Voice Faculty

Kemper Florin - Voice

Kemper H.L. Florin (soprano) holds a Bachelors degree in Music from the University of North Carolina and a Masters degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music.
 

Kemper was selected as a District Winner and Mid-Southern Regional Finalist in the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She most recently understudied the role of Antonia in Man of La Mancha at Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre. She also performed the roles of Maria in The Sound of Music and Princess Margaret in The Student Prince with The Ohio Light Opera Company during their 2007 summer repertory season. On the operatic stage, Kemper has sung Second Witch in Dido and Aeneus, performed at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. As a concert artist and recitalist, Kemper has sung in Philadelphia’s 2007 Bach Festival as well as Holy Trinity’s Lunch Hour Concert Series. In December 2006, Kemper was featured as the Angel in Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity with the Mendelssohn Club.
 

Kemper’s recording releases include a new Ohio Light Opera recording of The Gondoliers, featuring Kemper as Gianetta on the Albany Records label and a recording of Dido and Aeneas featuring Ms. Florin as the Second Witch on the Lyrichord label. Future engagements include the role of Bastienne in Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne in January 2008 at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

Jim DeSelm - Voice
Jim holds a bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Bethel College in Mishawaka, IN.

In addition to teaching vocal students of all ages, Jim has performed leading roles in productions of West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and with various ensembles including rock bands acapella jazz groups. Jim is skilled in many genres including Broadway, classical, jazz, popular, rock, and R&B.

Terrance Gaines - Voice
Terrance studied Voice at University of the Arts, and has been teaching over 40 students per week at Music Training Center since early 2003.

Terrance has extensive performance and teaching experience in opera, soul, funk, jazz, hip-hip, R&B, and gospel styles.  

Terrance's performance experience includes lead singing roles in a number of operas and Broadway-style plays, percussion performances with the West African Drum Ensemble, played hand bells with Peter Nero at the Kimmel Center, and has otherwise performed at over 100 venues including the Kennedy Center, the Department of State, and the White House.

Merissa Martignoni - Voice

Merissa is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Composition. While at Temple, Merissa studied under Dr. Maurice Wright with a concentration in Vocal Studies under Dr. Lawrence Indik. She also attended Penn State University for Musical Theatre and Rutgers University for Music Theory and History.

Prior to attending Temple University, Merissa trained at the Triple Threat Performing Arts School.  She has a wide range of performance and recording experience including singing at The Victor Café in South Philadelphia. Merissa has also performed in many stage productions including the role of The Witch in Sondheim’s Into The Woods.

Suzanne Spencer - Voice
Suzanne is currently studying at University of the Arts, completing a Master's degree in Jazz Vocal Performance and Music Education. Prior to attending UArts, Suzanne studied classical Voice Performance and Music Therapy at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Suzanne is experienced in a multitude of different genres including jazz, musical theater, classical, R&B, and pop.  She currently performs in N'Zehn, a contemporary A cappella group at University of the Arts, and is a lead singer of Love Jones, a Philadelphia cover/dance band. She has also performed with the Duquesne University Chamber Singers, the Pittsburgh Camarata, and has had lead roles in various plays and musicals in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas.

Antonio Rodriguez - Voice
Antonio is a graduate of Rice University, with a Master's degree in vocal performance.

A native of Guadalajara, Antonio has performed at the Teatro Degollado, in La Traviata and Zarzuela Luisa Fernanda, accompanied by the Jalisco Phillarmonic Orchestra.  He has performed as a tenor in operatic performances including the role of Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Arturo in Lucia di Lamermoor, Edmondo in Manon Lescaut, Trabuco in La Forza del Destino with Opera in the Heights, Luigi in Il Tabarro at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Giffoni and Mercato S. Severino Italy, and Brigella in Ariadne auf Naxos at The Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina.  Antonio joined the Amarillo Opera Company as an Apprentice in 2004 and 2005, as well as an Artist in Residence in 2005. In the summer of 2007 Antonio sang Tamino in The Magic Flute with the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Minori Italy.

Prior to joining Music Training Center's staff, Antonio taught voice at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, Bridges Academy of Fine Arts in Houston, St. Martins Lutheran School in Austin, and The Amarillo Opera Summer Program in Amarillo.

Kelly Stallard - Voice
Kelly is a graduate of Syracuse University, with a degree in Music Education and Voice. 

Kelly has performed leading roles in shows ranging from Grease to West Side Story.  Her Music Directing credits include The Dickens Festival in Skaneateles, The Wall, and Godspell.  In addition to teaching private Voice lessons at Music Training Center, Kelly is also a director of Music Training Center's Musical Theatre programs.

Kelly was a staff member and regular volunteer for West Chester Area School District Musical Theatre, where she coached young performers for the stage.  Kelly has also conducted, arranged, and performed with the "The Mandarins", Syracuse's award-winning contemporary a cappella group.

Sara Tiemogo - Voice

Sara is from Terre Haute, Indiana, where she studied voice, piano and violin in the Music Education Department of Indiana State University (ISU). 

Sarah has been a member of various ensembles including The ISU Symphony Orchestra (violin), ISU Concert Choir (soprano), The Potter Voice Studio (soprano), ISU Symphonic Band (clarinet), ISU Theatre Workshop (soprano), and many others.  Sarah was also the assistant Concert Master for the Terra Haute Youth Symphony Orchestra.  She is currently attending West Chester University.