Section Leaders

Soprano I

Hannah Watkins will be graduating from the University of North Texas in December 2023 with a degree in Choral Music Education and plans to work in the DFW area in 2024. A soprano section leader at St. Monica Catholic Church since 2022, Hannah has participated in many concerts and is currently serving as a Catechist for Confirmation Classes. She loves using her voice in praise and hopes to continue her career as intertwined into her faith life as she is able. During her undergraduate career, she has traveled with UNT's prestigious A Capella Choir (under the direction of Dr. Allen Hightower) to both Arkansas and Houston for performances and conventions. She looks forward to continuing her passion of teaching and learning after graduation.

Alto I

Sydney Palomo is a graduate student at Texas Christian University studying vocal pedagogy. She graduated from Texas Christian University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education and a minor in Sociology. Throughout her undergraduate career, she was granted various performance and academic opportunities that broadened her knowledge of music education and its importance within our society. Sydney is a major advocate for social justice, mental health, and vocal wellness and believes that music is a channel for self-expression and serves as a vehicle to convey and promote prevalent social messages in our efforts to create a better world.

Tenor I

Michael Hand currently sings with the Fort Worth Chorale and has appeared in venues such as Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Michael has performed with ensembles like the Texas Tech University Choir, the Lubbock Chorale, and the Granbury Civic Chorus. Past performances include Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bach’s Singet dem Herrn, and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. He also has a background in instrumental music and marched euphonium in Texas Tech’s Goin’ Band from Raiderland.

Baritone

With over 85 roles in his repertoire, Corey Trahan is an active performer, educator and stage director in opera, oratorio, music theatre, operetta and recital venues. Known for his comic timing, versatile voice, and onstage charisma, he is being seen and heard internationally in repertoire ranging from operatic classics to modern musical theatre.  In addition to performing, Corey was the Biedenharn Endowed Chair in Music at the University of Louisiana, Chair of Music Theatre at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand and an Associate Professor of Theatre/Coordinator of Musical Theatre at Northwestern State University.  Currently, Corey is on the voice faculty at T.C.U. and part of the music ministry at St. Monica Catholic Church.

Corey's academic degrees include the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas, the Master of Music degree from the University of Houston and the Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana State University.