More About Us
Katy Baird (alto) -
Katy M. Baird was born and raised in the Seventh District, and she graduated from Chopticon in 2006. In her days under the direction of Patty Kuzmick, she was a member of Peace Pipers, Divas, Sevenfold, Infinity and a multitude of honor choirs. Upon graduation from Chopticon, Katy journeyed to the mountains of Western Maryland to attend Frostburg State University. There, she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Music. She was a member of Delta Omicron, a co-ed music fraternity, FSU Chamber Choir, University Chorale, and Jazz Choir. She was also active in other student groups including Alpha Sigma Alpha and Order of Omega. Now, Katy works for Booz Allen Hamilton as a Jr. Financial Analyst supporting NAWCAD 4.5.9. She feels very blessed to be part of this group, and she's looking forward to many years of singing with her Musica buddies.
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Nicole Beard (soprano,
percussion) - Nicole joined Musica in August 2008. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, she has been singing since childhood in the basement of her home and with the Children's Choir of Trinity-Chelten United Methodist Church. Nicole attended Penn State University, receiving a B.S. in Music Education with Vocal and Choral Music emphasis. While there she performed with Penn State's University Choir, Concert Choir and Women's Chorus, in addition to The United Soul Ensemble of University Park, PA and The Philadelphia Gospel Seminar and Philadelphia Youth Mass Choirs. Now residing in Lexington Park, MD, Nicole has conducted and sung with various other community, church and children's choirs in MD and PA in past years. She's currently in her
twelfth year of teaching 4th and 5th grade Chorus and General Music at Leonardtown Elementary School, and attends services at the Patuxent
River Assembly of God where she sings back-up for Praise and Worship.
Nicole is thankful for all for the beautiful musical experiences she has
shared with Musica so far; and is looking forward to many more!
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Bob Boyd (bass) - Bob has been active as a soloist and chorister in a myriad of ensembles for many years. He studied voice under the direction of Helen Robertson in Roanoke, Virginia where he also played bassoon, saxophone, and clarinet in local Virginia symphony orchestras and bands. Mr. Boyd attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey before earning an Engineering degree from Virginia Tech and settling in St Mary's County as a flight test engineer for the Navy. Upon his retirement from the Federal Government, he resumed his musical career and is currently enjoying singing with the St. Maries Musica and The Light Opera Company of Southern Maryland. He has appeared in productions of "Naughty Marietta", "The Mikado", "Orpheus in the Underworld", and "The Magic Flute". He also plays tenor saxophone in a local orchestra.
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Cheryl Ceriale (soprano) -
Cheryl joined Musica in January, 2009. Singing has been her avocation for
a long time. After moving to Southern Maryland in 2000, she sang with
Charles County Consort and Chesapeake Choral Arts Society, as well as Two
Rivers Harmony and the St. Andrews Church choir. While living in Ft.
Collins, Colorado, she sang with the Larimer Chorale, a group of 85-90
voices that presented 3 concerts a year. The Larimer Chorale was invited
on several occasions to sing with the National Repertory Orchestra in
Keystone and Breckenridge, Colorado. As a member of the Larimer Chorale,
Cheryl traveled to Europe 4 times, singing in cathedrals like Notre Dame,
San Marco in Venice and the Duomo in Florence. In 2008, she journeyed to
Prague, Salzburg and Vienna to participate in Advent Choral Festivals in
each city. Cheryl was privileged to sing the soprano solos when COSMIC
presented the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah”in 2009 and 2010.
Cheryl looks forward to continued adventures in singing with Musica.
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Erin Dean (piano accompanist) - Erin is a general music/chorus teacher at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School in Loveville, teaching levels kindergarten through grade 5. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania, with a music education degree and a piano concentration. This is Erin's fourth year accompanying Saint Maries Musica and she is very honored to be working with such great musicians.
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Susan Duby (alto) -
Susan has been singing with Musica since 2001. She also sings in the choir
at Patuxent Presbyterian Church. Susan has sung in church, school,
college, and university choirs since childhood. She has sung alto solos in
major choral works such as Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem and Dixit
Dominus, Durufle’s Requiem, Bach’s St. John Passion, and P.D.Q. Bach’s
Oedipus Tex. She studied voice privately in the Washington, DC area, where
she served as Director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of
Graduate Education. Susan earned her master’s and PhD from the University
of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She and her husband Martin enjoy kayaking
and entertaining their new granddaughter. Susan also enjoys sewing (mostly
Renaissance costumes for Musica), cooking, weight training, jogging, and
church volunteer work. Susan has recently started learning to play the
folk harp. She loves the opportunity that Musica affords to sing a wide
variety of music and to enrich the life of the community.
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Janet "Jan" Engel (alto, flute) - Janet is a native of St. Mary's County and proud of her Southern Maryland lineage. She has been singing with St. Maries Musica since 2007 and enjoys it immensely. Janet started her musical career when she was 6 years old at the Bunny Bailey Studio of Dance. Soon after, she began piano and flute lessons. She was encouraged to continue studying and performing music throughout her elementary, middle and high school years where she had the privilege of performing in multiple competitions and honor bands and choruses. Janet studied music and education at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music (now Shenandoah Univ.) and received her B.S. degree in elementary education with a minor in flute performance. Her greatest thrill was being able to perform with Shenandoah's choir at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Janet is currently a Pre-K teacher. She also sings in her church choir and plays with the hand-bell choir. Besides music, Janet enjoys reading, running and enjoying life with her husband, Marc; her (almost grown) daughter Kristi and her many dear friends.
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Ed Forsman (bass) - Ed considers Musica to be “a great group
with superb talent.” He must certainly feel that way because he has been
singing with Musica since 1978! Currently, he also serves on Musica’s
PR committee. Ed has extensive choral experience starting with boys choir,
continuing into high school and later college, where he also earned his
bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After college, Ed remained vocally active
through church choir, the Naval Aviation Choir, and as a member of the
Alexandria Choral Society. In addition to singing, he has played cello
and bass. Ed is a retired father of three who enjoys reading, golf, and
computer repair when he isn’t spending time with his wife, Ann. He also
remains active in the Rotary, and is a board member of the Patuxent River
Naval Air Museum.
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Cathy Greer (soprano) - A native of St. Mary's County, music has played an integral part in Cathy's life. She was involved with a number of singing groups throughout her school years, and also played clarinet and piano. She began singing with the youth choir at Hollywood United Methodist Church and continued with the Sanctuary Choir for 21 years. While there she also performed for several years with a women's Christian Trio as well as the Community Chorus. Now an active member of Leonardtown Baptist Church, Cathy has sung with its choir since 1992 and has also directed their children's choir/musicals. She is a soloist at weddings and funerals and has performed the National Anthem at a number of local events. Wanting a new challenge, Cathy successfully auditioned for St. Maries Musica in January 2008. She is a mother of three and is a full-time nurse with the St. Mary's County Health Dept. Her musical dreams are to one day sing the National Anthem at Camden Yards, and also to record a Christian music album.
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Brian Sullivan (tenor) -
Brian is one of the newest members of Musica. He was born and raised in
Hartford Connecticut. He was a member of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion
Senior Choir. He was a member of the Weaver High School Band and orchestra
where he played the baritone horn, tuba and string bass. He attended
Central Connecticut State College where he sang with the Central Singers
and played trumpet and baritone in Central’s marching band. He earned
money in college by singing and playing string bass for several quartets
and a big band in the Hartford area. He entered the Air Force and played
baritone and tuba in the Air Force Band. More recently, he sings with the
Westphalia United Methodist Church’s Mass choir and is a member of the
Southern Maryland Concert Band. Now Brian is a retired Lieutenant Colonel
and is enjoying retired life. He is the proud owner of a Cessna 210 and
flies occasionally, weather permitting. He considers himself a fair
weather flier.
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Jim Jordan (tenor) -
Jim grew up in a house filled with music of all styles and types. He obtained
his BA in Music Education from Bridgewater College, Bridgewater Va., in 1979. He
has enjoyed singing since a young child and sang in school choirs throughout his
school years and into college. He has played many different instruments over the
years, playing in church orchestras as well as singing in many different church
choirs. Jim has been a worship leader for several churches he and his family
have attended, and enjoyed 9.5 seasons with the National Christian Choir. Since
retiring from Verizon Communications, Music has filled more of Jim’s life than
before. While still singing with Musica, he is now the Band Director at The
king’s Christian Academy in Callaway Md. and has recently joined the Southern
Maryland Concert Band which Musica has joined with on two concert events.
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Michael Judd (bass) - Michael spent 35 years either on active duty or as a civilian employee of the U.S.Navy. A Vietnam War veteran, he worked at NAS Patuxent River and at NSA Millington, TN for the majority of that time. He was educated at Indiana University, where he was a member of the world famous IU Singing Hoosiers, with whom he performed and toured extensively. After moving to Southern Maryland in 1972, he joined St. Maries Musica. After the Navy moved him to Tennessee in 1996, he sang with the Wolf River Singers in Memphis (Germantown). After retirement in 2003, he moved back to Maryland and rejoined Musica. He also performs with the Light Opera Company of Southern Maryland having played a nobleman in "The Mikado", the role of Jupiter in "Orpheus in the Underworld" and Monostotos in the 2010 production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute". He currently lives in Lexington Park near his daughter, son-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren.
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Ellis Knox (bass) - Ellis joined Musica in January 2004. He was challenged by a switch to first bass (baritone). Previously, at the University of Illinois; in Corvallis, OR; in Bogota, Colombia; at the Bach Society of Baltimore; and other locations, he had always sung second bass. "I found the low notes were not really in my range any more." Ellis' wife, Janie Foster Knox, is a lyricist and choral conductor with many published anthems and songs for choirs and choruses. Ellis likes to be a part of St. Maries Musica because "we work hard and sing well." He is retired from work as a soil scientist and massage therapist.
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Laura Lawson (soprano) - A returning member of the family, Laura sang with Musica for nearly 20 years beginning in the early 1980's. Having grown up in Arkansas, Laura began singing in performances at age 5 and has rarely stopped. Professionally, by day she works as the Naval Air Systems Command's Command Deputy Equal Employment Officer, but in her heart she is a singer first. Laura studied music at Arkansas State University under Dr. Alfred Skoog and from there has sung everywhere from Dogpatch USA and Silver Dollar City, MO, to soloist with Benn Morgan and Arias, Etc. For many years she has served as a regular singer of the National Anthem at Patuxent River and as a soloist at local events around the area, including a stint singing at Café Des Artistes with Sarah Hall as "The Sopranos". Her husband, Rich Adamo, and daughter Meghan urged her to return to singing so her two small grandchildren will learn to love all music. Missing the challenge of Musica's repertoire, she decided it was time to come back home because there is nothing quite like harmonizing with a group of talented musicians.
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Barbara Lorton (alto, cello) - One of Musica's most well rounded musicians
is Barbara Lorton from Hollywood, MD. Barb is a valued alto, and treasured "1st
Chair Pitch Piper." Though she finds the pitch pipe rewarding, Barb truly considers her
cello her serious hobby. She plays for weddings, receptions, etc. year- round, and is part of 3 ensembles: Calvert Chamber Players, Linden String Quartet, and Patuxent Baroque. She has
been singing with Musica since 1981, but has also shared notes with the Cleveland Orchestra
Chorus, Blossom Festival Chorus, Akron Symphony Chorus, Youngstown Symphony Chorus and the
Youngstown Opera Society. In addition to Musica, she also sings with the
Hollywood U. Methodist and Trinity U. Methodist in Prince Frederick.
Barb retired from teaching in 2007 and also works with "Pets on Wheels"
with her therapy dog Cappy at Solomon's Nursing Center. She has two grown children, Mark and Beth, and three grandchildren, Zach, Nick, and Emma. Barb feels that Musica gives her the opportunity to do a higher level of music with good singers who she can share a laugh with as we all work hard on the music. She also says she looks forward to each season's change of repertoire.
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Larry Ludwig (bass, guitar) - Larry is new to Musica, but certainly not a newcomer to Southern Maryland. Born and raised in Leonardtown, Larry started his singing career as a member of the "Ludwig Family Car Trips to Pennsylvania Singers." He follows a long family tradition of singing in Church Choirs and Barbershop. Larry was a member of SPEBSQA for approximately 23 years singing in Choruses and individual Barbershop Quartets. Currently, Larry and his wife Mary are cantors and musicians for St. Francis Xavier Church in Newtowne. In addition, Larry sings and plays various stringed-instruments with "Generation Gap" - a family group consisting of his wife Mary, stepson Steve, and grandsons Steve and Sam who perform at various local venues. Larry is a Civil Engineer working for the Air National Guard at Andrews Air Force Base. Time not spent at work and not in music endeavors is spent at Spicewood Cabin - the Ludwig's vacation getaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Joe Richter (tenor) - A native of Washington, DC, Joe studied music at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD and transferred to Maryland University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He then attended Bowie State University where he received his Master's degree in Public School Administration and Supervision. During his 39 years with Prince George's County Schools, Joe taught elementary vocal and general music; served as a Vocal and General Music Helping Teacher and Music Specialist; and completed his public school career after 22 years as the Vocal and General Music Supervisor. He has performed as a soloist and has directed several church choirs. In addition to St. Maries Musica, he sings with the National Philharmonic Chorus, based at Strathmore Hall in Montgomery County, MD. Although retired, he continues to work with the music program of the Prince George's County School System as a voice teacher for the Visual and Performing Arts Program at Suitland High School, and as a mentor for several of the school system's new music teachers.
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Greg Stachelczyk (bass) -
Greg started formally singing as a member of the Catholic Choir at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, followed by a short period of time singing with the Naval Aviation Training Command Choir at NAS Pensacola, FL. As an East Coast sailor, he sang in various church choirs from Brunswick, ME to Rota, Spain. However when he met the love of his life, Susan, he started to sing in Episcopal Church choirs from Virginia Beach, VA, to Wilmington DE, to Mansfield, TX to their current home in California, MD, and is currently a member of the choir and bell choir at the Church of the Ascension in Lexington Park, MD. For the last nine years Greg has been a member of Southern Maryland Sound, the local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, singing as a member of the chorus and the in-house quartet. Since his retirement from the Navy in 1998, Greg has worked a defense contractor supporting the Navy's aviation training requirements. He is married to Susan - also a Musica singer - and has two children: a teacher at Lettie Dent Elementary and a UMBC Super Senior.
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Susan Stachelczyk (alto) - Susan joined Musica in August 2008 and has enjoyed her first two seasons immensely! She has been singing since she learned to talk, as the daughter of a music teacher/junior-choir director! Musica’s medieval dress brings back fond memories of Madrigal Chorus in high school; she has also sung in the Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir, Norfolk Cantata Chorus, Delaware Choral Society, several church choirs, and a few other groups over the years. Susan has been a Realtor with O’Brien Realty for fourteen years, is married to Greg (also a Musica member), and has two children: a teacher at Lettie Dent Elementary and a UMBC senior.
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Kate Worden (soprano) - Kate hails from New Hampshire but has spent the past
7 years traveling the world as a Naval Officer. Her experience with singing goes back to performing solos in Kindergarten plays. From there she
sang in school choirs through middle school and high school, where she received several years' of classical training and participated in the Summer Youth Music School at the University of New Hampshire and in several years of NH All State Jazz and Classical festivals. Kate attended Rensselaer Polytechnic on a NROTC scholarship, where she received a degree in aerospace engineering and continued to perform in the school's concert choir. She also organized several small chamber groups in support of military functions on campus. After receiving her commission as a Naval officer, she also directed a small choir onboard her first ship. Following that tour, Kate's duty commitments forced her to take a 4-year hiatus from organized singing though she did stay "in practice" by singing karaoke while stationed in Japan! Kate moved to Maryland
in 2010 for shore duty so she was thrilled to have the opportunity to join such a dedicated group of local singers.
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Amanda Borkoski (soprano) - This is Amanda’s first season
with St. Maries Musica. Having just recently relocated to
Southern Maryland from the Ohio Valley area, Amanda is becoming active in
the local music and community theater scene. She is involved with the
Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theater with her most recent production as
Lizzie in The Rainmaker. She is a cantor for the Diocese of
Washington DC. Her previous performing experiences have been with high
school and college choruses, many musical productions, winner of Ohio
Valley’s Idol competition, solo and choral singing, and teaching private
voice and piano lessons. Amanda is employed with JF Taylor Inc.
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Michelle Burns
(alt0) - Michelle is new to southern Maryland and Musica, but she has been
performing her entire life. She was involved in many theatre productions
and choral groups in high school, including the Madrigal Singers, All
South Jersey Chorus, All State Chorus, and the American Choral Directors
Association Honors Choir. She studied voice at Rutgers University, where
she was a member of College Avenue Players and Kirkpatrick Choir. The
choir toured internationally to Venezuela, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey,
and performed at Alice Tully Hall during the Mostly Mozart music festival.
After college, Michelle continued to participate in community theatre,
children’s theatre, as a backup singer for Simon Spiro, and as a wedding
soloist. She joined the Navy in 2002 and spent the next eight years as a
Naval Flight Officer. While serving, she sang with the Naval Aviation
Choir, Mickey Mulligan and the Travelers, performed the National Anthem at
local events and also won the Big E Idol competition on USS ENTERPRISE.
Now a Navy Reservist and stay at home mom, Michelle is getting back to her
choral roots with Musica. She’d like to thank her wonderful husband for
spending time with daughter Lucy so she can continue to grow as a vocalist
and performer.
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David
Bruton (bass) - One of Musica's newest members,
David Bruton is originally from Andover in the North West corner of New
Jersey; and has been involved with instrumental and vocal music for as
long as he can remember. His musical experience includes performing with
school and church musical groups for all of his life. Currenly David's two
passions in life are music and aviation. As a southern MD resident he
currently pursues aviation through his work with a local defense
contracting company. For the music, he sings with Hollywood United
Methodist choir and now he is thrilled to be joining Musica as well!
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Dick
Findley (tenor) - Dick claims he enjoys singing
with Musica because "Singing uplifts me." Dick has sung for over 25 years
in various church choirs including 10 years with a madrigal octet.
He has been with Musica since 2000, and finds it "fun to sing with others
who are committed to good, and challenging a cappella music." He now lives
in Asbury-Solomon's retirement community with his wife Jeannette.
They have a son who lives in Boulder, Colorado; and a son and daughter
in-law, Charlotte and Oliver, who lives in Herndon, Virginia. Dick
is a retired civil servant, having worked as an electrical engineer and an
engineering manager. He now teaches systems engineering and program
management courses. His hobbies outside of Musica include reading,
sudoku, and church activities.
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