Soprano:
Dr. Hannah Wunsch Ryan is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVa-Wise) where she directs three choral ensembles and teaches courses in conducting, vocal pedagogy, diction, choral literature, music history, applied voice, and choral methods.
Sandy Draper Sprague is a soprano residing in Birmingham, Alabama. Mrs. Sprague graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in Choral Music Education. She taught music for six years in the Birmingham school system and is currently staying at home with her two young children. She works as a singer at the Eternal Word Television Network.
Susan Williams, soprano, has performed nationally and internationally in a wide range of leading opera roles and as a vocal soloist. During a sabbatical research trip in 2022, she guest lectured at The Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Emily Bigler, soprano, is the chorus teacher and music director for the theatre program at Beauregard High School in Lee County, Alabama. She also serves as the Handbell Choir director and Assistant Choir Director at Auburn United Methodist Church in Auburn, Alabama. She received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Auburn University in 2022.
Alto:
Dr. Jeanette Fontaine, mezzo-soprano, is an Associate Professor of Voice at Mississippi State University. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Alabama.
Ellen Mitchell is a mezzo soprano noted for her “jammy timbre” and expressive singing. Most recently, she was seen as La Badessa in Birmingham Opera Project’s production of Suor Angelica in June of 2025 and The Pirates of Penzance (Ruth) with Samford University in 2013 and the University of South Alabama Opera Theatre in 2022.
Tyra Shelley is a graduate of Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Church Music with emphasis in Choral Conducting at Samford University. Tyra works at Mason Music as their Programs Manager and Events Coordinator and also privately teaches piano and voice.
Laura Pritchard, mezzo-soprano, works actively as a soloist, teacher, researcher, and stage director. Laura has received national recognition by The American Prize as a Semi-Finalist in the Art Song & Oratorio division and recognition by the Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing as a First-Place winner in the Advanced Classical Voice division.
Tenor:
Dee Hamner, tenor, is a Tuscaloosa native where he attended the University of Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. Mr. Hamner has taught in both Alabama and Georgia. Presently, Dee teaches at Eastwood Middle School in Cottondale.
Keith A. Wolfe-Hughes joined Opera Birmingham as its General Director in January 2015, leading the company as it expanded both the variety of works presented on the stage as well as opportunities to engage with the community in programs off the stage.
Dr. Scott AuCoin is a conductor, performer, and composer of choral music. He currently serves as Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama School of Music where he conducts the Tenor Bass Chorus, the University Chorus, and teaches courses in choral conducting and choral literature.
A native of North Carolina, tenor, David Tayloe has been praised for his “lovely tenor that sings with Mozartean finesse.” David has made appearances with many opera companies throughout the country. His recent performances include Roméo et Juliette, Medea, Albert Herring, La Traviata, Michael Torke’s Strawberry Fields, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Bernstein’s Candide, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Mozart and Salieri.
Bass:
Dr. Christopher O’Rear is Assistant Professor of Voice at The University of North Alabama. He appears regularly as a soloist and clinician around the Southeastern United States and abroad, performing in recitals, opera, and oratorio. He holds degrees from Winthrop University, Samford University and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from University of Alabama.
Grady Moore is chair of the Environmental Section at the Birmingham-based law firm of Balch & Bingham. Grady graduated from the University of Virginia and was a founding member of the Hullabahoos a cappella group, as featured in the book and movie Pitch Perfect and appearing on the NBC comedy series The Office. Grady has been performing with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Chorus since 2010.
Charles Daniel, baritone, is a Master of Voice Performance candidate and scholarship recipient at the University of Alabama. His voice teacher is, bass-baritone, Paul Houghtaling. Charles is debuting with Cahaba Chamber Chorale as a part of its “Seasons” concert. Daniel is also a chorus section leader with the Eternal Word Television Network and The Episcopal Church of the Ascension.
Joseph Wilkinson, bass, is the Director of Music Ministries at Starkville First UMC; a position he has held since June 2021. He is also the immediate past Artistic Directors for the Meistersingers of Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS, 9 years) and the Jackson Choral Society (Jackson, MS, 2 years). In 2019, Wilkinson was a featured Conductor Artist with Vox Anima London, conducting Dan Forrest's Te Deum at Cadogan Hall in London, England with the composer.
Full Ensemble:
Mary Cleveland is a Board Certified Music Therapist who is a stay-at-home mom of two. Before staying at home Mary worked as a Music Therapist for 5 years at UAB Hospital where she is still involved in ongoing research. Mary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
John Benjamin (Ben) Cook, National Board Certified Teacher, has taught music in Alabama's public schools since 2007. During that time, he has taught elementary, middle, and high school in Shelby County, Vestavia Hills, Jefferson County, and Trussville City school systems. He is currently the choir teacher at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School.
A native of Charleston, SC, Leah Keyes Durham holds the Bachelor of Music degree in choral music education from Furman University and the Master of Music degree in choral conducting performance from Louisiana State University. She has over a decade of choral directing and teaching experience- in public schools (elementary, middle, and high), in church settings (adults and children/youth), and at performing arts summer camps.
Matthew Gardner is the choral director at Austin High School in Decatur, AL, where he teaches AP Music Theory and conducts the Chamber Choir, Treble Choir, Tenor-Bass Choir, and Show Choir. Originally from Huntsville, AL, Matthew has spent much of his life leading and performing music in the area.
Mattie Crisp Greene is a singer based in central Alabama. Mrs. Greene holds a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Montevallo and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She currently works full time for Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind.
Allison Lowe Huff, a Birmingham native, graduated from W.A. Berry High School where she sang with Diana Mayhall, she attended the University of Alabama where she studied journalism with a minor in vocal performance. There, she was a member of, among many other ensembles, the University Singers, under the direction of Dr. Sandra Willetts, and the University Women’s Chorale, directed by Dr. Shaun Amos.
Karen Krekelberg is the Associate Director of Music Ministry and Organist at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. Karen earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Montevallo with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy. While there, she studied piano with Robert Cowan and organ with Betty Louise Lumby. Karen has enjoyed teaching private piano as well as group classes to students of all ages in many places. She currently teaches at VHUMC’s Conservatory of the Arts.
Abby Whitlock originally from Huntsville, now calls Birmingham home. An alumna of Samford University, she earned her BA in Music (vocal concentration) in 2017 and was a member of the Samford A Cappella Choir. Abby continued her education at Florida State University to become a board certified music therapist (MT-BC).
Caroline Lopez Spears, soprano, received her Bachelors of Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Since then, she been a voice teacher at the Conservatory of Fine Arts at Birmingham-Southern College, cantor and Adult Choir Director at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood, singer at various Birmingham Diocese parishes, and choral singer and section leader at the Eternal Word Television Network.
Joseph Robinson is a tenor from Meridian, Mississippi. He received an Associate of Arts from Meridian Community College where he participated in multiple shows including Jekyll & Hyde, Tarzan, and The King and I. Joseph then moved on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Southern Mississippi. At USM, he participated in shows like Carmen and Turandot.
Brad Diamond is a Professor of Voice and Vocal Pedagogy at Samford University. He was classically trained as an operatic vocalist and has performed professionally across the United States and Canada for the past three decades. Dr. Diamond completed his Bachelor of Music Degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He completed his Master and Doctorate degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music
Ryan Hanrahan, bass/baritone holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice and a Master’s Degree in Choral Music Education from Samford University. While at Samford, he was an active member of various ensembles including Worship Arts Ensemble, Opera Workshop, and A Cappella Choir for 6 years.
David Roby is a freelance tenor, pianist, and music engraver based in Birmingham, AL. Over his years in Birmingham, he has become a mainstay of the local church music scene, making appearances on the Eternal Word Television Network and in churches throughout the metro area. He received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Samford University in 2018 and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama in 2021.
Lee Wright is currently in his third year as the Director of Choral Music at Indian Springs School in Birmingham, Alabama. Previously, he served as the choral director at John Carroll Catholic High School and as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia .