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy - fond memories there include singing Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, the National Anthem for an Army-Navy game, and for President Reagan at commencement.
- Serving in her 11th year on the board of the Academy of Music, Hampton Roads' non-profit community music school.
- Proudest musical achievement is that all three of her sons are also singers.
Douglas Price | Bass
- Ph. D. in Mathematics from North Carolina State University.
- Has sung with the Virginia Chorale since 2003.
- Serves as bass section leader and soloist at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and High Holy Days soloist at Temple Sinai in Newport News.
- Retired from NASA after a 38-year career.
- Currently teaching mathematics for the College of William and Mary.
Jonathan Rathsam | Tenor
- BA in Physics from Grinnell College, Ph.D. in Acoustics from University of Nebraska.
- Cantorial Soloist at Temple Sinai in Newport News and choir member at Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk.
- Research engineer in acoustics at NASA.
Gardner Rhea | Bass
- Was a member of Virginia Opera's first Spectrum Artist Program.
- Has sung with Opera Carolina, the Roanoke Symphony, and in the professional core of the Virginia Symphony Chorus.
- Served as bass soloist for Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk.
Rebecca Roth-McKinley | Soprano
- Has been a member of the Chorale since 1994.
- Has sung with the Virginia Symphony Chorus and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus with conductors Leonard Slatkin, Robert Shaw, and Nicholas McGegan.
- Has performed as soloist with the Williamsburg Choral Guild and the Yoder Barn.
- Currently serves as section leader for Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and High Holy Days soloist for Temple Sinai, Portsmouth.
Emily Russell | Alto
- BM from James Madison University; pursuing an MME at Old Dominion University.
- Serves as the choral director at Green Run High School in Virginia Beach.
- Sings with Virginia Opera in addition to the Chorale.
- Sang with the Virginia Symphony Chorus from 2004-06.
Mark J. Smeland | Tenor
- Has sung in the professional core of the Virginia Symphony Chorus.
- Currently serves as organist/accompanist at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hampton and as choral director at Indian River High School in Chesapeake.
- Beginning his eighth season with the Virginia Chorale.
Anna Sterrett | Soprano
- Experienced in theater and musical theater as well as classical music - she most recently appeared as Antonia in Virginia Musical Theater's production of Man of La Mancha.
- Performs often on the concert and oratorio stages - she will be seen this December in Handel's Messiah with Symphonicity.
- Currently studying with Ms. Sondra Gelb.
Virginia Vail | Soprano
- Has performed a one-woman show called Let's Do It!, featuring the music of Cole Porter.
- Was a soloist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth for 17 years and has sung with the Virginia Chorale since 1991.
- Voice teacher with the Academy of Music.
- Is the wife of Steve and mother of Peter and Brendan.
Melissa Thrasher West | Alto
- BM in Music Education from East Carolina University.
- Has sung with the Norfolk Chamber Consort, Cantata Chorus, Virginia Musical Theater, Norfolk Savoyards, Cincinnati May Festival Chorus, and Greenville Chamber Choir.
- Currently serves as soprano soloist at Christ & St. Luke's Church in Norfolk and sings with the Virginia Symphony Chorus.
- Has been a member of the Virginia Chorale since 1987.
Jeremy Yoder | Bass
- Winner of the 2007 Georgia National Association of Teachers of Singing solo performance competition.
- Performed as a soloist on the oratorio stage with the Chorale Acadienne and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and in numerous operatic roles with Florida State University Opera.
- Currently serves as the choral director at Grassfield High School in Chesapeake.
Steve York | Tenor
- Nebraska native and former Public Radio announcer.
- Has sung with the Washington Bach Consort, the Palestrina Choir, and is a former professional core member of the Virginia Symphony Chorus.
- Has performed professionally under the batons of Christopher Hogwood, Nicholas McGegan, Leonard Slatkin, John Rutter, and Harry Christophers.
- Has worked as a librarian at Christopher Newport University since 2004.
Billey Brown Youmans
- Master's in Voice Performance & Pedagogy from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.
- Guest artist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Symphonicity, Nashville Symphony, the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Pensacola Symphony, and the Chattanooga Symphony.
- Has sung with the Norfolk Chamber Consort, Cantata Chorus, the Virginia Chorale, and is the soprano soloist at Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk.
- Director of Music at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church, Chesapeake; is an Applied Music Specialist at Virginia Wesleyan College; and maintains a private voice studio.
Home | Performances | Education | About the Chorale | Meet the Chorale | Support the Chorale |