St. Maries Choral Arts

Janet is a native of St. Mary’s County and is very proud of her Southern Maryland lineage. She has been singing with St. Maries Musica since 2007 and enjoys it immensely. Janet started her musical career when she was 6 years old at The Bunny Bailey Studio of Dance. Soon after, she began piano and flute lessons. She was encouraged to continue studying and performing music throughout her elementary, middle and high school years where she had the privilege of performing in multiple competitions/honor bands and choruses. Janet studied music and education at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music (now Shenandoah University) and received her B.S. degree in elementary education with a minor in flute performance. Her greatest musical highlight was being able to perform with Shenandoah’s choir at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Janet currently works in the real estate field and enjoys life with her husband Scott, who is the sound guy, events manager and Chair of St. Maries Choral Arts. She is most proud of her adult daughter, Kristi who is currently working on her doctorate in Astrophysics.

Nicole Baller is a soloist, chorister, and music educator. Originally from coastal North Carolina, she studied voice at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She has taught elementary music and conducted adult and children's choirs. Moving frequently as a military wife, Nicole has been privileged to sing in choirs across the country and internationally. She also enjoys singing in various other capacities from musical theater to opera to praise bands. Nicole lives in California with her husband and five children.

Kelly Barnes Combs is the choral director at Calvert High School in Prince Frederick, Maryland, where she teaches five choirs and guitar class. She completed her degree in Vocal Performance from St. Mary's College of Maryland, where she was the musical director and arranger for The Nightingale A Cappella Choir, and sang with the Chamber Singers as they toured throughout Eastern Europe, Italy, France and Switzerland.  She has appeared onstage multiple times at the River Concert Series, and performed at the Alba Music Festival in northern Italy.  As an educator, her choirs have performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and appeared as back-up singers for the rock group Foreigner.   She lives in Valley Lee with her husband Jamison, daughter, Lena, son Julian, and their cats, where she enjoys the sunsets, bird-watching and playing bluegrass badly on the porch.

Amanda is currently a senior at Chopticon High School where she is part of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, Peace Pipers, and Infinity. With a passion for music, Amanda aims to major in Music Therapy when she goes off to college.

Laura is a recent graduate from Towson University, and she now teaches Special Education in Calvert County. She sang all throughout Elementary, Middle, and High School but had to take a break in college to focus on her classes and student teaching. Now that she is back, she is very excited to be a part of a chorus again and perform with such wonderful people and singers!

Charnice is a St. Mary's County native and an alumni from Chopticon High School. She went on to study Vocal Music Education at James Madison University. There she sang in the Treble Chamber Choir, JMU Chorale, and The Madison Singers, as well as singing in the premiere all female a cappella group, Note-oriety. During her collegiate years she also became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. Charnice is currently the choral director at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, MD. She is also the Music Director of The District, a semi-professional all female a cappella group based in Washington D.C. Charnice is extremely excited to be a part of this amazing ensemble and looks forward to making music with everyone.

Bio coming soon!

Anya Gray has a Bachelors in Music from Morgan State University. She was a member of the Morgan State University Choir as well as the Morgan Singers and has had the opportunity to travel internationally to countries such as Spain, Dubai, Cuba, and Germany to name a few.

Gabriel “Gabe” Gray is very excited to perform with St. Maries Musica for another season! A Charles County native and Maurice J. McDonough High School alum, this isn’t the first time Gabe has been under Mrs. TC O’Brien’s incredible direction. He had the pleasure of being of member of her prestigious Madrigal Lords & Ladies, Show Choir, & Concert Choir. Gabe & his best friends are also founding members of her fifth ensemble; a male a cappella group known as The Ramtations! Gabe also participated in five MHS Drama productions including West Side Story & Grease, and in numerous county, regional & state honor choirs.

Gabe attended Marshall University in Huntington, WV for his B.A. in Music Education. He was a member of the Chamber Choir, University Chorus, Choral Union, Opera Workshop, and he did a few projects with the MU Theatre. He is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. Upon graduation, Gabe was also named Student Teacher of the Year for Related Arts. Today, he teaches General Music & Chorus at William A. Diggs Elementary in Waldorf and performs & directs whenever possible!

Nick has sung in various choirs throughout his life. In middle school he was the lead singer in the annual musical. Throughout high school, All-County chorus, a small chamber choir. He was a member of a local church's choir in high school which did choreographed pieces and performed as far away as New York City. After joining the Air Force, he has sung in various church and community choirs, including 3 years in Germany with the local German church choir. He currently cantors and sings at St John Vianney in Prince Frederick. Beside singing, he's been in a semi-professional musical at Ft Bragg Playhouse, acted and directed and done lighting and sound in several plays. He also plays several instruments when not playing with his 4 grandchildren.

James is returning to music after a brief hiatus avoiding the paparazzi by joining the U. S. Navy. He's enjoyed singing with various groups over the years including the Naval Aviation Choir and a six-man a cappella group called "The Bare Essentials."

Kellie has participated in choral groups, ensembles and musical productions from fourth grade through high school, culminating with selection to participate in tri-county and all-state choruses. She has been singing as a choir member and cantor at IHM parish for over 15 years. Kellie delights in the cultivation of virtue, teaching reading (yep, that geeky) and Thursday night family dinners with ukulele jams.

Celena Hansen is a recent graduate of Washington State University where she received degrees in both Anthropology and Vocal Performance. She has been singing all her life and found a love for choral arts as a child with the Indianapolis Children's Choir. Since then she has had the opportunity to perform with a variety of choral groups throughout the United States and South Korea. Celena is new to the area and in her spare time she enjoys practicing aerial arts, taking voice lessons and watching scary movies.

Stephen is a Charles County native and alumni from McDonough High School. Stephen is excited to be a part of Musica and under the direction of T.C. O'Brien once again. In high school Stephen was a member of Mrs. O'Brien's Madrigal Lords & Ladies, Show Choir, Ramtations, and Concert Choir. He then went on to study Music Education at Indiana Wesleyan University where he was a part of two traveling vocal ensembles. While attending IWU he had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall and travel all throughout the U.S., London, and France performing with the IWU Chorale. After graduating college, Stephen went on to teach a year of elementary general music in Indianapolis Indiana before moving back to the Charles County area to teach choir at his alma mater McDonough High School.

Bio coming soon!

Phoebe Kammerer is currently a general music teacher at Chesapeake Public Charter School. Phoebe is a Pennsylvania native and attended West Chester University where she studied Music Education with a concentration in voice and a minor in Special Education. Phoebe sang in choirs under the direction of David P. Devenney, Ryan Kelly and Jane Wyss and studied voice with Emily Bullock. Phoebe has always enjoyed singing in choirs and is thrilled to a member of such a talented ensemble.

Beth began her career as a Professional Alto when her middle school chorus teacher realized that she could read music and has only rarely been allowed to sing the melody. This led her to the decision to become a choir director thus allowing herself to sing all of the parts – though sadly, not all at one time. Beth graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s in Music Education and has taught in exotic locations such as Warrenton and Falls Church, Virginia as well as Sunnyvale, California before being invited to teach for Calvert County Public Schools. Since arriving in Southern Maryland, Beth has taught music at all levels in schools throughout the county. She recently made the decision to return to elementary school where the students treat her like the rock star she always wished she could be! In addition to having a private studio for piano, voice and theory, Beth serves as a Music Minister for Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Sue is from the UK and has sung in large choral societies, smaller groups and church choirs. She enjoys singing sacred and secular music.

This is Tyler’s first year in Musica. He has been in chorus since sixth grade and has been in marching band for 3 years. He has started his second year in symphonic band. Musica will be an amazing learning opportunity for him.

Haley graduated from MCDonough High School in 2017. She is currently attending the College of Southern Maryland, majoring in music education. She has been singing since chlldhood, but she started taking it really seriously during her senior year in high school, when she was inspired by her choir teacher TC O'Brien. She plays a number of instruments and hopes to teach high school orchestra & band after she gets her degree. She joined Musica in the spring of 2019, and lives to sing!

Ed sang in Concert Choir McDonough High Shool 2002 , The Madrigals Lords and Ladies at McDonough High School from 2004-2006 (solo in Daniel, Daniel Servant of the Lord 2006) , All-County 2002, 2004 and Tri-County chorus in 2003.

Amy is currently a sophomore at Leonardtown High School, where she is a member of the chamber choir, Potomac Voices. She has participated in choir and also played the piano since elementary school, and has always held a passion for singing. She is very excited to be a part of Musica this year.