Artists

Artistic Director

Laura Nevitt is a conductor, composer, and educator based in Boston. She earned degrees in Composition and Music Education from the University of South Carolina, and a M.M. in Choral Conducting at Boston Conservatory, studying with George Case. Laura is Artistic Director of Lilith Vocal Ensemble, Associate Conductor at Voices Boston Children’s Choir, Director of Children’s Chorus at NEC Prep, Teaching Artist with Handel & Haydn Society & Boston Lyric Opera, Music Director at First Parish UU in Needham, and Co-Founder & Former Co-Artistic Director of Nightingale Vocal Ensemble. Her compositions have been featured by the Handel & Haydn Society Youth Choruses, Choral Arts Initiative, Source Song Festival, Sparks & Wiry Cries Song Slam (NYC), BRACE New Music Choir, Boston Conservatory Choir, Nightingale, Opera on Tap Boston, UofSC Concert Choir, The Evelyn Duo, and Choir of Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge. IG: @laurameredithnevitt www.lauranevitt.com

Vocalists

Julia Alexander (they/them) is a mezzo-soprano based in Providence, RI, with a passion for both early music and contemporary works. They enjoy using their voice to explore the rich narratives within music across different eras and genres. Julia studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where they developed a foundation in classical vocal performance. They love teaching, and strive to center play and freedom of sound in their work. They enjoy exploring the connection between music and the visual arts, bringing critical looking skills to their music-making, inspired by their experience in museum education. Julia is committed to examining the complexities of western musical tradition in an effort to create a more inclusive and thoughtful approach to music-making.

"I am thrilled to be making music with a vocal ensemble that amplifies the voices of queer and gender diverse musicians and composers, offering a platform for stories that have been historically overlooked. It is an incredible opportunity to contribute to a more inclusive musical landscape alongside an incredible group of artists!"

Shea (Sé) Brown, they/she, is a gender nonconforming, clear-voiced soprano with a diverse musical skill set. From Hildegard and Saariaho to DiFranco and Carlile, Shea is passionate about blending their love of history and social justice through performances that combine classical and contemporary commercial styles of music. Shea has a rich history as an ensemble singer, enjoying everything from intimate madrigal and jazz ensembles to 50-voice choirs. Most recently, she has performed in the staged ensemble oratorio of James Kallembach’s Antigone; a concert of Luzzasco Luzzaschi’s trios with Newton Baroque; Bach arrangements by Ward Swingle with Eudaimonia and Portland Bach Ensemble on their Back to Bach programs; and alongside GRAMMY-winning artist Sam Smith on SNL. She is currently a section leader at Second Church in Newton, a music program that specializes in historical repertoire. Shea holds a MM in Historical Performance from Longy School of Music and a BM in Voice Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder.

"I am very excited to perform with Lilith Vocal Ensemble this season, because its core mission aligns perfectly with my values as a musician. As a gender nonconforming soprano, I desire to perform music that unites queer composers and treble singers to challenge the general narrative and prescribed gender and social norms."

Grace Coberly (they/them) is a composer, singer, and educator with a passion for human connection. Above all, they seek to create musical experiences that are accessible to audiences of any background. Grace has received several choral and vocal commissions, and their work has been performed across the United States and Europe. Recent honors include being named a finalist for the American Prize in Composition (vocal chamber music division, 2023), a finalist in in the ASCAP’s Morton Gould Young Composer Awards Competition (2022), a performance winner of the EXTENSITY Commission (2022), and a runner-up in the Women's Sacred Music Project Commission Competition (2020). Grace earned their bachelor’s in music and linguistics from Haverford College, and they’re currently working towards a master’s in music education through George Mason University. They teach elementary music in Duxbury and sing with the Boston Cecilia. You can hear their work at gracecoberly.com.

"Lilith welcomes my voice as a singer, composer and nonbinary musician. I am so looking forward to taking risks and innovating in a community of like-minded artists!"

Praised for her “nuance and sensitivity” (Boston Music Intelligencer), soprano Kendra Comstock, is a Boston-based performer and teacher. Kendra performs a wide variety of Classical and Contemporary repertoire, but is especially passionate about singing early music. Kendra’s recent engagements include performances with the Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, the Boston Camerata, the Wood Harbor Chamber Ensemble, Piccola Opera, the Concordia Consort, Ensemble 44, the Society for Historically Informed Performance (SoHIP), and the BEMF Fringe Series. Kendra also co-founded the Pandora Consort, an early music ensemble focused on creating innovative performances of early music. Recent original programs include: Vox Feminae with SoHIP Boston, the first ever Worlds Collide Series, bringing together Boston-based emerging musicians across all genres to create original compositions and fundraise for Massachusetts charities of their choice; and The Witching Hour with SoHIP and Pegasus Early Music. Kendra holds a bachelor's degree in Voice from Oklahoma City University, where she was a founding member of the OCU Early Music Ensemble, and a Master of Music in Historical Performance at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. In addition to performing, Kendra maintains a private voice studio and teaches voice, piano, and guitar at the North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC).

"I'm very excited to be part of the Lilith Vocal Ensemble! Lilith uses music as an agent of change and it's very inspiring to be part of that revolution in the Classical music world."

Melanie Donnelly (she/her) is a mezzo-soprano and teaching artist based in Boston. She currently sings with various choral groups throughout Greater Boston, including Nightingale Vocal Ensemble and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and is a regular alto section leader at The Dover Church. Melanie is also an educational performer with Talewise, a drama teaching artist in Boston Public Schools, and a director of children's theatre at Angier After School Program in Newton. She loves the communal artistry of both chorus and theatre, and believes that these arts are tools for social commentary and change.

"I am so excited to join Lilith this season and really explore some high caliber treble repertoire! So much treble vocal music is overlooked because of the deeply gendered traditions in the choral world, and I can't wait to use my low alto notes to be a new type of bass section."

Heather Gallagher’s work has been hailed as “standout” (Lawrence A. Johnson, The Miami Herald), “vivid and convincing” (Angelo Mao, Boston Classical Review), and “great fun” (Jim Lowe, The Barre Montpellier Times). Credits include, La Tragedie de Carmen (Carmen, Seaglass Opera), Whaling Women (Ruth Post, world premiere, Seaglass Opera), the grammy nominated recording of Haroun and the Sea of Stories (Soraya, BMOP), Patience (Lady Saphir, Odyssey Opera) and Ourland (The Policewoman, world premiere, San Jose Chamber Orchestra). Ms. Gallagher is an Emerging Opera Alumnus with Boston Lyric Opera where she performed a number of comprimario roles, including Mercedes in director Calixto Bieitos staging of Carmen (San Francisco Opera). As a creator and producer she has mounted a number of successful pandemic era productions online and in person through Cultural Wasteland. CW productions include, The Heart Cannot Hold, Letters from New York: the Music of Chris DeBlasio, Britten + Auden, “Crazy B&%ch!”: Classical Music’s Difficult Women, Tom Lehrer for President: An Election Eve Cabaret and a chamber concert version of Das Lied von der Erde. Ms. Gallagher is a soloist in the all professional ensemble at First Church Boston under the direction of Gigi Mitchell Velasco. In her spare time she enjoys baking, biking and creating a fumetti photo style running comic called, Les Familles des Animaux.

"Joining Lilith this year, I am most excited to embark on new and meaningful musical adventures with these incredibly talented singers!"

Chloe Gardner is a Boston based singer and performer. As a recent graduate from the Boston Conservatory with a degree in Vocal Performance, Gardner strives to find contemporary pieces, for both solo voice and choir.

"Lilith is a really exciting step into the future of classical music and I am honored to be a part of it. So many themes in music written for treble choir are based in gender stereotypes, which Lilith strives to break free from. The opportunity to explore and perform pieces from underrepresented composers is one that I am very grateful for."

Soprano Rose Hegele (she/her) explores the extremes of human vocal and artistic expression in 20th and 21st century music. Active in several genres including contemporary opera, chamber music, musical theater and choral singing, Rose sings to create a healing space to allow audiences and artistic collaborators to embrace their complexity and humanity. Recent highlights include Ms. Hegele’s solo debut at the Center for New Music in July 2022, her performances of “Linda Lampton” and “Gloria” in workshops for Tod Machover’s opera VALIS in February 2022, and a solo recital on Illuminate Women’s Music’s 2021 virtual concert series. Dedicated to service and education through artistry, Rose teaches musicianship at the Suzuki School of Newton and voice and piano at Go Go Allegro. She has presented workshops and masterclasses at Roger Williams University, Frost School of Music, Wildflower Composers Festival, Clark University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Singers' Resource, and Ziksa Digital Art Forum. A collaborative tour de force, Ms. Hegele is committed to working with others in diverse musical environments. She is a founding member of Peridot Duo and Into the Light Ensemble, and sings with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Vox Futura, Sound Icon, et al., and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. She holds a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Classical Music Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music.

"Lilith facilitates a much-needed space for women and gender non-conforming musicians to embrace our artistic agency, rebel against societal and music industry norms, and celebrate our unique voices. I am thrilled to connect with a community of incredible artists who are passionate about social justice and exploring treble vocal music!"

Jess Huetteman (she/they), is a soprano and voice teacher based in Providence, RI. Active as a soloist and chorister, Jess has collaborated with various professional choirs across the US, including Ensemble Altera, Lilith Vocal Ensemble, Collegium Ancora, and The Union Ensemble. Jess has also enjoyed engagements with The VOCES8 US Scholars, Judith Lynn Stillman & Friends, Sine Nomine, and Coro Amante. This upcoming season, Jess is ecstatic to be joining the Providence Singers as a Soprano Soloist for their performance of James Whitbourn’s Annelies.

In addition to performing, Jess maintains active voice studios at Providence College, The RI Philharmonic Music School, and Norwood High School, and she serves as a board member for the RI Chapter of NATS. Jess has appeared as a teaching artist and section leader for various summer choral festivals, including The South Shore Children’s Chorus Summer Choral Intensive and Quintessence Summer Choral Festival. She is a Level I Certified YogaVoice® Teacher and holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College of Rider University and a B.A. in Music and Psychology from UMass Amherst.

"Lilith is an intentional and value-driven choral space that centers feminine and gender non-conforming voices and experiences, something that is much needed in the world. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded artists and sing some incredible treble choir repertoire!"

Kelvyn Koning (he/they) specializes in composing for choir and theatre and performing as a countertenor and pianist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Composition from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI and a Master of Music in Composition from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Kelvyn has been commissioned to write pieces for Boston Latin School, Chandler MS, Zeeland HS, Batesville HS, Arlington HS, the Da Camera Singers, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, First Parish Needham, Calvin University, Lilith, Quorum, Cantilena, and the Oriana Consort. He has written two award-winning musicals, The Glassblower’s Daughter with Columbia Entertainment Co. and The Prince and the Painter with Moonbox Productions, and he recently released his first queer Christian album, The Veil is Torn.

Kelvyn is a founding member of Nightingale Vocal Ensemble and West Michigan Choral Lab, for whom he sings and composes music. Kelvyn has also sung with the Calvin Alumni Choir, Quorum, Lilith, Seraphim Singers, Tutti Music Collective, and the Oriana Consort. He performed as a soloist at the Beaver Island Baroque Festival in his home state of Michigan and has premiered several new vocal and piano works by his friends in Boston. Kelvyn is an active solo pianist and accompanist around Boston, working at the Boston Conservatory, the Freelance Players in Needham, and Watertown Children’s Theatre, as well as freelancing. He is also the Music Minister at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick, acting as the pianist, organist, and choir director. Kelvyn’s vision is to foster empathy, healing, and social justice for individuals and communities through music and writing. 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.

"I'm excited to sing with Lilith this season because of the amazing community and music we're creating. I'm eager to develop a broader audience to hear these brilliantly crafted programs and continue highlighting female and gender non-conforming voices."

Lucyn Martindale (they/them) is a Boston based mezzo-soprano, composer and poet whose drive extends from a deep-seated understanding of injustice and a desire for change, particularly for the work of the classical canon. Originally a pianist, Martindale has learned several instruments, and has published text and music of a variety of genres. Their work as a composer primarily reflects their own experiences of gender-based discrimination and LGBTQIA+ focused issues, presenting them in manners that are relatable to other queer individuals. Their membership in a gender-diverse community has positively shaped their artistry and driven them towards many forms of self improvement.

Martindale holds a Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance with an Emphasis in Opera from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Their recent performance credits include Mezzo Pig in Ching’s Three Little Pigs Remix, Adza in Chabrier’s L’étoile, Hippolyta in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and several chorus and cover roles. Martindale currently studies with Angela Gooch.

"I am excited to join Lilith because the future of vocal music lies among the unsung voices, and groups like these put fire under those voices to rise, make themselves heard, and balance the imbalance that belongs to choral singing. Community building is the key to social change."

Boston-based mezzo-soprano Cannon McClure (she/her) is, first and foremost, a collaborative musician. Her extensive training in choral music makes her a sensitive singer, and her background as an instrumentalist gives her a unique perspective when working with instrumentalists. Cannon also caught the early music bug as a young chorister, which has informed her current passions for choral music, historical performance, and bringing classical music into the public sphere by educating audiences and making concerts more accessible to broader demographics. She has recently performed with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and the Boston Camerata, and made her debut in the role of Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel at Longy Conservatory in 2023. She is also an active church musician, working and subbing at several parishes in the Boston area, including All Saints Parish in Brookline and the Church of the Advent in Beacon Hill. Cannon holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the Frost School of Music and an M.M. in Historical Performance at Longy Conservatory of Bard College, where she studied with Pamela Dellal. She is a native of Dallas, TX, and in her spare time enjoys board games and trying new restaurants.

"I'm so excited to be working with an ensemble that pushes the boundaries of treble choir repertoire, which is often overlooked! I'm also proud to work with a performing organization like Lilith that prioritizes social justice issues, because I truly believe that only through shedding light on the world's issues and providing an outlet for audiences to connect with them can classical music stay relevant, relatable, and viable in the 21st century."

Sophia Mintsiveris (she/her) is a Boston based soprano with experience in opera, musical theater, liturgical music, and choral singing, specializing in romantic repertoire. Sophie is a versatile musician with strong aural skills and interpretive sensitivity, characterized by her rich, warm tone. Sophia takes an avid interest in music history and wider arts history research and loves to integrate interdisciplinary art forms into performances and recitals. Sophia performs in both opera and musical theater in the area, and has a passion for both the poetry of art song and narratives of folk song. She is thrilled to return to ensemble singing in an inclusive and dynamic group like Lilith.

Sophia holds an MM in Vocal Performance from Longy School of Music of Bard College and her BM in the same from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. Recent performances include several concert appearances with the American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria, The Fox in Portman’s The Little Prince, Sandman in Hänsel und Gretel, and Sibella in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at the Marblehead Little Theater. Sophie is also a classical pianist and choral director, currently serving as Music Director at the Weston United Methodist Church in Weston, MA.

"I am delighted to be collaborating with this passionate group of musicians this season! I am excited to tell meaningful and transformative stories, and most especially to be part of the positive growth and changes in both the music industry and in the community that Lilith is working toward."

Heather Nolasco works as a voice teacher, vocal soloist, and chorister across the South Shore. Heather began studying music theater and jazz in Palmer, AK, General Music and Linguistics on the West Coast, and Voice Performance on the East Coast. Heather’s musical repertoire has since expanded to include classical, gospel, pop, choral, metal, folk, and rock. Heather’s interest in teaching was ignited by the observation that music is accessible to all; whether you share a professional interest in Baroque performance techniques or wholeheartedly sing along with the radio, music can empower and connect.

At the intersection of music and language, Heather is in the process of obtaining a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders over the coming years.

“I’m excited to sing with Lilith this season! I’m ready to join my voice with other gender-expansive and affirming singers in the pursuit of art and justice."

A soprano comfortable in both classical music and musical theatre, Cailin Smith dares to lean into the uncomfortable, use music as a mode of advocacy, and educate young audiences. Cailin holds a Master of Music degree at the Longy School of Music. Recent highlights include First Spirit in The Magic Flute: Retold; James Kallembach’s Antigone; Titine in Libby Larsen’s The Silver Fox. Cailin is a founding member of Dreoilín Darach Duo, a high-voice ensemble dedicated to performing Irish music and highlighting women and gender nonconforming composers and historical figures. Cailin is a passionate educator dedicated to helping young singers embrace their voices.

"I’m thrilled to be joining Lilith! There is an ever-growing, ever-present need for artistic spaces for women and gender non-conforming artists and stories. Music is a powerful tool for advocacy, community-building, and changemaking, and I am excited to join Lilith and contribute to a social justice movement powered by art."

Soprano Regina Stroncek is a versatile artist interested in communicating with diverse audiences through language and music. She is an avid recitalist with a deep-seated passion for art song, and has participated in the Barcelona Festival of Song and Source Song Festival. An advocate for new music, she has sung world and regional premieres of art song and chamber music by living composers in the United States and Brazil. Regina spent 2 years researching and performing Brazilian vocal chamber repertoire in Brasília through the support of Fulbright grants. She is an alumna of the inaugural class of the Seraphic Fire Professional Choral Institute at Aspen Music Festival and has performed with ensembles such as Lorelei Ensemble, the Boston Camerata, Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, and Border CrosSing.

"Lilith is expanding the canon of works for treble voices by commissioning and performing repertoire for treble voices. I am so excited to sing new works written by and for women and gender non-conforming artists."

Healey Suto is a soprano based in Boston who brings fresh energy to the classical music scene. She performs with several ensembles in the area including the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Lilith Ensemble. Healey strives to blend the classical tradition with contemporary sounds and ideas. She has a passion for innovative chamber music, particularly as it explores the range and plurality of the treble voice.

Angie Tyler (she/they) is a Boston-based soprano who specializes in early music. With a bright, shimmering tone, Angie is passionate about telling compelling stories and challenging the status quo both in music and in life.

A sought after soloist, Angie performs regularly with early music ensembles in the Boston area. Recent performances include Midnight Sun with The Aurora Ensemble and The Ladies of Ferrara with Newton Baroque. Angie has also sung with The Boston Camerata and Seven Times Salt, and regularly performs with Lilith Vocal Ensemble and Tutti Music Collective.

Angie is co-founder and music director of The Pandora Consort, an early music ensemble dedicated to innovative performances and underrepresented music. With The Pandora Consort they have developed and performed programs such as Vox Feminae: Songs of Powerful Women, The Witching Hour, and host annually The Worlds Collide Showcase. The Pandora Consort has performed on the SoHIP summer concert series, the BEMF Fringe Concert series, and with Pegasus Rising. In June The Pandora Consort will premiere their newest program Hildegard Reanimated: Vision in Vision.

Angie holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Cairn University and in 2021 earned a Master of Music in Historical Performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College studying with Pamela Dellal.

In addition to music, Angie is passionate about disability rights and queer liberation.

Mezzo soprano Dagny von Mering (she/her) is an artist whose joie de vivre lies in inventive art song programming: reviving, reinventing, and connecting repertoire to create imaginative narratives.

von Mering completed a Bachelor of Music in combination with French and Francophone studies from the University of Florida, where she studied with Dr. Anthony Offerle. She earned a Master of Music in Vocal Studies from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, studying with Ryan Turner. She is currently a student of Mark Lee, on faculty at the New England Conservatory’s School of Continuing Education.

Preferring to perform without shoes, von Mering calls herself the Barefoot Mezzo – @barefootmezzo.

“Lilith’s mission to challenge and break gender stereotypes in music – particularly in vocal ensemble music – very much aligns with my own. I am delighted to be part of an organization that is elevating the voices of women and gender-nonconforming composers & musicians.”

Ivy Wei (she/her) is a mezzo-soprano based in the Boston area. She has been singing in solo and choral settings for almost 20 years and performs songs in a wide variety of genres, including jazz, folk, musical theater, classical, opera, and of course choral music.

“I'm excited to connect with the members of Lilith for the upcoming season. As an Asian-American woman, I’m always looking for opportunities to perform pieces that uplift voices and stories that have been historically overlooked. I look forward to sharing in this new era of the choral canon!”

Ren (Karen) Wemhoener (they/she) is a Soprano from Dallas, Texas currently located in Boston. Most recently, they performed the roles of Monica in the Medium with QSVI and Laoula in L’Étoile with the Boston Conservatory. Karen is a published composer committed to performing new works and has premiered three roles. They recently earned her masters in Opera at Boston Conservatory.

"I am excited to be a part of Lilith because I love new music, especially when it involves working with creatives within the community. I know Lilith will be a supportive and challenging environment with wonderful artists and musicians."

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Cait Winston (she/her) is a current fourth-year Vocal Performance major at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Cait enjoys collaborating with Boston composers and playwrights to debut their solo, choral, and musical theater works. She has also worked as a staff writer for music publications, and was recently a research intern for the Boulanger Initiative. Cait is very excited to be a part of Lilith!

A native of Hurley, NY, in New York State’s Catskill Mountain Region, soprano Maria Whitcomb (she/her) is currently enjoying a blossoming career in Boston’s rich musical community. Locally, she performs with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Metrowest Friends of Chamber Music, and the choir of The Congregational Church of Needham, MA. She also enjoys a close collaboration with local composer Bruno Faria, who penned the title role in his chamber opera Voices Followed: The Illumination of Joan of Arc, especially for her. Following that collaboration, he went on to compose a Christina Rossetti song cycle, “Sing-Song” in memory of her late father, Benjamin Whitcomb III. This work will receive its world premiere in a December 2023 recital at the Boston Athenaeum.

Last season, Maria debuted two leading roles in operas by Gian Carlo Menotti with two rising American opera programs. She performed the title role in Music On Site, Inc.'s Kansas touring production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief with Queens Summer Vocal Institute in New York City. Maria began her operatic training in the Catskills with Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, and holds degrees from Syracuse University's Setnor School of Music, where she studied with Janet Brown, and the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she studied with Jayne West. She currently studies with Mark Lee in Arlington, MA.

“I love singing ensemble music because of the sense of community and peace that it brings, and these feelings are magnified in the camaraderie of treble music. All any artist wants is a safe space to bring their whole selves to their work, and I am grateful for Lilith’s commitment to provide this. I am so excited to raise my voice in more ways than one alongside this extraordinary group of artists.”

As a mezzo soprano and multi instrumentalist, Bek Zehr (they/them) is an animated storyteller of music and theatre originating from Carthage, NY. Bek is a queer and nonbinary person who seeks to unearth the beauties of diversity and create a radical space of welcome through their music. Bek received their BA in Music at Goshen College, with study of French horn, creating writing, and acting. Bek also studied at Longy School of Music of Bard College in the Vocal Studies Master of Music program. Bek is a versatile vocalist and instrumentalist in art song, theater, jazz, choral, folk, and pop music. They are an active section leader and performer at Arlington Street Church in downtown Boston, and have performed with MassOpera in Boston as well as the Boston Camerata. Bek strongly values sustainability whether caring for oneself, the earth around us, or being passionately involved in one's community.

"I am energized by Lilith's necessary mission to focus on music for and by gender non-conforming people and women. I'm honored to be a part of an organization that lives in the heart of social justice and art, working with some of the most passionate musicians who have spent their careers rebelling against the harmful and nuanced systems within our field."