Yakima Symphony Chorus Young Artist Program
About the Young Artist Program:
The Young Artist Program was established in the 2023–2024 season by Chorusmaster Steven S. Slusher to offer career-oriented singers with experiences to strengthen their development as soloists and professional choral singers.
The Young Artists gain experience covering solos in major works and attending dress rehearsals with visiting guest artist, giving them the opportunity to observe and interact with professional soloists. Young Artists also present an annual recital and perform at other Yakima Symphony Chorus events including education concerts and fundraisers. Selected Young Artists will receive compensation for specific leadership responsibilities through the course of the YSC performance season.
The Young Artists are responsible for providing musical leadership in the Yakima Symphony Chorus through thorough preparation of their parts, running sectionals as section leaders, and occasionally providing chorus warm-ups. Young Artists rehearse as members of the Yakima Symphony Chorus from mid-September through early June on Monday evenings, 7 PM to 9:30 PM. Singers must be available to attend all rehearsals to be eligible for an audition.
Eligible Young Artists:
who are not US citizens will need to present proof of employment authorization in the United States
Stay tuned for audition details for the 2025-2026 season!
Born and raised in Yakima, John started singing from an early age. He attended YVC and participated in all music classes. In 2009 John joined the fledgling Yakima Valley Light Opera, and was named principle conductor in 2010 in conjunction with performing as a bass-baritone soloist. He was featured as Frank in the company's production of Die Fledermaus and proceeding to conduct the following year's production of The Mikado. In 2012 John was accepted to the Vocal Performance program at University of Denver, where he was able to study voice under such greats as Larry Elder, Ken Cox, and Cathy Kasch. While at Denver, John was able to perform with multiple ensembles, singing Eisenstein in another production of Die Fledermaus, Farmer Carnes in Oklahoma!, and was serving as Assistant Conductor for the Cherry Creek Community Orchestra. Outside of music, John is a husband, as well as a father to two wonderful girls, and serves as Cantor for his local synagogue.
James Kirkham is a classically trained Tenor and recent graduate of Central Washington University, with degrees in Chemistry and Vocal Performance. While at Central, he sang in multiple choirs, including the auditioned Chamber Choir and Vocal Jazz 1; and also participated in CWU’s Opera program, performing in 2023’s Viva Italia! opera workshop, 2024’s production of Die Fledermaus; in the role of Alfred; and 2025’s 21st Century American One-Act Operas. He is very excited to be returning for his second season with the Yakima Symphony Chorus as the Tenor Young Artist. Alongside the Young Artist position, he is also singing with Canticus Vocal Ensemble and auditioning for graduate programs in Vocal Performance.
Nicole Loveless is a soprano living in Ellensburg, Washington. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Central Washington University studying under Dr. Melissa Schiel, and intends to pursue a master’s degree in Opera Performance. While in undergraduate study, Nicole enjoyed three years in CWU Chamber Choir and two years in CWU Vocal Jazz I, the school’s top two vocal ensembles. Notable performance accolades include Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Rosalinda) and Verdi’s Falstaff (ensemble) at the 2025 International Lyric Academy opera program in Italy, an invited performance at the 2025 National American Choral Directors’ Association Conference with CWU Vocal Jazz I, and Dan Shore’s The Beautiful Bridegroom (Leonora) at Central Washington University. In addition, Nicole has performed major works including Orff’s Carmina Burana, Fauré’s Requiem, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Handel’s Messiah; pt. 1.
A recent Central Washington University graduate, Miranda holds degrees in Liberal Studies and Percussion Performance. In her undergraduate experience she has participated in many ensembles such as CWU Chamber Choir and Vocal Jazz 1, and instrumental ensembles such as Symphony Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble.
Training classical as a soprano, Miranda studied under Dr. Melissa Schiel and Dr. Nicole Lamartine. In recent years Miranda has participated in three opera seasons at Central; 2022’s production Viva Italia!, 2023’s production of Die Fledermaus (Adele), and 2024’s production of The Beautiful Bridegroom (Pernille). She was also a featured soloist in W.A. Mozart’s Regina Caeli and the Wind Ensemble’s performance of Greensleeves.
Currently Miranda is continuing her music studies as a Choral Music Education post-baccalaureate, with plans to teach at the middle school level. She sings with the Canticus Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Scott Peterson, and is looking forward to a great year with the Yakima Symphony Chorus!
Passionate about performing and teaching, Bonnie Joy runs a private voice studio while actively collaborating on projects and songwriting. Joy teaches voice lessons at Make Music Ellensburg as well. She has performed with Sempre Chamber ensemble in 2020, Joy and Hope as a solo recital in 2021, and Around the World in 80 Minutes at The Seasons Performance Hall in early 2023.
Spending her formative years in Yakima, Joy graduated in 2017 with a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Central Washington University, where she studied with Dr. Gayla Blaisdell. In 2019 she received her M.M. in Voice Performance from West Virginia University after studying with Dr. Hope Koehler and James Kennon Mitchell. At West Virginia University, she won the WVU Young Artist Competition, making her solo concert debut with Sieben Frühe Lieder by Alban Berg. She has appeared in operas such as Die Fledermaus, The Barber of Seville as Barbarina, and Die Zauberflöte as both Pamina and Papagena. In the summer of 2018, Joy received a scholarship to the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, where she studied in the Lieder program. Aside from intense study of German language and poetry, she worked with masters of classical music and performed in an authentic Lieder Abend.
McKayla Sherman is a classically trained Dramatic Soprano with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Central Washington University. McKayla has been singing classically for 10+ years and has competed in, placed, and won many competitions. McKayla is a passionate artist with a love for art song, musical theatre, jazz, and opera. She looks forward to continuing her studies at the Graduate level, and eventually taking to the stage in a professional opera role. She is also looking forward to a wonderful year of singing with the Yakima Symphony Chorus as the Soprano Young Artist!
Brittany Stahley (soprano) is a musician and voice teacher from the Yakima Valley. At a young age, Brittany made her first professional opera debut as the frivolous Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. Since then, she has been fortunate to perform in many operas, concerts, and musicals with companies such as Yakima Light Opera Company, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, Warehouse Theatre Company, and Akin Center Theatre. She has been seen as a concert soloist around the Pacific Northwest including works such as Westside Story Retold by Bernstein and Handel’s Messiah. Some of her favorite operatic roles include Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Juno in Orpheus in the Underworld, and Angelina in Trial by Jury. With equal passion for opera and musical theatre, she has also appeared onstage in roles such as Rose in The Secret Garden, The Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella, and Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast. Determined to make music more accessible to the Yakima Valley, Brittany has served as Vocal Director in productions at The Warehouse Theatre Company and A.C. Davis High School and is a returning member of the Canticus Vocal Ensemble currently in her sixth season.
Brittany graduated from Central Washington University with a M.M. in Voice Pedagogy and Performance and B.M. in Vocal Performance. She currently teaches at Yakima Valley College as an adjunct voice professor.
