Category: Herring Chamber Ensemble – Soprano / Alto

Lisa is a twenty-two-year veteran of the voice faculty at Furman University, and a frequent soloist in the Greenville, SC area. Having earned vocal performance degrees from Furman and Northwestern University, she is passionate about teaching her students to communicate expressively and to sing healthily. Prior to moving to Greenville, Lisa was active in the Atlanta music community, teaching choral music at Pace Academy, serving in several churches, and singing in the ASOC under the direction of Robert Shaw.

A native of Woodruff, SC, graduated from Furman University with a degree in church music. Amy also attended Converse College and Southern Seminary. She is a Children’s Choir specialist who has taught music, led choral workshops, and directed children’s and youth choirs in Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina. Amy has performed with VOX and the Ethos Chamber Singers in Charlotte, and locally with Greenville Light Opera Works and the SC Bach Choir.

A native of Houston, Texas, Kathryn Cavenaugh Knauer, soprano, made her first opera debut at a very young age. She began her life in the operatic world with Houston Grand Opera’s world premiere performance of Wallace’s HARVEY MILK as ‘Medora Payne’. She then made her New York City Opera debut with the same role the same year. She also performed in numerous small rolls with Houston Grand Opera. After receiving her Bachelor of Music Performance from Furman University and Master of Music Performance from Northwestern University, she has continued to perform in numerous roles including “”Pamina” in Mozart’s Die ZAUBERFLÖTE, “Violetta” in LA TRAVIATA, and “Mother” in AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS.

Originally from Morristown, Tennessee, Laura has been a collegiate choral conductor for 28 years, serving as Department Head of Music and Theatre at Walters State Community College. She is currently on the faculty of Clemson University, where she directs the Women’s Choir and accompanies voice and instrumental students. Laura is a graduate of Furman University with a degree in music education and earned her master’s degree in choral conducting at the University of Illinois.

Kelley holds her Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory from Furman University, where she was in Furman Singers, Chamber Singers and the Honeybees. She studied voice with Dr. Trudy Fuller and piano with Dr. David Gibson. Growing up in Greenville, Kelley was a student of The Fine Arts Center and Singing Christmas Tree. She has spent many years as a private piano, voice and theory teacher, and enjoys composing. Kelley has performed with the Connecticut Grand Opera Chorus, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Durham Choral Society and the Wilton Singers.

Judith is a native of Columbia , SC. She holds a degree in choral music education from Furman University, where she was a member of Furman Singers, Chamber Choir, and studied voice with Dr. Bruce Schoonmaker. For nine years, she taught choral and general music in Laurens, SC, Columbia SC, and Athens, GA. She recently earned her Master of Science degree from the University of South Carolina and is currently employed as a speech-language pathologist at Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community in Laurens, SC.

Originally from California’s Bay Area, Suzie Evjen Hagopian, mezzo-soprano, holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Elisabeth Phinney. Suzie spent a transition year singing in Nashville, TN and Graz, Austria before moving to New York City. Suzie continued voice study in New York with Patricia Scimeca and later, Frederick Martell. Suzie has been an active recital and concert soloist and has performed opera roles with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble and New York Opera Project.

Sylvia Hodge, mezzo-soprano, is a native of Greer, South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a member of the Romance Languages Chorale. Her graduate degrees are a Master of Education in Educational Administration, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, from the University of South Carolina. A lifelong musician, Sylvia studied voice with Ivah Dickson and has participated in community choruses and ensembles, singing solos in school, at church, and for numerous weddings and funerals.

Melissa is a native of Williamston, SC, attended Furman University, and has been a member of the Greenville Chorale for forty years.