Meet the Singers

SOPRANO

Margaret Andraso

Soprano Margaret Andraso, originally from Western NY, lives in Erie, PA. She holds vocal performance degrees from State University of New York at Buffalo (BM) and Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (MM). Margaret is a member of Lake Erie Choral Artists and was one of its founding members in 2001. She is a performing member of LECA, serves as General Manager, and also programs the music for their concerts. As a member of many fine choirs over the past 30+ years, Margaret has had the good fortune to travel and sing around the world in Poland, Germany, Scotland, Wales, Austria, France, and England. As a member of St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Choir in Erie since 2001, she sang services in residence at Canterbury Cathedral, Chichester Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, England, The American Cathedral in Paris, and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Margaret is equally comfortable as a soloist and has performed with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra at the historic Warner Theatre, Erie Philharmonic Opera, Erie Opera Theatre, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic Chorus, Erie Renaissance Singers, the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, and Temple Anshe Hesed. Margaret is thrilled to be in sunny Virginia Beach to sing once again with Transcendence.

Lisa DeAngelis

Lisa DeAngelis is a multi-faceted artist and professional who began singing at age nine with Anima-Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus. After receiving her BME in Music Education (Voice) and graduating with the highest honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she trained as a teacher of the Alexander Technique with Joan and Alex Murray. As a versatile musician, Lisa's voice effortlessly lends itself to various musical styles, from early and new music to jazz and cabaret. She has appeared on stage with the DuPage Opera Theatre and Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and has worked as a soloist, section leader, and guest conductor at churches in Champaign and Chicago, IL. She has performed in recital with Richard Robert Rossi and is pleased to have been a member of Transcendence since its inception. Lisa currently resides in New York City and works in private personal management. Lisa is a published author (Embracing the Unknown, New Degree Press), speaker, and holistic change practitioner. Learn more at: www.lisadeangelis.com.

Regina Rossi Valentine

In addition to being an accomplished singer with numerous credits to her name, Regina Rossi is also a professional voiceover artist, actress, and published author. Stage credits include Mother Superior (Nunsense), Irene Molloy (Hello Dolly), Velma (Hairspray), Miss Andrew / Birdwoman (Mary Poppins), Lady Beaconsfield (Jekyll & Hyde), Co-starring in “Johnny Mercer & Me” @ the historic Lucas Theatre in Savannah, GA and many others. She has been the featured guest soloist with both the Eastern Symphony Orchestra & Symphonicity, has sung with the prestigious Virginia Chorale & was lead singer with The Hotel Paradise Roof Garden Orchestra. For over 3 decades she has done voiceover work to include big names such as Fisher-Price, Ritz-Carlton, Operation SMILE, Kellogg, Lowes, etc. Regina has also been a soloist in the church for 43 years (multiple denominations), carrying on the tradition of her parents. In 2021 she published and released her book, “I Loved You More, Choosing My Child Over My Narcissistic Ex”, her true life account of struggle & survival, derived from more than 20 years of documentation. For more info & to see live performances, check out her websites: www.ReginaRossi.com and www.ILovedYouMore.com

ALTO

Mikayla Beck

Mikayla is a 2019 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, with a Bachelors in Music and a 2022 graduate with a MA in music with a concentration in vocal performance. Mikayla has been a soloist/performer for the Eastern Illinois University Music Department, singing Duruflé Pie Jesu, Mozart's Impresario (Goldentrill), Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (Zita), Alec Wilder’s Sunday Excursion (Veronica) as well as scenes from Monatti’s The Old Maid and the Thief (Miss Todd), and Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte (Dorabella). Recently, Mikayla performed in her first musical with the Eastern Illinois Theatre Department as Marmee in Little Women. While residing in Charleston, Mikayla has helped to coach for the theatre department’s winter cabaret, competed in the NATS vocal competition, and helped with recruitment in the surrounding schools for EIU vocal department. In the summer of 2022, Mikayla traveled to Arezzo, Italy where she performed as La Superiora in Umberto's Mese Mariano and scenes from Verdi’s Falstaff (Quickly). Mikayla also had the honor of singing Journey to the Past at the historic Fortezza Medicea during their Broadway and Jazz concert.

Lisa Layman

Soprano Lisa Layman is an accomplished oratorio and opera singer, and voice instructor. Her operatic realm spans nearly thirty years and her repertoire includes the heroines of Puccini, Verdi, Bellini, Mozart, Bizet, Donizetti among others. She has sung at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, and at the Holder’s International Music Festival in Barbados,West Indies. Her work as an administrator includes management of a private HIV/AIDS friendly dental practice in New York City. During that time, Lisa became keenly aware of how the arts and wellness could and should be more intertwined by way of service for the larger community. In creating space for her musical passion, the two grew into an extraordinary opportunity when she later became the Ryan White Program Coordinator for NOVA Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL. She helped create and also supervise the management of a fourteen chair HIV/AIDS Dental Clinic funded solely from the Ryan White Care Act. This powerful experience ultimately led Lisa to teaching voice and opera, where she has proudly served on the voice faculty at SUNY Fredonia, and serves as Executive Director of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.

Ainsley Ryan Showalter

Mezzo soprano Ainsley Ryan Showalter has performed numerous concert, oratorio and operatic roles. With a B.A. in Music from Dartmouth College, Ainsley has also taught extensively, most specifically while adjudicating the National Institute of the Allied Arts Foundation’s Eisteddfod Festival and outreach while in residence in Zimbabwe. Ainsley has performed roles such as Polina with the New York opera company, One World Symphony, in their production of Tchaikovsky’s Pique Dame. Other New York performances include the role of Erika in Samuel Barber's Vanessa, First Maid in Richard Strauss's Elektra, Auntie in Britten's Peter Grimes, the Page in Strauss's Salomé, Sextus in Handel's Giulio Cesare, the world premiere of Stan Grill's In Flight and Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice; other performances include Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus with the Natchez Opera (2 seasons in residence) and the Sandman in Liederkranz Opera Theater's production of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. Solo oratorio engagements include Dvorak's Stabat Mater, the Duruflé Requiem, the Mozart Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil. Ainsley currently serves on the Board of Governors and both of the Artistic Advisory and Development Committees for the Erie Philharmonic and sits in the Director’s Circle for the Mercyhurst Institute of Arts & Culture at Mercyhurst University. Ainsley is thrilled to sing once again with TRANSCENDENCE.

TENOR

George Milosh

George Milosh is a singer, teacher, and conductor based in Aliquippa, PA. George has been seen onstage as John Adams in 1776 (Center Theatre Players), Hero in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Center Theatre Players), Prince Charming in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon (Pittsburgh Festival Opera), Tamino in The Magic Flute (West Virginia University), and Acis in Acis and Galatea (Central City Opera). In concert, George has sung solos in Bach’s St. John Passion with Resonance Works Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Messiah and Chandos Anthems with the Pittsburgh Camarata and Chatham Baroque. Other concert solo credits include Carmina Burana with the Butler Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven’s Mass in C and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, both with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. George currently serves as Music Director at Saint Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, PA, as well as Tsar Lazar Men’s Choir, a group of singers from around the Tri-State Area who specialize in Slavic music written for men's voices. Both groups have performed to great acclaim in concerts and in worship throughout the United States and Canada.

Royce Strider

Royce Strider is best known throughout the U.S.A. as a versatile and charismatic singer and performer. The 2021/2022 season marked his fourth year as a chorister and soloist with the Pittsburgh Camerata. With an affinity for early music and chamber collaboration, Royce completed training with Seraphic Fire’s Professional Choral Institute at the 2021 Aspen Music Festival, as well as at the Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music Baroque Collective program. He was named a National Finalist for the 2018-2019 American Prize in Art Song/Oratorio Performance. Royce has performed on stage throughout the country with organizations such as the Natchez Festival of Music, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Painted Sky Opera, and Ohio Light Opera. With roots in Norman, OK, he completed his Masters of Music at the University of Houston.

Brandon Vogt

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Brent Weber

Joe Braeger

Joe Braeger, prior to his glorious retirement, taught middle/high school vocal music for 33 years at Cassadaga Valley High School in Chautauqua County. In addition to conducting 4 choruses with way too many kids enrolled and excited about singing, he directed 33 school musicals and has been the vocal coach for several theatrical productions at Jamestown Community College. He graduated from Harborcreek High School, received his B.A. in Music Ed. from Edinboro University and completed his Masters degree in Music Ed. from SUNY Fredonia. He has sung with Chautauqua Chamber Singers for over 25 years and sings with the CMP Chorale. He currently is the General Manager of the Chautauqua County Community Music Project (a 501(c) 3 that promotes high quality choral music in WNY) as well as a proud grandfather, gardener, traveler, and beekeeper.

BASS

Chris Butler

Chris Butler is an active member of various music communities across Western PA and Western NY, with a special focus on sacred music. Originally from Jamestown, NY, Chris grew up in the vibrant Anglican/Episcopal music tradition at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where, as a member of the choir during his youth, Chris has also served as a guest pianist and organist. Chris has performed with several groups in the region, including the Chautauqua Chamber Singers, Penn State Choirs, New York All-State Choirs, and was a 2018 recipient of the Joseph A. Golando music award in Western NY. Formerly, Chris worked as an assistant administrator at the School of Music at Chautauqua Institution. After pursuing a collegiate and professional career in finance and management consulting, Chris now balances his business and music life, working as a consultant in energy finance, as a professional musician with the choir at the Cathedral of St. Paul, as a member of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus, and continues to serve as an accompanist for several ensembles throughout Western New York and PA.

Benjamin Filippone

Benjamin Filippone is active throughout the Pittsburgh area as a choir conductor and voice teacher. He teaches music and directs the choir at Community College of Allegheny County. He also serves as music director for the Mon Yough Chorale and East Shore Chorale, and is a professional core member of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. He performed the role of Ben in Menotti's "The Telephone" and recitals at the Maiski Opera Festival in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, and performed world premiers as a soloist and ensemble singer with OvreArts. He holds a BA in music education from Grove City College, a MM in vocal performance from Duquesne University, and studied choral conducting at the University of Arizona. He has appeared as the guest conductor for the Westmoreland County Music Educators Association Jr. High Chorus Festival, served as the chorus master for Undercroft Opera, and participated for three summers as a conductor with the Sarteano Choral Conducting Workshop with Simon Carrington in Sarteano, Italy.

Ian Young

Ian is a first-year graduate student at Duquesne University, pursuing a Master of Music in Voice performance. An alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University, Ian graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance in 2018, and then again in 2019 from the Advanced Music Studies certificate program. While in undergrad, Ian sang with the Carnegie Mellon University choir as well as other extracurricular and professional ensembles, including the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh. As a soloist, Ian has performed many roles including Frank in Die Fledermaus and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte. He has a particular passion for new music, having helped to premier an opera titled On Our Street in 2019 as part of the Compōs-it Opera festival, and even having commissioned a song cycle set to poems by Emily Dickinson for his 2019 AMS recital. After graduating, Ian hopes to continue singing in professional ensembles, and hopes to open a private voice studio.

Collin McCormick

Collin McCormick (Student Apprentice) is a second-year Music Education student at Duquesne University with a focus on choral studies. In addition to the undergraduate degree program, Collin sings with Duquesne’s auditioned chamber choir, Voices of Spirit, and Duquesne’s auditioned jazz choir, Duquesne Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In addition to his studies, Collin works as the Assistant Director for Beaver Falls High School’s Marching Band, serves as Treasurer for Duquesne’s American Choral Directors Association student chapter, and performs at local churches and festivals periodically. With free time, Collin enjoys playing the tuba and the piano. Collin is most excited to make connections with surrounding musicians through TRANSCENDANCE, and delve into the intricacies of music on a deeper level than is applicable to the standard music classroom. degree program, Collin sings with Duquesne’s auditioned chamber choir, Voices of Spirit, and Duquesne’s auditioned jazz choir, Duquesne Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In addition to his studies, Collin works as the Assistant Director for Beaver Falls High School’s Marching Band, serves as Treasurer for Duquesne’s American Choral Directors Association student chapter, and performs at local churches and festivals periodically. With free time, Collin enjoys playing the tuba and the piano. Collin is most excited to make connections with surrounding musicians through TRANSCENDANCE, and delve into the intricacies of music on a deeper level than is applicable to the standard music classroom.