Our Musicians

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Our choir is composed of the area's greatest educators, performers, and artists. We are fortunate to have talented and dedicated professionals in our organization.  

Alice Beals is a music teacher in her hometown of Franklin Township, New Jersey. She teaches choir, piano, guitar, and general music to students in 6th-8th grade. She attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education in May of 2017. Alice was the Roosevelt University 2017 Student Laureate of the Academy of Illinois and winner of the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award as well as the 2016 Chicago College of Performing Arts Presser Scholar. She was a featured soloist throughout her time in her college choir and a member of the St. James Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Cathedral Choir. Alice is so thrilled to have returned to New Jersey and been given the opportunity to sing with Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble.

Olivia Benson, soprano, is currently the General/Vocal Music Teacher at Peter Muschal Elementary School in Bordentown, New Jersey. Born and raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Olivia recently graduated from Gettysburg College with a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a minor in Peace & Justice Studies. Olivia previously sang and toured with the Gettysburg College Choir and the Gettysburg Camerata under the direction of Dr. Robert Natter. She had the pleasure of interning with the Gettysburg Children's Choir in the spring of 2018 under the direction of Dr. Brent Talbot. Aside from music-making, Olivia enjoys writing, petting nice dogs, and spending time with friends and family. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to sing in Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble!

Kyle Blackburn, tenor, is a current fifth year student in the Bachelor in Music Education / Masters of Art in Teaching degree program at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. During his time at Westminster, he has performed with both the Westminster Symphonic Choir and Westminster Kantorei, providing opportunities to sing at Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, and Verizon Hall, along with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Kyle is currently a section leader at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ, and is excited to be joining Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble.

Jade Tiara Blocker is a soprano who has sung with the Westminster Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic to name a few. She’s also no stranger to the Spoleto Festival USA held In Charleston, South Carolina. Apart from singing, Jade is also a poet who frequently collaborates with composers to create choral pieces, art songs and song cycles. Jade is elated to work with the incredible musicians of Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble.

Peter R. Crooke, tenor, grew up in a large family of farmers and singers. Grandpa on one side was a violinist who sang recitals and cabaret into his 80s; grandma on the other still sings at church in her 90s. Holsteins and hay occupied much of Peter’s youth but so did choir at Doylestown Presbyterian and Central Bucks East. Diverse music then walked with him across the US of A, even beyond: semesters in the Shippensburg University concert choir (highlight: Faure’s Requiem!); freedom and folk songs learned on guitar in Atlanta during two years at Columbia Seminary; a season of singing, strumming, and song-smithing with an Americana-style band while apprenticing in horticulture at the University of California at Santa Cruz; a 2016 trip to Argentina and Paraguay with two brothers and a friend, where singing for fun turned into impromptu performances [ensemble: “quattro d”] in churches, including an Asunción cathedral where the pope had presided a few months prior! The power of music, eh? More recently landing back in central Jersey climes, Peter sang with Voices Chorale of Hopewell for two seasons and is now thrilled to join the serious sound and spirit that is Glassbrook. 2018 saw him become a husband and a dad (oh JOY!), and he farms, teaches, makes music, and builds community on varied ground in and about Trenton and his native Bucks County.

Lucas DeJesus, bass-baritone, is a freelance classical singer based in Philadelphia, PA. He currently performs with the chorus of Opera Philadelphia, most recently appearing in Lucia di Lammermoor, Carmen, Tancredi, Turandot, L'elisir d'amore, Cold Mountain, and Don Carlo. As a core member of the Mendelssohn Club Chorus as well as the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, Lucas has performed in various concerts at the Kimmel Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as throughout the greater Philadelphia region. Over the past four summers he has performed and recorded with The Same Stream Choir and can be heard on their Inaugural Recordings as well as their newly released album: Songs of the Questioner. Previous engagements include performances with the Philadelphia Singers, who performed Wang Ning's Ode to Humanity at the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. He has performed with Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir (PA) as the bass soloist for Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri and Handel’s Lord Nelson Mass. Lucas cantors and serves as bass section leader at Our Mother of Consolation in Chestnut Hill, PA. In 2017, Lucas began teaching voice as a mentor of the new ArtSmart program at the Franklin Learning Center, and now serves as ArtSmart’s Philadelphia regional leader. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College where he performed with the Grammy® nominated Westminster Williamson Voices, Westminster Kantorei, and Westminster Symphonic Choir.

Deborah Gwynne is a mezzo-soprano living in Hunterdon County. She has sung with many groups in the area including Princeton Pro Musica, VOICES Chorale, Sotto Voce and NJWOMENSONG. For many years she has been Music Director for the Whitehouse United Methodist Church and fills in at the Newtown United Methodist when needed. She was Music Director for ACT, Amwell Community Troupe which performed original musicals for children and adults in the area. She can be heard on the Sergeantsville Radio Station singing with two friends ‘The Gals Next Door’ on their live Saturday night show. She also works with the Newtown Chamber Orchestra as the Assistant to the Music Director. Currently performing with Voices Chorale NJ, Deborah is excited to be joining Glassbrook to explore new music with them.

Joe Fulciniti

Tsarina Islam is a recent graduate of Westminster Choir College where they received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. They currently teach music and technology full-time at St. Frances Cabrini in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, instructing grades K-8. In their time at Westminster Choir College, they sung in various ensembles including Westminster Choir, Westminster Symphonic Choir, and Jubilee Singers. They have performed at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kimmel Center, among many others. They were also a member of the professional choir-in-residence as part of the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC for three consecutive years. They have performed with several contemporary groups as well, including Remember Jones based in Asbury Park, NJ. In their spare time, they're a member of the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus. They're looking forward to returning to another wonderful season with Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble!

Alto Eleni Kamenakis has been performing in some capacity from the time she was two. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Music degree from Westminster Choir college where she studied vocal performance, and now works as a studio coordinator for School of Rock in Cherry Hill, NJ. Passionate about music across every genre - personal favorites to perform including classical, folk, and pop - Eleni has sung with the Westminster Choir, Spoleto Chorus, and Philadelphia Symphonic Chorus. She is happy to now perform with Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble and loves being part of a group of equally passionate musicians.

T. Thomas Kane, a bass, has a passion for music and education. He earned a vocal performance degree from Baker University in Baldwin City, KS. Since then, he has sung professionally with the South Bend Vesper Chorale under Dr. Wishart Bell, All Saints Episcopal Choir under Tom Colao, and the Trenton Diocesan Choir under Shawn Mack. Currently, he teaches music specializing in working with students with diverse special needs and developmental/emotional disabilities. He has also been a very active professional choral freelancer in the “church circuit”, singing in many churches throughout central and north Jersey including: The Parish of St. Mary in Colts Neck under Andrew Macirowski, St. Anthony’s in Red Bank under Shawn Mack, St. Paul’s Episcopal in Westfield under Mark Hyczko, Santa Rosa de Lima in Freehold under Janos Makos, and Mater Ecclesiae Parish in Berlin, NJ, under Guillermo Pasarin just to name a few. He debuted with Glassbrook last year and performed with them for the first time in their “See the Light” concert with the Princeton Girlchoir Ensemble.

John Lacombe, bass, attended SUNY Buffalo, earning a B.A. in music, focusing on voice and an M.A. in musicology studying issues of authenticity in musical performance. He performed with the University's Choir, Chorus, and Opera Workshop as well as many community, church, and chamber choirs. More recently, he performs as a soloist and with small ensembles on Renaissance lutes and other historical plucked strings. He is Founder and Co-Director of Riverview Early Music with soprano Abigail Chapman. He has also appeared as an invited guest in English and literature courses to demonstrate Renaissance lute music and discuss musical aesthetics. In performing, he strives to find ways to bridge the gap between historical performance practice and modern understanding of music. John’s interests outside of music include homebrewing and pop-up books.

Rob Long sang baritone with the Cornell University Glee Club under Dr. Thomas Sokol including performances of ‘Apotheosis of this Earth ‘ with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Mozart’s Mass in C minor at Wellesley College. Most recently, Rob sang bass with Voices Chorale in Hopewell NJ under Dr. Lyn Ransom, including their chamber group Sotto Voce. A favorite performance with them was the Duruflé Requiem at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, where the work was once performed by the composer himself. “I’m very excited to sing with Glassbrook Ensemble as I continue on a musical journey that I plan to make last a lifetime.”

Brandi McLeod, alto, graduated from Westminster Choir College in 2019 and currently works for a bank and as a swim instructor. She is passionate about choral music, musical theater, as well as contemporary music including R&B, soul, jazz. She is also a member of the Capital Singers of Trenton. To Brandi, Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble is about the joy of reuniting with old friends; she loves the level of musicianship each singer brings, which allows beautiful musical moments to be created.

Nicole Michel, soprano, is a graduate of Westminster Choir College, class of 2017, holding a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music. This is her third season with Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble. An accomplished choral performer, Michel has sung under the esteemed direction of conductors such as Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Alan Gilbert, Dr. James Jordan, and Dr. Joe Miller. She is an alumna of ensembles such as the Westminster Symphonic Choir and Williamson Voices, the latter of which has served as the choir-in-residence at the Choral Institute of Oxford since 2013. Recorded during her four-year tenure with Williamson Voices, Michel can be heard on Hole in the Sky (2016), the GRAMMY-nominated Whitbourn: Carolae – Music for Christmas (2016), and Between Silence and Light (2017). In addition to music, Michel has ambitions to become a CRNA. Originally from Ridgewood, New Jersey, Michel currently resides in Philadelphia.

Vibrant tenor Gabriel Anthony-Muhammad(they/them), a New Jersey native, started their journey in music at the young age of 10 years old. They studied with a wide range of teachers learning a variety of instruments from piano, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and voice. Known for their rich tone and ability to fill a room with their voice, Muhammad brings a uniqueness to opera. As an instrumentalist they toured the country performing in several different ensembles. They began studying voice in 2015 after being heard in a vocal methods course and being pushed towards becoming a vocalist though never having proper training. Since then they have won an been a finalist in several different voice competitions, including NJNATS in 2016 and 2017 and Opera Ebony in 2017.

Tenor Daniel Myers is a recent Masters of Engineering graduate from Rutgers University who is excited to continue exploring his passion for music by joining Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble! He is a current member of Princeton Pro Musica and sang with the Kirkpatrick Choir at Rutgers University for 6 years (highlights include the 2017 Lou Harrison Centennial Celebration at Trinity Wall Street and the 2016 ACDA Eastern Division Conference). He toured both Europe and South America during his undergraduate years with the Rooke Chapel Choir of Bucknell University.

Colette B. Pierce, soprano, has a multifaceted musical background. As a teen, she studied violin, piano, and cello. From there, she studied classical voice at Westminster Choir College and Rowan University. Her primary vocal teachers were Karen Huffstodt, from the Metropolitan Opera, and her father, James Pierce, from New York City Opera. While music will always play an important role in her life, she decided to pursue a career in the medical field, as a Certified Medical Assistant. Currently, she supports the varied needs of a professional midwife—offering a variety of services to women on their path to motherhood. It’s a challenging job, but one that she loves and feels honored to do.

Bess Anne Ploener is a music teacher in the Lawrence Township Public School system in Lawrenceville, NJ. She teaches strings, general music and chorus to fourth through sixth graders. She is also a teaching artist with the McCarter theatre in Princeton, NJ. There she creates and implements curriculum in storytelling, musical theater and playmaking for students ranging from first grade to high school. She has performed with the Westminster Symphonic Choir at the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as with the Westminster Williamson Voices at the Alice Tully Hall in New York City and in Oxford, England. Ms. Ploener still actively sings with her church choir in Bedminster, NJ as well as additional choirs in the area. She is thrilled to be joining Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble in their inaugural season.

Alissa Poh, alto, grew up near the equator in Penang, Malaysia, and is a freelance writer with the American Association for Cancer Research. At 13, she completed ABRSM Grade 8 exams (piano and violin) with distinction; this was followed by a very long hiatus, during which she focused on purportedly more practical subjects, career-wise (biochemistry B.Sc., University of Bristol, U.K.; pharmacology MS, Dartmouth Medical School, NH; graduate certificate in science writing, UC Santa Cruz). In 2017, shortly after moving to NJ, she decided she needed music back in her life. Curious to try choral singing, she explored local opportunities and landed with Voices Chorale under Richard Tang Yuk's direction. She has since sung with Cantus Novus (Ed McCall) across the river in Bucks County, PA, as well as with the Princeton Festival Baroque Chorus (three seasons), and is delighted to join Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble. Baroque and Renaissance repertoire will always be at or near the top of her favorites list.

Kelsey Rose is a conductor, composer, and educator based in Washington D.C. She holds Masters degrees in Teaching with an emphasis in Sacred Music and Christian Education and Formation. She also holds baccalaureate degrees with honors in both Music Education and Music Theory and Composition from Westminster Choir College. While studying at Westminster, Kelsey performed with the Westminster Symphonic Choir, making regular appearances at some of the nation’s top performing venues under the batons of several internationally acclaimed conductors and served as the director and founder of the college’s new music ensemble. She has served as an alto section leader for Trinity Episcopal Church since 2011, a Choral Scholar, Section Leader and Compline Choir Director for the Episcopal Church at Princeton, director of the boychoir at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and an accompanist and cantor for churches in the Princeton area. Outside of her musical adventures, Kelsey works as a Realtor for Long and Foster, a Youth Ministry Coordinator, and leads community service projects.

Born in Brooklyn, baritone Daniel Rotshteyn has established himself as an experienced and well-rounded singer in the TriState Area. He is an impassioned champion of early and Baroque music. Previously, Daniel was a staff singer with St. George’s Episcopal Church in Newburgh, NY and has sung with Kairos: A Consort of Singers in West Park, NY. He currently sings with Aura Polyphonica in New Brunswick, NJ and All Saints Episcopal Church in Princeton, NJ. Daniel has also sung with Boheme Opera NJ. He previously sang the role of Schlendrian in RVO’s production of Bach’s Coffee Cantata, and most recently performed the role of Michele as part of Operallora’s dual production of Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica.

Kristin A. Schenk is a current Elementary General Music Teacher within the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. A graduate from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, she obtained a Bachelors of Music in Music Education and a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree. Throughout her career, she has performed on stages such as the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the White House, and Carnegie Hall. Kristin was a member Westminster Williamson Voices and Jubilee Singers during her time at Westminster Choir College. She has worked with organizations such as the American Boychoir School, the Conducting Institute at Oxford, and the Jamaica Field Service Project. She currently also teaches with the Trenton Children's Chorus as the director of the Preparatory Choir (K-1) and is the Children’s Choir Director at Lenape Valley Presbyterian Church in New Britain, PA.

Yasmin Siglam, soprano, is currently an Elementary General Music Teacher and Choir Director in the Sayreville Public Schools. Yasmin graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree and a minor in American Studies from Westminster Choir College. A fun fact about Yasmin is that she is a first-generation American, as her father immigrated to America from Turkey. Yasmin sang with the Jubilee Singers during her time at Westminster and led the campus drum ensemble. Yasmin then graduated with a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education on the Administration and Family Studies track from Kean University and is currently completing her Educational Leadership Supervisor Certification also from Kean University. Yasmin seeks to transition into the administrative space. In addition to music making, Yasmin loves activities involving yoga, art, nature, and quality time with loved ones. Yasmin is so grateful to join the Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble family!

Described as “Relatively simple, elegantly-turned, beautifully vocal music with a compelling through-line from start to finish” (Gabriel Jackson), Michael Robert Smith’s (b. 1989) music has been performed across the country by excellent groups and performers, including The Crossing, Chorosynthesis, The Vox Mousai Women’s Choir, pianist Joshua Wilson, and baritone Andrew Maggio.In 2015, Michael was named as one of four composition fellows at the inaugural Big Sky Choral Initiative, where Donald Nally conducted The Crossing in the premiere of his choral piece “Reconciliation”. “Reconciliation” was recorded by Chorosynthesis in December of 2016, and will be released in the fall of 2017 on their album “Empowering Silenced Voices”. He won second place in the San Francisco Conservatory Biennial Art Song Competition with his piece “Winds of May”. Upcoming projects include a residency at the Greensboro ChoralFest 2017, which includes the premiere of two new works for choir under the direction of Alexis Renee Ford.In addition to composing, Michael is an active choral singer (tenor) and church musician. As a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, Williamson Voices, and Kantorei, he performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, The NY Philharmonic, The London Philharmonia, The Simon Bolivar Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic.Michael is currently a graduate student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studies composition with David Garner. Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree in Composition from Westminster Choir College and has previously studied composition with Benjamin C.S. Boyle, Philip Lasser, Christian Carey, Stefan Young, and Gabriel Jackson.

Bass-baritone Edward Wang received his BA in Music in 2017 from The College of New Jersey, where he studied voice with Dr. Nora Sirbaugh. He has been a Choral Scholar with VOICES Chorale, the bass section leader at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Newtown, PA, and a member of the Princeton Festival Opera Chorus. He will be starting a master’s program in musicology in the fall at Wesleyan University, where he hopes to do research on music by composers of the Asian diaspora as well as Renaissance choral music.