UCF’s singers, including the UCF Chamber Singers, SoAl and TeBa choruses, University Singers, and UCF Community Choir, share faith, hope and love through song.

UCF’s SoAl, TeBa and Community choir, under the baton of Kelly Miller, start the evening with hopeful octavos.

Jeffery Redding leads the UCF Chamber Choir, University Singers, UCF faculty, guest soloists and members of the UCF Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass (Hob. XXII/11). The Missa in Angustiis (Mass for troubled times) is one of fourteen masses written by Joseph Haydn and is one of the six masses written near the end of his life, which are, together, now seen as a culmination of Haydn’s liturgical composition.

 


Faith, Hope and Love: UCF Choirs

 

Download PDF Program

Headshots of Samantha Barnes Daniel, Dorea Cook, Jeremy Hunt, Thomas Potter, Jeffery Redding and Kelly Miller.

 

Acclaimed soloist and chamber musician Samantha Barnes Daniel performs actively throughout the Central Florida area. She completed training at the University of Central Florida and Northwestern University, as well as several young artist programs at companies such as Chautauqua Opera and Arizona Opera. She is a two-time National semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was a Sarah Tucker Grant Nominee in the Richard Tucker Foundation Competition. Ms. Barnes Daniel performs regularly with Opera Orlando, the Voices of Liberty, the Solaria Singers of Orlando Sings, the Basilica Choir at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, and the Villages Philharmonic. She has also sung with the Orlando Philharmonic, Opera Tampa, Chautauqua Opera, Arizona Opera, and the Illinois Philharmonic, among others. Recent stage credits include First Lady in The Magic Flute, the Mother in Hansel & Gretel, and Catherine of Aragon in Opera Orlando and Helena's award winning Orlando Fringe show, 6 of VIII, for which she also wrote the book. Recent concert credits include the soprano soloist in Mahler’s 2nd & 3rd Symphonies, Barber’s, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and the Mozart Requiem. She is a founding member of the professional women’s ensemble, Helena, and is an adjunct professor on the voice faculty at Rollins College and Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland.

Dorea Cook is known for her vibrant sound and flexibility within diverse styles from opera to chamber and contemporary repertoire. She is a founding member of the professional chamber ensemble The Solaria Singers and a core member of the Orlando Sings Symphonic Chorus, with whom she has soloed in Seven Joys (Caroline Shaw) and Tse Go La (Andrea Clearfield). Other recent performances include Thomas Rex Harrison’s song “A bird came down the walk,” recorded and released on A Dialogue of Self and Soul: Songs for the Concert Hall, art song world premieres in recitals throughout the southeast, and chamber music by Mozart, Mahler, Brahms, and Ravel. Dorea has presented her current research on twenty-first century North American art songs at the 2022 and 2020 NATS National Conferences, the 2023 and 2021 SERNATS Conferences, the 2023, 2022, and 2021 Music by Women Festivals, and the 2019 GANATS Conference. She has also soloed with the Houston Chamber Choir, Conspirare Chamber of Voices, Conspirare Symphonic Choir and the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and the Texas Early Music Project. Dorea can be heard commercially with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus on the CSO Resound label and on other recordings with the Houston Chamber Choir, San Antonio Chamber Choir, and the William Ferris Chorale. Dorea teaches at Valencia College and Seminole State College and is a private instructor and freelancer in the Orlando area. She received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.

Originally from Warner Robins, Georgia, Dr. Jeremy Hunt received his Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He went on to receive both his Masters and his Doctorate in Vocal Performance from the prestigious Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music. During his time at IU, Jeremy studied with world-renowned singers and teachers Virginia Zeani, Giorgio Tozzi, and Andreas Poulimenos. He also held the position of Associate Instructor of voice for four years, and saw several of his students embark on successful performing careers.

Dr. Hunt has been a featured soloist with The Riverside Symphonia in Lambertville, NJ, The Orlando Chorale, the Orlando Philharmonic and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and is a frequent recitalist in the US and abroad. He recently performed the role of the Celebrant in Bernstein's Mass at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, in Orlando.

As Professor of Voice at UCF, Dr. Hunt has had students accepted into top graduate music programs including, Indiana University, Northwestern University, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Illinois, Penn State and UNCG.

Dr. Hunt has a strong interest in the Italian language and repertoire and has twice participated in the Ezio Pinza Council for American singers of Opera in Oderzo, Italy. He also attended the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci in Siena, Italy for an intensive study of the language. In addition to his musical interests, Jeremy is a Certified Yoga Teacher and incorporates his knowledge and practice of yoga into the voice studio. He has presented at National and International conferences on the subject of Yoga for Singers and has created a fully online Yoga for Performers course at UCF, PEM 2122.

Dr. Hunt is also a developer with Apple and has 10 educational Apps related to singing, repertoire and diction on the App store, which have sold in over 70 different countries throughout the world. Visit Jeremy Hunt Apps for more information.

Dr. Hunt is a NATS member, currently serving as Webmaster for SERNATS. For 15 years, he served as secretary/treasurer/registrar of the Central Florida chapter. He was accepted and participated in the NATS Intern program in 2010.

With over 35 years of experience as a professional opera singer, Verdi baritone has shared the stage with great artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Kurt Moll, Dolora Zajick, and Deborah Voigt, to mention a few. Professor Potter began his professional career with a multi-year contract at the San Francisco Opera, then, after several years in New York, he found himself living in Switzerland and singing opera throughout Europe.

Potter has sung leading roles with numerous International music festivals, including the Spoleto Music Festival in both Italy and the USA venues, the Ravenna (Italy) Music Festival, the Bregenzer (Austria) Festspiele, the La Biennale Festival in Venice, Italy, and the Festival de Inverno - Campos do Jordão in Brazil.

A few of the opera companies with which Potter has performed include the Teatro Comunale 'Giuseppe Verdi' in Trieste (Italy), Palm Beach Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Cordoba (Spain), Opera São Paulo (Brazil), Opéra du Rhin in Strasbourg (France), Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe (Germany), Sarasota Opera, Atlanta Opera, Utah Opera, Opera Orlando (and Orlando Opera), and Indianapolis Opera.

As a winner of the Luciano Pavarotti International Vocal Competition in Philadelphia Potter was awarded the opportunity to sing alongside Mr. Pavarotti in the resulting production of Verdi’s opera UN BALLO IN MASCHERA. During his residency with the San Francisco Opera, he was honored to sing and rehearse with Mr. Pavarotti on two other occasions [Puccini's LA BOHÈME and Verdi's LA TRAVIATA].

From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Potter was engaged by the Stadttheater St. Gallen in Switzerland, singing the roles of "Scarpia" in TOSCA, "Jochanaan" in SALOME, "Alfio" in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, "Ezio" in ATTILA, "Amonasro" in AIDA, and "Giorgio Germont" in LA TRAVIATA, among others. Following the birth of their son, he and his wife, soprano Kimberly S. Randall, decided to move back to the United States to begin new careers as university professors. Mr. Potter taught for five years in Indiana before joining the University of Central Florida music faculty in August of 2005, where he currently serves as the voice area coordinator, directs the UCF Opera program, and teaches undergraduate and graduate level voice lessons.

Jeffery Redding, the 2019 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Recipient, is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Dr. Redding has led his choirs in performances at national, regional, and state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His choirs have earned first place awards at Heritage Festivals of Gold in California, Chicago, New York and at the Festival of Spirituals in Washington D.C. While participating in the International Music Festival in Verona, Italy, his chorus from West Orange High School received the Gold Award for best choir, with Dr. Redding honored as top director.

Nationally, Dr. Redding is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician. He has conducted the ACDA National High School Honor Choir, the Central Division ACDA Honor Choir, and the North Central Division ACDA Honor Choir, the Eastern Division ACDA Honor Choir, the Southern Division ACDA Honor Choir and All- State and Honor choirs in approximately forty- five states. In 2014, Dr. Redding was the only American adjudicator at the International Choral Festival, Verona, Italy. Additionally, he conducted at the TAISM Festival of Choirs in Muscat, Oman. He was the Artistic Director for Limerick Sings International Choral Festival in Limerick, Ireland in 2018. In 2019, he conducted the Alaska All-State Treble Choir, the NAfME Central Regional Elementary Honor Choir, the Morehead State University Honor Choir, and the Honors Young Adults Choir, at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

Previously Director of Choral Activities at West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Florida and West Virginia University (WVU), Dr. Redding has been featured as guest conductor at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Kennedy Center, and Orchestra Hall on numerous occasions. He was also honored to give the prestigious TEDx Talk. He is also one of the conductors for Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional at Epcot and the conductor of Harmonious Live! found on Disney Plus.

Recognized for his achievements and service in the profession, Dr. Redding was awarded the R. Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Service Award for dedicated service, leadership, and excellence by the Florida Chapter of ACDA.

Dr. Redding is founder and Artistic Director of the Winter Garden Community Choir in Winter Garden, Florida. As well as the Executive & Artistic Director of the Orlando Choral Society, founded in 2019. He also serves as the Director of Worship Arts for Tuskawilla United Methodist Church. Formerly with the Moses Hogan Singers, he remains active as a singer in the professional male singing group, "Brethren." The Jeffery Redding Passion and Purpose Choral Series is a compilation of new choral music by various composers, published by Colla Voce Music, Inc. Dr. Redding also has a Choral Series with Walton Music.

Dr. Redding holds a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting/Music Education and a Master of Music Education, both from the Florida State University, and a B.S. in Music Education from Florida A&M University. He is a member of ACDA, NAfME, FVA, NATS, and Chorus America. He has served his profession in numerous capacities, as District 8 Chair for the Florida Vocal Association (FVA), as State R&R Chair for Ethnic Music/Multicultural Affairs, R&R Chair for Youth/Student Activities, and High School Mixed Honor Choir co-chair for Florida ACDA, and as R&R Chair for Community Choirs for Southern Division ACDA. Currently, he is R&R Lifelong Coordinator (Community, Music and Worship) for Florida ACDA

Kelly A. Miller is Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Central Florida where she conducts the SoAl Women’s Chorus, Women’s Ensemble, and Men’s Chorus. She has taught introduction to music education, secondary choral methods I and II, music learning theory and assessment, conducting, music and the student with exceptionalities, and graduate classes in music education, while coordinating and supervising student teachers through their junior and senior internships. Prior to her appointment at UCF, Miller taught at Western Illinois University as Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education, where she conducted the Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She conducted the Women’s Glee Club at Michigan State University for three years and taught choral music at the high school level for thirteen years in Michigan, Florida, and Nebraska. While in Orlando, Dr. Miller founded the choral/vocal program at Timber Creek High School, served as District 8 Chair for the Florida Vocal Association, and received her National Board Certification in secondary choral music. Before directing choirs, Miller was a concert band director for grades five through twelve and instructed marching and jazz bands, music theory, and elementary general music in Nebraska.

In addition to her choral directing and teaching, she has maintained a private voice studio and is in demand to lead choral workshops on the choral/instrumental director as voice teacher, choosing choral repertoire and running effective rehearsals, leadership, creating artistry, student ownership, and team building. Dr. Miller frequently serves as a clinician and festival adjudicator. She has been invited to conduct regional and state honor choirs and present conference sessions in Ireland, Hawaii, West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Florida, and Michigan. Dr. Miller has performed at both divisional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention. She is currently a member of the professional women’s ensemble, mirabai and the semi-professional mixed choir, Voci del Cuore.

Miller holds the D.M.A. degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University, the M.M. degree in music education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the B.A. degree in music education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

 

UCF SOAL Chorus

Soprano I

Sarah Abel
Alejandra Averett
Trinity Blais
Hanna Chang
Kaleigh Davis
Bethany Finkelstein
Sarah Gerdich
Alex Luxenburg
Melissa Pereyra
Stephanie Prodanovich
Anna Rotolo
Trinity Severson
Stephanie Slagle
Jana Vlaanderen

Soprano II

Regina Agastini
Megan Bailey
Gia Rodriguez Benitez
Isis Bermúdez Rivera
Maria Burdett
Denise Cuevas
Isabella D’Aurio
Elayna Gillis
Charlotte Greggs
Raquel Kadin
Jennifer Lopez
Evangely Martinez
Emily Modica
Vanessa Palma
Carla Quiroya
Ashlen Rapier
Madison Rios
Leah Sommerio
Tricia Swann

Alto I

Juliet Brown
Alessandra Capasso
Megan Coleman
Alexa Desroches
Maya Dolgoff
Cai Li Franckewich
Jolene Gibbins
Gillian Gutierrez
Evangelia Hackett
Julia Jessup
Sophia Kennedy
Rebecca Leedy
Teresa Moore
Ariana Morgan
Samantha Perez
Emmanuelle Rebosura
Payton Schnall
Caroline Smith
Aubrianna Solum
Jean Swack

Alto II

Caroline Barr
Morgan Beer
Emily Broom
Emma Budsberg
Dinah Douge
Emma Drauer
Olivia Hemmings
Kelsey Link
Libby Knox
Cassandra Ortega
Kaley Rodriguez
Carlyn Serpone
Lea Wright

 

UCF TEBA Chorus

Kol Ball
Peter Bulatko
Prashiv Chhaganlal
Dylan Curry
Gabriel Garcia
Logan Grzybowski
Ryan Lewert
Julian Lopez
Ryan Murphy
Mark Rollins
Gabriel Salyer
Ashton Sarlo
Terrell Turner

 

UCF Community Choir

Soprano

Gia Rodriguez Benitez
Allie Buch
Cyndy Clemens
Kaleigh Davis
Melissa Derison
Adriana DuPont
Leslie Flasterstein
Ninoshka Laureno
Roslyn Miller
Cathy Pfeil
Madison Schafer
Chloe Speedy
Jana Vlaanderen
Katelyn Westgate
Danielle Young

Alto

Eva Armao
Brittany Armbrust
Morgan Beer
Katie Burroughs
Emma Drauer
Anna Howell
Hiba Obaid
Robin Silverglate
Lauren Smedberg
Enilda Velazquez

Tenor

Isaiah Frett
Bill Froom
David Shaver
Peter Steinhoff

Bass

Ollie Bost
Jim Lau
Chris Jenkins
Dan Silverglate
Liz Thompson
Jacob Ward

 

UCF University Singers & Chamber Choir

Madeline Anderson
Alyssa Atherton
Megan Bailey
Kol Ball
Lauren Banta
Michael Barnes
Braxton Barr
Nicolas Barth
Stephanie Bloomberg
Shariah Brown
David Burrows
Lena Cai
Jason Calzon
Mary Carlson
Joseph Casuga
Dillon Chapman
Jevon Clarke
Denise Cuevas
Adriana Dupont
Sanju Ebanks
Ian Econg
Destiny Ferrer
Leslie Flasterstein
Michelle Gant
Jack Ginn
Zachary Gustafson
Alexis Hart
Cullen Heuman
Susann Hollenback
Christian Jackson
Benjamin Kuftic
Annalise Lang
Ryan Lumm
Billy Martinez
Craig Milbry
Parth Nakirikanti
Ian Negrpn Rodriguez
Harold Padilla
Jonah Peacock
Nicolette Pelchat

Melissa Pereyra
Jordan Perez
Tabitha Petrak
Isabella Plazas
Chris Poole
Olivia Ragan
Abigail Redmon
Mary Reimel
Kirstin Ritch
Lauren Robinson
Megan Rodriguez
Santiago Rodriguez
Anna Rotolo
Sarah Schmorrow
Stephanie Slagile
Madeline Rae Soriano
Nicole Spinelli
Kasey Stephens
Ariah Todriff
Colin Urbina
Isaac Valencia
Kathryn Wacaster
Alex Winterstein
Heather Worley
Donald Zoll
Dyaln Dragone
Kaitlyn Gaudio
Emily Martinez
Paige Noble
Shirley Oliantus
Tabitha Santillian
Kaylee Burnish
Denise Fietz
Olivia Mueller
Shawnell Ramcharita
Ashely Spadafora
Kaylee Burnison
Dennis Fleitz
Kaitlyn Gaudio