North Carolina Choral Artists

James Mauk, tenor, has served as a conductor, teacher, clinician, & soloist throughout the US and abroad. He is the founder & artistic director of North Carolina Choral Artists, a project-based professional choir in eastern NC that highlights new and underrepresented composers. As a singer, conductor, and arranger he has been involved with over fifty world premiere performances in choral, opera, and art song mediums.  He has performed as a tenor and countertenor with Kantorei KC, Madison Choral Project, Missouri Choral Artists, Norfolk Festival Chamber Choir, Te Deum Antiqua, The Cecilia Ensemble, and Wilmington Voices. James appears in a number of recordings through GIA, Walton Music, and CORO Music Publishers and is active in the American Choral Directors Association and Chorus America.

James holds a Master’s degree in choral conducting from Missouri State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from East Carolina University where he also completed post-graduate studies in vocal pedagogy. In Fall of 2026, James will begin Doctoral studies in choral conducting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 2024-2025 he directed the Wesleyan Singers of NC Wesleyan University, has taught middle and high school choirs in Missouri and Wisconsin, and has taught private voice throughout his career. He is currently the music director at Lakeside Church in Rocky Mount, and on the Board of Directors for the Tar River Orchestra & Chorus and the Tarboro Choral Society.

Matthew Young is the Director of Music and Worship at First Baptist Church in his hometown of Rocky Mount, NC. Matthew received a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from East Carolina University under the guidance of Dr. Keiko Sekino and Kwan Yi.  He received a Master’s (Pi Kappa Lambda Honors) in Collaborative Piano from East Carolina under the direction of Dr. Catherine Garner.

In addition to his work in the church, Matthew plays for a number of choirs, including the Tar River Chorus, North Carolina Choral Artists, and the Wesleyan Singers. He is an active freelance pianist in Rocky Mount and the surrounding area- playing for multiple voice studios, choirs, competitions, and recitals.

Alex Gazda, bass, is a lifetime lover of choral music who finished his BA in music before moving to Vienna, Austria for three years, where he worked as a professional choral singer for area choirs, performing under the batons of Erwin Ortner, Lahav Shani, Markus Poschner, Thomas Holmes, and Wolfgang Reisinger. He has performed as a featured soloist and choral singer with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner Orchester Linz, iCAK Orchestra, Wilmington Symphony, and Opera Wilmington Orchestra. Alex’s deep love of choral music was fostered by Dr. Joe Hickman. Dr. Nancy King, and others, and he currently sings under the baton of Dr. Aaron Peisner. Most recently, Alex led a project of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion in Wilmington on the 300th anniversary of its premiere. Alex is most at home singing sacred choral music of the Austro-German school—whether Bach, Brahms, Mozart, Bruckner, Haydn, or Beethoven—but loves to sing anytime the communal aspect of singing is deep and meaningful. 

Zach Leach is a current graduate student at East Carolina University in choral conducting and vocal pedagogy. He received his undergraduate degree from ECU in vocal performance. Zach was a teacher in the NC public school system from 2020-2023. He currently resides in Greenville, NC.

Alex Smith is a Bass local from Raleigh, NC. He holds a Bachelor's in Computer Science from North Carolina State University, where he sung in the University's State Chorale. Currently, he sings with various choirs in the Triangle in both volunteer and professional capacity. When not working in the tech industry, he enjoys getting outside and going on a long run.

John-Tyler Brumfield, baritone, has performed throughout the United States and Europe. He holds a Multidisciplinary Studies Degree in Religious Studies and Vocal Performance from East Carolina University. J.T. has performed with the likes of Duke Vespers Ensemble (Duke Chapel), Duke Evensong Singers (Duke Chapel), Royal Academy of Ancient Music, Royal Academy of Music, Raleigh Camerata and The Rolling Stones. He works as a textile design specialist in Durham, NC. When he isn't busy restoring his historic mill worker's cottage, he enjoys knitting, quilting, gardening, singing, cooking, and traveling.

Daniel Eckes, bass, is a native of Germany. In Spring of 2023, he graduated with degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education with high honors from East Carolina University School of Music, where he was a multi-year member of the award-winning ECU Chamber Singers and Opera Theatre program, studying under James Franklin, Daniel Shirley, and John Kramar. Featured roles with the Opera Theatre included the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance and William Jennings Bryan in The Ballad of Baby Doe. With the Chamber Singers, Daniel appears on the recently released album Silence and Music on the Gothic label, produced by GRAMMY award-winning producer Blanton Alspaugh. Daniel is currently in his first year as the Choral Director at E.B. Frink Middle School in La Grange, NC and lives in Winterville with his girlfriend Sophia, and their three cats.

Aaron Peisner, Bass, enjoys a multifaceted career as a conductor, singer, and educator. He is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at University of North Carolina Wilmington. In 2022, he was appointed as the second-ever artistic director of Cape Fear Chorale. Additionally, Peisner serves as chorus master for Opera Wilmington, preparing the chorus for productions of Verdi's La Traviata and Mozart's The Magic Flute. He has prepared choirs for performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop, and the National Symphony Orchestras under the direction of conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Donald Runnicles, and Jeannette Sorrell.

A bass-baritone, Peisner has sung professionally with the choir at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, DC, hexaCollective in Baltimore, and Yale Schola Cantorum.

Peisner earned his DMA degree in choral conducting from University of Maryland, his MM in choral conducting from Yale University, and his BA in music from Wesleyan University. He lives in Wilmington with his partner, Ashik, and their handsome cat, Shochi.

Matt Hill is a tenor, conductor, composer, and organist from Beaufort, North Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Music from East Carolina University and a Master of Music from Westminster Choir College. Matt has sung with many major orchestras and operas including the New York Philharmonic, Opera Philadelphia, the American Classical Orchestra, and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. He has sung with the choirs of St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, NYC and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NYC. He served as Organist and Choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. Michael and All Angels in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Currently, he is the Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Beaufort, NC.

James Taylor is a North Carolina–based tenor recognized for his expressive musicianship and versatility across choral, oratorio, and operatic repertoire. An active and enthusiastic collaborator, he has performed with regional professional ensembles including Raleigh Bach Soloists, North Carolina Choral Artists, Rocky Mount Chamber Choir, Virelai, and Wilmington Voices. James is a private voice student of Dr. Nancy King and serves as a Choral Scholar at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington. His work as a choral scholar has included long-term appointments in Wilmington and Rocky Mount, as well as engagements with prominent Episcopal and Presbyterian sacred music programs throughout the region.

As a soloist, James has appeared in works such as Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Saint-Saëns’s Oratorio de Noël, Bach’s Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 61, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, Forrest’s Requiem for the Living, Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard, and David von Kampen’s A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth. Recent operatic highlights include the role of Monostatos in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Opera Wilmington, Saint Chavez in Virgil Thomson’s Four Saints in Three Acts, as well as ensemble roles with the North Carolina Opera.

As a choral musician, James competed in the 13th International Maribor Choral Competition Gallus in Maribor, Slovenia and the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in Varna, Bulgaria. James has also performed in several choral engagements with the New England Symphonic Ensemble in New York City at Carnegie Hall.

Along with his work as a performer, James is deeply engaged in arts leadership and administration. He has served on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations and is a founding member and Executive Director of North Carolina Choral Artists, a project-based ensemble dedicated to championing under-represented voices and highlighting the music of living composers.

James attended East Carolina University, where he studied Liberal Arts and Business, and continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. During his time at ECU, James performed with the critically acclaimed ECU Chamber Singers and the ECU Opera Theater, and studied voice with GRAMMY®-nominated tenor, Dr. Daniel Shirley.

When not performing, James serves as a Research Administrator at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. In his free time, he enjoys spending time at the beach and taking care of his house plants.

jamestaylortenor.com

Jacob McCain is a recent graduate of East Carolina University. He holds a bachelor's degree in voice performance and a master’s degree in voice performance and pedagogy from the same institution. Jacob first sung with Carolina Choral Artists back in 2019. He has performed the Bach Christmas Oratorio and Messiah with the Taylor Music Group. Anytime he gets to perform with wonderfully talented musicians is a gift. Furthermore, Jacob splits his time as the Full-time office administrator and receptionist at St. James UMC in Greenville and being a choral scholar at Lakeside Baptist church in Rocky Mount.

Elijah Cole, tenor, has enjoyed performing with award-winning choral ensembles throughout the United States and internationally. He graduated from East Carolina University, from which he holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance. There he studied and performed various styles of music; mainly including Art Song, Opera, Musical Theater,  Afro-Latin American, Early and New Music. As a native North Carolinian, Elijah currently enjoys traveling the Carolinas to perform as a guest soloist and with ensembles such as Carolina Choral Artists and Wilmington Voices.

Caleb Skinner is a native of Sims, NC. He received his BA in Music from Wingate University, and he recently completed his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Kentucky. While completing his graduate studies, he studied acting with Janet Scott through University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and receive vocal coachings from Cliff Jackson and (Irish Tenor) Ronan Tynan. His performing credits range from musical theatre, opera, operetta, concert works, and remains an active recitalist. He played Tyler in a world premiere SATB of Tyler’s Suite where he shared the stage with Tony-nominated star, Ann Hampton-Calloway. He also served as a soloist and dance captain in UK Opera Theatre’s 2017, Emmy-winning production of It’s a Grand Night for Singing. He has shared the stage with several Metropolitan Opera stars, renowned vocal coaches and concert singers, and several composers. Since returning to Wilson, he has been director and musical director of many really wonderful productions with Act for Youth and The Playhouse. Skinner is an English teacher (making use of his minor) at Hunt High School in Wilson, NC; credits his greatest inspirations as The Muppets, Robin Williams, and Carol Burnett; and is the single father of two cats.

Aaron Carlyle is a native of North Carolina. He earned a BM in Vocal Performance from East Carolina University and an MM in Vocal Performance from Westminster Choir College, studying with John Kramar and Laura Brooks Rice. Aaron has sung with the renowned Westminster Symphonic Choir, the New York Choral Artists, the Kinnara Ensemble, the North Carolina Master Chorale, The Concert Singers of Cary, and The Carolina Choral Artists. As a church music professional Aaron has sung regularly as a substitute at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and St. Thomas 5th Avenue in New York City, and as a section leader at Christ United Methodist Church also in New York. He has also traveled and sung on multiple cathedral and concert tours in England, Wales, Ireland, Spain, Norway, and Sweden. Aaron previously worked as a professional opera chorus singer performing in multiple shows with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and also actively performs as a concert soloist and recitalist. As a teacher, Aaron taught general music for five years with Richmond County and Moore County Schools and has taught beginning piano and voice lessons since 2012. Aaron and his lovable dachshund sidekick Bailey currently live in Southern Pines.

Rebecca Blackwell is a mezzo-soprano whose vocal work spans chamber choral music, opera, and new works. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from New York University. Rebecca has performed with Oregon Bach Festival, Weimar Bach Academy, Minnesota Opera, Kentucky Opera, Madison Choral Project, Twin Ports Choral Project, and Borealis Chamber Artists, and is excited to make her first appearance with North Carolina Choral Artists.

Beyond the stage, Rebecca works as a mental health therapist, bringing the same attentiveness to human depth and connection that shapes her musical life. She is an avid runner and certified yoga instructor, continuing to discover ways in which movement and breath inform her artistry. At home, she shares her life with her partner James and their three cats Curly, Luci, and Raven.

Maeve Lee, Soprano, is a Raleigh native that moved to Wilmington in 2017. She graduated with a BM in Music Education from East Carolina University and was awarded Outstanding Senior in Choral Music Education. She was a music teacher for 6 years, before moving to the finance sector, and currently teaches private piano and ukulele on the side. At ECU she studied voice with Grammy®-nominated soprano Kathryn Mueller and performed with the prestigious ECU Chamber Singers. She has performed with the Carolina Liturgical Chorale, and Wilmington Voices. Maeve enjoys spending her free time with her husband Andrew, and their son, James.

Kaleigh Odum, mezzo-soprano, is a dedicated vocalist and music educator currently in her first year of teaching middle and high school chorus. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from Appalachian State University and a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from East Carolina University. Her performing experience spans musical theatre, opera, operetta, concert works, and solo recitals. Most recently, she served as music director for her school’s productions of Mary Poppins and Mean Girls the Musical. Kaleigh is passionate about fostering a love of music in young singers and is excited to continue growing as both an educator and performer. Outside of music, she enjoys crocheting, hiking, spending time with family, and, of course, making music.

Claire Cooper, mezzo soprano, is a non-profit director by day and a musician on nights and weekends. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Some of her favorite opera credits include Elizabeth Bennett (the staged premiere of Pride and Prejudice), Sesto (Giulio Cesare), Toledo (The Falling and the Rising) and Dorabella (Così fan tutte). Claire works full time for the North Carolina Aquarium Society and continues her deep love of music through performances like this one.

Jordan Cartrette Stancil is a mezzo-soprano in Greenville, North Carolina. She holds a Master’s degree in Music History and Literature and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition, both from East Carolina University. She has performed a number of roles with the ECU Opera Theater and has sung with a variety of choirs during her career. She is currently the Academic Advisor for the School of Music at ECU. Her free time is spent with her husband, Carey, son, Emery, and two cats, Obi and Soka.

A native of Boone, North Carolina, Isabella Stollenmaier is a versatile mezzo soprano with a successful career as a performer and teacher. Isabella completed her Masters from DePaul University and studied with sopranos Amanda Majeski and Dr. Nancy King and currently, James Smidt. Isabella currently has a private studio with Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts and is pursuing her DMA at UNC Greensboro. Isabella has participated in Masterclasses with Craig Terry of Lyric Opera of Chicago and Karim Sulayman. She has also placed second place in the Classical Singer Competition in the Young Artist/Emerging Pro division.

Beth Philemon is a choral conductor, educator, and entrepreneur whose work bridges artistic and corporate identities rather than choosing between them — an AND not OR philosophy. She is the founder of ChoirBaton, home to a podcast, an academy for new, emerging, and returning community singers, and an institute for choir teachers — all anchored by her trademarked Choralist Method™ and the mission of #MorePeopleSinging.

Beth also consults on AI strategy, adoption, and transformation for individuals, arts organizations, and enterprise clients. She holds an MBA from NC State and a Master's in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University, and lives in Raleigh, NC.

Baajah Mohammed, Soprano, is a North Carolina native performer and teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance from East Carolina University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Baajah has been seen on stage, most recently, as Barbarina in Peach State Opera's production of The Marriage of Figaro. Other notable performances include: Lydia (Pride and Prejudice), Soeur Constance (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Una Conversa (Suor Angelica), Celia (Iolanthe), and more. As a proponent of choral music, Baajah has also been a member and frequent soloist for many choirs and vocal ensembles. Currently, she enjoys teaching voice and music theory, songwriting, and performing along the east coast.

A "soaring soprano soloist" (Boston Classical Review), Gina Marie Falk is a Boston-based singer specializing in the performance of early and contemporary chamber music. Gina Marie regularly performs and tours imaginative programs with the Pandora Consort, joins Emmanuel Music in their weekly Bach Cantata Series and annual concerts, and collaborates with pianist Clémentine Dubost to bring underrepresented French art song to the Upper Valley. Other recent credits include a residency at the Portland Bach Experience and premiering works of emerging composers as a member of Nightingale Vocal Ensemble. With award-winning bands Saint Boneface and DREAMGLOW, Gina Marie is privileged to explore the boundaries between classical and popular genres in intimate venues. When not singing, Gina Marie teaches French language and diction courses to undergraduate and graduate students at the Longy School of Music and the New England Conservatory.

ginamariefalk.com

Meghan Neff, mezzo-soprano, has performed in the Carolinas as a soloist and in the local theatre and choral communities in Rocky Mount, New Bern, Wilson, Greenville and Myrtle Beach. Most recently she directed music for Elf the Musical and played the roles of Jovie (Elf) and Penelope Pennywise (Urinetown) at Rivertown Players in New Bern. She studied vocal performance at Coastal Carolina University. She is currently the Account Operations Director at Horseware Ireland based in Dublin, Ireland. She currently sings with Tar River Chorus and is a scholar singer at Lakeside Church in Rocky Mount.

Esther Keller, Soprano, holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from East Carolina University, where she studied under Dr. Jami Rhodes. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from Brigham Young University, performing with the BYU Singers from 2018 to 2020. With over fifteen years of training in classical voice and choral arts, Esther brings both skill and versatility to her work as a performer and educator. She has taught undergraduate voice methods at ECU, directed choirs at BYU, and has maintained a private voice studio for the past eight years. Esther performs regularly with the North Carolina Choral Artists as both a soprano and featured soloist. Her operatic roles include Fiordiligi in scenes from Così fan tutte and Mrs. Odum in Taggart’s Gal Young ‘Un. She currently teaches voice in the Raleigh area and performs as a soloist and choral artist throughout North Carolina.

Elizabeth Stovall Gazda, Soprano, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from East Carolina University in 2017 and her Masters degree in Voice Performance from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2019. In January of 2021 she accepted a full time position as a lecturer in voice at UNC-Wilmington.

Some of her recent operatic roles include: Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen, Serpetta in Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera, and Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. She will take on the role of Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Opera Wilmington this summer.

In 2014, she was crowned Miss North Carolina and went on to compete in the Miss America competition where she was awarded a non-finalist talent award. While competing in the Miss America system, Beth promoted her platform: Inspiration Art. In addition to speaking to thousands of students across the state of NC, she also spoke to legislators about the importance of arts education on the House floor in Raleigh. Her passion for arts education is still a very important part of her life, and she plans to continue performing professionally and teaching voice for as long as she can.

Caroline Steinert, soprano, is a passionate vocalist and music educator from Pittsboro, NC. Caroline holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from East Carolina University, where she was a dedicated member of the ECU Chamber Singers. Caroline is finishing up her first year of teaching at North Graham Elementary School in Graham, NC teaching K-5 music. Outside of performing and teaching, Caroline enjoys baking, playing ukulele and piano, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Caroline is honored to be a part of the NC Choral Artists and looks forward to every opportunity to make beautiful music with such talented musicians.

Casey Daniel Eaton (soprano) is a Raleigh-based Performer and Music Educator. She is the current Elementary Music Teacher at Creech Road Elementary in Garner, NC, and serves as one of the directors with Raleigh Youth Choir.

As an elementary music educator, Casey enjoys working her lively, animated personality into effectively building foundational music-making skills with our youngest singers. Having founded the Creech Road Chorus in 2024, she has doubled her roster, taken her choir to schools and venues across Wake County, and was awarded her school’s “Flourishing Award” by her principal within her first year. Additionally, she began directing the Acorns (Grades K-2) with Raleigh Youth Choir in 2024, and nearly tripled her roster within her first year. She looks forward to the upcoming 2025-26 season, jam-packed with new, exciting opportunities for her singers.

Being an active performer across the Carolinas, recent credits include Greenville Theatre’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Mrs. Bucket, cover) and Spartanburg Little Theatre’s The Sound of Music (Elsa Schraeder) and The Addams Family (Alice). She has appeared in concerts at Theatre Raleigh and Spartanburg Little Theatre, and has been a featured soloist with North Carolina Master Chorale, Spartanburg Master Chorale (The Creation as Eve), and Spartanburg Philharmonic.

Casey completed a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education (dual degree) at East Carolina University. Casey appeared in ECU Opera productions, including The Secret Marriage (Carolina) and Idomeneo (Ilia), and sang with the internationally-acclaimed ECU Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Andrew Crane. She completed a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Baylor University, where she appeared in BU Opera productions such as HMS Pinafore (Josephine) and A Little Night Music (Fredrika), and sang in choirs under the directions of Dr. Lynne Gackle and Dr. Brian Schmidt. Casey was also seen in local theatre productions, including Mamma Mia! (Sophie).

Casey’s favorite job of all is “Mama” to Henry, and she spends her free time exploring the Triangle area with her family.

Allison Benoit is a soprano from Memphis, TN. She is currently a graduate student at East Carolina University pursuing a Master of Music in Voice Performance. At ECU, she studies with Dr. Catherine Gardner and Professor John Kramar, and she is a member of Chamber Singers and Opera Theatre. She received her B. M. in Voice Performance from Middle Tennessee State University and studied with Dr. Dina Cancryn.