BOSTON CITY SINGERS - Key Persons
Anissa Perona is a singer, actress, and teacher originally from the Tampa Bay, Florida. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance/Music Theatre from NYU Steinhardt. She has performed at several concert venues around New York City, including the Green Room 42 and Feinstein's/54 Below; as well as in several musical theatre productions. Select theatre credits include Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, Alaura Kingsley in City of Angels: In Concert (at NYU's Skirball Theater), and Jane Bennet in a new musical version of Pride and Prejudice by Dillon and Caps. She loves teaching students to sing and to continually access their love and joy of music even in the more difficult parts of practice. She is so excited to be a part of the Boston City Singers family!
David is an infectious disease specialist who lives in Jamaica Plain. He completed his residency and MPH in Boston and now has practice locations at Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dimock Health in Roxbury. He is also the Medical Director for infectious disease and infection control at Atrius Health. In his professional life and work, David works to treat and prevent infectious conditions. He is interested in and focuses on conditions that disproportionately affect under-resourced and marginalized persons. In his work, he addresses the structural and societal underpinnings of many infectious conditions and strives to reduce the societal stigma associated with infectious conditions. David has worked with schools and community-based organizations to ensure that connection and community building for children continue in a safe and inclusive environment. From an early age, David experienced firsthand the tremendous power of community building through music. Few things make him happier than seeing his daughter joyfully singing with the Boston City Singers.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- Programs Manager
Debbie Slade joined the Cambridge division of Boston City Singers in 2014. Formerly a music specialist and arts department chairperson at Buckingham Browne & Nichols Lower School for more than 35 years, Debbie taught Pre-K to 6th grade music classes, chorus, orchestra, recorder ensemble, co-directed sixth grade musicals, and taught 5th grade math. Active as a choral singer, Debbie has performed with New World Chorale, Chorus pro Musica, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus with the Boston Symphony. She received a Music Education degree at UMass-Amherst and a Masters in Elementary Education at Lesley University. Besides her commitment to Cambridge Children's Chorus, she is a Collections Assistant at Longyear Museum in Chestnut Hill. She lives in Concord with her husband, an organist, choral singer, and retired systems analyst, and enjoys photography, gardening, cooking, and being on or near the water in Maine and Cape Cod.
Dr. Matthew W. Leese is a conductor, baritone, stage director and educator based in Keene, New Hampshire. A master of versatility, Leese received his Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Otago, Graduate Diploma in Historical Performance from the Longy School of Music, Masters's in Early Music from Indiana University, and Doctorate in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois. As Director of Vocal Music at Keene High School, he conducts KHS Choir, KHS Voices, and Unified Music, as well as teaching various levels of Class Piano and Solo Voice.
Recent projects include co-founding and directing Zenith Ensemble, Northern New England's new professional choir, directing and conducting Hans Krasa's ‘Brundibar' for the Redfern Arts Center Voices of Terezin series, Benjamin Britten's ‘The Little Sweep' with Keene State Opera and the Colonial Theatre, Voices of the Bay in New Brunswick, period performances of Bach's ‘Johannespassion' with Monadnock Chorus, and designing an Ewing Arts Award-winning season with the Chamber Singers of Keene. At the university level, Matthew enjoyed directorships of the Millikin University Women's Choir, Keene State Concert Choir, and Keene Vocal Consort. Additional regular conducting responsibilities include directing the Keene High School Choirs, the St Andrews Spring Sing in New Brunswick, and serving as an artist in residence with the Boston City Singers. As a baritone, Leese appears as a concert soloist and professional chorister, performing with medieval ensemble LIBER, SPIRE (Kansas City), and TACTUS (Oklahoma City). Matthew has studied voice with Cynthia Haymon, Robert Harrison, Paul Elliott, Laurie Monahan, and Judy Bellingham and conducting with Fred Stoltzfus, Chester Alwes, Jack Speirs, and Michael Joel. He has performed in masterclass and coachings with Tony Thornton, Wayne Abercrombie, Joseph Flummerfelt, Simon Carrington, Håkan Hagegård, Nigel North, Dana Maiben, Frances Conover Fitch, and Karen Grylls.
Eleanor Mayerfeld is a soprano from Madison, Wisconsin, currently pursuing her master's degree in vocal performance at the Longy School of Music. She received her bachelor's degree in music from Middlebury College. Specializing in opera and Yiddish songs, Eleanor also has experience in a wide variety of styles, including jazz, Americana, art song, choral, and early music. She loves working with young singers to foster artistry, joy, and community through music!
Emma joined the Boston City Singers staff in July 2021. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Music from St. Lawrence University, she moved to Cork City, Ireland. She completed a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology at University College Cork (UCC), where her passion for community outreach and inclusion by way of singing was fostered. In October 2019, Emma founded and began directing Cork Sanctuary Singers Youth Choir, a creative and expressive outlet for asylum seekers and refugee children, and youth living within the Direct Provision system in Cork City. During her time in Cork, Emma was very active in the Irish choral community as a 2018-19 member of UCC Singers, chorister and soloist for St. Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork City, and 2019 member of the Irish Youth Choir. Emma is currently singing with Chorus Pro Musica and UU Church of Medford Choir. In her non-singing free time, Emma enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing in her native NH, volunteering at the Medford food pantry, cooking and baking, and dunking in the ocean any day of the year!
Faye is a primary care pediatrician and educator. She works at Boston Children's Hospital Primary Care Center and provides high-quality care emphasizing prevention and management of chronic diseases to a diverse patient population. She is medical director of the Primary Care Asthma Program and established an award-winning asthma population management program. Faye also serves as the medical director of Community Primary Care in the Office of Community Health. Additionally, Faye teaches Harvard medical students and pediatric residents in primary care. Hailing originally from Barbados, she migrated to the US with her family. She earned degrees from Wellesley College, Dartmouth-Brown Medical Program, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and completed medical residency training at the University of Michigan. (Parent Representative, Arlington)
Isabelle is a program coordinator II at the Boston Area Health Education Center (BAHEC) within the Boston Public Health Commission. She is a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Society with a minor in Women's and Gender Studies with a magna cum laude distinction. At her time in college, she was a highly devoted and engaged student leader participating in various organizations from being a resident assistant to co-founding an organization called STEMming While Black. She was recognized for her efforts within her University community having been presented with awards for her efforts. Isabelle is an alumnus of the Boston City Singers having been a member of Cantare and the Tour Choir for several years. She performed at several locations including an international tour in South Africa. Isabelle has always wanted to give back to BCS, a community that has had a great impact on her growing up. She is finally able to do this as the secretary on the Board of Directors. (Boston City Singers Alum, Dorchester, 2017)
Jaap's two children sang with Boston City Singers for many years. As an IT professional focused on Data and Analytics, he came from the Netherlands to the US in 1997. He has lived and worked in Boston ever since, and is currently the Director for Business Analytics for Road Scholar. Jaap is active in the school community of his children, having served as the registrar for the Boston Latin School crew team and treasurer for the Philbrick Parent Council. Through his church, Jaap is actively involved as a Summer Search mentor to college students. (Boston City Singers Alum)
Job Titles:
- Finance Administrator
- Principal of Jack Wu & Associates
Jack is an experienced finance administrator with public and private sector perspectives and an eye for detail who as an entrepreneur is a general partner at Homestead Bakery & Café and can advise on business creation and management.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- Assistant
- Director
- ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CANTARE DIRECTOR
Jaime Alberts joined Boston City Singers in 2022. Additionally, Jaime teaches three choirs and general music at Bigelow Middle School and is the co-director of the All City Troubadours in the Newton Public Schools. Jaime is also very involved in theatre, actively producing and music directing at Bigelow Drama, and has run a summer program for young musical theatre writers called Making the Musical. Originally from Illinois, Jaime came East to receive her Master's in Music Education from The Boston Conservatory and her Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Brown University. She loves to travel and is an accomplished expert at finding the best ice cream in any town.
Job Titles:
- ACCOMPANIST
- TRAINING CHORUS DIRECTOR
Ruth Ross has been the staff accompanist for our Jamaica Plain division for many years. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Piano from Boston University and is an accompanist for the Newton Public Schools. She has a private teaching studio and is the pianist on Aline Shader's CD "Singing to Benefit Children." Ruth has performed as a soloist and also as accompanist for many instrumentalists and singers.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Artistic and Education Director
- Founding Artistic Director Expand
- FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TOUR CHOIR and DORCHESTER TRAINING CHORUS DIRECTOR
Jane Money (Founding Artistic Director, Tour Choir and Dorchester Training Chorus Director) is a native New Zealander and has lived in Dorchester for nearly three decades. She co-founded Boston City Singers in 1995 as a division of Youth Pro Musica. Jane's professional interest lies in crafting outstanding opportunities and outcomes far beyond the structure of a traditional community youth chorus. A frequent workshop presenter and adjudicator (Chorus America, American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists). Jane holds master's degrees in music from Auckland University, in music education from Trinity College of Music in London, and in engineering from Boston University. As a former engineer and project manager, she has brought a wide range of skills to support the growth of Boston City Singers. She is a member of the Celebrity Series of Boston Community Engagement Committee, Boston City Singers Board of Directors, and American Choral Directors Association where as a former Repertoire and Standards chairperson for Children's Choruses she co-founded "The Big Sing," annual festivals for young choirs from around New England. She has been recognized for her work with urban youth from numerous civic, educational and arts organizations. (1995, Faculty/Dorchester)
Conservatory: Boston Conservatory at Berklee Native to Kissimmee, Florida, Jayson Banton pursued his B.A. in music with an emphasis on vocal performance and pedagogy from Rollins College. Jayson is currently an M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, studying with Dr. Kerry Deal. Jayson enjoys performing and teaching different styles, from oratorio to musical theater and jazz. He hopes to inspire and help others fall in love with music.
Joey Nicoletti is a Cleveland-based singer/actor with vast musical knowledge. From a young age, he had an ear for music and wanted to dive head-first into the world of musical theatre. He received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Ohio Northern University (Class of 2018). While at Northern, Joey was the assistant music director and a performer in several shows, composed a one-act play, and became the foreman of the scene shop to oversee and construct most sets.
Upon graduation, he relocated to Marathon, Florida, to become the music director for Hawks Cay Resort. From there he moved to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and was performed the role of Innkeeper in Celtic Fyre in 2019. He continued his work through 2022 as the lead singer and vocalist/musician captain, the music director for multiple shows, taught music, accompanied rehearsals, and wrote harmonic lines for singers and instrumentations for bands. He has worked with JMMD Entertainment as a performer and show director, and with Colony Point Creative as a vocalist and show captain. He is currently attending Boston Conservatory pursuing an MFA in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy. Joey is excited to get to know everyone at Boston City Singers and cannot wait to see where these wonderful voices go!
Joe is a management executive with years of experience as principal, mentor, visionary, teacher, and team player in a variety of positions. Previously he served as President/Executive Director of the Paraclete Foundation and Academy, Director and VP External Affairs of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston, VP External Affairs of Stewart Health Care System/Carney Hospital; Director of Development for DotWell, and a partner in several Public Relations firms in Boston. (Community Representative, Dorchester, 2021)
Kanisha Kellum was born and raised in Missouri and obtained her BFA in Musical Theatre at Southeast Missouri State University (2020). While an undergrad, she had the opportunity to perform in straight plays and musicals, was a choir member, and was an assistant music director for many musicals and cabarets. After graduating, Kanisha became a part-time choir director, teaching artist, voice teacher, and music director in the St. Louis region. She has taught Acting Styles, Musical Theatre Performance, Audition Techniques, and more. She has worked with kids through adults and found her passion for teaching, leading her to become a first-year MFA Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Kanisha is so excited to learn from the Tour Choir and can't wait to work with Boston City Singers
Kara is passionate about serving the greater good and has found tremendous joy throughout her career in nonprofit work. With nearly 25 years of experience, Kara has been proud to hold leadership fundraising positions for organizations such as the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Foundation for Women, and Storycorps. Prior to returning to her Northeastern roots, Kara served as the first Executive Director for the Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga, a fund that began at a community foundation. Under her leadership, the fund was established as an independent nonprofit organization and is still serving the needs of women and girls in Chattanooga, TN today.
Kara has an undergraduate degree in Fiction Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and a Masters of Nonprofit Management from North Park University. She has served on the Board of Directors for the New York Shakespeare Exchange, Chicago Women in Philanthropy, and the Vestry of Thankful Memorial Church. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Commonwealth Kitchen in Boston.
Kara is enjoying her seventh year as the Senior Director of Annual Giving and Development Operations for Epiphany School in Dorchester. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing and teaching yoga, writing, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She lives in Braintree with her wife and daughter and their two furry companions.
Job Titles:
- WORLD RHYTHM ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR
Kimani Lumsden joined Boston City Singers in 2012 as World Rhythm Ensemble Director. He is a vibrant music educator who is passionate about the percussion and dance traditions of West Africa and the African diaspora. He performs with a variety of musical groups including the Haitian Drum and Dance Company, Fantezi Kreyol, the Art of Black Music and Dance, Silimbo African Dance Company and Lamine Toure with Group Saloum. Kimani grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, where he studied classical piano, and traditional Jamaican and Caribbean drumming at the Jamaica School of Music. Currently, Kimani teaches music and traditional percussion at the Lincoln School in Providence, Rhode Island, an independent, college preparatory school for girls in Grades 1 through 12. (Providence, RI)
Madie is the Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Co-Head of Technology for Wellington Management, Boston, a private, independent investment management firm with client assets under management totaling over US $1 trillion. As Co-Head of Technology, Madeleine jointly leads the global department responsible for all technology for the firm. Madeleine moved to the US from her native France to attend Columbia College, where she earned a BA in mathematics. Her bilingual education at an international school in France enabled her to develop fluency in both English and French. (Parent Representative, Winchester)
Mary Perry Alexander, MD is a primary care pediatrician who is committed to social justice. As an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she helped lead the APPLES service learning program as president and board chair. After completing her Master's Degree in Public Health at UNC, she worked on addressing drug resistant tuberculosis in Peru with an inspiring team from Partners in Health. She went on to complete her medical degree at Harvard Medical School and her pediatric residency at Mass General Hospital for Children, serving for an additional year as Chief Resident. Mary loves to hike in the New Hampshire mountains, bike around Cambridge and teach young children about the human body with her model skeleton. (2019, Parent Representative/Cambridge)
Alex is the Senior Director, Regulatory Strategy, Global Regulatory Affairs at Sarepta Therapeutics in Cambridge. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Tuft's University and Master of Science Degree in Chemical and Process Engineering and the Development of Electrochemical Biosensors from the Universitat Rovira I Virgili in Spain. Alex has pursued a career as a scientist at Shire Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Adnexus and Bristol Myers Squibb of Waltham, and has served in numerous capacities at Sarepta since 2018. A resident of Boston's Brighton neighborhood, Alex is the father of a Boston City Singers' Tour Choir member. Parent Representative, 2023
Job Titles:
- Dorchester Reporter / Haitian Reporter
Melissa J. Graham joined Boston City Singers in 2011 to manage business, development, communications, government relations and human resources while serving as staff liaison to the Board of Directors. Previously she was a Founding Director of The Boston Guys, a Boston-based event planning, fundraising and marketing collaborative, the host of Commonwealth Journal, a radio talk show on WUMB, and Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank. She was a senior advance person for former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Clinton White House years and had the privilege of traveling throughout the United States, Europe and South Africa on her behalf. She has been Vice President and General Manager for Nathan Tyler Productions and Director of Local Fundraising for WGBH/Boston. Her first fundraising experience was at age seven during her father's candidacy for US Congress in Cincinnati, Ohio. A New Yorker by birth and raised in Ohio, Melissa has lived in Dorchester since 1996 with her husband Stephen and their two rescued dogs - Elvis Pressley and Whitney Houston. Melissa attended William Smith College (Hobart / New York) and Miami University (Ohio), where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. (Dorchester)
Molly Flynn is an emerging soprano in the Boston area. She is a recent graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, studying under the tutelage of Michael Meraw, and is currently pursuing her Master's in Vocal Pedagogy at Boston Conservatory, studying under Bradley Williams. Molly has performed with the New England Conservatory Chamber singers and was a soloist in Considering Matthew Shephard. She has also made appearances with the Magari Ensemble, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. While at NEC, Molly performed in the "Diva!" Song and Verse recital, with Dr. JJ Penna, and in NEC's Undergraduate Opera Studio, where she performed scenes as the Countess in Le nozze di figaro, and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. Recently, Molly performed with Masterworks chorale as their soloist in the Faure Requiem, and will be covering Camilla in West End Lyric's production of Il Giuoco del Quadriglio, by Antonio Caldara.
Rachel Klippel is a first-year MFA Vocal Pedagogy student at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is excited to join the Boston City Singers family. Rachel has called Chicago home and has built most of her teaching and performing career there. She has worked the last three years at Roosevelt University in the Chicago College of Performing Arts as an adjunct voice professor and maintained a private studio of voice and piano students ranging from those in 3rd grade through adults. Chicago performing credits include "Ms. Barley" in Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder and a cast member in Sweeney Todd (Porchlight), "Mrs. Segstrom" in A Little Night Music (BoHo), "Clara" in The Light in the Piazza and "Sophie" Masterclass (Theo Ubique), "Rita/Young Julia" in James Joyce's The Dead (Court Theatre), as a cast member in Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard and Beaches (Drury Lane), a cast member in Miracle on 34th Street (Theatre at the Center), and a cast member in Juno (TimeLine). Regional credits: "Celeste I" in Sunday in the Park with George and "Aggie" in The Game's Afoot (Peninsula Players). www.rachelklippel.com
Sepehr is a pianist, opera coach, and aspiring conductor, currently pursuing an opera coaching degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. He holds a master's degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Maryland and a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the University of Tehran. Throughout his studies, he has studied with many renowned teachers in the field, such as Rita Sloan, Martin Katz, Kathleen Kelly, and Cameron Stowe. He has attended various summer programs, including the Aspen Music Festival and School, Dandelion Opera Institute, and Miami Music Festival, in order to learn new skills, further develop his craft and make music with a diverse group of people.
Sepehr has played for various choirs throughout his studies, the most recent of which would be the "Opera Chorus" and the "Men's Chorus" at the University of Maryland. He has also taken advanced choral conducting classes with Edward Maclary in Maryland. Moreover, he has taught piano, harmony, and solfege at various music schools and institutions throughout his studies, teaching a very diverse group of students from very different age groups and levels. Most recently, he has served as a teaching assistant at the New England Conservatory, teaching piano lessons to non-major students.
Conservatory: Longy School of Music at Bard College Program Assignments: Cambridge Cantare, Dorchester Kodály and Melody Makers, and Jamaica Plain Melody Makers Sydney is pursuing her master's degree in vocal performance at the Longy School of Music, studying with Dr. Christopher Sierra. She earned her Bachelor's in Music Education at the University of Texas at Austin, sharpening her skills as both a performer and educator. Upon graduation, she taught Elementary Music in Round Rock, Texas, Sydney is thrilled to begin as a Teaching Fellow this semester. She hopes to facilitate positive, unforgettable music experiences through her work with the Boston City Singers.
Violet Joy Hansen was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. Growing up, she performed in musicals, films, and commercials, while training vocally with Carley Neill-Vann. She went to the University of California Santa Barbara, where she graduated with two degrees. The first degree was in music as she trained classically with Professor Benjamin Brecher, and her second degree was a BFA in Theatre with an emphasis in Acting. She now attends Boston Conservatory at Berklee, seeking her MFA in Musical Theatre Pedagogy. With her past vocal experience in classical, musical theatre, and choral and contemporary commercial music, Violet is very excited to help students fuel their passions and cheer them on in all their endeavors.
Job Titles:
- Director
- DIRECTOR of EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION and OPERAKIDS
Wendy Silverberg is an accomplished vocalist and pianist who joined the staff of Boston City Singers' in 2011. In 2012, she co-founded the Cambridge Children's Chorus division. Wendy retired from the Cambridge Public Schools after four decades of teaching music to young children. She earned a degree in music education from the University of Rhode Island, a Master's Degree in Education from Antioch College and a Certificate from the Kodály Musical Training Institute, New England Conservatory of Music. Wendy has served on the board of the Boston Area Kodály Educators and has sung with The Boston Cecilia since 1972. Since 2013, Wendy has traveled to Argentina, China, Norway, South Africa and Puerto Rico with Boston City Singers. (Cambridge)
Yasser, a Boston City Singers 2011 alumni, and Posse Scholar is an Execution Trader at WorldQuant in New York City. He was previously a member of the Global Markets team at State Street State Bank Corporation as a Trading and Algorithmic Strategist in Boston and a Quantitative Analyst within State Street's Global Liquidity Risk Management team. Yasser is a graduate of Union College (NY) which he attended through a Posse Foundation Leadership Merit Scholarship with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and a minor in Economics. A native of Morocco, Yasser speaks Arabic and standard Moroccan Berber. He joined Boston City Singers as a young teen. (Community Representative and Boston City Singers Alum, Quincy and Somerville, 2019)