Berkshire Choral is proud to welcome 14 young professional conductors and vocalists selected as our 2026 class of the Frank Nemhauser Apprentice Program. From a pool of nearly 100 excellent candidates, these students are poised to make their mark on the next generation of choral musicians. This opportunity is offered free-of-charge to all accepted participants and includes room and board, travel expenses, tuition, and music fees. Named in honor of educator and long-time BCI Music Director Frank Nemhauser, the Apprentice Program has a distinguished track record providing early-career support and practical experience to two generations of choral music leaders. BCI thanks its generous donors who make this program possible and free to all selected participants.
Mia Farinelli
Soprano Mia Farinelli is a Master’s student at the Mannes School of Music studying with Wendy Bryn Harmer. Recognized for her passion for culturally informed storytelling, she brings a distinctive voice to both operatic and contemporary performance. She most recently appeared as a Model in the Mannes production of Korngold’s The Silent Serenade, which was also its US premiere and described by the New York Times as “…winningly melodic, rhythmically crisp and successfully funny”. She has also given world premieres of works by composers such as Gail Harris (From the Other Side of Time), Jasmine Karimova (Suite for a Clown: Skipping), and Bruno Robles-Réndon (Angular Faceted Broken Rubble). Farinelli is also an accomplished choral singer, workshopping and performing new works with ensembles like Downtown Voices, Choral Chameleon, and International Orange Chorale. Beyond the stage, Farinelli is a certified learning and development professional, facilitator, and coach, with extensive experience training executives in leadership, problem-solving, and communication. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of artists and professionals, drawing on her expertise in adult education and business acumen to help emerging creatives build meaningful and sustainable careers.
Shannon Lally
New Jersey native Shannon Lally is a classically-trained mezzo-soprano and music educator. She holds degrees in Voice from Indiana University (M.M. 2023, Graduate Certificate in Vocology 2024) and Westminster Choir College (B.M. 2021). Role highlights include Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Olga (Eugene Onegin), Madame Flora (The Medium), Ramiro (La finta giardiniera), Stefanie Schmid (The Mensch, world premiere), Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), and Little Buttercup (H.M.S. Pinafore). She performed most recently as Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette with New Jersey Lyric Opera. An avid choral artist, Lally has sung as Alto Soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore and Missa brevis in D major, and Alfred Schnittke’s Requiem. She has performed with VoxAmaDeus and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, and currently serves ChildrenSong of New Jersey as Vocal Coach. Lally is a previous winner of the New Jersey NATS Festival of Singing competition in the Senior Treble division and semifinalist of the Premiere Opera International Vocal Competition.
Marlena Wagschal
Praised for her “crystal clear tone” and “effortless coloratura,” Marlena Wagschal is a multifaceted vocalist, performer, collaborator, and artist. Marlena’s performance experience includes operatic roles such as Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and musical theatre roles such as Julie Jordan in Carousel and the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast. Her choral experience includes NOTUS, Indiana University’s Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, IU Opera Chorus, the Singing Hoosiers, and many local church choirs. Recent engagements include recording choral backing for Maul: Shadow Lord on Disney+ and performing music from Final Fantasy with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Passionate about genuine connection, collaboration, and artistic excellence, Marlena seeks to connect with audiences and other performers alike through vibrant and memorable performances. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Voice Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, from which she also received her Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance and Spanish. When she’s not performing, she loves baking, crafting, and hanging out with her cat, Annie.
Bekka Knauer
Bekka Knauer is a born-and-bred Southern California choral educator and performer. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Music from Mt. San Antonio College, where she studied with Professor Bruce Rogers, and earned her B.M. in Music Education from CSULB’s Bob Cole Conservatory under Dr. Jonathan Talberg, later completing her credential work and Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting at CSU Fullerton with Dr. Robert Istad and Dr. Christopher Peterson.
In her ten years in K–12 music education, Bekka has teaching experience at every grade level in both general and choral music. Currently, she is the choir teacher at Stanford Middle School in Long Beach, CA. She is Board Secretary for the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) and an active member of ACDA, CCDA, NAfME, and Chorus America, where she was chosen as 1 of 12 scholars for their 2025 Summer Conducting Academy. As a performer, Bekka sings with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Pacific Chorale, Tonality, and the Long Beach Camerata Singers. She is also a founding member and composer for the SSAA quartet Angeles, with her treble works currently being performed across Southern California.
Maxwell Trombley
Maxwell Trombley is a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) student in Choral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he studies with Joe Miller and Brett Scott. He serves as the 2025–2026 Choral Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati May Festival. As a vocalist, Trombley performs internationally and with major American orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, and Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He is a 2025–2026 VOCES8 US Scholar and has performed with Seraphic Fire as a member of its Early Artist Program. Trombley’s research centers on the revival and performance of music by 19th-century Puerto Rican composer Felipe Gutiérrez y Espinosa. He was awarded a 2024 Field Research Grant from the University of Miami’s Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas and is a recipient of the Presser Foundation Graduate Music Award. He was also named a semi-finalist for the 2025–2026 Fulbright U.S. Student Program for a proposed project in choral conducting in the United Kingdom. Trombley taught secondary choral music in Michigan public schools for four years and began graduate studies at the Frost School of Music before continuing with Dr. Amanda Quist at Western Michigan University, where he earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Eastern Michigan University. He is an active conductor and educator. He recently served as Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is a member of the summer voice faculty at Interlochen Center for the Arts.
Kevin Lackie
Kevin Lackie, new Artistic Director of the Boston Saengerfest Men’s Chorus and Doctoral Candidate in Conducting at the Boston University School of Music, brings extensive skills in choral-vocal technique and community development. Kevin regularly presents at conferences and universities, is published in the ACDA Choral Journal on Classroom Management Techniques, and made his Boston Symphony Hall conducting debut for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Opening Week 2025 program titled, “Music’s Next Generation.
Sofia Rohlman
Sofia Rohlman (soprano) from Charlotte, North Carolina, is currently attending Baylor University to get her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and is studying with Dr. Jamie Van Eyck. She’s performed as Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Anne in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music with Appalachian Opera Theater. In 2023, Sofia performed the role of Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica with Opera Seme in Arezzo, Italy. She performed as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro with Trentino Music Festival in Primiero, Italy. Sofia performed the role of Barbarina again and covered the role of Susanna with Music on Site, Inc., this past winter. She will be performing Euridice in Monteverdi’s La favola d’Orfeo, and Madame Herz in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor with Baylor Opera Theater. Sofia is very excited to be back in a large ensemble; choral music was an integral part of her development as a musician, and she is excited to get back to her roots!
Youngeun Kim
Youngeun Kim, a native of South Korea, is a doctoral student in choral conducting at the University of Arizona. She currently serves as the music director at First United Methodist Church and as the assistant conductor of the Tucson Masterworks Chorale. Youngeun was selected by audition as one of four conductors for the 2025 ACDA National Conference Conducting Masterclass. At the 2025 NCCO Conference, she presented a poster titled From Oppression to Expression: Exploring Colonial-Era Poetry in Korean Choral Works and was invited to give an oral presentation. She recently published an article on the choral music of Hye-Young Cho in Choral Journal (March–April 2026). In 2025, she was awarded a fellowship to attend the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival–Yale Summer School of Music Choral Conducting Workshop. Youngeun holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ewha Womans University in South Korea, where she also earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. She later earned a second Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisville.
Michael Bradley
Michael W. Bradley is a veteran arts educator, choral director, writer, and gospel music director with more than fifteen years of experience in K–12 education and the performing arts. His choirs have earned Grand Champion honors at national competitions and performed for Yo-Yo Ma, Damian Woetzel, and at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Public Administration from Belhaven University, and is completing a Master’s in Choral Conducting at Boston University, where he studies with Dr. Daniel Parsley.
Now in his twelfth year of teaching, Michael serves as Co-Chair of the Music Department at Boston Arts Academy, where he teaches vocal technique and directs several ensembles, including the award-winning Spirituals. In 2024, The Spirituals released three albums, including Genesis, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Classical and Classical Crossover charts, and The Kidz at North Station, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Kids Albums chart. The ensemble has appeared at major civic and artistic events across the region and nation. Michael also leads Motif Creative Services, a worship and arts consulting firm. Above all, he treasures life with his wife, Daniella K. Bradley.
Emilio Lopez Felix
Emilio López Felix is an emerging choral professional and baritone based in Southern California, where he serves as the choral director at Bolsa Grande High School in the heart of Little Saigon (Garden Grove). A cum laude graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Emilio sang under the batons of Dr. Christopher Peterson and Dr. Rob Istad and served as the baritone section leader for the University Singers. His performance credits include the LA Phil, Pacific Symphony, the GRAMMY Award-winning Pacific Chorale, and the Long Beach Camerata Singers, appearing with artists such as John Williams, Andrea Bocelli, and The Eagles. Locally, he serves as the baritone section leader at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. As a conductor, Emilio has been featured in Western ACDA masterclasses working with Nola Nahulu and Marcela Molina. His school ensembles consistently garner “Superior” ratings and are frequently invited to perform for the local community. Emilio holds active memberships in SCVA, CCDA, and CMEA.
Ashley Vance
Ashley Vance is a soprano vocalist and choral conductor currently based in central New York. She earned her M.Mus. in Choral Conducting from Syracuse University (2026) and B.M. in Vocal Performance from Trevecca University (2020). Ashley will join the choral faculty at Colgate University this fall and serves as music director of Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church. She sings in several choral and solo settings in the NY area. Notable solo vocal experiences include Messiah (2026), Considering Matthew Shepard (2025), The Cloths of Heaven (2025 world premiere), and Lord Nelson Mass (2021).
Kathryn Davidson
Kathryn Davidson is a conductor, singer, educator, and flutist dedicated to building community through the choral arts. She serves as Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, Director of Music at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and Chorus Master for Opera Arlington in Arlington, Texas. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of North Texas, where she is a Teaching Fellow conducting the treble choir, Camerata, and serving as Associate Conductor of the University Singers.
Kathryn has performed nationally and internationally as both a soloist and professional choral singer, with engagements across Texas, North Carolina, Indiana, Washington, as well as in Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Recent appearances include performances with the Junges Stuttgart Bach Ensemble in Stuttgart, Germany, the Bloomington Bach Cantata Project, Dallas Bach Society, Incarnatus, and Verdigris Ensemble. She earned a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, where she served as Assistant Chorus Master for multiple mainstage operas, directed the All-Campus Chorus, and was Assistant Conductor of the GRAMMY-nominated Singing Hoosiers. Kathryn holds both a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from the University of North Texas.
Sean Stanton
Sean Stanton is a singer and teacher whose career spans performances with Central City Opera, Opera North, Opera Southwest, Opera on the James, and Opera Steamboat. He has also appeared as a chorister with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Chorus, Music of the Baroque, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and LA Opera. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lola Fletcher Award from the American Opera Society, and honors from James Toland Vocal Arts, New York Lyric Opera Theatre, Classical Singer, the Bel Canto Foundation, and the Luminarts Cultural Foundation. He has earned first-place awards in Chicago, Illinois, and Central Region NATS competitions, and has worked in masterclasses with artists such as Sherrill Milnes, Renée Fleming, Dame Emma Kirkby, and John Wustman.Recent engagements include appearances with Die Liederreise in Germany, Opera San Antonio’s Classical Music Institute, and the Berkshire Choral Festival, as well as presentations at the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA). In the 2025–2026 season, he presented Movement for Singers at the Cal-West Region NATS Conference, joined the Los Angeles NATS Board, and performed with the LA Opera Chorus. He will present at PAMA in New York City this summer and has been selected as a 2026 Emerging Leader at the NATS National Conference. Deeply committed to performer wellness, Sean is a certified Informatics Rehabilitation QiGong Healer and RYT-200. He regularly presents workshops on Qi Gong for singers at institutions including the University of Southern California, the University of New Mexico, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and NATS chapters nationwide. Sean currently teaches voice at Scripps College and Pepperdine University. He will join Chapman University as Director of Vocal Studies in Fall 2026. He is completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California (expected May 2026), where he serves as Head Graduate Assistant for Vocal Arts under Professor Lynn Helding.
Bryan Aguilar
Bryan Aguilar is currently at Baylor University studying for his MM in Choral Conducting where he serves as a TA for ensembles as well as Choral Conducting and Choral Literature courses. He received his BM in Music Education from the University of North Texas, and sang in the A Cappella Choir, and Collegium Singers. He is currently the Senior Associate Conductor of the Premier Ensemble for the Grammy-Award winning National Children’s Chorus in Dallas, and sings professionally in choral ensembles. Recently, he has been selected to serve as a Conducting Fellow for the Yale Choral Conducting Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. He has also appeared at the Atlanta Conducting Institute, Cascade Conducting, and the Baylor International Conducting Masterclass. In the Fall of 2025, Bryan won 1st Prize in the Graduate Classical Division at the Texoma National Association of Teachers of Singing, and was also awarded the Liederkranz award for his interpretation of German Lied. This Spring, he will serve as Chorus Master for the Baylor Opera Theater production of L’Orfeo. Bryan has also presented “Musica sin Barreras: Supporting the Emergent Bilingual in your Music Classroom” at the 2025 Texas Choral Directors Association convention on teaching strategies for Emergent Bilingual students.