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Bruce Vantine's Cornerstone Chorale & Brass

KiraAlvarez2023b

Soprano

Kira Alvarez

KIRA ALVAREZ, mezzo soprano, is thrilled to be singing for the fifth year with Cornerstone! As a classically trained singer, Kira has lent her vocals to numerous stage shows, concert and recordings. She has toured through dozens of cities across the U.S. and Europe and has sung in notable places such as Notre Dame in Paris, France, and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy.

Locally, you may find Kira singing crunchy harmonies with her Andrews Sisters Swing Band called The Swing Tones that performs for all kinds of events throughout Los Angeles. Upon returning home from the Cornerstone tour, she will be jumping head first into the Holiday Season with her caroling company, The Holiday Carolers. Kira holds a BA in theater performance and a minor in vocal performance from Chapman University. Outside of singing, Kira is an avid traveler and ice cream enthusiast! She is also a huge animal lover and enjoys hanging out with all sorts of furry friends. www.KiraAlvarez.com IG: @KiraAlvarezSings

Currently resides in: Hollywood, CA

Number of Cornerstone tours: 5

Soprano

Talia Marie Aull

Talia Marie Aull is an Atlanta-based singer and actress, where she also teaches music to infants and toddlers with The Music Class. She is thrilled to be returning for her 6th tour with Cornerstone, with whom she has performed from coast to coast. She also sings around Atlanta with her acoustic band JTM (Atlanta Musicians Collective).

[Read more…] about Talia Marie Aull

Currently resides in: Atlanta, GA

Number of Cornerstone tours: 6

William Bennett 2023

Bass

William Bennett

William Bennett was a choral scholar at Oxford University, where he received a First Class Bachelor and Masters, before becoming a chorister in London. William then received his MA Acting, training in both London and NYC. He has performed in 70+ productions, with recent musical/opera credits including Jason Scott (Nicky and the Angels, Los Angeles), Radovan (Libuse, London), Pluto (L’Anima Del Filosolo, London), Marius (Les Miserables, York) and recent film credits including ‘The Decisive Moment’ (San Francisco), ‘The Clownfish’, ‘Friday Dispatch’, ‘Good News’ (Los Angeles), ‘Beans on Toast’, ‘Every Waking Moment’ (London), which premiered at the BFI 2023. This is (incredibly!) William’s first time visiting the Midwest. He is excited and enthused to be part of this dynamic and talented group.

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Diontae Black 2023

Bass

Diontae Black

Diontae is excited to be making his tour debut with The Cornerstone Chorale. He has lent his voice to Musicals, Opera, Concerts and film. He has performed in Regional Theatres and was a part of two Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) and a concert tour of Ireland in 2019 with the Auburn University Chamber Choir under the baton of Dr. William Powell and Dr. Rosephanye Dunn-Powell. Diontae holds a BA in music and a BFA in musical theater from Auburn University (2019). He is currently pursuing a master's degree in developmental psychology from Liberty University. Diontae is a full time audiobook narrator working with Penguin Random House, Tantor Audio, Audible and Sound Understanding. He also loves playing video games and watching anime! He gives thanks to his mother and father, voice teachers and of course to Dr. Bruce Vantine and his team for the opportunity to perform with them! Follow him on social media or visit his website to keep up with him.

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Patrick Brett 2023

Bass

Patrick Brett

 

Patrick is an itinerant actor and singer who goes where the road takes him. He received his BFA in musical theater from SUNY Fredonia. Some of his favorite roles include Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Lurch in Addams Family, and ensemble in Mamma Mia. Performing has allowed him to visit some incredibly beautiful places in this world, most notably Alaska; where Patrick is a crowd favorite at the Music of Denali.

When not on stage he has had the honor of being a realtor, HVAC technician, security officer, a waiter, but never a Harlem Globetrotter. He just wants to read. (tour 1)

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Alto

Karen Burris

Karen is a native of Belgium, WI, and earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal and instrumental music from The University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  She has performed throughout the country and on cruise ships as a singer, actress and instrumentalist.  She currently resides in Chicago, IL and spends much of her time performing as her alter ego, Mary Macaroni.   [Read more…] about Karen Burris

Currently resides in: Chicago, IL

Number of Cornerstone tours: 16

Dominque Duarte 2023

Soprano

Dominique Duarte

Dominique is a singer, actor who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. She recently appeared as Renita in a workshop presentation of Love is Afoot at Miller Center for the Arts in Reading, PA,  and Raina in a staged reading of Riverbend at the Dramatist Guild of America in NYC. She has a BA degree in music performance and journalism from Murray State University (KY) and attended the American Musical Dramatic Academy in NYC. Dominique has performed with Opera Memphis, Playhouse on the Square, Theatre Memphis, and Hattiloo Theatre in Memphis and other regional

venues. NYC performances include Narrator in Character Rewind with WinceyCo, Ms. Sheree Davon in Being Too Much Into Yourself with Nia Theatrical Productions, Favorite roles include: Nettie in The Color Purple. Little Inez in Hairspray, Harlem Ensemble in Ragtime the Musical, and Crystal (Urchin) in Little Shop of Horrors. In her spare time, she writes for her blog bydominiqueduarte.com.  Dominique is super excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with the Cornerstone Chorale and Brass for their 2023 tour.

Currently resides in: Brooklyn, NY

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Zachary Dyer 2023

Bass

Zachary Dyer

Zachary is a singer/dancer/actor currently based in New York City and is excited to be joining the Cornerstone Chorale and Brass! Originally from Illinois, he grew up surrounded by music and worked in worship ministries at Willow Creek Community Church including on staff as the Youth Interim Worship Leader. He studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and has been working professionally since he graduated. He was most recently seen in the P.J. track in Sophisticated Ladies at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. Endless thanks to God, family, friends, and teachers for their love and support!

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Kian Fan 2023

Tenor

Kian Fan

Kian is an actor and singer living in Los Angeles, CA. He began his singing career at the American Boychoir School, where he sang locally and toured around the country and abroad singing hundreds of concerts annually. He continued singing throughout high school and into the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where he earned a degree in music theory in composition. During his time there and in the years following his graduation, he has performed extensively in musicals, plays, opera, and various choirs and vocal groups until he moved to Los Angeles.

[Read more…] about Kian Fan

Currently resides in: Los Angeles, CA

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Zoe Kanter 2023

Alto

Zoe Kanter

Zoe is a singer, actor, and music teacher. She attended Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University where she received her bachelor’s degree in voice performance, followed by her master’s degree in voice performance from Towson University. She enjoys performing in a variety of styles from musical theater to opera, cabarets, choral music, new music, and anything else she can get her hands on! Most recently, she has had the pleasure of performing in The Winter Park Playhouse’s New Musical Festival and in The Cradle Will Rock (Yasha) with Theatre 2020. Zoe was also a company member with  StillPointe Theatre (Baltimore). There she won many accolades for her performances in Grey Gardens (Big Edie), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Johanna), and the U.S premier of Vanishing Point (Agatha Christie). She has also enjoyed working with American Opera Theater, The Avanti Orchestra, The Capital Fringe Festival, Bel Cantanti Opera, Silver Finch Arts Collective, Concert Artists of Baltimore, and The Young Victorian Opera Theater, to name a few. When she isn’t performing she loves teaching and sharing her love of music. www.zoekanter.com, @zoe.kanter

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

George Keating 2023

Tenor

George Keating

George was raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and is currently an actor, director and vocalist in the Chicagoland area. He is a graduate of the acting program at The Theatre School at DePaul University where he teaches acting to BFA and MFA candidates. Recent roles: Baptista in The Taming of the Shrew, Lionel Moreno in The Secret of My Success, and a surgeon on season 10 of NBC’s “Chicago PD.”

[Read more…] about George Keating

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Kassidy Kimata 2023

Alto

Kassidy Kimata

Kassidy is a Philadelphia based actor/singer that has just graduated from DeSales University (PA) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in theater along with a minor in music. Kassidy was born into an extremely musical family and has always surrounded herself with music; whether that be through school choirs, church service solo’s, or singing with her dad and uncle’s rock band.

[Read more…] about Kassidy Kimata

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Dot Kontak 2023

Soprano

Dot Kontak

Dot is a graduate of Valparaiso University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in music.  At Valpo, she sang in the University and Chamber Choirs under the direction of Dr. Larry Fleming with whom she performed on a European tour participating in the International Church Music Festival.

[Read more…] about Dot Kontak

Currently resides in: St. Louis, MO

Number of Cornerstone tours: 8

Amy Lawrence 2023

Soprano

Amy Lawrence

Amy is thrilled to be singing on her first tour with Cornerstone Chorale and Brass. Lawrence is a light lyric soprano with a voice that “…peals out tireless top notes” [The Boston Globe]. At the age of 12, she sang her first operatic role with Los Angeles Opera and at age 18 she performed at the Hollywood Bowl, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Disney Concert Hall.

[Read more…] about Amy Lawrence

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Bass

Gary Lessmann

Gary, living in Denver, CO, is a retired emergency medicine physician and U. S. Navy Captain. He holds degrees from Valparaiso University, St. Louis University School of Medicine, and completed a family medicine residency at Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, FL.
[Read more…] about Gary Lessmann

Currently resides in: Denver, CO

Number of Cornerstone tours: 4

Melvin Rodriguez 2023

Bass

Melvin Rodriguez

Melvin, born in Puerto Rico, began his professional singing and acting career with the Centro de Adiestramiento en Bellas Artes de Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (CABA) and has since been part of many productions from Opera to Musical Theatre in the US and abroad. After finishing his Music Studies at the Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini in Mayaguez he continued his training in vocal performance at the Interamerican University later transferring to the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. While in college Melvin was a part of the Opera de Puerto Rico chorus where he participated in  many opera productions and concerts.  After moving to New York City in 2017 Melvin has worked as a singer/cantor for many churches, opera and musical theater companies around the city. In 2022 Melvin was a soloist with the Choral Art Society”s “Oratorio di Noel”. Some awards include: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions District First Place (2019), NATS NYC District Competition First Place (2019). Melvin is now shifting his career more towards the path of education working with the Harmony Program in New York City.

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Caleb S 2023

Tenor

Caleb Spainhour

Caleb is extremely excited to be joining the Cornerstone Chorale and Brass.  Having spent his formative years excelling in all things “chorus”, including performing with Governor’s School of NC, Mars Hill Select Choir, NC All-State Choir, and Wingate University Select Choir, he’s thrilled to be back in the “chorus”. He is a recent cum laude graduate of Western Carolina University with a BFA in musical theater. He has appeared in multiple regional productions, his favorites being; “Crutchie ” in the Opera House Theatre Company’s production of Newsies!, “Chip” in Lees-McRae Summer Theatre’s production of Spelling Bee, and “Julius/Eddie” in Gothic Performing Arts’ original production of Tree of Life.

Number of Cornerstone tours: 1

Alto

Lucinda Vantine

Cindy is a graduate of Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) where she sang in the Concordia Choir under the direction of  Paul J. Christiansen  She taught public school music in North Dakota and Minnesota, and was director of university events at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) for 34 years.
[Read more…] about Lucinda Vantine

Currently resides in: St. Louis, MO

Number of Cornerstone tours: 20

Kimberly Wackerly 2023

Alto

Kimberly Wackerly

Kimberly is honored to be performing on her 5th national tour with the Cornerstone Chorale & Brass and is excited to celebrate the 500th performance in St. Louis!  Kim is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in music performance and music education, where she was a member of the madrigal ensemble performing at the reconstructed St. Mary’s City celebrating the 350th state anniversary of the founding of Maryland.

[Read more…] about Kimberly Wackerly

Number of Cornerstone tours: 5

How to Support Cornerstone

The Cornerstone Chorale & Brass is a Federal and Missouri-registered non-profit, charitable organization. We depend on your financial gifts to help us produce and spread God's message of love, hope and compassion.


Contributions are gratefully accepted and may be submitted via our Donate page or sent to:

Bruce Vantine's Cornerstone Chorale & Brass

P.O. Box 249, Florissant, MO 63032

Telephone: 1-314-591-1479

© Copyright 2020-present Bruce Vantine