Our Leaders
Bio Statements
Leanne Latuda
Artistic & Executive Director
Leanne Magnuson Latuda has been performing professionally, directing and teaching for more than 25 years. She has a Master of Music Degree from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Augustana College, where she was a Presidential Scholar and graduated cum laude.
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Leanne is a gifted mezzo-soprano who has sung professionally with opera companies, musical theaters, and choral ensembles. She has performed locally as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony, The Bach Society, and the Masterworks Chorale and has been directing STLWC since 2012.
Ruth Stith
Accompanist
Ruth Stith is a faculty member of Saint Louis University, where she directs the SLU Piano Ensemble and teaches class and applied piano. Prior to moving to St. Louis, Ms. Stith was an instructor of piano and theory at Vanderbilt University, where she also served as a staff accompanist. She has a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (summa cum laude), and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Vanderbilt University. Mrs. Stith lives in St. Louis with her husband and three children, and has enjoyed accompanying the Saint Louis Women's Chorale since 2014.
Lily Hofer
Administrative Director
Lily is the Administrative Director for the St. Louis Women's Chorale and has sung with the Chorale since August 2021. She has a degree in Music Business from Drake University, where she sung and toured with the Drake Choir. Lily also works as a paralegal and completed her Paralegal Certificate in December of 2022. When she isn't in the office or singing, she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and doting on her cats, Liza and Leo. "I joined the Chorale after moving home from college - I thought it would be a nice way to continue singing while meeting new people. In the three years that I have sung with the Chorale, it has become so much more than a pastime or a job for me. With the mentorship and support of these women, I have grown not only as a musician, but as a person."
Marc Bernstein
Board President
Marc Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of Balto, a St. Louis-based AI company that helps sales and customer service professionals solve customers' problems faster. Over the past 8 years, Marc has built a team of 60 full-time employees, raised $60 million in venture capital, and partnered with hundreds of the world's leading brands in retail banking, insurance, and healthcare.
Marc was named a Contact Center Week Next Generation Leader and included on St. Louis’s Titan 100 list of executives shaping our region. Marc holds a B.S. in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Amanda Woytus
Secretary
Amanda Woytus is the deputy editor of St. Louis Magazine, where she has covered politics, the pandemic, education, equity, arts, and culture in her hometown for the part four years. Prior to that, Amanda worked as an editor in New York City, at magazines including The Village Voice, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Food & Wine, and Newsweek. She is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Missouri's journalism school. Although she is not a performer, Amanda's passion is storytelling, be it through written word or other mediums.
Benedetta Orsi
Principal Artist and Alto 1 Section Leader
Italian mezzo soprano Benedetta Orsi has made quite a name for herself in the St. Louis area. Awarded the Paul Harris Fellow as one of the most influential Italian excellences to spread the Italian culture and art abroad, Ms. Orsi has recently been one of the Featured Artists by the Missouri Arts Council.
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As a recording artist, her latest album, INcanto, recorded for the Swiss Label BAM International at Webster University in collaboration with the Arianna String Quartet and pianist Alla Voskoboynikova, has been awarded the Double Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards as Best Classical Album and Best Female Artist.
Mrs. Orsi is one of only a few contemporary mezzo sopranos to have performed all three of Donizetti's Tudor Operas: Jane Seymour in Anna Bolena, Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda and Sara in Roberto Devereux with Royal Opera Theater in Manchester, UK. Recent performances also include Adalgisa in Norma with Winter Opera St. Louis, the title role of Carmen with Winter Opera St. Louis, Amore Opera in New York, Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana with the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera with the Miami Lyric Opera and Maddalena in Rigoletto with Amore Opera.
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Mrs. Orsi’s performance credits include roles in Verdi Rigoletto, Falstaff, Trovatore, Bellini
Norma and La Sonnambula, Rossini L’Italiana in Algeri and Il Turco in Italia and Massenet
Werther. Along with concert appearances at Carnegie Hall and throughout Italy, Austria, England, France, United States, Brazil and Spain, Ms. Orsi is very involved in the St. Louis musical scene, collaborating with the Sheldon, Chamber Music Society, the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, the World Chess Hall of Fame, Gateway Festival Orchestra, Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and more.
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Feature engagements: The Sheldon, “Benedetta Orsi & Friends”, the Magic House Holiday Concert Series, In Her Sound International Women’s Day Annual Concert, Missouri Botanical Garden Concert Series, World Chess Hall of Fame.
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Benedetta joined the Women’s Chorale in 2017, as soon as she arrived in St. Louis. Since then, she felt part of something bigger than a simple choir: “The passion, dedication, and love that this chorale spread through the music we sing is something that deeply touches hearts and people. This amazing group of women can reach your spirit and touch your soul! Each member became part of my life and I consider all of them like my second family! It’s simply a blessing to have them in my life!”
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Samantha Arten
Principal Artist and Soprano 2 Section Leader
Samantha Arten, soprano and music historian, has focused her performance activities in early music, singing primarily in liturgical church choirs and in Baroque ensembles. In addition to singing as a Principal Artist with the Saint Louis Women's Chorale, she is a principal singer with the Bach Society of St. Louis, a staff singer in the choir of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and a regular soloist with Early Music Missouri. Samantha holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from Duke University and teaches as a Lecturer in Musicology at Washington University in St. Louis, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Maryville University. “I believe so much in this choir’s great work of inspiring healing and joy. This is a place where women of all identities can come together to make beautiful music.”
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Janelle Pierce
Principal Artist and Alto 2 Section Leader
Janelle Pierce is a conductor, composer, lyricist, arranger, vocalist, and educator of music. Her career has been as diverse as it has been thrilling, working with some of the most astonishing talents in music and theater, and guiding some of the most promising talent in the world of performance.
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Janelle Pierce earned a B.A. in Vocal Performance from St. Mary's University, and holds over fifteen years experience in musical education and performance in Texas and Missouri. Her pupils regularly earned spots in the University of Interscholastic League Texas State Orchestra, the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools State Champion Choir and upon graduation several obtained scholarships to pursue degrees and careers as performers, teachers and music ministers. Pierce studied drama in college, and has developed a love for the theater through her involvement with the St. Louis Fringe Festival, Emery Entertainment Company and the St. Louis Public Library Storytime Theater Program.
Janelle has performed with the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, Winter Opera of St. Louis and The Saint Louis Women’s Chorale. She has served as a Teaching Artist for the Education and Engagement Department of Opera Theater St. Louis and as a board member of the non-profit arts organization Under the Arch Incubator. Janelle has judged regional competitions such as the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools regional solo competition. Janelle has led seminars in multiple regional conventions including the Texas Music Educators’ Convention in San Antonio, Texas as a vocalist, accompanist and conductor.
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Janelle joined the Saint Louis Women's Chorale in order to rekindle the original spark that ignited her burning passion for vocal performance: Women's Choir. She is excited to be a part of an ensemble that empowers women, strengthens the songstress and inspires harmony through the universal language of music.
Meredith Kessler
Principal Artist and Soprano 1 Section Leader
Gifted pianist and singer, Meredith Kessler is currently entering her last year of her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Webster University. She is currently under the direction and study of Dr. Jacob Lassetter and Dr. Karen Kanakis. She attended Southeast Missouri State University where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance while she also participated in the piano studio. She served as the soprano section leader for the University Choir. She played roles such as Susannah in The Marriage of Figaro as well as Josephine in HMS Pinafore. Her most recent role was Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica by Giacomo Puccini at Webster University. She is currently working on the role Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and preparing for her graduate recital in Spring 2025.
Meghan Abeln
Board Member
Meghan Abeln brings over a decade of experience in wealth management and tax planning to her role as a Senior Wealth Advisor at Krilogy, a registered investment advisor firm headquartered in Creve Coeur, MO. She holds designations as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and began her career in public accounting. Meg earned her undergraduate degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and Master’s degree in Accounting from St. Louis University. She grew up performing at the Muny and enjoys attending the theater and concerts in her free time.
Jessica Roberts Martin
Board Member
Jessica Roberts Martin is a Professor of Practice in Communications and Senior Associate Dean of Operations at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School. Her expertise lies in operations management, strategic communications, and administrative leadership, and her roles at the business school allow her to support students both in and out of the classroom. As a long-term transplant to St. Louis, Jessica is excited to be part of a group bringing innovation to the cultural offerings of the region with a commitment that “affirms the worth and dignity of all people and strives to harness the power of music and exceptional performances to enrich and transform lives.”
Bonita Cornute
Board Member
Bonita Cornute was a longtime broadcast journalist at KTVI Fox 2 News, retiring in December 2018 after more than 35 years at the station. A graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, she relocated to St. Louis in the early 1980s. Throughout her career, Bonita reported and hosted many different programs at KTVI, as well as mentoring high school students of color through the Minority Journalism Workshop. In 2016, the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists presented her with the Living Legend Award. Bonita is now semi-retired, but continues her involvement with many organizations in the St. Louis community.
Darwin Aquino
Artistic Advisor to the Board of Directors
Known for his charismatic energy and musical versatility as a conductor and composer, Darwin Aquino’s career has taken him to orchestra halls and opera theaters across Europe, United States and Latin America. His constant presence as a Dominican artist in multiples stages is seen as a bright light for diversity and inclusion in classical music.
Recently appointed Music Director of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra and Assistant Conductor for Opera Theater of St. Louis, Darwin’s 22/23 season includes a number of international engagements. Additionally, he serves as Music Director of the Gateway Festival Orchestra and Conductor-in-Residence for the Washington University Symphony Orchestra.
Journee Carter
Principal Artist and Alto I/Alto II Section Leader
Journee Carter received her MM from Shenandoah Conservatory and her BM from Webster University both in vocal performance. Since completing her Master’s program she has been actively participating in the St. Louis, MO music scene working both on and off stage with companies including Winter Opera, Union Avenue Opera, and The J. Journee is also active in the cabaret scene in St. Louis where she produced and performed her solo debut show in the fall of 2024. When not singing she enjoys reading YA novels, watching anime, and chair dance.
Tina Sayers
Principal Artist and Soprano II Section Leader
Tina Sayers has a diverse background in the arts as a classical soprano, voice teacher, choral conductor, music educator, and nonprofit arts organization creator and leader. Currently, she is serving as the Program Director for the Sing Democracy 250-50 States Program, a nationwide movement to renew America's democracy through choral music. For more information about this program, visit SingDemocracy250.org!
Elizabeth Ducey-Moss
Principal Artist and Soprano I Section Leader
Soprano, Elizabeth Ducey-Moss, is an experienced singer and voice teacher with over twenty years of experience. Prior to joining the Saint Louis Women’s Chorale this year, Elizabeth performed regularly with the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus. Originally from Canada, Elizabeth began her musical studies at Acadia University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She holds a Master of Music degree from Binghamton University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois. Elizabeth also received extensive training in the Tri-Cities Opera Resident Artist Program.
Dr. Ducey-Moss is a member of the voice faculty at Missouri Baptist and Webster Universities. Prior to these appointments, she served as Assistant Professor of Voice at McMurry University in Texas. Performance credits include leading roles in The Magic Flute, Così Fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Hänsel und Gretel, The King and I, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Brahm’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Mozart’s Requiem. Elizabeth has been a national semi-finalist in the NATSA Competition, the Louis Alba Aria Competition, and a finalist in the American
Prize in Voice. She has been a featured artist presenter in the Heavenly Rest Chamber Music Concert Series, the Rocky Mountain Region College Music Society Conference, and in the Artist Series of the Texoma Region National Association of Teachers of Singing. Committed to her field, Elizabeth continually pursues educational workshops, masterclasses, and conferences. Continuing education credits include the Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute, the Pilates 2 Voice Workshop with Dr.
Veera Asher, and the Bel Canto Can Belto Workshop with Dr. Mary Saunders-Barton. Elizabeth is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
Gloria Park
Board Member
Gloria Park had a 35+ year career in sales and operations management. Most of her time was at Maritz in St. Louis, MO where she had the opportunity to work in the United Kingdom as well as the US. She earned an MBA in international business at Washington University's John M. Olin School of Business and has an undergraduate degree in music from Washington University in St. Louis. Gloria has long been a supporter of the arts and enjoys her involvement volunteering with organizations in St. Louis now that she is retired.
Marissa Dickman
Principal Artist and Soprano I Section Leader
Soprano and French hornist, Marissa Dickman is in her first year of participating with the Saint Louis Women’s Chorale. She is not actively studying voice, but most recently studied under Dr. Susan Duggan, Professor Emeritus of Vocal Studies at The Swinney Conservatory of Music. Marissa graduated from Central Methodist University in 2022, where she earned her Bachelor of Music and Business. While at CMU, she was a soprano section leader in the Chorale, and second chair French hornist in the Concert Band, the top instrumental ensemble. She played roles such as Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance while performing with the CMU Opera. Prior to her undergraduate studies, Marissa was a member of Opera Theatre of St. Louis' 'Artist In Training' program for 3 years. She was the first student from Pattonville High School to be accepted into the program. During her time with OTSL, Marissa had the privilege to study with Vocal Coach, Nancy Mayo of Webster University.
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“I feel abundantly blessed to be part of STLWC, and to be honored with the responsibility of being section leader and a Principal Artist in my first year with the ensemble. I joined with hopes of reigniting my fiery passion for singing that burnt-out with the pandemic, and never dreamed of finding myself in a group of loving, talented, and beautiful humans such as STLWC.”