Artists

NIGHTINGALE ARTISTS (A - Z)

SOREN AUSTENFELD (they/them/theirs and he/him/his) is a Boston-based singer, teacher, researcher, and music director. They direct the music program at First Parish in Malden, Universalist and teach voice and beginning piano students of all ages at WholeTone Music Academy (Somerville, MA) and The Voice Lab, Inc. (Chicago, IL/online). As a singer and teacher, he spotlights queer, trans, and feminist perspectives by seeking out repertoire by women and queer composers, including living composers; and by training adult transmasculine singers through the testosterone voice change. Soren’s recent appearances include a mini-recital with Opera on Tap Boston and presentations on transgender voice at the NATS National Conference 2020 (Best Poster winner) and New England Conservatory’s Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Workshop. In his free time, Soren enjoys songwriting, vegetarian cooking, and spending time with his cat.

KARTIK AYYSOLA (he/him/his) is a tenor and active performer currently based in the Greater Boston Area. Most recently, he has been seen as the Ziegfeld Tenor in Funny Girl and Fakir in The Secret Garden, marking his first foray into Musical Theatre. In the past, he has sung the title role of Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld with Longwood Opera, the title role of Le Comte Ory (cover), Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos with Lowell House Opera, Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Opera 51, and Oronte (cover) in Alcina with Opera Del West. He has also been seen as Borsa in Rigoletto, Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, as well as Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte. He has also performed as the tenor soloist in Mass in C Major by Beethoven and Oratorio de Noël by Saint-Saëns, singing with the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Mr. Angel in The Impresario with the Carlisle Chamber Orchestra. He currently holds a Master of Music degree from Boston University, studying with Jerrold Pope, as well as A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying with Joseph Baunoch. Kartik is currently studying voice with Bradley Williams. Kartik sings tenor with Nightingale.

EMERALD BARBOUR (she/her/hers) is a Boston-based mezzo-soprano from St. Louis, MO. She recently completed her M.M. in Voice Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee while studying with soprano Kendra Colton. Emerald is currently the alto soloist and section leader at All Saints Parish in Brookline, and sings on the roster of et al. (formerly The Brookline Consort). Recent operatic roles include Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Barcarolle in The Bremen Town Musicians, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and Deborah in Non Motus, a chamber opera by Marc Hoffeditz premiered by Promenade Opera Project. Among her concert and chamber performances are Handel’s Messiah with the Quincy Choral Society, Brigitta Muntendorf’s “abschminken” with Boston Conservatory’s contraBAND, and “An Evening of Bach Arias and BWV 116” with The Bach Institute. A new addition to Nightingale’s alto section, Emerald deeply values the collaborative and communicative powers of vocal music and performance.

WILLIAM BENOIT (he/him/his) is an up-and-coming Tenor from Gresham, Oregon. Throughout his young career, William has a wealth of performance experience, both as a soloist and as a chorus member. Before joining Nightingale, William performed with groups such as Pacific Youth Choir, the Oregon Symphony, and the Tanglewood Music Center. William holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and is currently pursuing his Master’s of Music in Voice Performance at Boston University.

HANNAH CARLSON (she/her/hers), originally from Des Moines, IA, is a Boston-based soprano with a particular love for the contemporary music scene. She appeared as the Soprano 2 in Philip Glass's modern opera, Hydrogen Jukebox, and more recently has performed as the soprano soloist on pieces such as "William Blake Rhapsody" by Boston-based composer David Wallace, David Biedenbender’s "Shell & Wing" (Berklee Global Summit), and Michael Daugherty's "Labyrinth of Love" (Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble). Hannah sings soprano with Nightingale.
www.hannahcarlsonsoprano.com

MELANIE DONNELLY (she/her/hers) is a vocalist and teaching artist originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a BA in Music from Vassar College and sings alto with a number of amateur and professional choral groups in the Boston area, including the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Triad: Boston's Choral Collective, and St. Mary's Episcopal Church Choir. She has a passion for theatre-making, which she brings to her work as a theatre director for elementary-age children at Angier After-School Program. Melanie sings alto with Nightingale. She values collective creativity that is equitable and accessible, and is interested in pushing the boundaries of what choral performance can look like!

WILLIAM FARRELL (he/him/his) is a singer based in Belmont, MA. Since moving to the Greater Boston area in the Fall of 2015 he has performed with various groups, including The Boston Camerata, Canto Armonico, St. Paul's Choir School, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. He graduated with a Master of Music in Early Music from the Longy School of Music in 2017. William loves to explore all types of musical performance but particularly enjoys Renaissance polyphony and Baroque opera. William is an avid cyclist and loves to take any opportunity to return to NH where he can cycle on the beautiful mountain roads. William sings tenor with Nightingale.

MARGARET FELICE (she/her/hers) is a soprano originally from South Windsor, CT and has been praised for her dynamic stage presence, artistic versatility, and “drop-dead gorgeous voice” (Boston Musical Intelligencer). Margaret has extensive opera and oratorio credits, and has sung with many local choirs in addition to Nightingale Vocal Ensemble including Cappella Clausura, Triad: Boston's Choral Collective, and Tanglewood Festival Chorus. She holds degrees from Boston College and The Boston Conservatory and is an active choral conductor, educator, and writer. Hear her sing, read her work, or reach out at margaretfelice.com

NICHOLAS FORD (he/him/his) is a composer, vocalist, writer, and performer from Scutchalo country in Mississippi. Mr. Ford's music for voices is often abstract and textless, crafting a story or ritual experience between the composer, performer, and listener with the intent of creating collective catharsis and promoting community. His work has been recorded by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the Quince ensemble. He finds inspiration in various art traditions, from spiritual jazz, Delta blues, and mid-century American experimental music, to performance art and the Southern Gothic school. He composes and sings Baritone for Nightingale, and serves on the Board.

OLIVIA DE GEOFROY (she/her/hers) is a soprano, violinist, and educator from West Tisbury, Massachusetts. She holds a bachelor of arts in music education and a master of arts in teaching from Westminster Choir College of Princeton, NJ. Olivia performs as a soloist and chorister in the Boston area, in addition to teaching elementary school music and maintaining a violin studio. She believes that creative and innovative choral programming and performance is exciting and valuable for all involved, and that ensemble musicking is an incredible community-building method. This is her second season with Nightingale.
https://oliviadegeofroy.weebly.com/

NATHAN HALBUR (he/him/his) is a bass-baritone, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and graphic designer based in Boston. He has sung with Nightingale since January 2021, composing You have taken many things for the May 2021 program, and designing promotional posters for the ensemble’s concerts. Nathan also sings in solo and ensemble capacities with Emmanuel Music, Ensemble Altera, Cantata Singers, Vox Futura, the Metropolitan Chorale (as Artist in Residence), and at St. Cecilia Parish. In Fall 2021, he was a chorus member in the world premiere of Iphigenia by Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding. Nathan is half of experimental neo-soul lo-fi pop duo DREAMGLOW. In his spare time he enjoys hiking and roller skating.
www.nathanhalbur.com

SULLIVAN HART (he/him/his) is an avid singer of choral, oratorio, and art song repertoire from Jamaica Plain, MA, and is delighted to be a tenor on Nightingale’s roster. His recent oratorio experience includes Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Handel’s Messiah, and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Sullivan was a soloist in the 2019 world premier of Robert Kyr’s Resurrection Oratorio with the choir of Boston University’s Marsh Chapel. An active ensemble singer, Sullivan was a member of the 2019 VOCES8 US Scholars program and has enjoyed multiple engagements with Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society. Sullivan holds music degrees from Furman University and the New England Conservatory of Music.

JOHN HAUKOOS (he/him/his) is a composer, performer, and librettist from Agoura, California, in the greater Los Angeles area. He has composed work in a wide variety of styles and environments, but largely specializes in vocal, theatrical, and chamber works. His history as a singer of opera and musical theatre plays a vital role for his work, as the process of recalling, interpreting, and channeling emotions is surprisingly similar for an actor as for a writer. John also has success as a librettist, generally writing the texts for his pieces himself. John's goals, thus, are as much about storytelling and human connection as they are about creating entertaining works. John sings tenor with Nightingale. https://johnhaukoos.com/

ROSE HEGELE (she/her/hers) is a Canadian soprano specializing in the performance of contemporary music. Working across disciplines including chamber music, opera, improvisation, experimental theatre, silent film and choral singing, Ms. Hegele sings to create a space to heal souls and bodies, and to allow humans to embrace their complexity and humanity. Highlights include a solo performance with Illuminate Women’s Music in May 2021 and leading ensemble performances in Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire at Clark University. She holds an M.M. in Contemporary Classical Music Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and a B.M. in Vocal Performance and Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music. She sings soprano and is the secretary of the board and Chair of the Donor Committee .
https://www.rosehegele.com

JACOB KANUPP is a singer, actor, teacher, and composer from Florida. Jacob has expertise in both western classical music and American musical theater. He holds a dual major B.M. in Vocal Performance and Music Theory & Composition from Trevecca Nazarene University. He also received his M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he is currently working towards his M.F.A. in Musical Theater. When not singing with Nightingale or studying, he operates a private voice studio in Boston where he champions an artistic philosophy of intentional, historically informed, and socially engaged artistry. Jacob sings baritone with Nightingale.

KELVYN KONING (he/him/his and they/them/theirs) is a composer, vocalist, and pianist from McBain, MI. It is their goal to foster empathy, healing, and social justice for individuals and communities through music by writing accessible music hybridized from a variety of genres including classical, jazz, gospel, folk, rock, pop, and show tunes. His philosophy is that different types of music can work together harmoniously to create new and beautiful things, just as different types of people can. A versatile performer and composer, Kelvyn is also a poet and lyricist, often writing texts for their own music. He sings as a countertenor, composes, and acts as chair of the board for Nightingale. www.kelvynkoning.com

DANIEL ESTEBAN LUGO (he/him/his) is a first generation Mexican-American tenor from El Paso, Texas. He began his singing career doing opera choruses as a high school student at the El Paso Opera. He was also a two-time member of the Texas All-State Choir. Daniel completed his undergraduate degree at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee under the tutelage of Monique Phinney in 2020. Upcoming roles in opera include Alfredo in Die Fledermaus as well as covering the role of Dr. David Twitchell in the new opera Harmony, both at Seagle Music Colony in the summer of 2021. Daniel sings tenor with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble and serves on the board.

JOHN MOORMAN (he/him/his) is a student of Victor Jannett entering his final year of an undergraduate Vocal Performance degree at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Hailing from Brenham, TX, he has participated in several operas and choral productions at the conservatory and beyond. When it comes to performance, his favorite aspect is the palpable connection between the performers and audience. He is one of the most recent additions to the Nightingales and is excited to be a part of the wonderful music to come.

RACHAEL MURRAY (she/her/hers) enjoys playing with sounds, words, visuals, and movements of the body, inspired by the range of intense emotions which resonate through our collective human experience. Her perspective as a woman from a multicultural background informs her passion for connection to our deepest feelings of being alive. This force of consciousness is expressed within creative works as a singer, songwriter, dancer, photographer and poet. It is her hope to enrich the stories we live and love through the power of music and the arts. Rachael sings alto with Nightingale, serves on the board, and is the Nightingale historian.

LAURA NEVITT (she/her/hers) is a conductor, composer, and vocalist based in Boston. She earned degrees in Composition and Music Education from the University of South Carolina, and recently completed a M.M. in Choral Conducting at Boston Conservatory, studying with George Case. Laura directed children’s choir programs in schools and churches for several years in Columbia, SC. Laura is the Lead Musicianship Teacher of Handel and Haydn’s Youth Choruses. As a soprano, she has performed Reich’s Drumming with New York based ensemble So Percussion. Her compositions have been featured in concerts by the Boston Conservatory Choir, Nightingale, Quorum, the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, the East Central College Choir in Missouri, the Choir of Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, and the First Presbyterian Church Chamber Choir during the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. She is proud to be a Founding Member and Co-Artistic Director of Nightingale. www.lauranevitt.com

KENDRA NUTTING (she/her/hers) is a music educator and vocalist from Boston, Massachusetts. She teaches at Walpole High School in Walpole, MA, where she conducts three choirs and music directs the annual musical. Prior to WHS, Kendra directed both the choral and theatre programs at Medway High School in Medway, MA. Kendra is an alto with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and performs with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops throughout the year. She holds an M.M. in Music Education from Boston University, and a B.S.Ed. in Music Education from Hofstra University. The 21-22 season is Kendra’s first with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble. Kendra sings alto with Nightingale.

BENJAMIN PERRY (he/him/his), is originally from Cedar Hills, Utah, and is an artist, tenor, and conductor living in Boston. Ben is the Director of Choirs at St. John Lutheran Church in Sudbury, MA, Co-Artistic Director of Nightingale, and and sings regularly with Boston Cecilia, who he served for two years as the Assistant Conductor, Ben earned his B.M. in Vocal Performance from Utah Valley University and his M.M. in Choral Conducting at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. His conducting mentors include Dr. Reed Criddle, Dr. George Case, Dr. Cherilyn Worthen, and Dr. Nathan Reiff. Ben was a guest clinician at American Heritage School, in American Fork, Utah, and at Goa University, in Goa, India. He is passionate about the intersection of art and healing modalities, including music, yoga, and astrology. Ben is honored to be a Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director, and Chair of Marketing with Nightingale.

ERIC RITTER (he/him/his) is originally from Baltimore, MD, and teaches K-5 music in Newton Public Schools. At Boston University, Eric studied Vocal Performance as an undergraduate and earned a master's degree in Music Education. Afterwards he worked with Boston Lyric Opera as a teaching artist in their "Create your own opera" partnership with local Boston schools and Housing Families. His passion for education and universal accessibility in music goes hand-in-hand with his passion for personal artistic growth. Some musical projects that Eric is most proud of include performing Ernst Krenek's "Santa Fe Timetable", conducted by Kirshan Oberoi, Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress with Harvard College Opera, and George in The Glassblower's Daughter with Lightning House Players. Eric sings bass with Nightingale.

REBEKAH SCHWEITZER (she/her/hers) is a soprano from Cambridge, MA and was raised by two English professors who are also avid music-lovers, and learned to appreciate music and literature at a young age. Rebekah graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in Comparative Literature; while here, she also studied voice in the Conservatory with Duane Mahy and Gerald Crawford. Her culminating thesis project, titled Diva as Translator, consisted of a paper outlining a singer-centric theory of composing singable translations. Rebekah has participated in several summer programs, including SongFest, Oberlin in Italy, Opera North and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Rebekah is currently pursuing her MM in voice performance under the instruction of Ms. MaryAnn McCormick at the New England Conservatory of Music.

MADISON SPAHN (she/her/hers) is from Sarasota, Florida, and is currently based in Boston after receiving her M.M. in Voice from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is the soprano section leader and assistant youth choir director at Christ Church Cambridge. Her past operatic roles include Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro with the Miami Music Festival and Emmie in Albert Herring with Chicago Summer Opera. As a concert soloist, she has recently appeared in Kodaly’s Missa Brevis and Tarik O’Regan’s Triptych with The Boston Cecilia, and Martín Palmeri’s Misatango with the Key Chorale (Sarasota, FL). She equally loves non-classical styles, and has performed twice as a featured soloist in Key Chorale’s “American Roots,” a choral folk and bluegrass program. She also spent two years as keyboardist and lead vocalist for classic and modern rock band Steel Relic. In addition to her performance activity, Madison is an active writer and music scholar with special interest in the study of fin-de-siècle vocal music, gender and sexuality studies, and female composers. She sings soprano with Nightingale. www.madisonspahn.com

KIRBY STALLEY (he/him/his) is a baritone from Vernon, CT and earned a B.A. in music from Luther College in Decorah, IA where he sang with the Nordic Choir. He has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe and has directed choirs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, and Minnesota. He founded and directed the choral ensemble Vox Populi to raise money for a local food bank, and is now the Director of Music at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Westborough, MA and the Assistant Conductor of The Vernon Chorale in Connecticut. Kirby loves the artistry inherent in vocal music, especially when hearing different voices coming together as one. Kirby serves on Nightingale's board and is Chair of Audience Development.

JUAN SUAREZ (he/him/his), originally from Bogota, Colombia, is a baritone currently residing in Boston. A recent graduate of the New England Conservatory, He most recently performed the role of Mercurio in Cavalli’s La Calisto, NEC's final mainstage production prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. In July 2020, he performed in a one of a kind virtual performance of Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, staged using the popular video game, 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons'. Now a member of Nightingale, Juan returns to his first love, ensemble singing. He hopes to continue to grow musically by exploring exciting new repertoire, and learning from the remarkable artists that make up Nightingale.

JAY VERCHIN (they/them/theirs) is a tenor, mezzo, songwriter, and conductor from Worcester, MA, specializing in choral singing. For the past two years, they have served as the Assistant Conductor and Tenor Section Leader for the Clark University Concert and Chamber Choirs and are a recent graduate of Clark University, earning their degree in Music Performance with a concentration in Voice. In addition to singing with Nightingale, Jay is also a member of Jubilate, and is the tenor soloist and section leader at Saint Peter's Episcopal Church in Cambridge. Their most notable work was in the 21st Century Premiere of Gena Branscombe's Choral Drama, Pilgrims Of Destiny, in 2019 where they played the Bo'sun. Other than singing, Jay enjoys teaching music theory, composing and arranging for vocal groups, and recently released their first album, Vessels. https://jayverchin.com

MARIA WHITCOMB (she/her/her), originally form Hurley, NY, is an emerging Boston-based soprano from the Catskill Mountains, recently created the title role in Bruno Faria’s Voices Followed: (The Illumination of Joan of Arc), a work which has been nominated for the 2021 American Prize in opera composition. Opera repertoire includes Paride ed Elena (Paride), Don Giovanni (Zerlina), and Così fan tutte (Despina). Maria sings in the alto section of Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, and also works as the soprano staff musician at the Congregational Church of Needham. She holds degrees from Syracuse University and the Longy School of Music of Bard College.

ANGELA YAM (she/her/hers) is originally from Sacramento, CA. Her repertoire ranges from opera to oratorio to avant-garde chamber music. In Fall 2021, she premiered the role of Katerina in The Glassblower’s Daughter with Lightning House Players. As a Resident Artist with Promenade Opera Project, Angela also premiered as the Bride The Bedbug and sang Second Wood Sprite in Rusalka. Angela joined Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist at Santa Fe Opera in 2021, performing Cobweb in A Midsummer Night's Dream and covering Agave in the world premiere of Corigliano’s Lord of Cries. Oratorio titles include the soprano soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Messiah with Camerata California, as well as Haydn’s Die Schöpfung with the NEC Philharmonia, while completing her Graduate Diploma (2021) from the New England Conservatory. Angela composes and sings soprano with Nightingale.
www.angelayamsoprano.com

GRANT YOSENICK (he/him/his) is from Medford, MA, and has a wide range of musical interests. His recent stage credits include Pontio Pilato in Wanger’s Das Liebesverbot with the Cambridge Chamber Ensemble and Pedro in the world premiere of Omar Najmi's En la ardiente oscuridad. His recent ensemble credits include Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with Carduus and Honneger’s Joan of Arc at the Stake with Odyssey Opera. He is a frequent collaborator with many Boston-based ensembles, including the Boston Camerata, the Choir of Men and Boys at Saint Paul Parish, Harvard Square, and Triad: Boston's Choral Collective. He is also an avid chess player. Grant sings tenor with Nightingale. grantyosenick.com

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