HEATHER FERRARI | Soprano + Founder
Heather has been singing and loving the holidays since she was a child. She graduated with a BA in Theater from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and studied music at University College Cork in Ireland. She has performed in numerous theatrical productions as well as television, film, commercials and print work. Heather is passionate about keeping the arts alive and accessible which is why she started Songful Artists! She lives happily with her husband, their two young boys and sweet dog. Hometown | Amherst, MA Favorite Holiday Food | The lobster her dad makes every Christmas Eve. Favorite Thing About Caroling | Seeing the joy on people's faces when they hear a song that reminds them of their childhood. |
ANDY PAPAS | Bass + New England Talent Manager
Praised by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel for being "delightfully ridiculous", Andy Papas has charmed audiences from coast to coast. In April, he was in Los Angeles for Mozart vs. Salieri with Pacific Opera Project, performing double duty as Il Maestro in Prima La Musica e Poi Le Parole and the title role in The Impresario. As Jack Point in Yeoman of the Guard for Winter Opera Saint Louis last fall, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch lauded his "beautiful baritone". Andy has sung throughout New England with companies such as The Lyric Stage of Boston, Odyssey Opera, Opera Providence and Boston Lyric Opera. Go Blue! / andypapas.com Hometown | Winchester, MA Favorite Holiday Food | Anything local! Favorite Thing About Caroling | Making an audience laugh! |
DAN REARDON | Tenor
Dan is a New York based actor, singer, and dancer. Regional credits include Young Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Future in A Christmas Carol (NSMT), Bobby C in Saturday Night Fever (Arvada Center), Tulsa in Gypsy (OSTC), and Bert in Mary Poppins (Sierra Rep and Wheelock Family Theatre). Dan holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University and is a member of Actors' Equity Association. / danreardonnyc.com Hometown | Wakefield, MA Favorite Holiday Movie | Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Favorite Thing About Caroling | The joy and light caroling can bring - both to the listener and the singer. |
EMMA WIEGAND | Alto
In the not-magical time of year, Emma spends her time singing folk music and being a professional colonial lady, leading tours around Boston's Freedom Trail. / emmaundine.com Hometown | New Rochelle, NY Favorite Holiday Song | The Holly and the Ivy Favorite Holiday Food | My Grandma's Oyster Stuffing Favorite Holiday Movie | Die Hard Favorite Thing About Caroling | Surprising crowds with our awesome contemporary rendition of Joy to the World - it is quite impressive. |
ERIC CAREY | Tenor
"Resonant, mellifluous and deft with dramatic nuance," tenor Eric Carey is a versatile performer possessing a "hypnotic voice". Currently based in Boston, Eric is currently in residence at the Opera Institute at Boston University. This season there he sings the roles of Alfredo, La Traviata, School Master, Cunning Little Vixen, and Detective Thibodeau, Dolores Claiborne. Additionally he will be the soloist for Britten's Les Illuminations, Mozart Requiem, Bach Mass in B minor, and Händel Messiah. He will present two recitals with Pianist Javier Arrebola later this Spring and this past summer he was a vocal fellow at Tanglewood Music Center. Carey is currently an applied voice instructor as Boston University, and sings at The Advent in Beacon Hill. He holds degrees in vocal performance and music business from Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, and Bard College Vocal Arts Program. / ericfinbarrcarey.com Hometown | Rockville Centre, NY Favorite Holiday Song | Anything Bing Crosby Favorite Thing About Caroling | Getting to sing songs with people that are steeped in tradition and bring joy to people! |
KATHARINE MATTIE HARRIS | Alto
Katharine Mattie Harris is a singer, actor, and nanny extraordinaire in the Boston area. She received her BM in voice from Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University and her MFA in musical theater from Boston Conservatory. She is thrilled to be back singing with Songful Artists during the most wonderful time of the year! Hometown | New Orleans, LA Favorite Holiday Food | Oyster Stuffing & Pumpkin Pie Favorite Thing About Caroling | Laughing and joking with my fellow carolers! |
KATHRYN MCKELLAR | Soprano
Praised by the Boston Globe for her "elegant singing" and "polish" Kathryn McKeller is an award-winning and critically acclaimed singer and favorite in the Boston opera, Musical Theatre and concert scenes. She has performed extensively with some of Boston's most beloved companies including Boston Lyric Opera, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, and the Boston Pops. She received a masters degree in vocal performance from the Boston Conservatory and has since enjoyed a versatile and expansive career. / kathrynmckellar.com Hometown | Dallas, Tx Favorite Holiday Movie | How The Grinch Stole Christmas Favorite Thing About Caroling | I love bringing joyful music during the busy holiday season, but my favorite memories are when passers-by sing along! |
KELLEY HOLLIS | Soprano
You can hear and see more of Kelley by visiting her website sopranokelleyhollis.com Hometown | West Palm Beach, FL -- where the closest she ever got to a White Christmas was laying out on the white sandy beaches! Favorite Holiday Song | The 12 Days of Christmas Favorite Thing About Caroling | It's a great way to escape the stress of the holiday season! |
KEVIN MORRIS | Bass
Kevin currently lives in Framingham, MA. When not caroling, Kevin can be found costume designing in the area and is currently pursuing his MFA in Costume Design at Boston University. He is very excited to be spreading the holiday spirit around the Boston area! / kevincmorris.com Hometown | Marlton, NJ Favorite Holiday Movie | The Grinch -- it's a dream of his, as a musical theatre performer, to play that role one day! Favorite Thing About Caroling | Seeing the smiles that holiday songs bring to people of all ages! |
KRISTEN SWEENEY | Soprano
Kristen is thrilled to be performing with Songful Artists. When she isn't caroling her heart out, Kristen works as an actor, yoga teacher, life coach, and writer. Kristen has performed across the country, from Las Vegas to Maine, as a singer and actor. Christmas is her favorite holiday and she is grateful for the chance to spread holiday cheer across the Boston area! / kristensweeney.com edgeofthemat.com Hometown | Safety Harbor, FL Favorite Holiday Movie | It's A Wonderful Life Favorite Thing About Caroling | Everybody knows the tunes, and it's so rewarding to watch people's faces light up with joy when they recognize their favorite song. |
LAURA JARVIS | Alto + Songful Artists Logo Designer
Laura is a graphic designer by day, singer by every other waking moment! She moved to Boston 3 years ago and spends most of her time (when not singing) running, climbing, and cuddling her awesome dog. Check out her design work at jarvisbydesign.com Hometown | Boulder, CO Favorite Holiday Food | Stuffing -- can't get enough of the stuff. (See what I did there?) Favorite Thing About Caroling | Getting to surprise people who are out doing their holiday shopping and make their day a little brighter. |
LINDSAY CONRAD | Soprano
Lindsay is an active singer and arts administrator in the New England area. As a performer, Lindsay is quickly becoming a main-stay on Boston stages, with companies such as Boston Opera Collaborative, OperaHub, MassOpera, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Midsummer Opera, Monadnock Music Festival, Odyssey Opera, and New Repertory Theater. In her administrative life, Lindsey is the Assistant Director of Admissions and Student Services at Longy School of Music at Bard College and Co-Director of Opera on Tap Boston and has worked in production at Boston Lyric Opera and Boston Opera Collaborative. / lindsaymconrad.com Hometown | Alliance, OH Favorite Holiday Movie | White Christmas Favorite Thing About Caroling | The camaraderie and beautiful music that I make with my fellow singers! |
RYANNE HAMMERL | Soprano
Ryanne earned her Masters of Music in Opera Performance from Arizona State University and her Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance from Western Michigan University. She performs around the greater Boston area and was most recently seen as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel and Rapunzel in Into The Woods. Ryanne is very passionate about teaching and helping people of all ages develop their love of music. When she's not caroling Ryanne is on the after school music faculty at Brimmer and May School in Chestnut Hill where she teaches voice and piano. Hometown | Lake Orion, MI Favorite Holiday Movie | Miracle on 34th Street Favorite Thing About Caroling | I love seeing people light up when we sing a carol they love. Spreading Holiday Cheer is the best feeling! |
SARAH KORNFELD | Alto
Sarah is thrilled to be joining Songful Artists for another music-filled holiday season! A classically trained singer, musical theatre enthusiast, and music educator, Sarah is lucky to spend her days teaching music and performing on Boston stages. / sarahkornfeld.com Hometown | Brookline, MA Favorite Holiday Song | 8 Days of Hannukah by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings Favorite Thing About Caroling | Being able to bring a smile to people's faces when they hear us sing a familiar tune. |
SCOTT BALLANTINE | Bass
Scott maintains a busy performing schedule year-round in New England and across the United States. A native of Colorado, he left the mountain west to pursue his Master's of Music in Voice Performance at the Boston Conservatory. He has worked with companies such as Utah Festival Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, the Janiec Opera Company and Connecticut Lyric Opera. In addition to ongoing stage productions, Ballantine performs at restaurants and bars with Opera on Tap (bringing music to the masses), in professional holiday caroling gigs, as baritone section leader of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, and various youth outreach events. / scottballantine.com Hometown | Fort Collins, CO Favorite Holiday Food | Mashed Potatoes Favorite Thing About Caroling | I loved hearing from people whose spirits were lifted. |
STEPHANIE HOLLENBERG | Soprano
Stephanie received her BA in Religion at Goshen College, and her MM in Vocal Performance at the Longy School of Music. A lover of story-telling through music, she has appeared in Hansel and Gretel (Gretel), Don Giovanni (Zerlina), Die Zauberflöte (Papagena), The Beautiful Bridegroom (Leonora), Brigadoon (Fiona), among others. Stephanie's travels have nurtured her interest in diverse musical and liturgical traditions, principally within the Iona Community (Scotland) and Taizé Community (France), thus shaping her own performance practice and musical leadership in both sacred and secular settings. / stephaniehollenberg.com Hometown | Goshen, IN Favorite Holiday Food | Sukiyaki will always be a tradition, a Japanese meal introduced to our family decades ago by a beloved exchange student -- and for dessert? Mom's Apple Crisp! Favorite Thing About Caroling | It's a thrill when you see the music light people up. In a busy city square, in a mall, in a park, someone may stop to dance or sing along, and there's a moment of connection -- that's what "makes it" for her. |
TASCHA ANDERSON | Alto
Tascha earned her M.M. in Voice Performance from The Boston Conservatory ('15) and her B.A. in Music from Pepperdine University ('13). This year, Ms. Anderson premiered a new American opera (Roscoe, Evan Mack) and made her debuts with Opera Company of Middlebury, Albany Symphony, Boston Lyric Opera, Symphony Nova, and Minnesota Bach Ensemble. / taschaanderson.com Hometown | Missoula, MT Favorite Holiday Food | Parmesan Cheese and Prosciutto Favorite Thing About Caroling | Creating interesting and cool harmonies to popular songs. |