Cynthia Mahaney

Soprano Cynthia Mahaney has extensive performing and teaching experience. A graduate of Ohio State University (June 2006), Cynthia received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in vocal performance. While there, she was awarded the Margaret Speaks Award as the top female singer. After initially earning her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Ohio University, Cynthia received her Master of Arts degree in vocal pedagogy from OSU.

Dr. Mahaney spent time in Chicago where she sang in the Chicago Symphony Chorus under the late Margaret Hillis. Dr. Mahaney's most recent operatic role was as the High Priestess in Opera Columbus' production of Aϊda, and received a favorable review in Opera News magazine. Other roles include Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel (Opera Columbus Outreach), Annina in La Traviata (Opera Columbus), Delphinia in Babes in Toyland (Toledo Opera), Violetta in La Traviata (Lincoln Opera), and First Lady in The Magic Flute (OSU Opera Theater). Cynthia's performances also include solos with the Upper Arlington High School Music Department (Carmina Burana), Toledo Symphony Orchestra (Mozart's Requiem), and members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at Saint Joseph Cathedral (Handel's Messiah and Duruflé's Requiem.) In the summer of 2004 Cynthia was one of the soloists on the opening concert of the Lancaster (Ohio) Arts Festival performing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy.

A recent performance at Kenyon College in January 2010 was organized by Dr. Mahaney and featured the music instructors of Kenyon. This concert, A New Millennium of Music: Women in Song, received a community development grant and featured vocal music written by women composers since the year 2000. Recordings featuring Dr. Mahaney include Calidente, music performed by flutist Rodolfo Vazquez, and the newly released recording of original music by Columbus composer Jerry Casey, Yet I Will Rejoice.

Cynthia is soprano section leader of Broad Street United Methodist Church, and is on the teaching faculty at Kenyon College. She also is a violin, viola and voice instructor at Colonial Music in Worthington, Ohio, a voice and piano instructor with Piano Lessons in Your Home and part of the Voice Faculty in the department of Continuing Education with the company. She designs vocal pedagogy courses and workshops via a Webninar format for the voice teachers of the company, which has seven regional offices across the country. Dr. Mahaney is also the past president of Women in Music-Columbus. She resides in the Clintonville area of Columbus, Ohio where she maintains an active private studio of over 25 students.

Jennifer Marcellana

Jennifer Marcellana is a native of Columbus, Ohio.  She studied vocal performance at The Boston Conservatory and Kenyon College.  Ms. Marcellana has performed as a soloist with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and sang in the opening ceremonies of the 1998 Winter Olympics.  She performed in the 50th Anniversary production of Peter Grimes at Tanglewood under the direction of Seiji Ozawa; as well as appearing in the 1996 documentary film, A Tale of Tanglewood.  Ms. Marcellana has performed as an ensemble member with the Boston Pops, including performances with the original Broadway cast of Ragtime, and composer Stephen Flaherty.  She has performed with Opera Columbus, and with the Ocean State Lyric Opera Company in Providence, Rhode Island.  Ms. Marcellana has performed as guest soloist with La Orquesta Juvenil de Musica Nueva in Lima, Peru, and on promotional recordings for Bose Stereo Systems.  Recent performances have included the “Celebration of Sound” and “Cantilena” concert series, as well as a concert with the Hellenic Music Foundation in New York City, and performances with the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra in Columbus.  Ms. Marcellana enjoys teaching as much as she enjoys performing, and formerly served on the voice faculty at Emerson College (Boston.)  She currently teaches voice students at Kenyon College, where she is the Voice Area Coordinator and director of Opera and Music Theater Workshop.

Diana Mccullough

Diana maintains voice studios in her Clintonville home and also in Worthington City Schools.  Studio members perform in community theatre and choruses, high school arts programs, regional NATS competitions, and prepare college/university auditions, along with participating in studio classes and recitals.  Vocalists range in age from 10 to 75.

Her performing career spans three decades.  She has sung with numerous Central Ohio groups, including Bel Canto, The Lancaster Chorale, and the Columbus Bach Ensemble.  She held a long-term position as soloist and chorister at Saint Joseph Cathedral in downtown Columbus, renowned nationally for its outstanding music offerings.  Diana is an advocate of house concerts, and she currently enjoys performing in private home venues.  She recently worked with Conductor’s Point Audio to release a compilation CD of her solo and ensemble work.

Diana was among the first to certify with Andover Educators, a network of teachers who strive to save, secure, and enhance musical careers with accurate information about the body in movement.    She became certified as an Alexander Technique teacher in 2011.  She is an assistant teacher for The Ohio State University’s Alexander Technique courses.   

Carolyn Redman

Carolyn Redman, mezzo-soprano, is originally from Bellevue, Ohio and received a MM and DMA in vocal performance from the Ohio State University.  She has performed operatic roles as well as musical theater roles with various professional companies including Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera/Columbus, Columbus Light Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Weathervane Playhouse, and Lyric Opera Cleveland.  She was selected as an apprentice artist with both Des Moines Metro Opera and Cincinnati Opera Young Artists programs and was also chosen to perform in materclasses and performances at the Instituto Superior de Arte of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  She has been a winner or finalist in four competitions, most recently a first place finish in the 2000 Opera/Columbus vocal competition.  Recent roles include Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette,  Martha/Ayah in The Secret Garden, Olga in The Merry Widow, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Jo in Mark Adamo’s Little Women, Second Lady in The Magic Flute, Countess Charlotte Malcolm in A Little Night Music and Mrs. Ott in Susannah. She has also been a featured soloist in oratorios and other concert works with groups such as Cantari Singers, Denison University, Columbus Bach Ensemble, Marion Civic Chorus, Master Singers, Inc. Chorale, Saint Joseph Cathedral, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.  In addition to performing, she serves on the voice faculty of Kenyon College. 

Tamara Seckel

Tamara Seckel has performed in roles, recitals and concerts throughout the Midwest and New York.  She has sung with Lyric Opera Cleveland and Opera Columbus, as well as concerts for the Cantilena Concert Series. She has performed at the Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus Museums of Art.  She has been soloist for world premieres with the Hixon Dance Theater, Columbus Guitar Society, and the Cleveland Institute of Music orchestra. She is currently a section leader and soloist with the choirs at Worthington United Methodist Church and Temple Israel.  She holds degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music and Oberlin Conservatory. She is on the faculty of Kenyon College.

Jennifer Whitehead

Jennifer Whitehead, soprano, is a Columbus native and will graduate from the Ohio State University with a doctorate of musical arts this May. She frequently appears in both staged and concert works in central Ohio, where recent roles with Opera / Columbus include Kate Pinkerton in MADAME BUTTERFLY, Guinevere in CAMELOT,  Papagena in THE MAGIC FLUTE, and Yum-Yum in THE MIKADO.  Jennifer has also been extensively involved  with the Opera / Columbus education and outreach programs, through which she performed roles in the world premieres of the children’s operas BAREFOOT and SOMEBODY’S CHILDREN, as well as Little Red Riding Hood in LITTLE RED’S MOST UNUSUAL DAY.  As concert soloist, she has performed with the Columbus Bach Ensemble, the Columbus Symphony, the Westerville Civic Symphony, and the orchestras and choirs at the Ohio State University, Kenyon College, Otterbein University, and Denison University.  She resides in Westerville, Ohio, and serves on the voice faculty of Otterbein University. 

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