A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Jessie Barnett holds her Bachelor’s of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Furman University (2016), and her Master’s from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (2018). She’s had the privilege of performing various repertoire from art song to oratorio to opera; however, since completing her studies and settling in the Charleston area, Jessie has focused her attention on the beauty industry. She now works as a licensed cosmetologist at 843 Beauty Collective in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Jessie still loves performing (particularly in small vocal ensembles) and has been able to participate not only in this year of the Voces8 US Scholars program, but in organizations such as Servire, The King's Counterpoint, Cantores Charleston, Vox Regis, Chicora Voices and the SC Bach Choir. In her free time, Jessie’s hobbies include crafting, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family.

From Charleston, South Carolina, Kori Miller’s engagements include performances with ensembles Conspirare, Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble (VAE), Orpheus Chamber Singers, Dallas Bach Society, Verdigris, Incarnatus, Taylor Festival Choir, and Franklin Chamber Choir. Miller was recently seen in the title role of Apolo in Durón’s Apolo y Dafne with Orchestra of New Spain (2023), Blanche in UNT Opera’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire by André Previn (2023), and Eve in Melani’s Il Fratricidio di Caino at the Olomouc Baroque Festival in the Czech Republic (2022). Miller is based in Denton, Texas studying a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy at the University of North Texas where she also serves as a Teaching Fellow.

Megan Koch is an avid performer and teacher, currently based in DFW. Last season, she made her role debuts as Violetta (La traviata) and Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia) at Shreveport Opera and Nala, a cat (Meow and Forever) recorded by Opera Arlington and Really Spicy Opera. Formerly a Fort Worth Opera Resident Artist, she performed Annina in La Traviata, covered Ana Maria (world premier, Zorro) and Musetta (La bohème), and appeared on Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra's televised concert, “America Strong,” during COVID. She has also performed with Lewisville Lake Symphony Chamber Recital Series and FWO’s Frontiers, where she “shimmered with nuance” - The Column Online. Megan won 1st place in the Classical Singer Voice Competition and was a finalist in the Lewisville Lake Symphony International Voice Competition in 2022. She sits on the Board of OA and returns to FWSO to be featured in the 2023 “Home for the Holidays” concert.

Abigail Lysinger is a mezzo-soprano currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Houston, where she studies with Professor Melanie Sonnenberg. Abigail just appeared at Jazz at Lincoln Center this past summer singing with Teatro Nuovo, and will be singing the role of L’enfant in L’enfant et les sortilèges at U of H this fall and workshopping the role of Maggie in Tom Cipullo’s brand new opera Hobson’s Choice. She earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan where she had the opportunity to premiere and record various works with the Chamber Choir under the direction of Eugene Rogers; such as Amass by Jocelyn Hagen, Door out of the Fire by Christopher Theofanidis, Vespers by Susan Botti, as well as portraying Judy Shepard in Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard.

Conductor, composer, pianist, and soprano Yiran Zhao holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Yale School of Music (Robert Shaw Prize) and a Bachelor of Music in Piano and Theory & Composition from Westminster Choir College. Her singing collaborations include Julliard 415, Apollo’s Fire, and Yale Choral Artists. She teaches at Educational Center for the Arts (ACES) and Yale Music in Schools Initiative. She is the assistant conductor of Civic Orchestra of New Haven, Greater New Haven Community Chorus, organist at First Baptist Church in New Haven, and soprano at Episcopal Church at Yale. Yiran was the director of Yale Divinity School (Marquand) Chapel Choir, and music director at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kendall Park, NJ.

Maxwell Trochlil is a renowned tenor and choral conductor hailing from Minnesota. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and furthered his education with a Master of Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame. He has served as assistant director for several choirs, including the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir, the Elkhart Community Choir, and the Notre Dame Children's Choir. He has dazzled audiences with solo performances in both opera and concert repertoire as well. Notable roles include Nero in Monteverdi's "L'incoronazione di Poppea," Miles in Missy Mazzoli's "Proving Up," and the disciple Simon in the world premiere of René Clausen's "The Passion of Jesus Christ." In addition to performing, Maxwell currently serves as Assistant Music Director at First Presbyterian Church in South Bend.

Phill Hatton is a music educator and bass-baritone currently based in Denver, Colorado. Phill graduated with highest honors from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s degree in vocal music education. While in Louisville, he sang with the University of Louisville Cardinal Singers, the Louisville Chamber Choir, the Louisville Orchestra Symphony Chorus and served as a bass section leader for the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church choir. Now, in Denver, Phill works full time as an educator at Legend High School in Parker, CO. He directs three choirs, two orchestras and teaches an AP music theory course, along with serving as the music director for the school’s musical theatre productions. Outside of the classroom, he regularly sings in Denver with Elus Vocal Ensemble, the Colorado Symphony Chorus and with Christ Church Denver.

Kev Schneider is a tenor based in New Jersey and New York City, performing regularly with the Compostela Choir at St. James Church, Madison Avenue, and Downtown Voices at Trinity Wall St. They also specialize in early music and small ensemble singing, appearing with groups like the newly formed Convoco, Glassbrook Vocal Ensenble, and Lux Choir at Princeton Chapel. Kev can also be seen performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra’ Symphonic Choir, as a vocal fellow for the Spoleto Festical USA, and in the choir for Netflix’s upcoming biopic, Maestro. Having studied music education at Westminster Choir College, Kev performed with Westminster Choir, Westminster Kantorei, and studied under Thomas Faracco, Margaret Cusack, and Dr. Jay Carter.

Matthew Houston of Sadieville, KY graduated with highest honors from the University of Louisville with a double Bachelor’s in Music Education and Vocal Performance. He enjoys travel and touring internationally in Asia, Europe, and Africa with the renowned University of Louisville Cardinal Singers. In 2022, attended the Aspen Music festival for the Seraphic Fire Professional Choral Institute. Locally, he sings with the Louisville Chamber Choir, and is a cantor and section leader at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. In 2021, he was elected president of the University of Louisville chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He has won multiple NATS competitions for both regional and state conferences including in 2022, 2019, and 2018. He has a passion for choral, consort, and early music performance styles and hopes to one day use his performance experience to teach.

Lucas Zuehl is a bass from Milwaukee, WI, currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Creative Writing at BYU in Provo, Utah. He sings with BYU Singers, Santos Chamber Singers, and the Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Lucas was a vocal fellow at the Spoleto Festival USA Chorus, and is a graduate of the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Austria, where his teachers included Elly Ameling, Robert Holl, Julius Drake, and Roger Vignoles. He’s been the biggest fan of Voces8 since high school, and he feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to sing in their US Scholars.

Sam Denler, based in Hamilton, New Jersey, sings in the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir under Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He is soloist for Ryan Brandau in Amor Artis and performed with Res Facta in a Byrd concert featured on WWFM Sounds Choral, and filmed a scene with Bradley Cooper for the Bernstein biopic “Maestro." Denler finished his fifth residency with the Spoleto Festival USA Chorus, and is a finalist for Chanticleer. Singing with startup group Convoco, he sang Joby Talbot’s “Path of Miracles” with the Lotus Choir. Denler earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education at Westminster Choir College, sang with the Westminster Choir and toured the U.S., Spain, and China. He was a member of Kantorei and Symphonic Choir, and performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.