Singers
Joscelyn Stoll is a newcomer to the Houston area but has been participating in performing arts for most of her life. Throughout her childhood she regularly participated in local theater, dance classes, vocal lessons, and choir ensembles. Joscelyn’s love for the performance arts inspired her to pursue a degree in Theater and Psychology at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At Augustana Joscelyn had the opportunity to be a four year member of the performance and touring choir which allowed her to perform in venues around the country and world. Joscelyn is so grateful to be a member of Avanzare and is excited to be surrounded by choral music again.
Joscelyn Stoll, Soprano
Jolene Johnson ,Soprano
Born into a family of musicians, Jordan’s love of singing began at a very young age. She studied for four years at her alma mater Vanguard University of Southern California under Dr. Joni Prado with the illustrious Women’s Chorus as a soprano one. Since then, she has been singing Broadway showtunes to a captive audience family members and friends. She is thrilled and delighted to make her debut with the Avanzare Vocal Ensemble, to share her love of singing with the greater Houston area.
Emily Schuck lyric soprano from North Richland Hills, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Sam Houston State University and has a passion for sharing her talent and inspiring the next generation of musicians. Emily currently directs a musical theatre program, teaches private music lessons and sings professionally throughout the Houston area.
Emily is an internationally recognized soprano. Her most recent accolades include First Prize in the Vivaldi International Music Competition and Third Prize from the Sam Houston State University Art Song Competition. She has performed in Nishinomiya, Japan and in Puccini's hometown of Lucca, Italy with the Accademia Vocale Lorenzo Malfatti. Emily's repertoire includes a diverse selection of operatic and musical theatre roles, such as Pernille in A Beautiful Bridegroom, The Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, Beth in Little Women, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Witch #1 in Dido and Aeneas.
In addition to her solo performances, Emily also enjoys singing chamber music in ensembles. She has made appearances with the Schola Cantorum at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, with the Piping Rock Singers of Houston, and with Avanzare Vocal Ensemble. When she is not singing or teaching, she can be found dancing in mid-air on Aerial Silks or spending time with her cat, Sasha.
Jordan Gripenwaldt, Soprano
Emily Schuck, Soprano
Rheagan Smith is in her 4th year teaching at Montgomery Junior High school is in her 8th year of teaching choir. Choirs under her direction consistently earn superior and excellent ratings at UIL Evaluation. Hundreds of singers under her direction have earned first division medals Solo and Ensemble contests and several have earned the Honorable Mention and Outstanding Performer awards at both the junior high and the high school level. She has been fortunate to have students make the Texas All-State Treble, Tenor-Bass, and Mixed choirs and recently have students earn a place in the Region 9 Treble and Tenor-Bass choirs.
Rheagan Smith holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University and is a member of Texas Music Educators Association. She resides in Tomball, TX with her husband, Kevin Smith, and their two children.
Maura has lived in The Woodlands, TX for the majority of her life. She received her degree in Choral Music Education and Business Administration minor from Baylor University in 2018. During her time at Baylor, she was an Alto in Bella Voce (under the direction of Lynne Gackle) and A Cappella (under the direction of Alan Raines, Jerry McCoy and Brian Schmidt). She was additionally part of the Baylor Opera program, taking part in several opera scenes (including Carmen, Faust, and Don Giovanni) and operettas (including Die Fledermaus and H.M.S. Pinafore). After graduation, she taught at Caney Creek High School for 3 1/2 years, first as a long term choir substitute, and then as the Assistant Choir Director. She was part of Avanzare’s last performances in the fall and is excited to sing again with the group!
Rheagan Smith, Alto
Maura Brown, Alto
Justin Brock is a tenor with Avanzare Vocal Ensemble. Prior to joining Avanzare, Brock previously sang with the Montgomery County Choral Society under the direction of Heather Orr.
Brock originally studied Vocal Performance at the University of Houston under the tutelage of Professor Hector Vasquez. Brock sang with the Moores School Concert Chorale under the direction of Dr. Betsy Cook Weber during their performances in 2017 at the TMEA state convention in San Antonio and the ACDA national convention in Minneapolis. After taking a gap year in his studies, Brock transferred to Sam Houston State University to study Music Education. He studied private voice with Dr. Wesley Lawrence and sang with the SHSU Chorale under the direction of Dr. Joshua Bronfman.
Brock currently serves as a Staff Singer at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands, TX. When he isn’t singing, Brock works toward completing his technical certifications for professional IT work. He lives with his immediate family in Montgomery, TX.
Justin Brock, Tenor
Jimmy Paz, tenor, is a current graduate conducting student at Sam Houston State University, having graduated from SHSU with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2022. He has performed as the tenor soloist in Franz Schubert’s Mass No. 2 in G Minor, D. 167 and the roles of 'Prince Charming' in Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon, 'Bill' in Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge, Op. 35, and 'Narrator' in J.S. Bach's Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, 'Kaffeekantate' BWV. 211, as well as various scenes and partial roles (Freddy: "On The Street Where You Live"/My Fair Lady, Falke: "Come with me to supper"/Die Fledermaus) throughout his collegiate years as a member of the SHSU Opera Workshop program. Competively, he most recently earned Third Place in the 2023 GHNATS Advanced Classical Graduate Division. He is currently the student of Dr. Emily Howes Heilman.
Jimmy Paz, Tenor
Jared Hardy studied Vocal Music Education at Sam Houston State University, where he studied private voice with Dr. Evangelina Colon and Christopher Michel. As a bass/baritone, Jared sang with the SHSU Chorale, the flagship choir under the direction of Dr. Joshua Bronfman. Additionally, he has performed in the the opera productions Speed Dating Tonight as Dater #22, as well as Hansel and Gretel as the chorus master, both under the direction of Dr. Rebecca Renfro. Jared has also served as a singer for Cypress Creek Christian Church in Spring, Texas, where he performed such works as Handel’s Messiah.
Alessio Nachtergaele is finishing up his third year as an Assistant Choir Director at Cy-Fair High School, and is honored to be joining Avanzare for his second concert series! Alessio moved to the Houston area after graduating from The University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a BM in Choral Studies and a Certificate in Vocal Performance. Since then, his main focus has been honing his craft as a choir director, but he will occasionally return to the other side of the podium to sing in ensembles around town. When he is not conducting or singing, Alessio likes to spend his free time going to escape rooms, playing board games with friends, and of course binging the latest popular show on Netflix. Alessio is very excited to share this program with our audience today, and he hopes that you enjoy it!
Alessio Nachtergaele, Baritone
Jared Hardy, Baritone
Kevin Hamrick lives in The Woodlands, TX with his wife and two teenage children. Kevin returned to singing in 2022 with Avanzare, after life had taken him away from singing for nearly twenty years. Filled with gratitude for this chance to embrace the joy of singing, Kevin is excited to share Avanzare's program with others.