Katherine Polit, President
Hailed by Opera News as “vibrant,” Dr. Katherine Polit is a passionate performer and educator. At home in the concert hall and on the operatic stage, recent appearances include Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with Bodhi Tree Concerts, Pamina in The Magic Flute with Pacific Symphony, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate with Helena Symphony, and Vivaldi’s Gloria at David Geffen Hall. She apprenticed with Virginia Opera for two seasons and returned to their mainstage to perform the role of Ännchen in Der Freischütz. Her other notable operatic roles include Musetta (La Bohème), Nannetta (Falstaff), Despina (Così fan tutte), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Johanna (Sweeney Todd), and Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore). She has been featured with San Diego Opera, La Jolla Symphony, The Ohio Light Opera, Opera Naples, Charlotte Symphony, Orchestra Santa Monica, Evansville Philharmonic, Opera Louisiane, and Charlottesville Opera. Accolades include being chosen as a finalist in the Rochester Idol Competition and the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition. Currently a member of the voice faculty at San Diego State University, Katherine completed her Doctor of Music in Vocal Literature and Performance at Indiana University, holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Humanities and Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. She previously served on the board of San Diego NATS as vice-president.
Hailed by Opera News as “vibrant,” Dr. Katherine Polit is a passionate performer and educator. At home in the concert hall and on the operatic stage, recent appearances include Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with Bodhi Tree Concerts, Pamina in The Magic Flute with Pacific Symphony, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate with Helena Symphony, and Vivaldi’s Gloria at David Geffen Hall. She apprenticed with Virginia Opera for two seasons and returned to their mainstage to perform the role of Ännchen in Der Freischütz. Her other notable operatic roles include Musetta (La Bohème), Nannetta (Falstaff), Despina (Così fan tutte), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Johanna (Sweeney Todd), and Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore). She has been featured with San Diego Opera, La Jolla Symphony, The Ohio Light Opera, Opera Naples, Charlotte Symphony, Orchestra Santa Monica, Evansville Philharmonic, Opera Louisiane, and Charlottesville Opera. Accolades include being chosen as a finalist in the Rochester Idol Competition and the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition. Currently a member of the voice faculty at San Diego State University, Katherine completed her Doctor of Music in Vocal Literature and Performance at Indiana University, holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor of Humanities and Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. She previously served on the board of San Diego NATS as vice-president.
Travis Sherwood, Vice President
American Baritone, Travis Sherwood, has received praise for his powerful voice and emotionally poignant performances around the world as an opera singer, concert artist, and recitalist, performing a wide range of musical genres and styles. On the operatic stage, Sherwood has performed leading roles in La Bohème, South Pacific, Gianni Schicchi, The Tempest, Hänsel und Gretel, Das Liebesverbot, Albert Herring, Don Giovanni, The Rape of Lucretia, and Die Fledermaus for companies such as Mississippi Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, The Martina Arroyo Foundation Prelude to Performance, and USC Thornton Opera. On the concert stage, Sherwood has performed with the La Jolla Symphony, Southwest Symphony, Chatter Orchestra, Hunterdon Symphony, Symphony of the Vines, Canto Bello Chamber Orchestra, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, and La Sierra Symphony Orchestra. Sherwood has also enjoyed many collaborative recitals with distinguished pianists throughout the world. Sherwood holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music; and a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College. Currently, Sherwood serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Voice Area Coordinator on the faculty of San Diego State University, School of Music and Dance.
American Baritone, Travis Sherwood, has received praise for his powerful voice and emotionally poignant performances around the world as an opera singer, concert artist, and recitalist, performing a wide range of musical genres and styles. On the operatic stage, Sherwood has performed leading roles in La Bohème, South Pacific, Gianni Schicchi, The Tempest, Hänsel und Gretel, Das Liebesverbot, Albert Herring, Don Giovanni, The Rape of Lucretia, and Die Fledermaus for companies such as Mississippi Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, The Martina Arroyo Foundation Prelude to Performance, and USC Thornton Opera. On the concert stage, Sherwood has performed with the La Jolla Symphony, Southwest Symphony, Chatter Orchestra, Hunterdon Symphony, Symphony of the Vines, Canto Bello Chamber Orchestra, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, and La Sierra Symphony Orchestra. Sherwood has also enjoyed many collaborative recitals with distinguished pianists throughout the world. Sherwood holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music; and a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College. Currently, Sherwood serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Voice Area Coordinator on the faculty of San Diego State University, School of Music and Dance.
Jennifer D'Onofrio, Student Auditions Co-Coordinator
I am passionate about working with people who love to sing. As a classically trained singer with a love of musical theatre, I have taught private voice, general music and musical theatre to children, teens and adults for the past 20 years. My greatest pleasure is working with students who choose to purse their own passions outside of the studio, yet continue to study voice for personal enjoyment and improvement! My students have gone on to study classical voice, musical theatre and CCM at top colleges across the U.S., earned roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theatre, started recording careers in pop, acoustic and new age styles, and become teachers themselves.
I am passionate about working with people who love to sing. As a classically trained singer with a love of musical theatre, I have taught private voice, general music and musical theatre to children, teens and adults for the past 20 years. My greatest pleasure is working with students who choose to purse their own passions outside of the studio, yet continue to study voice for personal enjoyment and improvement! My students have gone on to study classical voice, musical theatre and CCM at top colleges across the U.S., earned roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theatre, started recording careers in pop, acoustic and new age styles, and become teachers themselves.
Jennifer Paterson, Treasurer
When I started piano lessons at the age of six I had no idea that the most interesting, inspiring and joyful people and experiences I would have in MY life would be through those connections I have made through music. I feel fortunate to have degrees from The Royal Conservatory of Toronto, a Masters of Music from Boston University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of British Columbia.
When I started piano lessons at the age of six I had no idea that the most interesting, inspiring and joyful people and experiences I would have in MY life would be through those connections I have made through music. I feel fortunate to have degrees from The Royal Conservatory of Toronto, a Masters of Music from Boston University, and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of British Columbia.
Kimberly Moller, Publicity and Social Chair
Kimberly Moller is a San Diego-based actor and voice teacher specializing in a cutting-edge approach that taps into the power of the brain to dramatically improve vocal technique. Kimberly is a certified practitioner of Z-Health, a neuro-centric approach to performance training and her company is called Vocal Kinesthetics. Kimberly earned her MFA in Musical Theater from San Diego State University and she holds an M.M. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Boston University. As an actor and teaching artist, Kimberly has appeared at La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe San Diego, The Moonlight Amphitheater, San Diego Musical Theater, Off-Broadway Theater Company, as well as numerous regional northeast theaters and opera houses. Most recently, Kim was part of the vocal ensemble on Stephanie Economou’s Grammy-award winning music for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. You might see her in Subaru of El Cajon's Share the Love award-winning short film commercial as "Belting Debbie" the assistant manager. Kimberly has toured as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra Pops under the direction of Keith Lockhart, and appeared with Kristin Chenoweth at San Diego’s The Music Box under the direction of Mary Mitchell Campbell.
Kimberly Moller is a San Diego-based actor and voice teacher specializing in a cutting-edge approach that taps into the power of the brain to dramatically improve vocal technique. Kimberly is a certified practitioner of Z-Health, a neuro-centric approach to performance training and her company is called Vocal Kinesthetics. Kimberly earned her MFA in Musical Theater from San Diego State University and she holds an M.M. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Boston University. As an actor and teaching artist, Kimberly has appeared at La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe San Diego, The Moonlight Amphitheater, San Diego Musical Theater, Off-Broadway Theater Company, as well as numerous regional northeast theaters and opera houses. Most recently, Kim was part of the vocal ensemble on Stephanie Economou’s Grammy-award winning music for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. You might see her in Subaru of El Cajon's Share the Love award-winning short film commercial as "Belting Debbie" the assistant manager. Kimberly has toured as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra Pops under the direction of Keith Lockhart, and appeared with Kristin Chenoweth at San Diego’s The Music Box under the direction of Mary Mitchell Campbell.
Linda Eng, Web Admin
Linda Eng is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator from Nashville, TN. Her private studio is based in Poway, CA where she teaches voice (commercial vocal styles, musical theater, and classical Bel Canto), as well as piano and guitar lessons. She is a lead singer and keyboardist performing commercial and praise and worship music around San Diego for the last 15 years with local bands. She believes strongly in the power of singing- of sharing in song together- to bring joy and unite cultures. Due to the higher prevalence of pitch-matching inability she has encountered locally, in stark contrast to her time in Nashville public schools, her research interests include connections between Amusia (formerly tone-deafness) and lack of access to childhood music education. For these reasons, Linda is a passionate advocate for the restoration of weekly access to highly-qualified music educators for all Poway Unified elementary students in grades TK through 5. Her professional education includes degrees in Classical Vocal Music/Music Education from Belmont University, where she received a voice scholarship and was named Most Outstanding Senior Music Major, and Vanderbilt University, where she was a Graduate Research Assistant at the #1 ranked Peabody College of Education.
Linda Eng is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator from Nashville, TN. Her private studio is based in Poway, CA where she teaches voice (commercial vocal styles, musical theater, and classical Bel Canto), as well as piano and guitar lessons. She is a lead singer and keyboardist performing commercial and praise and worship music around San Diego for the last 15 years with local bands. She believes strongly in the power of singing- of sharing in song together- to bring joy and unite cultures. Due to the higher prevalence of pitch-matching inability she has encountered locally, in stark contrast to her time in Nashville public schools, her research interests include connections between Amusia (formerly tone-deafness) and lack of access to childhood music education. For these reasons, Linda is a passionate advocate for the restoration of weekly access to highly-qualified music educators for all Poway Unified elementary students in grades TK through 5. Her professional education includes degrees in Classical Vocal Music/Music Education from Belmont University, where she received a voice scholarship and was named Most Outstanding Senior Music Major, and Vanderbilt University, where she was a Graduate Research Assistant at the #1 ranked Peabody College of Education.
Jade Popper Loveless, Secretary and Membership Coordinator
Jade Popper is a recent graduate from San Diego State University where she received her Masters in Music with a focus in vocal performance under the study of Dr. Katie Polit. She currently works as a private voice and general music teacher at Villa Musica in Sorrento Valley and throughout the San Diego community. She has recently returned from performing in Vienna as Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni. She is also a choral singer and a member of the San Diego Master Chorale and Sacra Profana. During her time in her undergraduate degree she performed in Melbourne, Australia (where she studied at Monash University) she was a frequent member of The Savoy Opera Company. As a member of the NATS board, she hopes to continue to grow as a teacher and artist as an active member of our musical community here in San Diego.
Jade Popper is a recent graduate from San Diego State University where she received her Masters in Music with a focus in vocal performance under the study of Dr. Katie Polit. She currently works as a private voice and general music teacher at Villa Musica in Sorrento Valley and throughout the San Diego community. She has recently returned from performing in Vienna as Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni. She is also a choral singer and a member of the San Diego Master Chorale and Sacra Profana. During her time in her undergraduate degree she performed in Melbourne, Australia (where she studied at Monash University) she was a frequent member of The Savoy Opera Company. As a member of the NATS board, she hopes to continue to grow as a teacher and artist as an active member of our musical community here in San Diego.
Jim Thompkins MacLaine, Student Auditions Co-Coordinator
Jim Tompkins-MacLaine has been a working musician for most of his life. He began his formal musical education at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio studying flute and choral conducting. He then studied vocal performance and harpsichord at Arizona State University before moving to San Diego in 1986. In 1989, he was a Jeopardy champion, and appeared on the Tournament of Champions for that year. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the internationally acclaimed Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers in January of 1998 on a concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has performed on stage in over 100 musicals, most recently in the “Cathedral Chorus” for the La Jolla Playhouse world-premiere production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He is a busy conductor for musical theatre in San Diego County and maintains a busy voice studio and continues to perform as a tenor worldwide. He is the founding member of PianoRama, an ensemble of four pianists who play arrangements for four pianos! He also teaches show choir, music theory and guitar at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista and is the Director of Music at the United Church of Christ in La Mesa.
Jim Tompkins-MacLaine has been a working musician for most of his life. He began his formal musical education at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio studying flute and choral conducting. He then studied vocal performance and harpsichord at Arizona State University before moving to San Diego in 1986. In 1989, he was a Jeopardy champion, and appeared on the Tournament of Champions for that year. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the internationally acclaimed Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers in January of 1998 on a concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has performed on stage in over 100 musicals, most recently in the “Cathedral Chorus” for the La Jolla Playhouse world-premiere production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” He is a busy conductor for musical theatre in San Diego County and maintains a busy voice studio and continues to perform as a tenor worldwide. He is the founding member of PianoRama, an ensemble of four pianists who play arrangements for four pianos! He also teaches show choir, music theory and guitar at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista and is the Director of Music at the United Church of Christ in La Mesa.
Dr. Katina Mitchell, Member-at-Large
I am originally from San Diego, and after following my education and work opportunities to Houston, Berlin, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, I am happy to call our wonderful city home again. I teach at Palomar College and privately, and have guest lectured at University of San Diego and San Diego History Center. In addition to teaching, which I consider my primary occupation, I enjoy freelance work as a soprano and musicologist. I also serve on the advisory board of the San Diego Children's Choir, my first choir. NATS has been a welcoming, supportive community of opportunity for my students, and I am excited to give my time to this organization.
I am originally from San Diego, and after following my education and work opportunities to Houston, Berlin, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area, I am happy to call our wonderful city home again. I teach at Palomar College and privately, and have guest lectured at University of San Diego and San Diego History Center. In addition to teaching, which I consider my primary occupation, I enjoy freelance work as a soprano and musicologist. I also serve on the advisory board of the San Diego Children's Choir, my first choir. NATS has been a welcoming, supportive community of opportunity for my students, and I am excited to give my time to this organization.
Carolyne DalMonte, Past President
I BEGAN TEACHING VOICE IN 2012 AND HAVE NOT STOPPED SINCE. THROUGHOUT MY TEACHING CAREER IN NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK CITY METRO AREA AND SAN DIEGO, I HAVE TAUGHT AND SUNG IN MANY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERES. THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TRULY BENEFICIAL TEACHER. AMONG THE VALUES THAT I PRIZE THE MOST IN A TEACHER AND SINGER IS HUMILITY; THERE IS NO ONE PERSON THAT POSSESSES ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING. I TRY MY BEST TO BE A HUMBLE SERVANT TO THIS TIMELESS ART FORM, BOTH THROUGH PERFORMING AND TEACHING. I AM THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS EVERY DAY!
I BEGAN TEACHING VOICE IN 2012 AND HAVE NOT STOPPED SINCE. THROUGHOUT MY TEACHING CAREER IN NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK CITY METRO AREA AND SAN DIEGO, I HAVE TAUGHT AND SUNG IN MANY DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERES. THESE EXPERIENCES HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TRULY BENEFICIAL TEACHER. AMONG THE VALUES THAT I PRIZE THE MOST IN A TEACHER AND SINGER IS HUMILITY; THERE IS NO ONE PERSON THAT POSSESSES ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING. I TRY MY BEST TO BE A HUMBLE SERVANT TO THIS TIMELESS ART FORM, BOTH THROUGH PERFORMING AND TEACHING. I AM THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS EVERY DAY!
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