executive director, she/her/hers | website

Contemporary vocal trailblazer Julia Anne Cordani “creates an intense crossfire” in the artistic world (Frank Housh). Her voice has been described as “a clear, sparkling delight” by Buffalo Rising and “dazzling and sweeping” by Cleveland Classical.

Julia is a passionate about the performance, conducting, and interpretation of contemporary solo and choral repertoire. Notable recent roles include Alice in Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter (2016 - premiere), Anne Truelove in The Rake’s Progress (2020), Bird Spirit in The Second Sight (2021 - premiere), Oscar in Un ballo in maschera (2022), and Lucy in The Telephone (2023), The Queen of The Night in a unique film and stage retelling of Die Zauberflöte (2024), and Suor Genovieffa in a space-based retelling of Puccini’s Suor Angelica (2024). She is looking forward to 2025 engagements as Hera in Christopher Cerrone’s All Wounds Bleed and the title character in Peter Maxwell Davies’ The Medium with Grammy-winning new opera collective Kallisti, and premiering Glauce in Jonny Stallings’ Medea’s Ruthless Reckoning and Rey in Emily Barger’s Dolly and the Disappearing Dream Rock.

An accomplished vocal artist and advocate, Julia has performed locally and nationally with Ensemble Signal, Slee Sinfonietta, the Cleveland Syndicate for the New Arts, HEX Vocal Ensemble, The Resonance Collective LA, and Project [BLANK]. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in contemporary vocal performance from UC San Diego, and founded INCIPIO in 2022.

managing director, he/him/his

Riley Nahlik is an arts manager who has held positions with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Alleyway Theatre, ArtPark, and more. He has experience in event production, performing arts and ensemble management, and social media management. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of Administration and Operations for the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, a GRAMMY Award-Winning Symphonic Chorus.

Riley received an M.A. in Arts Management from SUNY Buffalo, where he studied the intersection of arts, politics, and non-profit advocacy. His research revolved around modern labor practices in the arts. Riley graduated from Illinois State University with a B.A. in Voice Performance, where he performed with various choral and a cappella ensembles.

Riley has performed with multiple local choral ensembles, including Sotto Voce Vocal Collective, the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Chancel and Chapel Choirs, Harmonia Chamber Singers, the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, and more. He has performed roles in Die Zauberflöte, Gianni Schicchi, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, and more.

artistic director, she/her/hers

Erin Alexander is a choral conductor, music educator and mezzo-soprano in the Western New York region, known for her dynamic leadership and exceptional musicality. Erin currently serves as the Youth Choir Director and Assistant Choirmaster at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Buffalo. Additionally, Erin works with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus as Alto Section Leader and conducting assistant. Erin has helped prepare major masterworks with the BPC including Orff’s Carmina Burana and Handel’s Messiah.

Erin proudly teaches in the Clarence Central School District as a Middle School Choral Director. Previously, Erin held the position of 7-12 Vocal Music Director in the Perry Central School District. She earned her Masters in Choral Conducting and Bachelors in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia in 2023 and 2020, respectively.

Beyond her conducting and teaching roles, Erin is an accomplished mezzo-soprano, lending her talents to diverse vocal ensembles and solo performances across Buffalo, such as the Sotto Voce Vocal Collective, the Harmonia Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and the ArtPark Festival Chorus. Most recently, Erin sang the roles of the Mistress of the Novices in Suor Angelica (2024) and the Third Spirit in Die Zauberflöte (2024).

communications director, assistant artistic director, she/her/hers

Jamie Gangemi is young artist from Buffalo with experience in performance and direction. She received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia and will begin the Master’s in Performance: Conducting program at UB in the fall.

Jamie has appeared on stage as Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto with the Hillman Opera, in several opera choruses (including two more this upcoming season) with Buffalo Opera Unlimited and as The Second Spirit in The Magic Flute as well as The Monitor in Suor Angelica with Sotto Voce Vocal Collective.

Next season, Jamie will work with Sotto Voce again as Choral Director for Lucia di Lamermoor. She is also returning to Nardin Academy and Iroquois High School’s musical theater programs to serve as Music Director and Choral Director respectively. She is a Lead Singer with the Holy Trinity Chancel Choir, and has joined the BPC and ArtPark Festival Chorus for select performances.

marketing director, he/him/his

Tyler Huk is an emerging tenor known for his full and balanced lyric tone. He currently holds staff singer positions for WNY based choirs: INCIPIO, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. Also an accomplished concert soloist, Tyler has had featured solos with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, WNYCO, Fredonia Masterworks, Buffalo State Choir/Orchestra, the Lake Junaluska Singers, and Holy Trinity Chancel Choir with Camerata. Tyler is also active in the WNY Opera scene performing various roles with Buffalo Opera Unlimited and Sotto Voce. These include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte (2024), Remendado in Carmen (2021), and Little Bat in Susannah (2021): filmed on WNED PBS in collaboration with Buffalo Opera unlimited.

Tyler studied voice at SUNY Fredonia with soprano Dr. Kimberly Upcraft during which he competed in the 2019 NATS competition coming in 1st place for the 3rd/4th year TBB category.

program director, they/their/theirs or he/him/his

Ky VerHoef is a baritone based in Buffalo NY. Originally from the lower Hudson Valley, Ky currently serves as a staff singer with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and as a key member of the Holy Trinity Chancel Choir, St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral Choir, and INCIPIO.

Ky recently made waves as the bass soloist for Bach’s Magnificat with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chamber Players. He was also the baritone soloist for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo’s recent performance of the Fauré Requiem.

On the operatic stage, Ky served as the Choral Bass Section Leader and a Priest in Sotto Voce’s Die Zauberflöte, and as Stage Manager and Flautist in Sotto Voce's Suor Angelica.