About

Lies’l Hill is an artist, musician, and educator from Mesa, Arizona. Lies’l has always loved anything creative, with passions ranging from choral music to visual art, nonprofits to pottery. She earned her B.M. from Northern Arizona University in Choral Music Education, and has taught choir, art, chess, and ceramics in both Arizona and New York City. Lies’l has earned teaching certifications from Lincoln Center Education and Harvard University’s Passion-Driven Learning Institute. She has maintained an active career as a professional singer, currently in her 9th season with the Grammy Award Winning Phoenix Chorale and Canto Vivo Chorale, as well as a backup vocalist for artists traveling through the valley, singing for artists like Michael Bublé, The Eagles, Reba McEntire, and Smokey Robinson. Lies’l serves as the Operations Director for Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers. Her love for arts nonprofits has led her to work with many local arts organizations, including Arizona Commission on the Arts, Mesa Arts Center, Phoenix Children’s Chorus, Arizona Musicfest, and more. Lies’l is currently teaching at Mesa Community College. Through the pandemic, she began focusing on watercolor, graphic design, and digital art, and her work had been featured valley-wide.

Katherine Rosenfeld graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2019 with a degree in choral music education and grew up singing in Phoenix. She has sung with many Arizona-based ensembles including the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Quartz Ensemble, Canto Vivo, the Sedona Academy of Chamber singers, and the Pinnacle Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir. Rosenfeld loves sharing her passion for music through education. She currently teaches junior high and high school choir at Arizona School for the Arts, runs a private voice studio in North Phoenix, and serves on the Arizona state board of the American Choral Directors Association. She is thrilled to be singing with the Chorale for her fourth season!

Sarah Smith made her professional debut in Arizona as a concert soloist with the Phoenix Symphony in 2010, and has since been featured with the Arizona Philharmonic, Symphony of the Southwest, Desert Stages Theater, Arizona Musicfest, and the Arizona Bach Festival. With a deep passion for choral repertoire, Sarah also sings with Quartz Vocal Ensemble, Solis – Choir of the Sun, Arizona Opera Chorus, North Valley Chorale, Arizona Masterworks Chorale, and the St. Barnabas Choir.

Danya Tiller, entering her twentieth season with the Phoenix Chorale, is Adjunct Professor of Music at both Phoenix and Glendale Community Colleges. For ten years, Danya was the Artistic Director of the Phoenix Girls Chorus, making her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in 2016 with Vivaldi’s Gloria and 200 singers from across the USA. In 2019, she was Acting Assistant Conductor for Phoenix Chorale. She is a founding member of Helios, currently in its tenth season. She founded her business, Aria Music Studio, which has grown to include two vocal ensembles in addition to private lessons and coaching.

Kira is the Artistic Director of Solis (Choir of the Sun). She has taught as choral, music education and musical theatre faculty at Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Arizona Christian University and Scottsdale Community College. Her choirs have performed at ACDA conferences, in several local concert series, with Andrea Bocelli, and for Game of Thrones tours. Recently, Kira has found tremendous musical joy in working as a choral composer. Kira was recently named the third prize winner in The American Prize for choral works and a semi-finalist with the Ernst Bacon Award for American Music.

Leslie is a Texas native who moved to Arizona to study voice. She has a Bachelor of Music from Baylor University and a Master of Music from Arizona State University. While at ASU, Leslie performed the roles of Emmie in Albert Herring, Alma Hix in The Music Man, and Adele in Die Fledermaus. She taught for several years and sang in the Phoenix Symphony Chorus for five. She now enjoys being home with her three kids and singing with various organizations around the Valley. She was most recently in the chorus for Prestini’s new opera The Old Man and the Sea. This is Leslie’s fourth season with the Chorale and she’s excited for the upcoming works!

Christina is delighted to sing with the Phoenix Chorale for her fourth season. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s in Choral Music Education and is a native of Walla Walla, Washington. She is finishing her final year while pursuing a Master’s in Choral Conducting at Arizona State University. She directs Sol Singers and revived the vocal jazz program through the newly formed ensemble, Mill Ave Jazz. Previously, Christina taught choir for four years at Millennium High School. Christina served two terms on the ACDA Western Region board as the Youth Repertoire & Resources Coordinator and is currently the Vocal Jazz Chair for Arizona. Christina has performed with world-renowned singers Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, and frequently sings with the AZ Bach Festival and AZ Musicfest Festival Chorus.

Cara is thrilled to be entering her third season with the Phoenix Chorale. Cara hails from Southern California, in the Palm Springs area. She attended La Sierra University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in vocal performance. During her time there, Cara sang and toured internationally with the La Sierra University Vocal Octet. In the years that followed, Cara served as vocal director for On Stage Theatre Company and taught choir and musical theatre at the Coachella Valley Performing Arts Academy.

Cara completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Northern Arizona University after working

for many years as a critical care nurse and is now a Nurse Practitioner. She enjoys a busy career as a primary care provider. She lives in Phoenix with her husband Brandon, her two boys, Max and Luc, and her dog Charlie. Her very favorite thing in the world is singing in choir.

Lindsay Decoste is the current director of choirs at Red Mountain High School in Mesa. Originally from Southern California, she sang at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to and graduating from Northern Arizona University. Lindsay now performs regularly with Canto Vivo and After Five at MCC and performs in various community theatre productions around the valley. She is excited to rejoin the Phoenix Chorale after singing as part of the group for three seasons previously.

Now in her twenty-third year in the organization, Carol regards her involvement in the Phoenix Chorale as an essential aspect of her artistry in the Valley. Her solo and ensemble singing has taken her to nine states, as well as internationally to Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand. Originally from the Midwest, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma before moving to Arizona to complete her Master’s degree in Voice at ASU. Her primary work focuses on teaching voice at Glendale Community College and Grand Canyon University. Beyond performing and teaching, Carol is a certified yoga instructor, and dabbles passionately in the pastry arts.

Holly has sung with the Phoenix Chorale for 18 incredible seasons! She is also a member of the early music ensemble Helios. Holly has performed regularly as a soloist with Phoenix Opera in various concert settings around the valley and has been a member of the Arizona Opera Chorus. Holly has spent her career as a 3D and motion graphics artist in the video game and slot machine industries. She currently works as a Sr. World Builder at 31st Union working on an unannounced AAA title. Holly has continued her vocal education, studying with voice instructor Gail Dubinbaum. Holly and her husband George are outdoor enthusiasts living in Mesa with their two birds, Pico and Olive.

Anjelica is so happy to be back for her sixth season with the Phoenix Chorale. Anjelica is a fifth generation Arizona native who studied choral music education at Northern Arizona University where she was a very active participant in the Choral union as well as a music intern at the Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona. Anjelica is now a freelance choral performer, solo singer, and church cantor around the valley. She was a founding member of the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers and recently performed with them at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Dr. Ryan Holder. Anjelica works full time at a small CPA firm in Chandler and is living her lifelong dream of being a mother after welcoming her first daughter on Thanksgiving day of 2023.

Stephanie is in her fifteenth season with the Chorale. A native of Ohio, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music business and a Master of Arts degree in music education from The Ohio State University. She moved to Phoenix to attend graduate school at ASU and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music education. Stephanie currently teaches choir, guitar, and AVID at North Canyon High School in the Paradise Valley School District and is a member of Helios, a seven-voice early music ensemble. She loves being around water–-swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, and wake surfing!

Ariana is a mezzo-soprano and a native of Phoenix, Arizona. She currently studies under the prestigious tutelage of Gail Dubinbaum Massaro. Ariana holds both a masters and bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. She has sung with Phoenix Chorale since April 2022. Her first experience was performing Thomas Tallis’ “Spem in Alium.”  Ariana also sings at Christian Science First Church for their Sunday service and during the holiday season she performs with the King’s Carolers. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, writing poetry, and traveling.

Courtney Evans, an Arizona native, has been a proud member of the Phoenix Chorale since 2022. She currently works as an Academic Advisor at Arizona State University and previously served as the choral director at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe. A lifelong singer and pianist, she accompanies and teaches music literacy with the Phoenix Children’s Chorus, serves as accompanist and cantor at Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria, and frequently performs as a guest accompanist and vocalist for various school and community choirs throughout the valley. Courtney also enjoys vocal jazz and show choir, freelancing as a choreographer for high school choral programs. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.M. in Choral Music Education from Northern Arizona University and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.

Emily Drum is thrilled to be joining the Phoenix Chorale for their first season. They hold a degree in sociology with a minor in music from the University of Arizona and works as a freelance vocal arranger, composer, producer, and educator. Emily has sung with ensembles such as the Helios Ensemble in Tucson, Canto Vivo, Phoenix Women’s Chorus, and Arizona State Gospel Choir, and is part of the semi-professional a cappella quartet Red Letter Daze. Additionally, they serve as a vocal coach for the Mesquite High School Choir program, and their pieces have been performed in over 35 countries.

Leia is thrilled to be returning to the Phoenix Chorale to begin her ninth season. She holds her bachelors degree in Music from The Pennsylvania State University, her masters in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy from Arizona State University, and her DMA in Vocal Performance, also from ASU. Leia is the current Artistic Director of the Music Theatre department at Mesa Community College where she teaches many of the vocal-based courses, music theatre courses, private voice lessons, and stage directs the musicals. She sings regularly with Canto Vivo Chorale and at St. Thomas More as a vocal worship leader. Other professional achievements include AriZoni nominations for music direction for ASU’s Bright Star, MCC’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, and an AriZoni nomination for Best Leading Actress as Judy Bernly in MET’s 9 to 5. She has also performed with Michael Bublé, The Rolling Stones, and sung for Kristin Chenoweth. 

Josiah Hagstrom is entering his tenth year with the Chorale. Josiah is an Arizona native and ASU alumni, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor degree in Liberal studies. After growing up in Mesa, he now resides in Gilbert with his amazing wife Mindy, his beautiful daughter Kayla, awesome son Noah, and their two golden retrievers, Windsor & Bailey. Josiah has been working in the field of optometry for over 18 years with his current role as practice manager at “Doctor My Eyes” in Scottsdale.  

Gabriel Frongillo has been an enthusiastic member of the Phoenix Chorale since 2017. He graduated from the University of Arizona with his Bachelor’s of Music degree in Choral Music Education, and recently completed his Master’s of Education degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Arizona State University. Gabriel worked as a choral music educator at Apollo High School in Glendale for eight years conducting and teaching choir and piano students. During that time, he served as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for male choirs for the Arizona branch of the American Choral Directors’ Association, directed student musicals, and supervised aspiring music educators as part of their student teaching experience for their degree programs. Gabriel currently works as an academic advisor for the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and continues to make professional music as a freelance vocalist around the valley. Gabriel was recently part of the ensemble of the new opera “The Old Man and the Sea” by Paoloa Prestini with other Phoenix Chorale musicians and enjoyed premiering the work at ASU Gammage and touring the production at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

James is thrilled to be joining Chorale for his fourth season! A native of Prescott, Arizona, he earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Oklahoma City University in 2014 and has since performed around the country and world. After moving to Phoenix six years ago, James has sung with various ensembles including HELIOS [a modern renaissance],  Canto Vivo Chorale, Arizona Musicfest, The Prescott Quartz Ensemble, and the Arizona Opera Chorus. James was also privileged to appear with the members of Phoenix Chorale in the world premiere of Paula Prestini’s operatic adaptation of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea last fall, and proudly served as an education outreach artist for Arizona Opera in 2020. In his spare time, he enjoys figure skating and works at a litigation firm in Scottsdale.

J.J. is excited to continue his nineth season with the Chorale. An Arizona native, he resides in Peoria with his musical wife, Genny, his favorite accompanist, and five children: Rylie, Jace, and triplet boys Asher, Brooks, and Caden. J.J. graduated from Grand Canyon University with a B.S. in Music Education with Choral Conducting emphasis. He later earned his Master’s in Music Education from Kent State University. J.J. is in his twenty-second year of teaching and is the Director of Choral Activities and Performing Arts Department Chair at Greenway High School in Phoenix.

Although he has performed with this wonderful group during their 2003 and 2004 seasons, including being a part of their Grammy Award winning album, “Passion Week”, Elijah is excited to be in his fourth season with Phoenix Chorale since returning in the Fall of 2021. Elijah is a Phoenix native and has performed with many ensembles in and around the Valley including the American Bach Series, AZ Masterworks Chorale, Canto Vivo, Canticum Novum, Solis Camerata, the AZ Bach Festival Singers, and Quartz Ensemble of Prescott. Outside of AZ, Elijah has sung with Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys Indianapolis, Mon Choeur, Indianapolis Pro Musica, the Intercontinentaal Projectkoor in the Netherlands, and The Blackdown Early Music Project in England. Elijah is looking forward to an exciting 2024/2025 season full of fabulous music making.

Gavin is thrilled to be entering his second full season with the Chorale. Raised in Glendale, he graduated from Grand Canyon University with a B.A. in Music (Vocal Performance) and later from University of Arizona with a Masters in Choral Conducting. Gavin is currently teaching Choir and Theatre at Legacy Traditional School in Surprise. Gavin enjoys performing across the valley with various choirs, churches and theatres.

Thrilled to be participating in his first season with the Phoenix Chorale, William Mattison is a freelance musician throughout the valley.  Born and raised on the east coast, Mattison earned his Bachelor degrees in Sacred Music and Music Education at Westminster Choir College and his Master’s Degree in Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame.  He currently serves as organist for Christ Church Anglican in Phoenix and St. Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church in Scottsdale as well as Chorusmaster for the Arizona Music Theatre Orchestra under the direction of Phoenix Chorale alum, Stephen Schermitzler.  A licensed agent in property, casualty, health, life and medicare, Mattison spends his free time saving his clients an average of 40% on their insurance premiums.

Caleb is pleased to be singing his ninth season with the Phoenix Chorale. He currently resides as Music Director at Arrowhead Christian Academy, where he directs its graded choirs and vocal ensembles. He also serves as Worship Director at Northwest Valley Baptist Church, where he conducts its volunteer choir. Caleb has served as vocal coach, choral clinician, and church music seminar presenter here in Phoenix and beyond. Two of his sacred choral anthems are published with Beckenhorst Press.

Christopher has been singing professionally and teaching in the Phoenix area since moving to the city in 2012. He is enjoying his current career instructing young minds and directing ensembles of all ages.  He has been seen performing secondary roles & as a chorister with Arizona Opera for almost 20 years, as a soloist & chorister with Phoenix Opera, and as a soloist with the Phoenix Symphony. He is proud to be in his 10th year as a member of The Phoenix Chorale.

Joshua is a distinguished pianist, singer, and educator currently in his twentieth season with the Chorale. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) and Master of Music (MM) in Piano Performance from Arizona State University, as well as a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas. His accolades include being named “Most Outstanding Arizona Pianist” at the 4th USASU Bösendorfer International Piano Competition. Joshua has collaborated with renowned ensembles such as Grammy-nominated Seraphic Fire, Grammy-nominated True Concord: Voices and Orchestra, Grammy-winning Anúna, Spire Chamber Ensemble, and the Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale. His performance credits include appearances as soloist with prestigious organizations including The Phoenix Symphony, the Arizona Bach Festival, and Anúna. Currently, Joshua serves as a pianist at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church, holds an adjunct faculty position at Grand Canyon University, and teaches piano to a select group of private students at Hillmann Piano Studio, LLC in North Phoenix.

Jason grew up singing and learning music in the Phoenix Boys Choir and has gone on to perform as a soloist with the Flagstaff Master Chorale and Early Music Michigan. More recently, he spent 4 seasons performing with Helios: A Modern Renaissance. He would go on to work as a judge and clinician for various choral events. Currently, Jason is director of a large mixed high school choir at Arizona School for the Arts. He earned a B.M. in Music Education from Western Michigan University and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University.

Dr. Craig Peterson is Director of Choral Activities and Department Chair at Mesa Community College where he directs a chamber choir, a concert choir, a jazz choir and teaches choral education classes. Craig also serves as artistic director for both Canto Vivo Chorale and the Sonoran Desert Chorale. He received the Bachelor of Music Degree from Concordia College and the Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University.  He has studied conducting with Paul Christiansen, Douglas McEwen, Don Bailey, Anders Ohrwall, Jon Washburn, Charles Bruffy & Craig Hella Johnson. Craig has served in numerous leadership roles including: President of Az ACDA, AMEA all-state jazz chair, vocal jazz chair, and the two-year college R& S chair for AZ ACDA.

Groups under Craig’s direction have consistently received superior ratings at area festivals and have appeared at the AZ State ACDA Convention, the AZ Music Educators Convention, at three ACDA Western Division Conventions, and the National Convention of the Orff and Kodaly Music Teachers Association.  Dr. Peterson has also prepared choirs for the Phoenix Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra.   Craig has served as the Assistant Director of the Phoenix Chorale, assistant director of the Phoenix Boys Choir and he continues to be in demand as a clinician and singer throughout Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Oregon, New Mexico & California. He has been a director for 6 all state jazz groups and numerous regional high school festival choirs. He has also sung bass on several recordings with both the Phoenix Chorale and Conspirare and has sung professionally with True Concord, The Santa Fe Desert Chorale, the Cincinnati Vocal Artists and the Oregon Bach Festival Choir.

Sam is excited to be performing his second season with the Chorale. Sam works as a voice coach at Mountain View High School and as a singer/audio tech at First United Methodist Church of Mesa. He also regularly performs with the Canto Vivo Chorale, Arizona Dickens Carolers, and has served as a Regional Choir judge for the Arizona Music Educators Association.