April Basiletti is a mezzo-soprano from Lafayette, IN. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2023 with a masters degree in voice performance and sacred music. She served as choir director at Santa Fe College from 2023-2024 before moving to Des Moines. She now sings with Plymouth Church and the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble. Past roles include Carmen (Carmen), Dorabella (Le nozze di Figaro), and Mercedes (Carmen). 

Liz Belden

Tommy Castle joined DMVAE as a tenor in the fall of 2014. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, IA with degrees in both Music and Public Relations. Tommy is an Account Manager for an Information Technology company here in Des Moines. In his free time, Tommy enjoys swimming, biking, running, and has completed 30 + triathlons over the past 5 years including two Ironman Races. He lives with his wife Alice in West Des Moines, IA.

Emily Chafa began singing with the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble during the 2010-2011 season. She also sings in the Plymouth Church Chancel Choir and the Chorale. For many years, Emily was a singing member of the Des Moines Choral Society and served 2 years as President of that organization. Emily and her husband Brad spend their free time attending Iowa Cubs games and Cyclone football and basketball games. Emily served on several state and local professional and civic nonprofit boards over the years, including the DMVAE Board of Directors. Emily continues to serve the legal profession through leadership positions with several national, state and local bar associations. She occasionally sings the national anthem for the Iowa Cubs and other events. 

José Clavell-Acosta joined the ensemble in the 2015-2016 season. Originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico. José started to sing when he was in middle school. He studied in the Juan Morel Campos Music Institute where he sang in all choirs and fell in love with choir music. He studied in the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico where he sang in the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Ars Antiqua, a Renaissance ensemble he co-founded. He has sung around Puerto Rico, the United States and Canada. Before coming to the Midwest, Clavell was a founding member of the semi-professional choir The Ponce Municipal Chorale. He recently finished a Masters in Choral Conducting from Western Illinois University. He currently lives in Grimes, Iowa and works as the Director of Worship and Traditional Music in Ankeny First United Methodist Church.

Zoey Erixon joined DMVAE in 2023. They grew up singing in ensembles and playing flute, tuba and baritone saxophone. They also spent several years producing and marketing concerts/festivals.

Outside of music, Zoey is a clinical social worker. In their free time, Zoey enjoys going to the movies, reading in a book club with friends, and spending time with their spouse and pets.

Erin Fast joined DMVAE in 2023. With a passion for music that has been ingrained in her since childhood, Erin’s voice has become her artistic outlet, bringing her joy and fulfillment. In her professional life, Erin channels her compassionate nature into the realm of charitable giving. Her career path aligns with her values, allowing her to make a meaningful impact in the community. She lives in Beaverdale with her family and enjoys reading, yoga, book club with friends and traveling.

Lori Fenton is a native of northwest Iowa, growing up in Sioux City and attending Buena Vista College. She has lived in Des Moines since the fall of 1994 and works in the Life & Annuity industry. She is a member of Plymouth Congregational Church where she sings with the Chancel Choir and serves on the Board of Trustees. She is also an avid handbell ringer and rings with the Des Moines Concert Handbells. Lori joined the ensemble in the fall of 2007 and currently serves as Board Treasurer.

Timothy Fitzgerald has been a member and past board member for DMVAE since 2001. He studied Vocal Music at Grandview University (College Campus) and has performed since the age of 8 in several groups, including the YMCA Boys Chorus and Bell Ringers, the Choral Bell Ringers, Lincoln High School, Matins Choir of Plymouth Church, and Grandview College Choir under the Direction of Carol Stewart. Tim is also a past board member and vocalist for Plymouth Chancel Choir and the Howells Scholars of St Paul’s Episcopalian in DSM. Currently, he is the Director of Dining Services, and “well-seasoned” Executive Chef for Eurest, Compass Group USA.

Molly Franta

Kailey Gering joined DMVAE in the fall of 2021. Kailey is originally from Madison, WI but moved to Des Moines after graduating from Luther College in 2020. At Luther, Kailey sang in many choirs, including the Nordic Choir. She graduated with a Major in Music Education and now teaches middle school general music and choir at McCombs Middle School in Des Moines. Kailey teaches private voice and piano lessons at City Voices.

Katie Harper-Griffith joined DMVAE in the spring of 2024. She is originally from Coralville, IA, and went to Iowa State University for her undergraduate degree. She spent the last 4 years in Colorado getting her Master’s in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and singing with various opera companies along the front range. She and her husband moved back to Iowa to be near their families and are enjoying spending time with their sister-in-law and new niece. Katie also enjoys reading, playing handbells, doing yoga, and being outside. 

Ian Heetland

Samantha Hornback received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Simpson College in 2016, where she studied voice with Dr. Kimberly Roberts. She then started her Master’s of Music degree at the University of Arizona, under the tutelage of Elizabeth Futral. Samantha then followed Ms. Futral to the Peabody Conservatory, where she completed her Master’s degree in the spring of 2019. Since then, she has appeared with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and has performed with choirs across the country, including as part of the Spoleto Festival Choir. 

Sue Hoss has been an alto in DMVAE since she moved to Des Moines in 1998. For over 25 years she made a living in food media until taking a hard left turn into a new career last spring — she’s now the Office and Company Manager at Des Moines Metro Opera. She still cooks — she just doesn’t get paid for it. Sue lives in Beaverdale with her two cats, Bennie and Birdie.

Alex Janiga

Alex Kane has been with Des Moines Vocal Arts since January 2018. He is a Des Moines native, having grown up in Urbandale and attended college at the University of Iowa for two Bachelor’s degrees in English and Music. Alex works as a fundraising specialist for Des Moines Performing Arts at the Civic Center in downtown Des Moines. He has been singing in ensembles since 4th grade, and has recently served as a section leader at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Des Moines, as well as partaking in other various choral gigs from time to time. A lifelong musician, Alex’s greatest passion is composing, and he has had several works commissioned by various groups. Also, he hopes one day to become a published author.

Melanie Keiper joined DMVAE as an alto in 2014. She grew up in Cedar Rapids and Benton County and was in the A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers at Central College. She previously sang with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Chorus in Birmingham, The City Choir of Washington – performing at the Kennedy Center and A Capitol Fourth on PBS, the Montgomery Chorale, and numerous church choirs. Melanie has returned to Iowa after living around the world and is currently an Assistant Federal Defender with the Federal Public Defender’s Office.

Rachel Koch joined the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble in fall 2025 after moving to Des Moines in 2024. She is a GIS Project Manager at a Civil Engineering firm and lives with her husband and two children.

Ellie Korpi

Emma Krull joined DMVAE in 2015 after graduating from Simpson College with a Music Education degree. At Simpson, she performed in the Chamber Choir, the Madrigal Singers, and the operas. Emma is an elementary music teacher and is enjoying her ninth year of teaching, the last three of which have been with Carlisle schools. Emma also sings with the new Des Moines Early Music Ensemble and is an active member of the Des Moines Metro Opera Guild. She lives in Des Moines with her husband, Josh, and two cats, Franz and Ralph, and in her spare time loves to play volleyball, go to concerts, and read.

Reagan Mann began singing with the DMVAE in the fall of 2022. She fell in love with the vocal music world in high school and continues to sing in church on a regular basis. She graduated from Highland Canine School for Dog Trainers’s Master program and now owns Mann’s Best Friends, a dog training and boarding business in the Des Moines area. Reagan enjoys playing violin, writing, and working in the youth ministry programs through Community of Christ.

Connor McAdoo

Sam McCarthy

Christina McCleary joined DMVAE in fall 2025 after taking a 10+ year break from vocal music. She grew up very involved in the arts participating in choir, speech and band. She is a proud UNI alumna where she played in the UNI Marching Band and earned her degree in Nonprofit Management. She has combined her passions and now works at Des Moines Performing Arts. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, entering food at the Iowa State Fair, traveling and supporting local shops and festivals.

Sarah McDougal is a member of the soprano section and has sung with DMVAE since 2004. A lifelong musician, Sarah minored in voice and violin at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She previously sang with the Nebraska Choral Arts Society and the Clarion Chamber Chorale, and is currently a member of the Howells Scholars at St Paul’s Cathedral. Outside of singing, Sarah enjoys a career at The Principal Financial Group, Husker football and living in Beaverdale with her cat, Tosca. Sarah served on the DMVAE board for ten years.

Katherine McKibben joined the ensemble in 2018. She graduated from Central College in Pella, IA, where she sang in the A Cappella Choir and was involved in the theatre department. Katherine earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and works as a data analyst at Farm Bureau Financial Services. She lives in Clive with her husband and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing piano, and going for walks with the dogs.

Maggie Mendenhall joined DMVAE in the spring of 2024 for their performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Her musical background includes performing as Cinderella in Into the Woods with MelloDrama Productions, singing as a special guest vocalist with the University of North Georgia Jazz Band, and performing with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Chorus. She has also taught and conducted the Elementary Chorus and Middle School Strings at Christian Fine Arts of Forsyth and provided private instruction in violin, viola, and voice. In addition to these roles, she has pursued many other musical and performing arts endeavors, training in opera with Dr. Amanda Hyberger and studying classical voice with Mr. Joseph Bowman, M.A. Outside of music, Maggie is a full-time professional photographer and stay-at-home mom. She lives in Johnston, Iowa, with her husband, Dutch, and their 1.5-year-old daughter. In her spare time, she enjoys ballroom dancing, traveling the world, and working on graphic design projects.

Brett Middendorf joined the DMVAE in 2025. He is originally from West Des Moines and discovered his love of singing as a freshman at Dowling High School. Brett attended Loyola University Chicago where he sang with the school acapella choir, Loyolacapella. From there he got his law degree from the University of Iowa and lived in Chicago until returning to Des Moines in 2020. After a long hiatus from performing, Brett began to dabble in community theater and has performed with Tallgrass Theater Company, The Des Moines Playhouse, and the Des Moines Young Artists’ Theater. Brett works for his family’s business, Middendorf Insurance, and serves on the boards of several local non-profits. Although involved in a lot, Brett’s absolute favorite thing to do is sing and he truly feels blessed to have found a home with the extremely talented members of the DMVAE.

Eric Mohlis currently serves on the Board of Directors for DMVAE and sings Tenor II in the ensemble. Mohlis is Director of Choral Activities at Dallas Center-Grimes High School where he conducts three curricular choirs including the flagship ensemble DCG Singers. He also directors the varsity jazz choir Dissonance. He joined Dallas Center-Grimes High School in 2015 where he has overseen its growth and expanded the program into five curricular choirs, four jazz choirs, and two show choirs. He also has developed Peer Music, a music class specifically created to meet the needs of the special education students at DCG.

Shawn Mullen, a Drake University graduate with a degree in music business, has been with the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble since 2009. His career includes roles with the Des Moines Symphony and as Director of Marketing for the Louisville Orchestra. After returning to Hastings, Nebraska in 1985, he served as principal percussionist and a board member of the Hastings Symphony. 

Since returning to Des Moines in 1987, Shawn is President and Chief Energy Officer of Protex Central, Inc., and a past president of both DMVAE and the Rotary Club of Des Moines. He remains active in the life of Grace United Methodist Church. Shawn and his wife, Sharilynn, have four wonderful children, and are now joyfully keeping up with their family’s newest addition—a spirited grand-Beagle puppy named Clarke.

Joseph Mullin has been a member of DMVAE since 2024. Originally from Creston, Joseph is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he played in the Hawkeye Marching Band while earning his degree in biomedical engineering. Joseph currently works for Biolife Plasma Services in quality assurance. In addition to singing with DMVAE, Joseph plays horn and violin in the Simpson College Community Orchestra and the Des Moines Gamer Symphony Orchestra, and rings with the Des Moines Concert Handbells. Joseph is an avid composer and has arranged several works for DMCH and DMGSO. He currently serves as Music Director for Province 26 of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity. Joseph lives in Des Moines with his wife Cassandra.

Alex Ollerton joined the bass section of the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble in Fall 2025. Originally from Arizona, he relocated to Des Moines with his wife in Spring 2022. Alex has been singing for over a decade, beginning with his local community college choir and later performing with ensembles including the University of Arizona Community Choir, Phoenix Men’s Chorus, Charlotte Chorale, and Drake University community choir.

Outside of music, Alex works as a Data Analyst. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s in Data Analytics. In his free time, he enjoys relaxing with his wife and dog, watching films and TV series, reading, and listening to true crime podcasts. 

Carol Palmer became a member of DMVAE in 2010 and recently joined the VAE Board. She was an audience favorite at many local theaters around town having appeared in numerous musicals since the mid-80s. Carol and her husband, Dan Chase, were professional actors for Jest Murder Mysteries for 12 years and performed in a five-state area. She has been employed at Principal for nearly 40 years. Being around cats and listening to 70s music keeps Carol very happy.

Hailey Parrish‘s love of music began as an 8 year old, taking piano lessons from a local church pianist. She later learned the violin, and began playing and singing in church on a regular basis. She continued her musical journey as a student at Indian Hill Community College, participating in choir, jazz band, piano and vocal lessons, and musical theater during her two years there. Her simple interest in music quickly grew into a desire to teach and share music with others.

Her passion for instruction and conducting a student-led women’s group led her to transfer to Simpson College for a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. This gave her the opportunity to teach music in the Des Moines and Waukee public school districts. Hailey occupied the title of Director of Choral Activities at Central Lee Community Schools in Donnellson, Iowa for the 2016-2017 school year. She taught classes in music including four curricular choral ensembles, general music, music appreciation, music theory, two show choir ensembles, and private vocal and piano lessons. For the next two school years, Hailey worked at Davis County Community Schools as a Kindergarten through 5th grade general music teacher. She is currently the Administrative Assistant for a Home Health Agency in Chariton IA, and greatly enjoys her experience singing with the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble!

Originally from Ankeny, Iowa, Kourtlin Pearson studied Music Education at the University of Lincoln – Nebraska. Upon returning to the Des Moines Metro area, Kourtlin taught vocal music to 7th through 12th grade students in public schools for 8 years and gave private vocal lessons from her home for 2 years. She is currently an Executive Assistant at Vero Health Center in West Des Moines. In her free time, Kourtlin loves to eat great food, paint/create, read, and catch up on USA Artistic Gymnastics (the only sport she really cares about or follows at all :D). She keeps busy volunteering for a non profit, Walk With You, and doing life with her husband (Justin) and dog (Finley).

Scott Perrin recently retired from a civilian career with the US Navy as a nuclear engineer. He joined DMVAE in 2024. He has sung in Episcopal and Anglican church choirs for many years, including week-long guest choirs providing daily service music at three different cathedrals in England. He has played the trombone since 5th grade and now occasionally also plays the double bell euphonium. Scott grew up in Mason City and lived on both coasts during his career. His non-musical interests include travel, history, vintage cars, and returning the interior of his recently purchased 1960 brick ranch house back to its mid-century modern decor.

Cody Pfau joined DMVAE in Fall 2022.  He is a data engineer who moved back to Iowa in July 2022 after living out of state since 2005, and has enjoyed finding a group of like-minded musicians in the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble!

Michael Prough

Greg Raleigh

Hanna Sampsel joined the DMVAE for the 23-24 season. She graduated from Central College in 2017 with a BA in vocal music. She is also part of the Howells Scholars under the direction of Mark Babcock at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines. She currently lives in Johnston with her sister and cat and works in West Des Moines. She enjoys reading when she has the time and mental energy to do so.

Sara Schultz joined DMVAE in 2011 after moving back to the Midwest from North Carolina. She is originally from St. Joseph, MO and received her bachelors in biology from University of Central Missouri in 1999. She sang in the Piedmont Chamber Singers for 8 years in NC, the St. Joseph Community Chorus as well as various University choirs, church choirs, the Christian group New Generation Singers, and a barbershop quartet. After years in the animal healthcare field she now works as the Nursery Coordinator for Lutheran Church of Hope WDM. Sara and her husband Jeremy reside in Waukee where she raises her three young daughters and cares for her plethora of pets!

Earl Sides has sung with Vocal Arts from 1991-1993, 1995-2016, and rejoined Vocal Arts in 2022. A native of La Porte City, IA, Earl is a graduate of Luther College (BA Music) and Drake University (MM Choral Conducting) and was a member of the Luther College Nordic Choir and Drake Choir, respectively. He has also sung with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Metropolitan Chorale, the Des Moines Choral Society, and the South Dakota Symphony Chorus in Sioux Falls. Earl works as a customer service representative for a homeschool curriculum company and lives in Indianola with his wife, Kathy, daughter Maggie, four cats, and a dog. He and Kathy are also the parents of three adult children – Ben, Sam, and Emily. When not singing or working, he enjoys reading, watching Star Trek, and rooting for the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Vikings.

Nathanael Smale has been singing with DMVAE since 2021. He is a Simpson College alum, having received both his Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2018 and his Master of Music in Choral Conducting in 2021. He began teaching K-5 General Music in the Indianola Community School District for one year. For the past five years, Nathanael has been teaching at Norwalk High School, where he is currently the Director of Choral Activities. He conducts three curricular ensembles, directs the varsity extracurricular show choir, and co-directs the annual spring musical. In his free time, Nathanael enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new foods, and singing musical theatre.

Chuck Smith is an actuary and worked for Principal Financial Group for many years. He attended Oberlin College in Ohio where he sang with the Oberlin College Choir. Since moving to Des Moines he has been singing bass in the Plymouth Congregational Church Chancel Choir and Chorale. He joined DMVAE in 2004. He is the Secretary for the Ensemble and a member of the Bord. In his spare time he enjoys ballroom dancing, piloting airplanes, and traveling.

Dylan Smith

Paul Stageberg has been a choral singer since childhood, growing up in a Lutheran church with a strong choral tradition. For 30 years, he sang with the St. John’s Lutheran Cathedral Choir. Paul has been a member of the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble almost since its beginning. He has also sung locally with the Howells Scholars and the Des Moines Choral Society. In his professional life he holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Administration and is retired from the Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning in the Iowa Department of Human Rights.

Susie Stageberg has been singing in choirs since her school days in Champaign, Illinois. She moved to Des Moines in 1988, and joined the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble in 1991. She is a past Vice President of the organization. In addition to the Vocal Arts Ensemble, Susie has sung in the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cathedral Choir and the Howells Scholars.  Since her 2013 retirement from her position as Reader Advisor at the Iowa Library for the Blind, she has more time to read, cook, knit, cheer for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Bears, and spend time with her grown children and granddaughter. Susie and her husband, Tenor Paul Stageberg, live in Clive and share their home with numerous pets and Susie’s Seeing Eye dog, Becky.

A graduate of Simpson college, Nate Stone has sung with DMVAE for three years as well as began singing with the Chancel Choir for the United Methodist Church of Ankeny this spring. When not singing, Nate enjoys playing and taking care of his two dogs and one cat, creating workout plans, and watching anything Star Wars.

Becky Strope-Boggus

Annie Taugher began singing with Des Moines Vocal Arts in 2024. She graduated from Coe College in 2021 and works at Iowa AEYC as an administrative specialist. She lives with her husband Aaron in Des Moines and in her free time enjoys reading, baking, and being with family and friends.

Gloria Thielking is a founding member of DMVAE which performed their first concert in the spring of 1991. Over the years, Gloria has served as treasurer, librarian, and has been on the DMVAE board. Before DMVAE, she was also an original member of the Des Moines Choral Society in 1979. She has also enjoyed singing in the chorus of several productions with the Des Moines Metro Opera. In real life, Gloria and her husband, Armin, have two adult sons, Garrett (Anne) and Aaron. She is a retired physician assistant. 

Kirsten Vander Linden has been singing with DMVAE since 2021. She has been in Des Moines since 2018 after graduating from Luther College in Decorah, IA. While at Luther, Kirsten sang in 4 different choirs over her 4 years of school – one of which included the amazing Nordic Choir. Originally from Minnesota, Kirsten is an Iowa “implant” who now enjoys the many bike trails the state has to offer, along with all of the great breweries. When Kirsten is not singing or on her bike, she enjoys spending quality family time with her husband Britton and two dogs – Roscoe and Kora.

Lauren Voss began singing with DMVAE in 2008 and was part of the alto section for 10 years. She took a break once her daughter was born and is now excited to be part of the group once again! She graduated from Simpson College in 2008 and has been an elementary music educator for 16 years. 14 of those years were in the Waukee Community School District and she has recently made the switch to teach at Karen Acres Elementary School in Urbandale, their year-round school. 

She resides with her husband and daughter in Ankeny, Iowa, and they spend a lot of time cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones!