Regina Krawiec is a soprano born and raised in Springfield, MA. She obtained her BA from Vassar College where she majored in music, studying voice with countertenor Drew Minter. Alongside performing, Regina is deeply interested in vocal pedagogy and firmly believes in approaching vocal technique instruction in an ethical, “no harm done first” manner. Although her primary genre is opera, Regina is also able to perform and teach other vocal styles, including: r&b, pop, musical theatre, gospel, jazz, and so on. She believes in teaching her students a strong foundational technique, which can then be applied to achieve whatever sound they may wish to create. Some of Regina’s best childhood and adolescent memories include taking piano and voice lessons at CMSS, and she is excited to be returning as a voice faculty member. Lastly, Regina is also an actor, and recently performed the role of “Deacon Francis” in The Hanover Theatre Repertory Company’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Ava D’Agostino is a soprano and music educator with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia and a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. With nine years of teaching experience, she has held various roles, including choral director, private voice instructor, and early childhood music educator. She currently teaches private voice at the Community Music School of Springfield and throughout the greater Western Massachusetts area.

As a performer, Ava’s operatic credits include The Fire/Nightingale in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges and the Witch/Mother in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.

Laurie Ellington is a vocalist, conductor and music educator with over 15 years’ experience leading choruses of all ages. Her 20+ year singing career encompasses work with bands big and small, pop and jazz a cappella groups, musical theater and classical choirs in the US, Europe and Asia. As a conductor, she believes that ensemble singing is one of life’s great pleasures; she believes group singing should be about joy, connection and creating compelling performances, no matter the repertoire. Laurie holds a B.A. from Harvard and a Master’s in Music Education from Boston Conservatory.

Vanessa’s rich Central American heritage has encouraged her to embrace family, to appreciate every culture and racial background and to find a way to always be of service to others. She began singing in the church choir at the age of seven, and she loves every genre of music, but she is an aficionado of classical music, jazz, pop, traditional hymns and contemporary gospel music. Vanessa has performed the National Anthem for many local college sporting events, for Springfield Police Academy Graduations, and for a multitude of high profile local and national events. Vanessa attended Springfield Central High School, Springfield Technical Community College & Elms College. Until 2006, Vanessa was the Arts Director at the Springfield Girls’ Club Family Center, Inc. Until 2012, was the Director of Praise & Worship at St. John’s Congregational Church. There, she also directed the children’s choir for over 10 years as they grew from less than 10 to over 50 members under her leadership. For over the past 12 years, Vanessa has taught a “Music in Motion” 4th grade Choral Class at St. Michael’s Academy through Community Music School of Springfield. It features approximately 50 students who participate in an energetic choral class with Vanessa. As the co-founder and coordinator of The Women of Faith Ensemble, Vanessa shares her mission of praise with 9 other women in the group as they minister all over the region. Vanessa is a board member of Blues to Green which presents the Annual Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, a committee member of The Brianna Fund for Children with Physical Disabilities. Vanessa was previously the Music & Recruitment Chair for Springfield Unity Festival and she is a dedicated supporter of Dress for Success for women. Vanessa is the founding director of the Springfield CommUnity Chorale where she strives to bring singers together from all backgrounds, cultures & races. Among her many gifts, Vanessa has written and arranged many choral and praise and worship songs. In 2016, Vanessa was inspired to write a song called “Stronger Together”, which was released in August 2016. She will release her latest original inspirational song “Fight For You” in January 2021. Vanessa strives to use her gifts to touch the hearts of many and hopes to make a difference in the lives of others through her life, community service and music.

Liz Simmons received a BA from Goddard College with a focus on music’s historical role in the 1920s and 30s in North America. She specializes in folk and contemporary music, but also draws from her classical voice training in her approach to vocal health and technique. She has been a private voice instructor for the past decade, and in addition to CMSS has taught at Indian Hill Music School and Springstep Arts Center, and as an early childhood music instructor at Windham Learning Tree Academy and the Children’s Center at Groton. She tours regularly with her award-winning band Low Lily, who have performed on festival and concert stages in the US, UK and Canada. Liz has also toured as a backing vocalist with folk icons Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, and Melanie.

Joan Marcil received her Bachelor of Music in Performance from Lowell State College and her Master of Music from the Boston Conservatory of Music. She was a voice therapist with the McClosky Voice Therapy Clinic and is currently Choir Director at St. George Cathedral, Springfield. Joan was a founding member of Opera Works, a non-profit organization that brought opera to schools and the general public.