Our Guest Artists

Joyce Alper, baroque oboe, oboe d’amore

Joyce Alper has performed with many ensembles including the Boston Handel & Haydn Society, Boston Cecilia, Cambridge Concentus, Cambridge Bach Ensemble, Early Music New York, La Donna Musicale, Texas Baroque Ensemble, Dallas Bach Society, Austin Handel-Haydn Society, Ars Lyrica Houston, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, New Trinity Baroque, Collegium Musicum Bach (Mexico City), Concierto Barocco (Mexico City), Capella Guanajuatensis (Guanajuato, Mexico), Early Music St. Louis, and Ars Antigua (Chicago). For seven years she taught baroque oboe at the University of North Texas; she has presented master classes, guest lectures, and workshops at many schools and museums including the the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, National Music School of the University of Mexico, Boston Conservatory, Louisiana State University, University of Houston, Texas Tech University, the Texas Early Music Festival, and the Gene Byron Museum (Guanajuato, Mexico).

William Bauer, violin

William Bauer is a period instrument specialist who regularly leads concerts for ensembles in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta. Recent recordings feature a volume of Vivaldi concerti on the Naxos label and a double concerto, recorded with lutenist Ronn McFarlane, on the Dorian/Sono Luminus label. He currently programs and leads concerts for the Chicago Art Institute, Loyola Museum of Art and the Chicago Humanities Festival.

Marella Briones, soprano

Marella Brionesreceived a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from Michigan State University, where she studied conducting, voice, and jazz voice. She was a soloist with the University Chorale and State Singers. Her singing career includes performances in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Her solo repertoire includes operas, musicals, large and small works from the Baroque Era through the 21st Century. Marella is a principal singer and soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. As a conductor and educator, Marella works with singers of all ages in schools, universities, fine arts camps and churches. Originally from Chicago, Marella lives in Brentwood, MO and works as Project Manager for Mozart Systems, a technology services firm.

Celina Boldrey Casado, violin

Celina Boldrey Casadoreceived her B. Mus. in violin performance from Oberlin Conservatory and her M. Mus. in violin performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where she studied with John Kendall. She performs throughout the St. Louis area, playing both modern and baroque violins in chamber concerts and recitals. In addition to concerts with Collegium Vocale, Celina’s early music work includes regular appearances with Early Music St. Louis, Shakespear’s Band, Musicke’s Cordes, the Kingsbury Ensemble, and St. Louis Baroque. While fully engaged in rearing young Emma Boldrey Casado, Celina still finds the time to co-direct the Greater St. Louis Suzuki Association. A popular Suzuki teacher here in St. Louis, she remains in great demand as an instructor and clinician at Suzuki workshops and institutes across the country.

Mary Ongjoco Chapman, soprano

Mary Ongjoco Chapman received her Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Millikin University, where she was active in opera productions, performing Pitti-Sing in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, Adele in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, the Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. A former section leader for the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, she was the soprano rehearsal soloist for Haydn’s Harmonie- messe with Franz Welser-Möst; Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the late Robert Shaw; and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” Mozart’s Mass in c-minor, and Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard, all with Leonard Slatkin. She currently sings with the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, for which she is an assistant conductor. Ms. Chapman teaches voice from her studio in University City and directs the adult choir of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City.