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AMANDA BOUNDY MM2
Born and raised in the small town of Eben Junction, soprano Amanda Kay Boundy spent her youth in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Her musical education began with the country and bluegrass styles of Patsy Cline, George Strait, and Allison Krause, until she discovered classical music at the age of 16. Since then she’s divided her career between opera, oratorio, and choral solos. Opera roles include Monica in The Medium, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, 2nd Lady in Die Zauberflöte and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi. Ms. Boundy was also the soprano soloist for several major works including Mozart’s Laudate Dominum and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, which was performed in Chichester, England with the Albion College Concert Choir.
Ms. Boundy earned several awards and honors in and outside of music. From the Albion College music department she was awarded the Deal Voice Prize, the Jennie Worthington Cup, and the Stephen Wheeler Cup. She also won the Rosemary Russell Memorial Award from the Michigan Federation of Music Clubs, and Second Place for the Charlotte Rupple Voice Award from the Birmingham Musicale. In 2007, Boundy was the winner of Albion College’s annual concerto competition. Her work regarding women’s issues on campus also earned her Albion College’s President Bernard T. Lomas Project 250 Leadership Award.
In 2007, Ms. Boundy completed Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music Performance and Anthropology/Sociology at Albion College. She is also a certified English Language Arts teacher in the state of Texas. She currently studies with Marianna Busching at the Peabody Conservatory where she is pursuing a Master of Music degree in voice performance.
When she’s not pursuing music, Ms. Boundy has strong interests in cultural anthropology, acting, and teaching English as a second language.
For more information and performance updates please visit www.AmandaKayBoundy.com.
CHELSEA BUYALOS BM4
With the help of her Grandmother, Soprano Chelsea Buyalos developed a love for music at the age of four; a love that was sparked by Puccini’s Tosca. This love blossomed and soon led to the start of her formal training at the age of eleven in her small town of Chester, Virginia. Despite the challenges presented to her with the genetic disorder Goldenhar, Ms. Buyalos has continued to pursue her goals. Currently, she is continuing to further her career as a performer under the instruction of Marianna Busching at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
Over the years, Ms. Buyalos has had many opportunities to share her music. In 2007, Ms. Buyalos graduated with honors from the Thomas Dale High School: Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, where she was a proud member of Thomas Dale’s Chamber and Madrigal Choirs. Ms. Buyalos was also an active member and participant in many community choirs such as the All District Workshop and Mixed Chorus 2002-2007, Virginia All- State Chorus 2003, and the Richmond Symphony Side by Side Chorus 2005-2007.
She made her operatic debut in 2005 in Italy with Operafestival di Roma in their main stage production of Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro.” While in Rome Ms. Buyalos also was featured in Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater.” Ms. Buyalos has also been involved in other concert and oratorio works such as Villa-Lobos’s “Bachianas Brasileiras No.5” and Rutter’s “Requiem.”
Along with her classical training she has performed in many musicals such as “Annie”, “The King and I”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Oklahoma”, and “The Boyfriend.” Ms. Buyalos is an honored NATS (National Association for the Teachers of Singing) competitor, Peabody Scholarship recipient, and Bland Music Scholarship recipient. Recently, Ms. Buyalos worked with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra on their spring and summer concert series. Ms. Buyalos plans to continue her educational pursuits and pursue her singing career. When she’s not singing, you may find Ms. Buyalos enjoying a run through the neighborhood.
ZOE KANTER BM3
Soprano Zoe Kanter is quickly emerging as a striking dramatic artist. She is currently a third year undergraduate student at The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, studying under Marianna Busching to earn a Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance. Most recently Ms. Kanter was seen in The Peabody Opera Theaters production of Suor Angelica as Prima Sorella Cercatrice and The Peabody Singers soprano soloist for the Schubert Mass in G under the direction of Edward Polochick. She has also participated in The Peabody Opera Chorus in their productions of Die Fledermaus and Manon. Ms. Kanter will be making her opera debut with the American Opera Theater Company in their production of The Gonzales Cantata as Arlen Specter in the spring.
Prior to coming to Peabody, Ms. Kanter studied under Terry Eberhardt and Colleen Daly. She went to Carver Center for the Arts and Technology for high school where she performed as Lily in The Secret Garden, and Woman One in Songs for a New World. She has performed as a soloist for Governor O’Malley’s Free Fall Baltimore Benefit (2007), The Cultural Arts Education Benefit for Towson University (2007), and the Education Channel (2008). She is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalist and an award recipient in the National Association of Teachers of Singing for musical theater (NATS). In her spare time she loves watching old movies and spending time with her close friends and family.
DEVIN MERCER MM2
Baltimore-based tenor, Devin Mercer began his classical music studies as an undergraduate at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy under the instruction of Dr. Julie Moore-Preston and Dr. Angelique Clay.
During his tenure at Oakwood, Mr. Mercer traveled with, and was a soloist for, the world-renowned Oakwood University Aeolians, under the direction of Dr. Julie Moore-Preston and Dr. Lloyd B. Mallory, Jr. He has traveled and sung across the United States, as well as Bermuda, Poland, where he was able to perform in the annual Wratislavia Cantans International Music Festival in Wroclaw, and a national tour of Spain. He has performed such pieces as Handel’s Messiah, Monostatos in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and Moses in R. Nathaniel Dett’s oratorio The Ordering of Moses.
Mr. Mercer currently teaches private voice lessons, and attends the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where he is pursuing his Master of Music degree under the instruction of Marianna Busching.
AMBER SCHWARZROCK BM4
Soprano, Amber Marie Schwarzrock, was very involved in the vocal arts in high school, receiving many placements in state and national honor choirs. She has lived in Costa Rica, Switzerland, and England for her study of music and languages. Her opera debut was in Geneva, Switzerland as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. After taking time off to start a family and support her husband through law school, Ms. Schwarzrock has resumed her musical studies. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Music Degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Maryland where she studies with Mariana Busching. She and her husband Kris and son Trysten reside in Baltimore.
MAUREEN SMITH BM2
Maureen Smith is a first year undergraduate vocal performance student of Marianna Busching at the Peabody Conservatory. She began her musical studies with Peabody graduate Christine O'Meally in August of 2002. Since that time, she has participated and placed in almost every musical competition in her hometown of Milwaukee, WI, including receiving honorable mention in the Florentine Opera's High School Master Class competition in spring of this year. Additionally, Maureen has performed with numerous professional theatre companies, including Milwaukee's Off the Wall Theatre and Bucketworks Theatre. An aspiring pedagogue, she has regularly attended and participated in master classes with the National Association of Teachers of Singing since her sophomore year of high school.
