Cantatathon 2026

The First Baptist Chancel Choir is a skilled sacred arts choir consisting of around 30 singers. Comprised of both parishioners and WPI Choral Scholars and organ students, they are Directed by Minister of Music and the Arts, Wesley Hall, and serve as the backbone of musical worship at First Baptist as they have done for many generations under the directorship of T. Charles Lee, Barclay Wood, and William Ness. in addition to their work during Sunday services, the Chancel Choir has participated with numerous other organizations for joint events with the choirs of All Saints and Trinity Lutheran, and for concerts with groups like the Rhode Island Civic Choral and Orchestra, and WPI Festival Chorus. The choir excels at singing a wide range of music required by our liturgical needs, and they are equally at home singing Gospel Music, Bach, Durufle, or new compositions like those of our long-running Choral Anthem Competition. Perhaps most notably, each December the Chancel Choir continues the 80+ year old tradition at First Baptist of presenting the Service of Lessons and Carols, patterned after the famous service at King’s College, Cambridge.

Salisbury Singers is a mixed chorus of more than 60 singers under the insightful leadership of Artistic Director Reagan Paras. The chorus is dedicated to the enhancement of cultural life in Worcester and central Massachusetts, as well as the musical growth of its members. Salisbury Singers achieves these objectives through professional quality performances of acapella and accompanied choral repertoire drawn from diverse traditions and styles.

Salisbury Singers, Inc. was founded in 1973 by the late Malama Robbins Collinsworth to foster the highest standards of the musical arts. From 1998-2020, Salisbury Singers was led by Dr. Michelle Graveline to continue this standard of excellence. In 2020, Michelle assumed the role of Artistic Director Emerita. Read more about Michelle here. From 2020-2024, Salisbury Singers was led by Brad Dumont. In 2024, Brad assumed the role of Artistic Director Emeritus.

Described by audience members as “silky smooth butter in musical form” and “voices like I imagine angels might sound,” Voices of Concinnity is Connecticut’s versatile professional vocal chamber ensemble illuminating the breadth of choral music through innovative programming and richness of choral sound. Concinnity consists of 12 dedicated, seasoned choral artists from diverse backgrounds with a mission to connect with the community through exquisitely crafted, innovative choral programming that fosters inclusion, promotes collaboration, illuminates variety, and ensures affordable access. A Global Music Award Gold Medal recipient and 2025 American Prize Finalist, Concinnity focuses on individual expression within a cohesive whole, harnessing each singer’s unique vocal qualities into a rich collective sound; thus embracing an honesty that enhances the listening experience and resonates with audiences.

Consonare Community Choir is a mixed voice ensemble open to all singers with no audition that collaborates with an instrumental ensemble to enhance the joy of choral singing through an accessible rehearsal model and connecting through other artistic disciplines.

Both Voices of Concinnity and Consonare Community Choir are sponsored by Consonare Choral Community, an arts nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and based in Mansfield, Connecticut, that works to build community through choral music.

The Worcester Children’s Chorus (WCC) was founded in 2008 as a program of The Master Singers of Worcester by co-directors Jennifer Kane and Malcolm Halliday. A partnership was also formed at that time between the WCC and Assumption University making WCC a choir “in residence” at the University campus where WCC enjoys rehearsal and performance spaces as well as other resources.

The Worcester Children’s Chorus has performed with many area ensembles, including: The Master Singers of Worcester, The Assabet Valley Mastersingers, The Salisbury Singers, the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, the Worcester Youth Orchestra, and the Worcester Chorus. Members of the chorus have also performed on three occasions at Carnegie Hall in NYC, participated in the International Children’s Chorus Festival at Canterbury Cathedral and London, England, as well as the Crescent City Choral Festival in New Orleans. In 2016, the WCC was featured at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, where they performed the Star Spangled Banner before tens of thousands.

Praised for her “versatile voice” and “rich character portrayals,” mezzo-soprano Megan Roth brings vibrant artistry and emotional depth to every performance. She engages audiences across opera, oratorio, art song, and chamber music, with a repertoire spanning early music to contemporary works. Recent operatic highlights include three role debuts with activist opera company White Snake Projects, a dramatic portrayal of La mort de Cléopâtre with the New England Repertory Orchestra, and acclaimed performances as Tisbe in La Cenerentola and Despina in Così fan tutte with Boston Midsummer Opera. Other roles include Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Meg (Little Women), and Dorabella (Così fan tutte), as well as appearances in Maria Padilla, Béatrice et Bénédict, Trouble in Tahiti, and Giulio Cesare.

On the concert stage, Megan has appeared as soloist in Copland’s In the Beginning, Handel’s Messiah, and Handel’s Dixit Dominus. Her repertoire includes major works by Bach, Mozart, de Falla, and Duruflé. Megan is the founder and artistic director of Calliope’s Call, a New England-based ensemble known for its innovative, culturally resonant art song programming. She also thrives in chamber music settings, performing regularly with top national ensembles including the GRAMMY®- nominated Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Yale Choral Artists, Spire Chamber Artists, Upper Valley Baroque, and True Concord. She was featured as a violin soloist on Skylark’s GRAMMY®- nominated album It’s a Long Way. She holds degrees from Florida State University (M.M., Artist Certificate in Opera) and DePaul University (B.M. in Violin Performance with honor), and has been recognized by The American Prize in multiple categories.

Outside of music, Megan enjoys yoga, contemporary fiction, and kayaking with her husband and their Boston Terriers, Bronx and Brooklyn.

Meghan graduated from the University of Connecticut studying under Dr. Constance Rock with her Master of Music degree. She received her music education certification from Central Connecticut State University and for several years she taught middle school vocal music in West Hartford, Connecticut. She also received her Bachelor of Music vocal performance degree from Boston University. While at BU she participated in the early music and opera departments, working with voice teacher Frank Kelley. Additionally she attended the Florence Voice Program where she studied with Laura Brooks-Rice.

Meghan has participated with groups including Boston’s Emmanuel Music, Vancouver’s Summer Opera Studio, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Greater Worcester Opera in MA, Pan Opera in MA, and Hartford Opera Theater.

​She was a finalist in both the 2013 Connecticut Concert Opera: American Opera Idol Competition and The American Prize in Voice: Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards: Opera, University Division. She was also the mezzo-soprano winner for the 2013 Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra: Collegiate Vocal Solo Competition and a graduate winner for the University of Connecticut’s 2014 Concerto Competition.

Meghan’s previous roles include Meg March in Little Women with Hartford Opera Theater, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Vancouver Summer Opera Studio, Cherubino in the English translation of Le Nozze di Figaro with Greater Worcester Opera, Nancy in Albert Herring and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with University of Connecticut Opera Theater, and Nina in the U.S. premiere of Justin Dello Joio’s Blue Mountain with the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble.

Meghan was chosen as a mezzo-soprano for a vocal apprenticeship at the 2016 Nahant Music Festival in Nahant, MA. While at this festival she sang the role of Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and participated in various other events. Additionally, Meghan was chosen as the mezzo-soprano participant for the 2017 Bach Institute at the Emmanuel Church in Boston where she sang selections from several Bach Cantatas and sung with the Emmanuel Music Choir.

Meghan has sung on three Bach Cantata CD’s with Emmanuel Music musicians including soprano Kendra Colton and oboist Peggy Pearson. She also performs regularly with Boston Baroque and has been on the chorus roster since 2017. She recently sung the role of Second Priestess in the opera Iphigenie en Tauride last spring 2024 with Boston Baroque. Meghan is looking forward to singing as an alto chorus member on Haydn’s Creation, Handel’s Messiah, and the Handel opera Ariodante during the 2024 – 2025 season.

She was thrilled to be chosen as the alto fellow for the Bach Akademie of Charlotte, NC during June 2024. She sung works including Bach Cantata’s BWV 1083 & BWV 37, a Renaissance Motet Concert with selections including Parry, Gombert, Wert, and Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610.

She has her CT music education teaching certificate from Central CT State University and currently teaches public elementary music in Avon, CT. She recently completed her Suzuki piano Book 1 teacher training and she completed her Suzuki voice Book 1 teacher training this summer 2024. She is looking forward to teaching Suzuki voice at the University of Hartford – Hartt School of Music’s Community Division this coming year.

​In her spare time, Meghan enjoys spending time with her family, teaching ZUMBA dance classes, exploring world music, and enjoying being in her garden outside.

Sarah Kaufold is an experienced conductor, singer, and music educator who advocates for inclusion on the podium, within the choral ensemble, and in the choir folder. While she pursues a doctorate in Choral Conducting as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Connecticut, Sarah also serves as Founding Artistic Director for Consonare Choral Community, a nonprofit organization created in 2018 to build community through choral music, where she manages the organization and conducts: Choir Matrix, Consonare Community Choir, and Voices of Concinnity, which is a professional vocal chamber ensemble whose debut album, “Awaiting Golden Light,” received a Gold Medal from the Global Music Awards. In addition to performing at Carnegie Hall and the American Choral Directors Association regional and state conferences, Voices of Concinnity has been named a national finalist in the 2025 American Prize in Choral Performance.

Over her career, Sarah has directed choirs for singers of all ages and abilities in various settings, including church choral programs for children and adults, middle and high school music classes, collegiate choirs, adult community programs, and at the professional level. She has also conducted operas, taught Choral Literature and Conducting at local universities, written numerous arts grants, sings professionally, and manages a mentorship program to amplify female conductors. Her philosophy on inclusive practices in choral settings and programming has earned invitations as a choir consultant in addition to presenting interest sessions at conferences.

She holds a M.M. in Choral Conducting from University of Connecticut with extensive graduate choral conducting from California State University, Los Angeles, and B.A. in Psychology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. She enjoys hiking, photography, and traveling with her family.

Soprano, Erica Maas Shippee is a voice & piano teacher and the Founder of Market Square Music Academy in Newington. Erica sings professionally with Voices of Concinnity and the Schola Cantorum of Saint Joseph’s Cathedral and has appeared as a soloist with the Oriana Consort, Manchester Symphony, CONCORA, The Master Singers of Worcester, and Music at the Red Door. She has also performed with The Boston Camerata, the Longy Early Opera Project and the Hartt Opera Theater. She has been lucky to sing on choral tours to Lincoln and Coventry, Vienna, Budapest and the National Cathedral. Erica holds a BM from the Hartt School of Music and an MM from The Longy School of Music in Boston. Erica is thrilled to be back with CONCORA for her 9th season.

Alex O’Neil studied music education and vocal performance at CCSU. He has studied the tenor voice with Jack Pott and the countertenor voice with Benjamin Rauch. He enjoys the opportunity to sing multiple voice parts, especially within the same performance. Alex performs in multiple professional ensembles, including Voce, CONCORA, Hartford Chorale, and recently participated in his debut performance at Carnegie Hall with Voices of Concinity. Alex is a tenor section leader at Immanuel Congregational Church, and works at Wesleyan University as the ITS service desk manager.

Virginian baritone & recording artist, Jermaine Otis Woodard Jr., is in demand, soaring through an eclectically versatile soloist & ensemble career.  His current roster portfolio includes Voices of Concinnity (Navona Records), CONCORA, Voce Inc. (Signum Records), Cathedral of Saint Joseph’s Schola Cantorum/Cathedral Quartet, Berkshire Opera Festival, and Composer’s Choir.  Woodard highly enjoys being a recurring background vocalist in Javier Colon’s live band (inaugural winner of NBC’s “The Voice”); recently soloing alongside Javier at Infinity Music Hall Hartford.  In November 2022, Woodard inaugurated the leading role -Bailey- in ‘Magic: A Ballroom Musical’, a musical premiere by James Gadzik.

Woodard actively serves as Baritone Section Leader & Soloist at Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Crescendo Inc, and the Hartford Chorale; additionally, offering scholarship to the board of governors for the Hartford Chorale and Consonare.  Woodard is regularly committed to cantorial leadership and ministry at Sacred Heart Parish Bloomfield and Cathedral of Saint Joseph.

Noteworthy engagements:  An American Requiem (Edward Tyler) | SOLOIST | CONCORA {World Premiere}; La Traviata (Verdi) | COMMISSIONARIO | Berkshire Opera Festival; Rappresentatione di anima et di corpo (Cavallieri) | CONSIGLIO | Crescendo; Te Deum (Charpentier) | BASS 1 SOLOIST | Music Worcester; Petite Messe Solennelle (Rossini) | SOLOIST | Mystic River Chorale; Shell Shaker: A Chickasaw Opera (Jerod I. Tate) | CHATAH/NANI’/FISH | Mount Holyoke College {East Coast Premiere}; Magnificat, BWV 243 (Bach) // Messiah (Händel) | SOLOIST | Waterbury Symphony Orchestra; Fauré Requiem | SOLOIST | The Hartford Chorale; St. John Passion (Bob Chilcott) | JESUS | Asylum Hill Music & Arts; Passio (Pärt) | JESUS | CONCORA; L’Italiana in Algeri (Rossini) | HALY/ALI | Opera Theatre of Connecticut; A Passion for the Planet (Geoffrey Hudson) | SOLOIST | CONCORA {East Coast Premiere}; Messiah (Händel) | SOLOIST | Music Worcester; In Search of the Bridges (John Meyers) | SOLOIST | Crescendo {World Premiere}.

Follow • Facebook: Jermaine Woodard Jr. • Instagram: @jermaineowjr • Album Credits—Featured *Soloist: Voices of Concinnity | Awaiting Golden Light | *Breadth of Blossoms; Hartford Chorale | 50th Anniversary Concert (Live) | *Fare Ye Well; Andrey Stolyarov |  A Sonic Tapestry | *Home

As a bass-baritone, Greg has been praised for his “rich and powerful voice,” (Cape Cod Times) captivating audiences across the region in performances spanning opera, operetta, musical theatre, oratorio, art song, and choral masterworks. He has become a go-to collaborator for many conductors, valued for his versatile technique, keen musicianship, and profound dedication to character and text. Freelance solo oratorio highlights include Elijah in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, Duruflé’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, Haydn’s The Creation, Jesus in Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and many works J.S. Bach . Greg has been a featured soloist in symphonic masterworks with the Hartford Chorale, Farmington Valley Chorale, New Haven Chorale, New Haven Symphony, New England Symphony, Greater Middletown Chorale, Manchester Symphony and Chorus, Farmington Symphony, New Britten Symphony, Eastern Connecticut Symphony and Chorus, The Hart School of Music, The University of Connecticut, Yale School of Music, and many more. He was a national finalist in the Collegiate Division of the Classical Singer Competition in 2014. Greg regularly performs(ed) with leading professional ensembles, including Concora, Voce, Alchemy, Voices of Concinnity, Novi Cantori, and the Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Opera and operetta highlights include Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and “Pa” Ferguson in the world premiere of Douglas Buchanan and Caitlyn Vincent’s Bessie and Ma (both with UConn Opera), Cadmus in Handel’s Semele (Simsbury Opera), Frank Maurrant in Weill’s Street Scene (Hartt Opera Theatre), Dr. Falke in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus (Hartt Opera Theatre), and Lord Mountararat in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe (College
Light Opera Company). Musical‑theatre credits feature Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (College Light Opera Company), Mr. Maraczek in Bock & Harnick’s She Loves Me (College Light Opera, UConn Opera), Jamie in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years, Man 2 in Brown’s Songs for a New World (Branch River Theatre).

As a conductor and educator, Greg currently teaches choral music and music theory full time at Southington High School, and is the Director of Music at the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, CT, where he curates vibrant, meaningful worship through choral leadership and community engagement. Previously, Greg has worked at Loomis Chaffee School and The Hartt School Community Division as a voice teacher, The University of Connecticut as a teaching assistant, Regional District 17, teaching middle school chorus full time, and St. Mark The Evangelist Church in West Hartford as Music Director and Organist. In Greg’s tenure at RSD17, his top choirs earned top honors in competition each year, and he consistently had at least 30 students participating in regional music festivals. At Southington High School, he has grown the choral department from 27 students to nearly 80 students in 3 years. Greg has had students from multiple positions attend High School All State, get a 4 or 5 on their AP Theory Exam, and go on to major in music in college. Greg transitioned from church singer to church director in 2017, when he began as organist for St. Mark the Evangelist, where he also directed the choir. In his time at CCSG, Greg has managed one of the largest congregational choirs in the state, started an annual Messiah Sing, rejuvenated the children’s’ music ministry, curated the monthly concert series, and produced and/or conducted larger concerts – including Faure Requiem with the church choir and collaborations on with professional colleagues from other churches and choral ensembles.

Greg’s compositional output is mostly either music he wrote for fun, or for function in religious worship. That said, he is interested in exploring more opportunities as a composer. He is credited on IMDB as a film composer for his work on the 1920’s Jazz-inspired Musical, Speak Easy To Me. Favorite compositions include: The Four Seasons of Robert Frost (choral), String Quartet No. 1, Fugue on “Truro” (Brass Quartet), Je Vous Salue
Marie pour Notre Dame (choral).