Soloists for the 2011 Sing-Along Messiah

Roseanne Ackerley, lyric soprano, made her Lincoln Center debut this past season performing in I Compagnacci (Ricitelli) with Teatro Grattacielo. She has performed Micaëla in Carmen with Miami Lyric Opera and Treasure Coast Opera (FL), Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Connecticut Grand Opera, Liù in Turandot with Union Avenue Opera (MO) and New Rochelle Opera (NY), Mimì in La bohème with New Jersey Verismo Opera, One World Symphony (NY), Opera Mission (NY), Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Opera in the Heights (TX) and Atlantic Coast Opera Festival (NJ), Marenka in The Bartered Bride with Bronx Opera (NY). She also has performed extensive concert work around the New York City region. Ms. Ackerley is a graduate of Santa Rosa High School and received her undergraduate degree from San Jose University. She received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Mannes College of Music (NY) and was awarded the prestigious Richard Gold Career Grant upon graduation. In 2006, she was awarded a career grant by the New York Foundation of the Arts which was renewed in 2007. Ms. Ackerley resides in New York City.

Mezzo-soprano Dana Alexander

Dana Alexander is in her thirteenth year as Director of Choral Music at Montgomery High School, where she also teaches group piano classes. Since relocating to the North Bay in 1999, Mrs. Alexander has performed regularly with choral ensembles in the community, including the Sonoma Bach Choir and Sonoma Bach’s Chamber choir, Circa 1600. Mrs. Alexander has also performed with the acclaimed Bay Area choral ensemble, The Choral Project. Mrs. Alexander was the alto soloist in the Redwood Empire Sing-Along Messiah in 2006 and 2008. She is happy to be a soloist again this year and is excited that her high school Concert Choir has been invited to perform on stage this year for two selections. Mrs. Alexander has studied with internationally acclaimed contralto Karen Clark, as well as Jenni Samuelson and Helene Joseph-Weil. Mrs. Alexander received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Fresno State University, and her Master of Arts in Choral Conducting from San Jose State, where she studied with renowned choral conductor Dr. Charlene Archibeque. Mrs. Alexander resides in Santa Rosa with her husband, piano accompanist Chris Alexander and their beautiful daughter Ella, who was born this past July.

Tenor Nicolas Dávila

Nicolas Dávila has appeared in New York with Playwrights Horizons (Misia with Marla Schaffel), New York Philharmonic (Candide with Kristin Chenoweth & Patti LuPone - aired on PBS), Intar Theatre (Cuba Libre - dir. Graciela Daniele), Manhattan Theatre Source (Hello Again), and Musicals Tonight! (Early to Bed and The High Life) among others. He has performed with Juilliard Opera Center, Riverside Opera Ensemble, Westchester Chorale, and on separate occasion with Barbara Cook and Shirley Jones in concert. Regional theatre credits include: West Side Story (Tony), Evita (Ché), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Joseph), Hot Mikado (Nanki-Poo), The Fantasticks (El Gallo), La Cage Aux Folles (Jean-Michel), The King and I (Lun Tha), as well as Les Miserable and Phantom with Robert Cuccioli. Mr. Dávila is a graduate of SRHS and earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from The Juilliard School (Alice Tully Scholarship recipient) in New York City, where he now resides.

Baritone Benjamin Mertz

Mr. Mertz studied at the University of Richmond, in Virginia, and is currently living in Santa Rosa where he is a pianist, vocalist, and music educator. Mr. Mertz serves as the music minister of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Sebastopol, and during the week teaches music theory and composition at Sonoma Academy. Benjamin and his wife, Alison Marie have a baby boy, Isaiah Joseph who turned one this past July.

Angel Mikayla Brown

Mikayla Brown is a fifth grader and sign language ambassador at Hidden Valley Elementary School. She has been a member of the Santa Rosa Children’s Chorus, under the artistic direction of Carol Menke, since 2008. She has always had a great love for singing and music. She is very thankful to her teachers, family and to Carol Menke for her many opportunities to sing in public, starting with a solo in a school play in first grade. She studies piano and music with her grandmother, Norma Brown.

Angel Gianina Joy Chera

Gianina Joy Chera - "Nina" is in the 7th grade and is home educated with her brother, sister and cousin. She has had a song on her lips since the time she could talk, but her formal training has been under the direction of Carol Menke in the Santa Rosa Children's Chorus for the last 3 years. Besides making beautiful music with her voice, Nina has also enjoyed playing piano and violin. Other extracurriculur activities include: competative speech, swimming, and volunteering with young children in both classroom and home settings.