Meet our singers

Phoenix Chorale’s 29 singers are a fascinating collection of your fellow Arizonans.

Leslie Ellingson, soprano

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. Leslie has been the soloist in several concerts, including Rutter’s Gloria, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Mozart’s Vespers. She has been singing in the Phoenix Symphony Chorus the last six seasons.

Abigail Fischer, soprano

birthed A Big AUM, offering private and communal breathwork and sound healing, writing music for breathwork and inspirational song to bring community together in embodied authenticity. A versatile “chestheavy soprano,” Abigail has enjoyed singing any repertoire that connects her to embodied wisdom and truth. Some examples of this include Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar (at Cincinnati Opera), Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs (with Columbus Symphony), Handel’s Messiah (with Kansas City Orchestra), Mahler 3 (with Santa Rosa Symphony), Bach’s St. Matthew Passion; collaborating with Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Baroque, and touring internationally performing music by John Zorn.

Christina Hall, soprano

is the choir director at Millennium High School and Co-Founder of The Choral Window. Christina also serves on the ACDA Western Region board as the Youth R&R Coordinator. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a BA in Choral Music Education and is a native of Walla Walla, Washington. Christina has performed with world-renowned singers Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban. Christina is delighted to sing with Phoenix Chorale for her second season.

Lies’l Hill, soprano

is an artist, musician, and educator from Mesa. She earned her B.M. from Northern Arizona University in Choral Music Education, Lies’l sings with Phoenix Chorale and Canto Vivo Chorale. She serves on the boards of the Phoenix Chorale and Arizona Music Educators Association, is the Executive Director of the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers and Assistant Choral Director at Mesa Community College. Lies’l works with many local arts organizations, including Arizona Commission on the Arts, Mesa Arts Center, Phoenix Children’s Chorus, Arizona Musicfest, and more.

Katherine Rosenfeld, soprano

graduated from NAU in 2019 with a degree in choral music education. She is an alumnus of the Phoenix Children’s Chorus and Horizon High School. She has sung with many Arizona-based ensembles including the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers, the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, and Canto Vivo. She currently teaches 5th-12th grade choir at Arizona School for the Arts, runs a private voice studio, and serves on the Arizona state board of the American Choral Directors Association.

Kira Zeemen-Rugen, soprano

is the Artistic Director of Solis - Choir of the Sun. As a professor of music, Dr. Rugen has taught at Scottsdale Community College, Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, and Arizona Christian University. Her choirs have performed throughout Arizona, ACDA conferences, with Andrea Bocelli, and for Game of Thrones tours. As a composer, Dr. Rugen was recently named the third prize winner in The American Prize (choral), a finalist with the Ernst Bacon Award for American Music, and one of three winners of the HerVoice Composition Competition. Her choral music will be performed in Poland and Singapore this year. Dr. Rugen is a 2022 award winner for Best Original Score/Best Composer for the film, “MusArt”, in over twenty-five different film festivals around the world.

Danya Tiller, soprano

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, in its eighth season. She founded her business, Aria Music Studio, which has grown to include two vocal ensembles in addition to private lessons and coaching.

Danielle Hale, alto

earned a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Brigham Young University. Since moving to Arizona in 2013, Danielle has spent six seasons in the Arizona Opera chorus and four seasons with the Goode Time Carolers. Danielle has performed in musical theatre productions throughout the valley—Mesa Encore, Hale Center, and Fountain Hills theaters. She has been a volunteer choir director for a local church group and elementary school choir. Danielle enjoys traveling with her husband, eating delicious food, and being a fulltime mother to her five children.

Ariana Iniguez, alto

is a mezzo-soprano and a native of Phoenix, Arizona. She currently studies with distinguished pedagogue Gail Dubinbaum Massaro. She has been praised for her musicianship, full sound, colorful tone, and attention to technique. Ariana holds both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, journaling, and traveling.

Carol Platt Jennings, alto

is honored to be in her twenty-first season with the Chorale. She is privileged to have sung as a soloist and chorister in Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand, and has also enjoyed performing with other professional ensembles. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Oklahoma, she moved to the Valley of the Sun to continue her education at ASU. When she’s not singing or teaching voice, she’s often found baking, walking, practicing yoga, or daydreaming about returning to New Zealand.

Hannah Kimball, alto

is excited to be in her fifth season with the Phoenix Chorale! She graduated in 2018 from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis. Hannah teaches Chorus and Music Exploration at Kyrene Middle School and Pueblo Middle School, and serves as the Artistic Director of the Phoenix Women’s Chorus.

Holly Sheppard, alto

is in her 17th season with the Chorale. She performs with Phoenix Opera, is a member of Helios: A Modern Renaissance and sings with the Arizona Opera chorus. Holly has spent her career as an artist for video games and slot machines and currently works as Sr. Environment Artist at Rainbow Studios creating off-road racing environments. Holly and her husband George are outdoor enthusiasts living in Mesa with their two birds, Pico and Olive.

Anjelica Simone, alto

attended Northern Arizona University. Anjelica freelances as a soloist, choral performer and church cantor around the valley. She sang for 5 years at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, is a founding member of the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers and has been a member of Solis Camerata. Outside of music Anjelica works full time as an Accounting Specialist at a CPA firm in Chandler and enjoys cooking, traveling, and fishing with her husband.

Stephanie Stickford, alto

is in her 15th season with the Chorale. A native of Ohio, she earned a BFA degree in music business and a MA 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 and guitar at North Canyon High School, and sings with Helios, a seven-voice early music ensemble. She loves water–swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, and wake surfing!

Elijah Frank, tenor

is excited to begin his second season with Phoenix Chorale. An Arizona native, Elijah has performed with many AZ ensembles including the AZ Masterworks Chorale, Canto Vivo, Solis Camerata, the AZ Bach Festival Singers, and Quartz Ensemble. Outside of AZ, Elijah has sung with Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys Indianapolis, Indianapolis Pro Musica, and the Intercontinentaal Projectkoor in the Netherlands. He has sung on many recording projects including the Chorale’s Grammy Award winning album: “Passion Week”.

Gabriel Frongillo, tenor

graduated from the University of Arizona with his bachelor’s in Choral Music Education. Gabriel was the music director at Apollo High School in Glendale teaching and conducting choir and piano students for 8 years. He has served as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for male choirs for the Arizona branch of the American Choral Director’ Association, works as a freelance vocalist and choral conductor around the valley, including conducting the Middle School All-State choir in March of 2020. He is currently an Academic Success Advisor for the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

James Grandjean, tenor

is ecstatic to be joining the Phoenix Chorale for his second season. An Arizona native, he holds a BM in Vocal Performance from Oklahoma City University. Since moving to Phoenix he has sung with various ensembles around the valley including Canto Vivo Chorale, Arizona Musicfest, The King’s Carolers, and the St. Barnabas Choir. James also served as an Education Outreach Artist for Arizona Opera, and currently studies with Gail Dubinbaum Massaro.

Josiah Hagstrom, tenor

is excited to enter into his eighth year with the Chorale. Josiah is an Arizona native and after growing up in Mesa, he now resides in Gilbert with his amazing wife Mindy, his beautiful seven-year-old daughter Kayla, awesome four-year old Noah, and their golden retriever pup, Windsor.

Luke Lusted, tenor

currently serves as the Pastor of Worship and Music at Camelback Bible Church in Paradise Valley, AZ. He is also a professional chorister singing with the Grammy-nominated True Concord Voices and Orchestra. Luke earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona and the Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana Tech University. While living in Tucson, Luke was the Assistant Director of True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Artistic Director of Tucson Masterworks Chorale, and served as Director of Music at various churches.

JJ Rafferty, tenor

is excited to continue his sixth 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 nineteenth year of teaching and is the Director of Choral Activities and Performing Arts Department Chair at Greenway High School in Phoenix.

Jacob Verhine, tenor

is a tenor from Marietta, Georgia. He attended Auburn University where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree. He has lived in Tempe since 2019, and attended Arizona State University where he earned a Master of Music in musical theater and opera. He is a member of the Arizona Opera chorus and an active performer in several valley metro theatres.

Caleb French, bass

currently serves as Director of Worship at Northwest Valley Baptist Church, where he plans and leads weekly services and conducts the volunteer church choir. He also resides as Music Director of Arrowhead Christian Academy, overseeing all musical activities and directing the graded choirs. Caleb also serves as adjunct vocal coach, choral clinician, and church music seminar presenter in Phoenix and beyond. Two of his sacred choral anthems are published with Beckenhorst Press.

Christopher Herrera, bass

has been singing professionally and teaching in the Phoenix area since moving to Arizona in 2012. He is currently enjoying his current career instructing young minds at North Phoenix Prep Academy in the areas of music theory, music history, and chorale singing! He has been seen performing locally with Arizona Opera, Phoenix Opera, and the Phoenix Symphony.

Joshua Hillmann, bass

is in his 18th season with the Chorale. He holds DMA and MM degrees from ASU, and has won prizes in many local and international piano competitions. Joshua serves as adjunct faculty at GCU, as singer in many fine ensembles around the country, as pianist at PVUMC, and as owner/teacher at his small teaching studio. When not immersed in music, he can be found spoiling his 4 cats or tending to his bonsai garden.

Toby Vaughn Kidd, bass

received his BM and MM degrees in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University under Dr. Judith Cloud. Toby has been regularly sought after as a performer throughout the Southwest. Toby has been involved with Arizona Opera, ArtSong Rising, and is a founding artist of Helios: a modern renaissance. Recent recordings include the 2015 Grammy award winning Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil (soloist), Nils Lofgren’s 2019 album Blue with Lou (backup vocalist), and Helios’ 2021 debut album à7. Toby remains active in arts leadership and higher education.

Jordan Murillo, bass

is a Bass Baritone from Arizona with strong ties to operatic performance as well as A cappella arranging and directing. In the summer of 2018, Jordan attended the Taos Opera Institute in Taos, New Mexico. Taught by former operatic superstars such as Mary Jane Johnson, Stanford Olsen, James Patrick Raftry, and many more. Jordan was able to hone in on his craft and learn much more about his voice and abilities. From this program Jordan was able to perform with the Amarillo Opera House in their production of Michael Chings Speed Dating Tonight!

Jason Raetz, bass

is a native of Phoenix and has been singing and performing in the Valley since he was little. At 10, he quickly found his love for choral music after joining the Phoenix Boys Choir under the direction of Dr. Harvey K. Smith. Jason continued singing at Central High School where he convinced his dance partner, and current wife, to join the jazz choir. Singing in the Phoenix Chorale allows him to share his passion for excellent music making in his hometown.

Stephen Schermitzler, bass

is a singer, collaborative pianist, and music director who graduated with a BM in Music Composition from ASU. He’s served as featured soloist with the Arizona Bach Festival, Solis, and the Symphony of the Southwest, and is a section leader or collaborative assistant in several local ensembles. In 2022, Stephen created the Arizona Musical Theatre Orchestra, which performs full Broadway shows in a concert setting. Love always to Raylah.

David Topping, bass

has sung with the Chorale for almost 30 seasons. He has degrees in choral music from California State Fullerton and ASU. He has soloed with the Chorale, Arizona Bach Festival, MusicaNova Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles. David sang on all four of the Grammy-winning albums of the Phoenix and Kansas City Chorales. His wife, Jody, is a United Methodist Pastor and they have two adult children, Ryan and Erika.