Vocal Fellows


An advanced summer program for classical singers with interest in Baroque music and Historically Informed Performance Practice.

Designed for singers on the cusp of professional careers, the Vocal Fellows Program provides opportunities for education and career advancement within the context of Bach Akademie’s annual Charlotte Bach Festival.

Vocal Fellows benefit from a curriculum including individual coachings, masterclasses, workshops, seminars, and peer-to-peer roundtable discussions. Previous topics have included style and interpretation, physical gesture, entrepreneurship and career development, and vocal health. Housing, transportation, and a per diem are included in the Vocal Fellows contract. Bach Akademie Charlotte’s Vocal Fellows are underwritten by the generous support of the Maurer Family Foundation.

Class of 2024

Sea Han, soprano
2024 Vocal Fellows - Sea Han 280px.jpgSea Han is a nonbinary Korean American soprano originally from Queens, NY. Known primarily for their choral singing and recital work, Sea is also an avid scholar of Baroque secular drama, contemporary extended vocal and instrumental technique, and modern American poetry. They attained their Bachelors in Voice at Westminster Choir College, studying under Margaret Cusack, and recently graduated from Yale University’s Masters of Music in Early Music Voice (also known as the “Voxtet”) with Jimmy Taylor.

Sea sings with Res Facta, Artefact Ensemble, the Philadelphia Orchestra Choir, Apollo’s Fire, the Thirteen, and various other ensembles across America. They currently work at Yale Law School as a full-time staff member, and live in New Haven with partner, Matt, and two cats, Squid and Uni. 

Meghan Ryan, alto
2024 Vocal Fellows - Meghan Ryan 280px.jpgMeghan Ryan graduated from the University of Connecticut studying under Dr. Constance Rock with her Master of Music degree. Meghan’s previous roles include Meg March in Little Women, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Nancy in Albert Herring and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with UConn Opera Theater, Nina in the U.S. premiere of Justin Dello Joio’s Blue Mountain at UConn, and Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti at the 2016 Nahant Music Festival in Nahant, MA. She has sung with groups including Panopera in Northampton, MA, Boston’s Odyssey Opera, and Vancouver Opera Studio. Additionally, she was chosen as the mezzo-soprano participant for the 2017 Bach Institute at the Emmanuel Church in Boston.

Meghan currently sings with Boston Baroque and has recently sung the role of Second Priestess in the opera Iphigenie en Tauride. She has completed several recordings with soprano Kendra Colton and other musicians of Boston’s Emmanuel Music including the alto arias from BWV 22, BWV 110, BWV 12. She has her CT music education teaching certificate and currently teaches elementary music in Avon, CT. She recently completed her Suzuki Piano Book 1 teacher training and she will attend the Suzuki voice teacher training this summer 2024.

David Pelino, tenor 
2024 Vocal Fellows - David Pelino 280px.jpgDavid Pelino, tenor, is a vocal artist well-versed in both solo and ensemble repertoire. Some of David’s solo credits include tenor solo repertoire in works such as Theodore Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, G.F. Handel’s Messiah, and Adolphus Hailstork’s I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, as well as performing the roles of King Kaspar in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors and the Evangelist in J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion. His awards include the Grady-Rayam 2018 Upper Division Negro Spiritual Prize, and the 2019 Central Region NATS Advanced Division 1st Place WinneHe was also a National NATS semifinalist in 2020.

David has had the distinct privilege of being able to sing both at home and abroad. He performs with nationally and internationally renowned ensembles such as the American Spiritual Ensemble, Prometheus, Seraphic Fire, and Kinnara.

T.J. Callahan, bass-baritone
2024 Vocal Fellows - T.J. Callahan 280px.jpgBass-baritone T.J. Callahan is inspired by the collaborative power of the voice and specializes in creating compelling performances of ensemble music from all eras.He made his operatic debut in 2023, performing as Adonis in John Blow’s Venus and Adonis with Peabody Opera Theatre. Previously based in England, he appeared at Stour Music and the Northern Aldborough Festival. An early music specialist, he sang with the Rameau Project in the UK premiere of the original 1737 version of Castor et Pollux. T.J. currently sings with the professional choir of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Baltimore.

T.J. has performed with members of the Tallis Scholars and has appeared in Seattle, Portland, and England with the Byrd Ensemble. In 2019, he helped found Radiance, a professional ensemble specializing in early and contemporary American repertoire, alongside Artistic Director Markdavin Obenza. He studied Solo Voice Ensemble Singing under Robert Hollingworth at the University of York and completed his Master’s in Historical Performance at Peabody Conservatory. His favorite workplace is a cathedral choir stall, and he has sung in the choirs of York Minster and Washington National Cathedral. T.J. enjoys spending the warmer days cycling to local bakeries and watching baseball.

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Being a Vocal Fellow with Bach Akademie Charlotte during the annual Charlotte Bach Festival was one of the most formative experiences of my professional career. I noticed that I improved as a musician and collaborator even during the short week I was there, and in ways I didn't necessarily expect. I was challenged in ways that I never would have been otherwise, and the reward of performing these iconic works with such high-level, sensitive musicians was well worth it. Working with Scott Allen Jarrett and the rest of the BAC team was truly a unique and special experience you won't find anywhere else.”

Casey Kunmann // 2023 Vocal Fellow //
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My time with the Bach Akademie Vocal Fellow Program was nothing less than perfect. I truly enjoyed every moment of it from our masterclass with Scott Allen Jarrett to Vocal Pedagogy with Liz Eschen! If you get the opportunity to participate with this high caliber of musicians, jump at the chance!

Lauren Russell // 2018 Vocal Fellow //
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The Vocal Fellows program provided me with an opportunity to grow musically and professionally in a supportive and inspiring environment. I not only gained practical experience singing as a soloist and as an ensemble member, but I also had the chance to learn from and make new friends and colleagues of the professional singers and Fellows around me. This program was one of the most valuable and fulfilling experiences I've ever had, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Harrison Hintzsche // 2019 Vocal Fellow //
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My time in Charlotte was met with both musical excellence and memories I will not forget! Being able to sing alongside Bach Akademie Charlotte artists was a great way to measure the benchmark of being a professional level musician. My experience helped identify my strengths and weaknesses in my goal to make singing my career choice.

William Marshall // 2018 Vocal Fellow //

Previous Vocal Fellows
2023

Casey Willassen Kunmann, Soprano
Scottie Rogers, Counter-tenor
Derrick Miller, Tenor
Jared Swope, Bass

2022

Addy Sterrett, Soprano
Eliana Barwinski, Alto
David Morales, Tenor
Christopher Talbot, Baritone

2019

Chelsea Helm, Soprano
Molly McGuire, Mezzo-soprano
Aaron Cates, Tenor
Harrison Hintzsche, Baritone

2018

Olivia Miller, Soprano
Lauren Russell, Mezzo-soprano
Blake Beckemeyer, Tenor
William Marshall, Baritone


Funding for the Vocal Fellows Program has been generously provided by:

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