Fall 2025 Meet the Masters

carthage music department presents

Meet the Masters The Graduate Music Theatre Students with Linda Madonia, piano Yu-Mei Chang, piano

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | 7:30 p.m.

Campbell Student Union

program and biographies Nobody’s Heart from By Jupiter

Rodgers and Hart Jingyi Huo, soprano

Jingyi Huo earned her undergraduate in music education, and recently completed her master’s degree in musical theatre. She is currently earning teacher licensure in the accelerated certification for teachers program. Jingyi is fluent in Chinese, Russian and English. She has a passion for music and also enjoys music teaching. Jingyi was a Top 6 finalist in the Miss Universe China Competition.

Isn’t It a Trial from Alice By Heart

Sheik and Sater AnnaMarie Cobb, mezzo-soprano

AnnaMarie is from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in theatre. She enjoys performing, baking and writing. AnnaMarie’s upcoming performances include Martha in the Lakeside Players production of Heathers.

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again/Think of Me From The Phantom Of The Opera Monica Fegans, soprano

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Monica is thrilled to be performing in Meet the Masters for the second time. A lifelong lover of music, Monica has been singing since the age of two and continues to enjoy performing in local theatre productions. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Choral and General Music Education and currently teaches choir at Bradford High School and Bullen Middle School in Kenosha. She has music directed "Honk, Jr!" at Lakeside Players, and is currently directing the upcoming signature spotlight concert at the Racine Theatre Guild, "Women of Soul."

Not My Father’s Son from Kinky Boots

Cindy Lauper Joshua Heinlein, tenor

Joshua, originally from El Paso, Texas, is honored to call himself a Chicago actor and founding member of Broken Watch Theater. He received his education in Kentucky with a BA in Theater and Music Performance and had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of Blackbird Dance Theater during his years there. He is an avid board gamer, proud husband, choreographer, and father.

program and biographies Everything To Win from Anastasia

Ahrens and Flaherty Miao Zhang, mezzo soprano

Miao Zhang earned her BA and MFA degree from the prestigious Peking University, focusing on Chinese Opera, Film and TV Research and Performance. She enjoys performing, and has previously worked on Xanadu as costume crew. Miao recently was a featured presenter at the Estill Voice World Symposium in Chicago, where she shared research about Chinese music theatre clubs.

All That Matters from Finding Neverland

Kennedy and Barlow Keyi Zhang, soprano

Keyi Zhang earned her undergraduate degree in popular music from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. She recently earned first prize in the 7th National College Students Arts Festival and has performed with the Hubei Musicians Choral Society.

Start A Fire from La La Land

Hurwitz and Legend Yingcheng Dou, baritenor

Yingcheng “Charlie” Dou received his bachelor’s degree from Nanjing School of the Arts. He has played leading roles in several original Chinese musicals, including A Drop In The Ocean, Hidden Light, and The Sparkling Red Star.

With You from Ghost

Stewart and Ballard Marissa Fisher, soprano

Marissa Fisher is a first-year graduate student working towards her MM in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy. She graduated from St. Norbert College in 2022 with a degree in K-12 Choral/ General Music Education, and has three years of classroom experience, first in Indiana and then in Wisconsin.

Monticello from Edges

Pasek and Paul Aaron Kahn, tenor

Aaron is so excited to be back for his second year at Carthage. He is a vocal coach and music director based in Chicago. Aaron's previous Music Direction credits include: Fugitive Songs (Stagedoor Manor) The Marvelous Wonderettes (Oil Lamp Theatre) Cowboy Joe (the iO) Spongebob the Musical (Stagedoor Manor) Little Night Music (Theo Ubique) and The Producers (Music Theatre Works).

program and biographies When Did I Fall In Love from Fiorello!

Harnick and Bock Zhenyi Wang, soprano

Zhenyi “Jenny” Wang earned her undergraduate degree from the prestigious Shanghai Conservator of Music. She was nominated for the 2024 Musical Theatre Award at the Shanxi Grand Theatre, and was awarded the First Prize at the Beijing 8th Asia International Art Festival.

Run Away With Me from The Mad Ones

Kerrigan and Lowdermilk

Yi Wei, tenor Wei is from Jiangsu Province in China and received his undergraduate degree in musical theatre from Nanjing University of the Arts.

Dragon Lady

Kalyn Harewood Kalyn Harewood, voice

Kalyn Harewood is a Barbadian American creative with a background in vocal performance and a Master’s in composition. Her emotionally rich music spans film, podcasts, dance, and self-released albums. Known for her skill in melody, harmony, and sound design, Kalyn uses music as a tool for storytelling and social change.

Poisonous Love from Rio 2

Powell & Brown Qingchen Yao, soprano

Qingchen “Gloria” Yao is a musical theatre performer and educator with nearly 10 years of experience. She is a core member of the Musical Drama Creation and Rehearsal Research of the Ministry of Education in China and was an author of the secondary school drama textbook for musical education.

Moving Too Fast from The Last Five Years

Jason Robert Brown Dan Klimczak, tenor

Dan Klimczak is originally from Chicago and graduated from Indiana University with a BFA in musical theatre and a minor in dance. Dan has performed roles across the United States, including a recent contract in Alaska. IG: @daniel.klimczak Website: Danklimczak.com

program and biographies How Did We Come To This from The Wild Party

Andrew Lippa Mengyan Zhang, soprano

Mengyan “Catherine” Zhang is passionate about exploring the art of musical theatre performance and vocal teaching. Catherine has over eight years of professional performance experience in China, including performances in the Sound Of Music, Cinderella, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. She has been part of several original Chinese musical premiers, and is a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Turn The Page from We Aren’t Kids Anymore

Drew Gasparini Jessica Deskin, soprano

Jessica Deskin is an American vocalist, pianist, and songwriter who blends jazz, classical, and commercial music influences, bringing rich musicality to her work as a performer, teacher and session vocalist. A passionate educator and collaborator, Jessica teaches at the Music Institute of Chicago and recently premiered the original song cycle “The Nature of Life” across the Northeast.

biographies Pianist Linda Madonia has been a music director, conductor, pianist, and coach in the Chicago area for the past 35 years. Linda has collaborated with many companies including Mercury Theatre Chicago, Music Theater Works, Chamber Opera Chicago, Porchlight Music Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, and Broadway in Chicago. Linda serves as the Chicago Federation of Musicians contractor for Porchlight Music Theatre, and Music Theatre Works. In addition to serving as the graduate coach at Carthage College, Linda owns American Eagle Productions, an educational company that teaches theatre classes to kids in the Chicago area.

Pianist Yu-Mei Chang is a music director and pianist active on theater stages both in the United States, Taiwan and China. A multi-instrumentalist and singer, she earned her undergraduate degree in piano from the Taipei National University of Arts, and completed her master’s degree in music theatre vocal pedagogy at Carthage College. Yu-Mei has worked professionally in China on productions such as MAMMA MIA!, AVENUE Q, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, LAUNDRY, THRILL ME, DADDY LONG LEGS, MURDER BALLAD, and JEKYLL AND HYDE. She has been a sub-keyboardist with the international tour of THE PHANTON OF THE OPERA, and has worked in the United States on productions with the Mercury Theatre. At Carthage College, she has music directed mainstage and workshop musicals. This year, she is music directing JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and BRIGHT STAR on the Carthage mainstage.

upcoming events Performing Arts Series: Trio Celeste Thursday, October 23 • 7:30 p.m.

H.F. Johnson Recital Hall Tickets Required. Visit www.carthage.edu/tickets for ticket information New Play Initiative presents: Blue Bird October 24, 25, 30, 31, November 1• 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 26 • 3:00 p.m.

Wartburg Theatre Tickets Required. Visit www.carthage.edu/tickets for ticket information Performing Arts Series: Austin Pancner Friday, October 24 • 7:30 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall Tickets Required. Visit www.carthage.edu/tickets for ticket information John Cargille: With a Whimper or a Bang?, Student Recital Sunday, October 26 • 1:00 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall Annaliese Ruhs, Student Recital Saturday, November 1 • 1:00 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall Madison Edge, Student Recital Saturday, November 1 • 4:00 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall Andre'a Santoyo, Student Recital Saturday, November 1 • 7:30 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Recital Hall Fine Arts at Carthage acknowledges that the land on which our building stands is part of the traditional Potawatomi, Sioux, Peoria, Kickapoo, and Miami peoples past, present, and future. These homelands reside along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes. We honor with gratitude the land itself, and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations.

Many Indigenous peoples thrive in this place—alive and strong, andthis calls us to commit to continuing to learn how to be better stewards of the land we inhabit as well.

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