Unity showcase
fall 2022
Program

Table of Contents

Program Order

Program Notes

Artist Bios

Program Order

One Voice Ruth Moody b. 1975

Christina Booker, Soprano, Francesca Kemper Mezzo Soprano, Tami Stoecker, Mezzo Soprano, Tamia Yates, Piano Nevertheless Vocal Ensemble

Tree of Life Sara Buchanan MacLean (b. 1952)

I. Roots

II. Trunk

III. Branches

IV. Leaves

Jane Halliday, Violin  Sara Buchanan MacLean, Piano

The Fool Kya Rafferty (b. 1992)

Kya Rafferty, Poet

Unity Lisa Young

Nevertheless Vocal Ensemble, Judith Youngblood Mezzo Soprano, Su Crocker, Percussion

Berceuse Amy Beach (1867-1944)

Kim Fanning, Cello Debbie Beavin, Piano

On Consciousness Streams Jacqueline B Hairston (b. 1932)

I. On Consciousness Streams

II. Thou Alone Canst Inspire

III. The Season of Remembrance

Christina Booker, Soprano  Debbie Beavin, Piano

Soul Kya Rafferty (b. 1992)

Kya Rafferty, Poet

Darling Beautiful Chorus

Nevertheless Vocal Ensemble

~ PAUSE ~

Unity Teresa Willis (b. 1960)

Teresa Willis, Poet,   Joyce Knight, Martial Artist

Warrior Kim Baryluk (b. 1959)

Nevertheless Vocal Ensemble

Growth Kya Rafferty (b. 1992)

 Kya Rafferty, Poet

What Happens When a Woman? Alexandra Olsavsky (b. 1990)

Sarah Tonini, Soprano, Christina Booker, Soprano, Megan Durham, Mezzo Soprano

Don’t Mess With Me Brody Dalle (b. 1979)

Noble Dragon Kenpo: Brooklyn Curtis, Trinity Flannery, Addie Henderson, Joyce Knight, Adrianne Montgomery, Letti Oakley, Joy Short

Crowded Table Natalie Hemby (b. 1977), Lori McKenna (b. 1968) Brandi Carlile (b. 1981)  Arr. Andrea Ramsey (b. 1977)

Nevertheless Vocal Ensemble, Danielle Armstrong Soprano, Jane Halliday Violin, Tamia Yates Piano

Program Order

Program Notes

Artist Bios

Program Notes

It’s a fact that women have difficulty being taken seriously as artists. It’s also a fact that, when programming upcoming seasons, established companies and orchestras most often revert to the comfort of the traditional, accepted artistic canon. What this means in real life is that not only are most performed works written by (dead, white) men, but also most of the casting needs (read: jobs) are also for male artists. There simply aren't many opportunities for female performers when compared to our male counterparts. As well, most female artists have dealt with some combination of blatant sexism, ageism, racism, body shaming and abject cruelty throughout our careers. The magnitude of these challenges, coupled with the abundance of trained, talented female artists looking for jobs, makes competition - and division among artists - fierce. It breeds scarcity and negativity and leaves female performers to feel isolated and unsupported. We found that this type of experience is by no means limited to performers. Our visual artist friends had a similar experience and often choose to operate in isolation, yet still find it difficult to have their work shown. At Nevertheless Arts Ensemble we believe this is too high a price to pay for creativity, a birthright for every single one of us. 

One of the foundational ideals of the Nevertheless Arts Ensemble is that we are all greater than the sum of our parts. Therefore, we asked ourselves what would happen if we worked together rather than spend all our energy competing against one another?
Once we started asking, there were other questions:
What if we created the necessary space ourselves and invited other female artists to collaborate?
What if we lead with kindness, love and support instead of perfectionism, fear and ego?
So far the answers, and the resulting creative energy, have been astounding. Greater than the sum of our parts, indeed.

Unity, our showcase this evening, is the latest embodiment of our work to answer these questions. Not only is every piece on stage written by and performed by female artists, we have to collaborate to bring it to life. Our vision this evening is to unify and use our collective creative energy to turn the system, and our world, on its head. Especially now, our world needs us all to work together; not only to fight great beasts like social injustice, racism and sexism, but to lead by example. Let it begin with us - let us do it differently and show the world what is possible.

So again we ask what would happen if we worked together rather than spend all our energy competing against one another? We’re here this evening to show you. We hope our programming choices, our performances and the combining of our creative spirits uplifts you, and leaves you inspired to wonder what else might be possible if we work together.

One Voice by Ruth Moody - You may have heard “One Voice '' in its original form as sung by the Canadian folk trio, The Wailin’ Jennys. Ruth Moody (https://www.ruthmoody.com/) originally wrote the song for vocal trio, but her mother, Marceline Moody, arranged it for vocal ensemble and piano. Ruth says of this song, “Not only is there a lot of division and unrest in the world right now but because of COVID people [haven’t been able to] physically be together. So I think the message [of “One Voice”] is doubly important because it’s about coming together, and joining together, and it’s about peace. Music connects people to their feelings, their memory, their subconscious,” she adds. “It connects people to each other. It opens portals in the mind and heart that nothing else can [and] I think on so many levels, [“One Voice”] is speaking to people and that makes me really happy. That’s a really good feeling to know it’s helping people and that it is providing hope.”

“The Fool,” “Soul” and “Growth” - Kya Rafferty says “The[se] works chronologically express my journey through personal tales that are commonly experienced by women. By telling my story, I am opening the door to creating a safe space for women to share, feel, and grow together. As women, we are called to foster strength and compassion through unity.” 

“Unity” Lisa Young (https://lisayoungmusic.com/) is known to choral, jazz and world music listeners as a creative vocal stylist and improviser, incorporating Indian and African elements in her work. She enjoys a rich, collaborative performing and recording life with multi award-winning vocal group Coco’s Lunch for whom “Unity” was originally written. (https://www.cocoslunch.com/) The original version of the song can be heard on their album “A Whole New Way of Getting Dressed”. The text speaks of the hope of finding unity “somewhere in the world”. 

Berceuse by Amy Beach (1867-1944) Kim Fanning says “I knew I wanted to perform something by Amy Beach (https://www.amybeach.org/) due to her place in American classical music history. She was the first successful American woman composer and first American woman to have a symphony premiered by a major American orchestra. She is also one of the first women in classical music to have a career without having a male family member “promote” her (as was the case with Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel). Amy was married for 25 years to an older surgeon and during her marriage she had to agree to act as a proper society matron which included not teaching any lessons, only performing twice a year with profits donated to charity, and not studying under the tutelage of any professors. She taught herself composition during her married life (since she married at 18 and was unable to attend conservatory) and was still able to have her compositions performed. After her husband passed she embarked upon teaching and concert tours. 
A berceuse is a lullaby. As a mom, frequently the only time I get to myself is after everyone else in the house is in bed. I know this experience is one that unifies most women here and abroad. I imagine that when women take over the world it will be in this time after everyone else is asleep and us women are either checking off our to- do lists and/or getting our well-deserved free time while the rest of the house is quiet.” 

On Consciousness Streams by Jacqueline B. Hairston (https://africandiasporamusicproject.org/jacquelineb_hairston)

 Christina Booker says: “I chose [to perform these] pieces because I believe they are a call for a united front. The first selection, “On Consciousness Streams” is a call to action followed by a prayer “Thou Alone Canst Inspire.” The final piece, “The Season of Remembrance” serves to remind all who hear of goals and dreams that may have been sat aside or placed on the back burner so to speak. To me, it says that now is the time to remember those things! We, as a people, have work to do and, in the midst of chaos that may be happening in the world, we have to remember our “WHY” and come together so that we can move forward. This is the season.

I   On Consciousness Streams
On Consciousness Streams sighs a metaphor of delight with joy and hope for tomorrow
Oh listen! Make haste without waste, for tomorrow will wait for no one, lest he knows from whence he comes.
Fret not! The time to act is now!

II Thou alone canst inspire
Oh lead my spirit, raise it from these heavy depths
Transported by Thy art
And fearlessly, joyfully it soars up to Thee
For Thou knowest all things.
Thou alone canst inspire

III  The Season of Remembrance
Again and again, it comes: The Time of Recollection.
The Season of Remembrance
Empty vessels of hope fill up again;
Forgotten treasures of dreams reclaim their place;
Long-lost memories come trooping back to me
This is my season of remembrance, my time of recollection.
Into the challenge of my anguish I throw the strength of all my hope;
I match the darts of my despair with the treasure of my dreams;
Upon the current of my heart, I float the burdens of the years;
I challenge the mind of death, with my Love of Life! Life!
Such to me is the Time of Recollection
This is the Season of Remembrance.
This is my Season of Remembrance!

Darling - Beautiful Chorus (https://www.beautifulchorus.com/) has quietly become one of the most successful independent vocal groups in the world. Referred to as “high frequency love music” by their fans, Beautiful Chorus is led by Alexandra Love, who started the group to spread a harmony-infused soundscape of interconnectedness, ease, and joy. Their introspective, beautiful and deeply personal compositions remind listeners that the place within us all; that place of complete peace, is always available. 

Unity - Teresa Willis When asked to describe her inspiration for writing “Unity,” Teresa Willis says, “Women have long subverted patriarchal strictures by disguising their true aims behind fluttery female affectations. So we use that tacit dismissal to our advantage. Joyce [Knight] tells us that female warriors in her tradition hid their weapons in their clothing or disguised them as other objects such as fans. But why do women fight? Why train and become warriors? Women rise up to protect the vulnerable. Their children. Other people's children. Other women who cannot fight for themselves. Yet.”

Warrior - Kim Baryluk was originally written in 1993 for the Canadian folk trio The Wyrd Sisters (http://www.wyrdsisters.com/main.shtml), of whom the composer is a member. The song begins with the narrator stating that they cannot fight for a woman in trouble stating that it's “not my nature nor my teaching” and it's simply the “womanhood in me” that keeps them from getting involved. Throughout the song the narrator grows, both as woman and a human being - ultimately becoming willing to say “I can and will fight. I can and will a warrior be.” “Warrior” tells a powerful story of a journey to which a lot of women can relate. Ultimately realizing that we need to stand up for one another and be willing to fight for what’s right even if the battle is not directly ours is ‘Unity’ at its finest

What Happens When a Woman? By Alexandra Olslavsky (https://www.alexandraolsavsky.com/) was written for the Artemisia Vocal trio (https://www.artemisiatrio.com/) of which she is a member. The trio actively works to put the female voice forward and encourages audiences to “celebrate the eternal feminine.” In addition to performing, they do a lot of community outreach and commissioning of works of living female composers. This piece asks, What happens when a woman takes power? What happens when she won’t back down? More importantly, it says, “We rise above, we lead with love. We have won, we are one, we’ve just begun.”

“Crowded Table” - the Highwomen (https://www.thehighwomen.com/) was originally conceived by singer/ songwriter Brandi Carlile (https://www.brandicarlile.com/). In an interview with entertainment weekly, she stated that the original concept of the piece is the idea of, "going out into the world and being an activist and furthering agendas that I think will make the world a better place, but still being able to come home at the end of the day and be in my family and be with people that do not agree with me so that we can all move a little bit closer to the middle of the road." "Crowded Table" features the voice parts weaving in and out of unison. "Because even within our band, we do not all believe the same things," Carlile said. "But to snap those voices back into unison like that is really what the concept of women learning to work together and community is."

The Nevertheless Arts Ensemble is a collaborative of female identifying artists – singers, writers, dancers, actors and instrumentalists – committed to performing music and art created by women. We celebrate the voices of women and provide opportunities for female artists who might not otherwise be heard. Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neverthelessarts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neverthelessarts/
TikTok: @neverthelessarts

Program Order

Program Notes

Artist Bios

Artist Bios

NEVERTHELESS VOCAL ENSEMBLE

Soprano I
Danielle Armstrong
Debbie Beavin
Christina Booker
DeWan Snelling

Alto I
Carol Hoeppner
KJ Kerr
Jeanne-Marie Rogers

NOBLE DRAGON KENPO
Joyce Knight, Owner/Instructor

Brooklyn Curtis
Trinity Flannery
 Addie Henderson

PRODUCTION STAFF
Sarah Tonini, Artistic Director
Tammy Richardson, Stage Manager
Jack Andrews, Sound Design
Tami Stoecker, Choral Librarian

BOARD
Debbie Beavin, Finance Chair
Christina Booker, Operations Chair
Chris Tonini, Marketing Chair
Judith Youngblood, Development Chair

Danielle Armstrong, Soprano, loves the camaraderie and support that comes from performing alongside the many talented women of the Nevertheless Arts Ensemble. Her passion for music began when she was a little girl singing in church. She soon expanded her repertoire to include secular works, including slumber party sing-alongs with The Little Mermaid. Danielle hails from Massachusetts, where her parents always encouraged her musical pursuits, patiently enduring every concert. The limits of their support were later tested when they learned she was cutting classes to sing small backup roles with touring artists like Barry Manilow and Kenny Rogers. Now based in Louisville, Danielle has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Voces Novae. The latest musical thrill of this summer was an invitation to sing in London at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and as the choir-in-residence at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Teresa Clare Bartenstein, Visual Artist, lives in Louisville, Kentucky. She returned to school while raising her family and earned her BFA in Three Dimensional Design from the University of Louisville in 2005. Her creative process is approached with an eye toward the human spirit. In each of her works, be it clay or oil paint, she endeavors to capture the audience with energy, be it light, brush stroke, or movement within the clay. Bringing the viewer into her work is what drives her creativity. Through her painting she endeavors to create a work that the eye continues to move through, finding nuances that resonate with each viewer, evoking a memory or new discovery. Over the years she has shown her work in various galleries and group shows in and around Louisville. On a personal note, she and her husband Ted Bartenstein have lived in the Highlands in Louisville for forty years. They have two creative adult children living their best lives in California, and three precious grandsons.

Debbie Beavin, Piano/Soprano, joined the Nevertheless Arts Ensemble in 2019 as a musician and in 2021 joined the board as Finance chair. Debbie began playing the piano at age 5 and while she pursued a business career initially with GE and later with Humana and YUM!’s dedicated supply chain, music remained a steady part of her life. Throughout her adult life, Debbie has served as a cantor and musician for the Archdiocese of Louisville, primarily within her own parish of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, yet also for the Cathedral and various other parishes. Wishing to more closely align her creative and personal interests with her professional career, Debbie assumed the Director of Worship and Music role with Our Lady of Lourdes’ Catholic Church in 2021.

Christina Booker, Soprano is thrilled to be a part of the Nevertheless Arts Ensemble as an artist and a board member. She is an educator and performer based in Louisville, KY. She is adjunct faculty at Bellarmine University and with more than 10 years of teaching and music-directing experience, Christina enjoys working with artists of all ages and backgrounds in both individual and group settings. She has also served as a guest teaching artist with Kentucky Opera and has been featured on several other masterclasses, theater camps, and teaching workshops with Redline Performing Arts and Classic Melodies Performance Institute. She holds a master’s degree in Kodaly music education as well as vocal performance. Christina has also been seen in Junie B. Jones the Musical (Music Director/swing) with Derby Dinner Playhouse and Once On This Island (Storyteller/Mama Euralie understudy) with Actor’s Theatre of Louisville.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/christina.l.booker
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cbooker08

M. Kathy Christian, Visual Artist, is primarily an acrylic and pastel artist focusing on landscapes, florals and animals.

Carrie Beth Collins, Mixed Media Artist,is a contemporary blacklight artist from Kentuckiana with a love of books, podcasts, house plants, music, cat memes, and French fries. I paint for the plant-loving, modern hippie hearts that loves vibrant colors. My paintings are contemporary during the day, and a party when the lights go out at night. I’ve been told more than once that I sell joy, and I really like hearing it. It feels like a much-needed vibe to put out into the world. You can find/follow Carrie at the below links: 
Website & Shop: https://carriebethcollins.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happylittleartist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistcarriebethcollins

Susan Crocker, Percussionist, is thrilled to be joining this talented group of people. She has played drum set with various community theatre organizations around Louisville for the last four years in shows such as Guys & Dolls, Zombie Prom, Cabaret, Drowsy Chaperone, and Working. Many thanks to Sarah for the opportunity and to you for supporting the arts! 

Bonnie Duffy, Photographer (bonduffyphotos) has had cameras in her life from the day she was born! Raised by a mother who loved photography, Bonnie recalls her life as one “in front of the business end” of film and movie cameras. She knows the value of sharing photos and videos with others documented, and she often restores vintage images for their families and children. Bonnie spent her career in customer service, primarily in the travel and financial industries. In retirement she enjoys photographing people doing what they love. Her favorite photography method is also a documentary style, first capturing moments as they happen and then custom processing each image. She is thrilled to be able to photograph and document meaningful moments in your world for you.
Website: bonduffyphotos.com.

Megan Durham, Mezzo Soprano serves on the voice faculty at the University of Louisville. A trauma-informed voice care facilitator, Megan also works as a singing voice specialist to habilitate singers with vocal injury.
Website: www.respirevocalwellness.com 

Kim Fanning, Cello has been a music teacher since the age of 16 (back in the mid-1990s). She currently teaches cello, violin, viola and piano lessons out of her home, does gigs most weekends, teaches music history courses online for Jefferson Community and Technical College and works as a travel agent. She also went back to school in her late 30s and is now a full-time pediatric occupational therapist with Associates in Pediatric Therapy in addition to the previously mentioned side hustles. Kim lives in New Albany with her amazingly understanding husband of 14+ years and their 3 stubborn and hilarious children.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimsmagicalworldvacations/
Website: https://medium.com/@kimmiecello

Jane Halliday, Violin is a versatile musician with extensive performance experience in a variety of musical genres. She has a B.M. in music performance and an M.A. in Humanities, both from the University of Louisville, as well as a B.A. in English from Smith College. Jane’s musical experiences range from solo performance, to work with various chamber ensembles and orchestras throughout the region. She is on the faculty of Bellarmine University where she teaches violin and coaches ensembles. Jane is also a founding member of the gypsy jazz band, Swing ’39 (Swing39.com), collaborates on original music written by her singer/songwriter sister, Marion Halliday (marionhalliday.com), and is part of theCarnegie Quartet (carnegiequartet.com), an outstanding string ensemble based in Lexington KY. Listen to Jane’s music below:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JaneHalliday-Musician

Carol Hoeppner, Soprano, has always enjoyed singing. She sings with the church choir at DePauw Memorial United Methodist Church and is thrilled to be part of the Nevertheless ensemble. She started her adventure with music as a child when she took piano lessons from her grandmother. Carol is a retired teacher and taught preschool and special education for many years.

Francesca Kemper, Mezzo Soprano, is a resident of New Albany, Indiana, and is honored to be among the founding members of the Nevertheless Vocal Ensemble. Since moving to this area over 30 years ago, she has enjoyed performing with The Louisville Bach Society, the Kentucky Opera Chorus, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Louisville. She also worked at various churches as a soloist and section leader. She is a member of St. Marks United Church of Christ in New Albany, where she sings in several ensembles within the church’s rich music ministry, and serves as part of the church’s Soup Kitchen Leadership Team. She is a full-time employee of ScionHealth, and has a lovely adult daughter.

KJ Kerr, Mezzo Soprano is thrilled to join Nevertheless Arts for the first time. She is a lover of all things music and art, and enjoys participating in Louisville community theatre productions. Most recently, she lived her choral/theatre dream as a nun in Act Louisville’s The Sound of Music. She’s also been attempting to learn the mandolin, her grandfather’s primary instrument, for far too long and has a feeling that this will be the year…please hold her accountable. During her main daytime hours, she works in international public relations and photography. She loves the Louisville arts community and is happy to be here!

Joyce Knight, Martial Artist retired from Kentucky State Police after 27 years as Communications Supervisor and currently works as an EMT. She has practiced martial arts for 20 years, competing nationally as well as hosting her own tournaments. Joyce was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2018 as Female Instructor of the Year and again in 2022 as Distinguished Female School Owner. She is now the proud owner of Noble Dragon Kenpo Karate in Mt Sterling, KY. Throughout her career, Joyce has volunteered for various children's programs focusing on providing assistance to children in difficult circumstances, and develops programs within her karate school to allow children (age 5 and up) of any circumstance to be able to participate.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/NobleDragonKenpo/

Sara Buchanan MacLean, Composer/Pianist creates music inspired by stories, poetry, and nature. She has a Masters degree in Music Composition from Indiana University, Bloomington and has composed chamber music, song settings, choral music, and works for orchestra. Her works include musical settings for five story albums by Beatrice Bowles, a San Francisco writer and mythologist, piano pieces “Psyche, Eros and Four Fairy Tales”, which have been performed throughout the U.S. and Europe by Louisville pianist Denine LeBlanc, various settings of Emily Dickinson’s poetry, “The Drop that Wrestles in the Sea”, a work, for Flute, Mezzo Soprano and Piano performed at the Kentucky Flute Society’s convention, and a recent visual-audio collaboration with textile artist Denise Furnish using some of the music you will hear this evening.

Lisette Markham, Soprano, is thrilled to be a part of Nevertheless Arts Ensemble. She is from a long family history of performers. Her Mother, Grandmother, and HER grandmother were all classical singers. She started early with folk and ballet classes at 5 years old, and voice lessons with her grandmother. Lisette has performed for over 30 years as an Actor, Singer, Dancer, and Mime. She has appeared with Music Theatre Louisville, Clarksville Little Theater, Actors Theater, Juneteenth Legacy Theater, and CirqueLouis. She has sung with Voces Novae, Louisville Orchestra Masterworks, the Kentucky Opera, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and has sung on tour with Umbrian Serenades in Italy. She has also performed in film and television. She trained in classic pantomime with Mick Sgroi, student of Marcel Marceau and has over 25 years of training in ballet, jazz, tap, and voice. When not performing, Lisette is a counselor with a private practice, loves genealogy research, traveling with her family, her church choir, and volunteer work.

Janet Meador, Fashion Illustrator turned visual merchant, began her artistic journey as a staff artist for the former Bacons at Bashford Manor Mall in 1977. Born and raised in Louisville’s West End, she was drawing by age 4, and well - never stopped.

Riley Merritt, Tattoo Artist (Reye tattoo) Docs applications, Eminence, KY 
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082675901190

Laura Patterson, Designer, grew up dressmaking as her mother and grandmother before her. She founded Cannonball Swimwear as a celebration of the hard work and fine craftsmanship her family prides itself upon paired with the modern and adventurous sensibilities of today. Laura is inspired by her exotic travels to India, sunny surfing trips to Central America, and yearly pilgrimages to the romantic paradise of Maui. It’s her dream to make inspiring swimwear that reflects passion for good living and fine quality, and certainly her wish for you that you love your body in all that you wear. Cannonball Swimwear, a brand new swimwear line that stands in front of a legacy of fine southern fashion and craftsmanship.

Kya Rafferty, Poet, is a lifelong artist whose work is grounded in the raw vulnerability of the human experience. Identifying as a woman, she strives to destigmatize women's issues by sharing her own experiences. Through poetic expression, Kya hopes to empower women to transmute shame into growth and self-love.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kya_a_rafferty?r=nametag

Tammy Richardson, Stage Manager is a Louisville native and returning stage manager for Nevertheless. She is a multimedia artist, writer and foster cat Mom. She’s thrilled to be working with the ladies of Nevertheless once again!

Jeanne-Marie Rogers, Mezzo Soprano, has been part of the local arts scene for many years as a vocalist, instrumentalist and music director. She currently serves as Minister of Music at St. Marks United Church of Christ in New Albany, and is on the board of Highview Arts Center in Louisville. Recent projects include music directing "Guys and Dolls"for Mind's Eye Theatre Company and performing with the Community Music Alliance orchestra. She is so happy to be singing with Nevertheless once again!

Christina Scherer, Artist can be found below:
Website: www.christinascherer.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinatscherer/ 

Thea Lavery Sellers, Soprano, is a speech-language pathologist with Jefferson County Public Schools. Her musical theater debut was in the first grade as Lana Ladybug in “Goin’ Buggy.” She has loved music and performance ever since, singing in choirs, musicals and friends’ weddings for decades. She is thrilled to be an artist with the Nevertheless Arts Ensemble. Thea is also owner of Thea Lavery Jewelry, LLC which offers unique, handcrafted resin earrings made with love! Using premium glitter and creative polymer clay slices, these earrings are ageless, comfortable and giftable. From everyday styles to glamorous statement, whimsical to retro, seasonal and holidays, there's something for everyone! Because we ALL *sparkle*. Follow Thea below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thealaveryjewelry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealaveryjewelry/ 

DeWan Snelling, Soprano, grew up in Southwest Florida, but hails most recently from New Albany, Indiana. When she was a baby, her mother had a car. That car did not have a radio. DeWan and her mother would take long road trips during which her mother would sing to and with her. By the time she was three or four, she knew and could sing all of the words to “One Tin Soldier” as well as a slew of other songs. When she was 5 she told everyone “When I grow up, I want to be a singer!” DeWan sang in choirs, musicals, and glee club throughout elementary and high school. Eventually, she attended the University of South Florida where she graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts with a concentration on vocal performance. While there, she gained an appreciation for "classically trained" singing. Although music and singing were her first love, as she grew, she discovered another (as people often do) and went on to study Speech Language Pathology as well. As a Speech Therapist, she works with people to help regain and retain their independence and quality of life through some of life's many challenging changes. This often includes music and singing as a means to increase many aspects of a person's speech and memory. Therapist by day and musician at heart, she's discovered that music has an important role in both worlds. She is thrilled to share in making beautiful music for you tonight.

Tami Stoecker, Mezzo Soprano has been privileged to have been a part of many different singing groups, including the Michael O'neal Singers of Atlanta, being part of a Concert Tour of the British Isles, the Louisville Choral Arts Society and St. Francis in the Fields Evensong Choir both under the direction of Jim Rightmyer . She was Assistant to the former Director of Music and Worship at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Louisville, having the opportunity to sing with the Schola of St. Clare, a Cantor and conducting the SFA Treble Choir. She is currently a proud member of the Royal School of Church Music American National Choir, under the direction of Bruce Neswick, having sung as a part of the Choir in Residence at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland. She maintains membership in RSCM and pursues continuing education through their summer programs. Tami has studied voice with Louisville local Laura Lea Duckworth and currently studies with Sarah Tonini. She is beyond thrilled to be a part of the Nevertheless Arts Ensemble as a singer and Music Librarian.

Sarah Tonini, Artistic Director/Soprano, has been singing since she could talk, often choosing to sing instead of talk. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music from University of South Florida and a Master’s degree in voice from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She’s had the privilege of performing with opera companies around the world and recently has been supporting the arts locally with KY Opera, CenterStage, Mind’s Eye Theatre and The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Louisville. Sarah loves teaching people to find and celebrate their own voices in her private voice practice, Smart Singer Studio. Her mission throughout her career has been to do her part to reverse the culture of degradation that is the unfortunate norm in the art world, replacing it with positive energy, love and support. She is passionate about forwarding this mission through her efforts with Nevertheless Arts Ensemble.
Website: https://www.smartsingerstudio.com/

Joanna Turner, Visual Artist, of Perfect Pastels - Custom Pet Portraits is from Loretto, KY. She is a wife of 18yrs, mother of 12 yr old twins, and a full-time Registered Nurse Case Manager for insurance working from home. She earned a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Louisville, so Perfect Pastels - Custom Pet Portraits is how she’s utilizing that hard-earned degree! Art is Joanna’s passion. She says that immersing herself in her drawings allows her to step back from the stress of everyday life.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerfectPastels/

Teresa Willis, Poet, began melding her writing and performing in the 90’s, making her mark in the vibrant LA Poetry Scene, garnering a Pushcart nomination and a chapbook (Heartcloset - 1999 Cassowary Press.) Her spoken word work evolved into her one person show, Eenie Meanie, an unflinching look at conditioned racism in the well-meaning heart. Award-winning & critically acclaimed, Teresa has performed Eenie Meanie since 2003 in NYC, LA, Edinburgh, Cincinnati and right here in her native Louisville. She also appeared in Jay Floyd’s Forgiving the Franklins (2006 Sundance, SXSW) and many live theatre productions. (Locally: Slant Culture Theatre Festival, Looking for Lilith, Pandora Productions, Liminal Playhouse.) She was a featured writer/performer with The Louisville Ballet’s Poetry in Motion in 2018. Of her several publication credits, the most recent is The Boom Project: Voices of a Generation. Teresa lives in St. Matthews with her wife, Laura Shine.

Tamia Yates, Piano/Mezzo Soprano - is a graduate from the University of Louisville where she earned her degree and board-certification in Music Therapy. As a pianist and music director, she has worked with Louisville Central Community Center, Faithworks Studios, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Redline Performing Arts. The shows that she has performed in are Faithworks Studios’s Soul of Christmas, Aida, and Disney+ Live.

Jennifer Watson, Soprano, is a native of Louisville. She grew up in the Highlands where she was exposed to a variety of art music and free spirited creativity. Ms. Watson inherited her passion for music and an ear for playing music from her father, Bobby Watson, a saxophonist who took her to see many live bands in the local Louisville music scene. She started playing piano by ear at the age of seven and took lessons for a few years, but was always getting in trouble with her piano teacher for improvising. Ms. Watson previously sang with Voices of Kentuckiana and had the privilege of singing at the GALA Choruses Festival in Denver Colorado in 2012. She is excited to be back to choral singing, after a few years off, with Nevertheless Arts Ensemble.

Judith Youngblood, Mezzo Soprano, is a founding member of Nevertheless Arts Ensemble and sits on the board as director of development. She is a longtime member of the Kentucky Opera Chorus and has also sung with Louisville Master Chorale and Mid-Kentucky Chorus. She is an active cantor in the Archdiocese of Louisville. In her other life, Judith is the founder and CEO of WIST Data Solutions and a proud puppy fosterer for the Kentucky Humane Society.

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Artist Bios