EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Kim Mendez has been involved in music, choral singing, and musical theater productions for over 30 years. Notable stage credits in opera include principal roles in The Pirates of Penzance (Major General Stanley), the world premiere of Juana with Opera UCLA (Sor Rafaela), and a very genderqueer version of Baba the Turk in The Rake’s Progress. Additionally, they became a Grammy winner for Best Choral Performance in 2020/21 with the UCLA Chamber Singers and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus on the Naxos recording of The Passion of Yeshua with the Buffalo Philharmonic. From a young age, Mx. Mendez performed in community theater productions with roles including Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd), Janet Weiss (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), and a robot saloon girl named Kit in an original show called Betty Rocket: Space Lawyer. They have enjoyed continuing community connection through music with The West Coast Singers, the LGBT+ Chorus of Los Angeles, and spent a short time singing with Mariachi de Uclatlàn. Kim received Associates Degrees in Music and Humanities from Pasadena City College (June 2018), a Bachelor of Music from UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music (June 2020), and a Master of Music degree also from UCLA (2022).

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & ENGAGEMENT

Director of Marketing and Engagement Julia Maria Johnson is an award-winning soprano hailing from Washington State who has made her career performing all over the West Coast and beyond. Ms. Johnson was recently a Resident Artist at Opera Naples in Florida singing the roles of Phyllis in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe and Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. At the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, she was a Washington State District Winner and a Northwest Region Encouragement Winner, she is also a semi-finalist for the Heartland Sings Vocal Competition 2024. Recent operatic roles include Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Pacific Opera Project and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Lyric Opera of Orange County. Ms. Johnson earned her Master of Music in Voice Performance at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Vocal Performance from MSMU LA, and she is currently on the voice faculty at California Lutheran University. Ms. Johnson has a passion for making the “classical” music genres as accessible as possible to both new and seasoned audiences alike, and she strives to do this through thoughtful, playful programming, unexpected concert experiences, and heartfelt marketing and engagement. Her creative compass is guided by collaboration, storytelling, improvisation, and above all, unbridled joy.

ENSEMBLE COORDINATOR

A Bay Area native, soprano and Adoro Ensemble Coordinator Madison Chamberlain is a second-year undergraduate at UCLA pursuing a BA in Music Education and studying voice with Vladimir Chernov. She is an active member of the UCLA Chamber Singers and Adoro Music Ensemble, and will be joining Seraphic Fire’s Ensemble Artist Program this year. With Chamber Singers, Madison sang soprano in the solo vocal quartet for Lera Auerbach’s West Coast premiere of “Vessels of Light” in Royce Hall. Madison aspires to become a choral conductor at the K-12 and collegiate levels, and hopes to inspire young artists to develop a passion for music, as she did, through music education.

TB ENSEMBLE CONDUCTOR

Connor Licharz is a bass vocalist based in Los Angeles. He holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Vocal Chamber Music from the University of Redlands. He's an active singer in the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Long Beach Camerata, Catalyst Ensemble, Pacific Chorale, and Choral Arts Initiative. Connor has also performed as a soloist and chorister with the Colorado Bach Ensemble in Denver, CO. In addition to working as a singer Connor has performed solo organ recitals in California, New York, and in Germany and is an active composer and arranger. He currently serves as director of the Long Beach Camerata Peace4Youth Program and the Camerata Carollers.

Arreanna Rostosky hails from Houston, TX and has been performing early music since her time at the Texas Renaissance Festival in high school. She serves as a cantor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood and is a soprano and the music librarian of the Schola Cantorum at St. Paul's. For her day job, Arreanna works as a product manager at a Burbank-area video game studio. In her free time you can find her riding her favorite rides at Disneyland, watching the latest touring Broadway musicals, playing through her video game backlog, or reading some historical non-fiction. She holds a BM in voice from Vanderbilt University, MA/PhD in musicology from UCLA, and an MBA from USC.

Anthony Lauro is a bass-baritone singer and performer based in Southern California, and has sung, taught, and conducted in various churches and schools across the region. He is a graduate of the University of Redlands, earning both a bachelor of music in vocal performance and a master of music in vocal chamber music and being featured on the studio recording of the university’s 2024 album, “Faith, Hope, and Love.” He has performed a number of major works including the Haydn Te Deum, Mendelssohn Symphony No. 2 “Lobgesang,” Lauridsen “Chansons des Roses” and “Lux Aeterna,” the U.S. premiere of Paul Mealor’s “Seabury Mass,” and the Fauré Requiem as a soloist with the Temecula Master Chorale. He is currently a member of the Long Beach Camerata Singers and Voices of Terpsichor, and he also teaches beginning and intermediate music theory at Chaffey Community College. In his spare time, Anthony loves to dabble in guitar, cook, explore different food places with his wife, and solve Rubik’s cubes competitively (also with his wife). Rarely will you see him without a puzzle on his person!

Camryn Deisman is a second year undergraduate UCLA Music Education student from Visalia, CA. Camryn is currently studying voice under Vladimir Chernov. Camryn has a passion for choral music, and is looking forward to earning her degree and becoming a high school choral director, or teaching music at any age and level. Outside of studying music, Camryn runs Jayde Jewelry, an online handmade jewelry shop. She has shipped over 4,000 handmade creations to all 50 states in the US, as well to places such as Canada, France, and Spain.

Ciara Mashea is a multi-genre singer and voiceover artist, who is excited to be singing with Adoro Ensemble! Ciara’s previous experiences have led her to stages of audiences of 5,000+, opening for Raven-Symoné as a Radio Disney Pop Star, singing with small town bands all over the country, and playing in boutique clubs with many jazz and independent artists. Since moving to LA in 2019, Ciara has been privileged to work alongside singing professionals in studio sessions, churches, live concerts and caroling groups.

Chris Walters is an emerging Baritone based in Long Beach, California, and regularly performs with opera companies and choirs across Los Angeles and Orange County. Chris most recently made his choral debut with the Los Angeles Master Chorale for Schonberg’s Gurre-lieder, under Zubin Mehta. His current season highlights include Mahler’s 2nd Symphony (San Diego Symphony), Bob and Mr. Gobineau in The Menotti Radio Hour (Lyric Opera of Orange County), and the Father in Pacific Opera Project’s mash-up opera: Cinderella Story. Chris holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Opera Performance from California State University, Long Beach, and is a student of Joel Balzun.

Delia Rios currently serves as cantor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and is a regularly featured artist with Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company. Past performances include; selections from Misa Azteca by Joseph Julian Gonzalez; Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas; scenes from Verdi’s Falstaff, “In trutina” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana; and “Pria di dividerci da voi” from Rossini’s L’italiana in Algeri. As well as doing vocal work for film, television, session work, and musical theater, Delia has performed at various venues and concert halls throughout L.A.

Dustin Peng is currently pursuing a degree in opera performance at UCLA, where he is honing his craft as a vocalist and performer. With a deep passion for music, his interests span a wide range of vocal genres, including small ensemble choirs, barbershop harmony, and early music, which remains a particular focus of his artistic exploration.

As a member of Adoro Ensemble, Dustin is eager to contribute his skills and enthusiasm, collaborating with fellow musicians to bring unique and inspiring performances to life. His dedication to musical excellence and his love for ensemble singing make him a valuable addition to the group.

José Juan Delgadillo has been a member of Artes Vocales for over eight years. In addition to singing, he has also been involved behind the scenes as the concert production manager for that group in previous years. José was a featured soloist for Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company for many years and is the music director for the Spanish choir at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Kendall Renaud is a LA based Choral Conductor, Educator, Arranger, and Singer. He holds Bachelors of Music Education Degrees in Choral and Instrumental Music Education from Indiana University-Bloomington and a M.M. in Choral Conducting from UCLA . He currently serves as the Director of Music and Choral Director at Marymount High in LA where he conducts several ensembles. As a Choral Director, Kendall’s ensembles have toured across the US and performed from Disneyland to Chicago and Orlando; They have received Top 10 State Finalist honors at the ISSMA Concert Choir State Finals Competition hosted in Indianapolis.

Krishna Raman is a native of New Jersey, Indian American Tenor.
Krishna started his musical journey at the tender age of 5 when he began singing Carnatic music - a style of Indian classical music. Embracing his cultural roots, he used this foundation and has since shifted into Western classical music with interests in opera, contemporary music, early music, and oratorio. Krishna earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and recently completed his Master of Music in Vocal Arts at the University of Southern California. After making his professional debut in the 2022-2023 season portraying Don Curzio and covering Don Basilio in Opera San José’s novel production of Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart, Krishna went on to become a studio artist with Teatro Nuovo and attend the prestigious the American Bach Soloists Academy. Currently based in Los Angeles, California, Krishna is an active singer and part of several church and professional ensembles such as the Credo choir and Verdi chorus. He also occasionally sings with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and LA Philharmonic. Passionate about pedagogy, Krishna teaches voice lessons both virtually and locally to students of all ages and backgrounds.

Kyle Xu is a first-year vocal performance major at UCLA. Ever since he started choir in high school, he has developed a love for singing, whether it be pop acapella, chamber choir, or opera. In his free time, he likes to play board games/video games or rewatch his favorite TV shows, and he loves to listen to barbershop quartets.

Lilia Salido-Rico is a soprano studying with Vladimir Chernov at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Ms. Rico has been singing competitively across the country in ensembles and as a soloist for over 12 years. Recent roles include An Elegant Woman and chorus member in Poulenc’s “Les Mamelles de Tirésias”, and Maria Maladetto in the 2022 workshop of Richard Danielpour’s new opera, “The Grand Hotel Tartarus”, which Ms. Rico will premiere in Spring 2024. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, and making her boyfriend watch reality tv with her.

Michael Torres is a second year vocal music education major and a music industry minor candidate at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Michael is an established recording artist, composer, and songwriter. He has been apart of many other groups at UCLA including Chamber Singers, UCLA Marching Band, and has done collaborations with many artists in greater Los Angeles. This is his first season with the Adoro Music Ensemble and he wishes that everyone enjoys the performances!

Soprano Michelle Rice has performed more than 50 roles and orchestral works with companies across the country. Career highlights include singing Mrs. Grose (The Turn of the Screw) conducted by Lorin Maazel at the Kennedy Center; Dorabella (Così fan tutte) staged by acclaimed film director Jonathan Lynn; and the mezzo solo in Verdi’s Requiem alongside Sharon Sweet and James Morris. Rice was commissioner, creative producer, and sole performer in the 2022 world premiere of a haunting new opera about Lady Macbeth, The Queen, My Lord, Is Dead. Rice holds degrees from the University of Washington, University of Maryland, and UCLA.

Naveed Perkins is a twenty two year old self taught Pianist and Composer from San Diego. He has attended summer programs such as the Indiana University Piano Academy as well as the Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music. He has been a composition student of Richard Danielpour for three years and is currently studying composition with Ian Krouse. Among being a composer, he is an avid poet and artist. He enjoys allowing others to see themselves in his music and strives to connect with those across the world he may never meet.

Sam Song is a second year undergraduate tenor at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He has been featured in several operatic productions, performing roles such as Damon in Acis and Galatea, The Son in Les Mamelles de Tirésias, Mercury in Dido and Aeneas, and more! He's very grateful to be a part of Adoro Music Ensemble this season, and he hopes you enjoy the performances!