Our Leaders
Bio Statements
Leanne Latuda
Artistic & Executive Director
Leanne Magnuson Latuda has been performing professionally, directing and teaching for more than 25 years. She has a Master of Music Degree from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Augustana College, where she was a Presidential Scholar and graduated cum laude.
Leanne is a gifted mezzo-soprano who has sung professionally with opera companies, musical theaters, and choral ensembles. She has performed locally as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony, The Bach Society, and the Masterworks Chorale and has been directing STLWC since 2012.
Ruth Stith
Accompanist
Ruth Stith is a faculty member of Saint Louis University, where she directs the SLU Piano Ensemble and teaches class and applied piano. Prior to moving to St. Louis, Ms. Stith was an instructor of piano and theory at Vanderbilt University, where she also served as a staff accompanist. She has a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (summa cum laude), and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Vanderbilt University. Mrs. Stith lives in St. Louis with her husband and three children, and has enjoyed accompanying the Saint Louis Women's Chorale since 2014.
Marc Bernstein
Board President
Marc Bernstein is the Founder and CEO of Balto, a St. Louis-based AI company that helps sales and customer service professionals solve customers' problems faster. Over the past 8 years, Marc has built a team of 60 full-time employees, raised $60 million in venture capital, and partnered with hundreds of the world's leading brands in retail banking, insurance, and healthcare.
Marc was named a Contact Center Week Next Generation Leader and included on St. Louis’s Titan 100 list of executives shaping our region. Marc holds a B.S. in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Amanda Woytus
Secretary
Amanda Woytus is the deputy editor of St. Louis Magazine, where she has covered politics, the pandemic, education, equity, arts, and culture in her hometown for the part four years. Prior to that, Amanda worked as an editor in New York City, at magazines including The Village Voice, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Food & Wine, and Newsweek. She is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Missouri's journalism school. Although she is not a performer, Amanda's passion is storytelling, be it through written word or other mediums.
Benedetta Orsi
Principal Artist and Alto 1 Section Leader
Artistic and Development Manager
Italian mezzo soprano Benedetta Orsi has made quite a name for herself in the St. Louis area. Awarded the Paul Harris Fellow as one of the most influential Italian excellences to spread Italian culture and art abroad, Ms. Orsi has recently been one of the Featured Artists by the Missouri Arts Council.
As a recording artist, her latest album, INcanto, recorded for the Swiss Label BAM International at Webster University in collaboration with the Arianna String Quartet and pianist Alla Voskoboynikova, has been awarded the Double Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards as Best Classical Album and Best Female Artist.
Mrs. Orsi is one of only a few contemporary mezzo sopranos to have performed all three of Donizetti's Tudor Operas: Jane Seymour in Anna Bolena, Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda and Sara in Roberto Devereux with Royal Opera Theater in Manchester, UK. Recent performances also include Adalgisa in Norma with Winter Opera St. Louis, the title role of Carmen with Winter Opera St. Louis, Amore Opera in New York, Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana with the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera with the Miami Lyric Opera and Maddalena in Rigoletto with Amore Opera.
Mrs. Orsi’s performance credits include roles in Verdi Rigoletto, Falstaff, Trovatore, Bellini Norma and La Sonnambula, Rossini L’Italiana in Algeri and Il Turco in Italia and Massenet Werther.
Along with concert appearances at Carnegie Hall and throughout Italy, Austria, England, France, United States, Brazil and Spain, Ms. Orsi is very involved in the St. Louis musical scene, collaborating with the Sheldon, Chamber Music Society, the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, the World Chess Hall of Fame, Gateway Festival Orchestra, Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and more.
Feature engagements: World Chess Hall of Fame, Chamber Music Society, Art & Faith St. Louis, St. Louis-Bologna Sister Cities “Benedetta Orsi & Friends”, the Magic House On Stage Performances, Missouri Botanical Garden Concert Series, New York Classica.
Benedetta is very excited to return for the 8th year to be one of the Principal Artists for the St. Louis Women’s Chorale, where she serves as well as Artistic and Development Manager.
Meredith Kessler
Principal Artist and Soprano 1 Section Leader
Administrative Director
Meredith Kessler is a Coloratura Soprano and Pianist from the Saint Louis Area. While growing up in St. Charles, MO, she started piano lessons at the age of five with Belinda Joseph, and instantly fell in love with music. By the time Meredith was in high school, she was performing in competitions with piano and flute, as well as accompanying Sunday church services.
She attended Southeast Missouri State University where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance under the direction of Dr. Leslie Jones. Alongside her vocal studies, she continued studying piano with Dr. Kevin Hampton and regularly performed in studio classes and accompanied students for their juries and performances. While there, she performed roles in the opera program such as: Ensemble in Suor Angelica, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, and Josephine in H.M.S Pinafore.
After graduating from Southeast, she went on to earn her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Webster University. She studied under Dr. Jacob Lassetter and Dr. Karen Kanakis, and regularly worked with pianist and coach, Nancy Mayo. She continued studying piano with Mieko Bergt, and served as the Graduate Assistant for the Opera Studio during her last year. During her time at Webster, she performed roles such as: Cendrillon in Cendrillon, Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica, and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas.
This past summer, she attended her first Young Artist Program at the Chicago Summer Opera where she studied with Elizabeth Byrne. She performed the role of Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. She was also a part of the ensemble in The Magic Flute, as well as La Bohème.
She is now entering her second year with the Saint Louis Women’s Chorale as a Principal Artist and Soprano 1 Section Leader. She is excited to start her new journey as the Administrative Director and cannot wait for what Season 31 has in store!
Jessica Roberts Martin
Board Member
Jessica Roberts Martin is a Professor of Practice in Communications and Senior Associate Dean of Operations at Washington University in St. Louis’ Olin Business School. Her expertise lies in operations management, strategic communications, and administrative leadership, and her roles at the business school allow her to support students both in and out of the classroom. As a long-term transplant to St. Louis, Jessica is excited to be part of a group bringing innovation to the cultural offerings of the region with a commitment that “affirms the worth and dignity of all people and strives to harness the power of music and exceptional performances to enrich and transform lives.”
Bonita Cornute
Board Member
Bonita Cornute was a longtime broadcast journalist at KTVI Fox 2 News, retiring in December 2018 after more than 35 years at the station. A graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, she relocated to St. Louis in the early 1980s. Throughout her career, Bonita reported and hosted many different programs at KTVI, as well as mentoring high school students of color through the Minority Journalism Workshop. In 2016, the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists presented her with the Living Legend Award. Bonita is now semi-retired, but continues her involvement with many organizations in the St. Louis community.
Darwin Aquino
Artistic Advisor to the Board of Directors
Known for his charismatic energy and musical versatility as a conductor and composer, Darwin Aquino’s career has taken him to orchestra halls and opera theaters across Europe, United States and Latin America. His constant presence as a Dominican artist in multiples stages is seen as a bright light for diversity and inclusion in classical music.
Recently appointed Music Director of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra and Assistant Conductor for Opera Theater of St. Louis, Darwin’s 22/23 season includes a number of international engagements. Additionally, he serves as Music Director of the Gateway Festival Orchestra and Conductor-in-Residence for the Washington University Symphony Orchestra.
Gloria Park
Board Member
Gloria Park had a 35+ year career in sales and operations management. Most of her time was at Maritz in St. Louis, MO where she had the opportunity to work in the United Kingdom as well as the US. She earned an MBA in international business at Washington University's John M. Olin School of Business and has an undergraduate degree in music from Washington University in St. Louis. Gloria has long been a supporter of the arts and enjoys her involvement volunteering with organizations in St. Louis now that she is retired.
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Samantha Arten
Principal Artist and Soprano 2 Section Leader
Samantha Arten, soprano and music historian, has focused her performance activities in early music, singing primarily in liturgical church choirs and in Baroque ensembles. In addition to singing as a Principal Artist with the Saint Louis Women's Chorale, she is a principal singer with the Bach Society of St. Louis, a staff singer in the choir of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and a regular soloist with Early Music Missouri. Samantha holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from Duke University and teaches as a Lecturer in Musicology at Washington University in St. Louis, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Maryville University. “I believe so much in this choir’s great work of inspiring healing and joy. This is a place where women of all identities can come together to make beautiful music.”
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Janelle Pierce
Principal Artist and Alto 2 Section Leader
Janelle Pierce is a conductor, composer, lyricist, arranger, vocalist, and educator of music. Her career has been as diverse as it has been thrilling, working with some of the most astonishing artists in music and theater, and guiding some of the most promising talent in the world of performance. She is the Director of Music at Trinity Presbyterian Church in University City, and Teaching Artist for the Education and Engagement Department of Opera Theater St. Louis.
Janelle Pierce earned a B.A. in Vocal Performance from St. Mary's University and holds over fifteen years of experience in musical education and performance in Texas and Missouri. Pierce studied drama in college and has developed a love for the theater through her involvement with the St. Louis Fringe Festival, Emery Entertainment Company, and the St. Louis Public Library Storytime Theater Program. Janelle has performed with the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, Winter Opera of St. Louis, Union Avenue Opera, and The Saint Louis Women’s Chorale.
Janelle joined the Saint Louis Women's Chorale in order to rekindle the original spark that ignited her burning passion for vocal performance: Women's Choir. She is excited to be a part of an ensemble that empowers women, strengthens the songstress, and inspires harmony through the universal language of music.
Hannah Vanhooser
Principal Artist and Alto II Section Leader
Hannah Vanhooser's work spans composition, performance, and leadership. She began performing early, singing in church throughout her youth. She started piano at six and harp at ten, eventually making the harp her signature instrument. During her high school and early college career, she was involved as the drum major of her high school marching band, won lead roles in 3 musicals, and sang alto in the Chorale at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Hannah earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Oklahoma City University in 2018, studying with Dr. Edward Knight. She served as president of Project 21, the university’s composer collective, and won the Great Britain/Great Plains Composition Competition the same year. She was awarded a trip to the UK to hear her winning piece, snake skins, was performed by the UK ensemble Piano Circus at Edge Hill University in Lancashire.
Her opera Yildiz premiered in 2019 with Opera On Tap OKC and was expanded for a second performance in 2022. In 2024, she won the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association Composition Competition and presented her harp solo Blue Interlude at the University of Oklahoma.
From 2022–2024, Hannah served as president of the Oklahoma Harp Society, a chapter of the American Harp Society. As a performer, she’s been hired by numerous nonprofits, opera companies, churches, and couples across the Midwest. She’s especially known for her harp-and-vocal covers of popular songs, from Elvis Presley to Taylor Swift, bringing a unique relatability to the harp. She loves making harp more accessible to audiences of all ages.
Outside of her music career, Hannah enjoys walking, cooking, and working out. She lives in O'Fallon, Missouri with her husband, Ada the border collie, and Millie the cat.
Amira Siddique
Principal Artist and Soprano II Section Leader
Amira Siddique is beyond excited and honored to join the STLWC this year as a Principal Artist. She is a fresh graduate from Knox College where she received B.A.s in Music and Neuroscience. Her academic career has led her here to St. Louis, where she is pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy at Washington University. Back in Galesburg, she served as a section leader and secretary of the Knox College Choir and Chamber Singers, whom she toured Chicago, Denver, and Southern France with. This past fall, she had the thrilling opportunity to join the esteemed Nova Singers for a masterwork performance of the Martin Mass and Vaughn Williams Mass.
Outside the choral world, Amira dabbles in piano, guitar, composition, song-writing, and music production. She is also drawn to non-Western music and has done immersive experiences studying Middle Eastern music in the US and traditional Ewe dance and drumming in Ghana.
She joined the STLWC because of her deep love for choir and the beauty of creating music with a group of dedicated, passionate women. It is truly an honor.
Marissa Dickman
Principal Artist and Soprano I Section Leader
Soprano and French hornist, Marissa Dickman is in her first year of participating with the Saint Louis Women’s Chorale. She is not actively studying voice, but most recently studied under Dr. Susan Duggan, Professor Emeritus of Vocal Studies at The Swinney Conservatory of Music. Marissa graduated from Central Methodist University in 2022, where she earned her Bachelor of Music and Business. While at CMU, she was a soprano section leader in the Chorale, and second chair French hornist in the Concert Band, the top instrumental ensemble. She played roles such as Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance while performing with the CMU Opera. Prior to her undergraduate studies, Marissa was a member of Opera Theatre of St. Louis' 'Artist In Training' program for 3 years. She was the first student from Pattonville High School to be accepted into the program. During her time with OTSL, Marissa had the privilege to study with Vocal Coach, Nancy Mayo of Webster University.
“I feel abundantly blessed to be part of STLWC, and to be honored with the responsibility of being section leader and a Principal Artist in my first year with the ensemble. I joined with hopes of reigniting my fiery passion for singing that burnt-out with the pandemic, and never dreamed of finding myself in a group of loving, talented, and beautiful humans such as STLWC.”
Bekah Ford
Principal Artist and Alto I Section Leader
Bekah Ford is a dynamic musician, songwriter, and performer from the suburbs of St. Louis. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts Leadership and Cultural Management with a Certificate in Nonprofit Administration at Colorado State University, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music from Millikin University. While at Millikin, Bekah was a member of the school’s flagship University Choir under the direction of Dr. Brad Holmes and the premier vocal jazz ensemble OneVoice under the direction of the late Dr. Steve Widenhofer. She also recorded and produced original music throughout her time at school.
Bekah has been a Young Artist with the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus under the direction of Kevin McBeth since 2021. She is also a member of the St. Louis Choral Artists, where she has performed background vocals for iconic artists, including Barry Manilow and Josh Groban, during their St. Louis tour stops. Through these opportunities, Bekah has had the honor of performing on the stages of Powell Hall, the Fabulous Fox, Enterprise Center, Stifel Theatre, and other prolific venues in the area. Her work has also allowed her to perform at music education conferences in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, concerts in multiple states and the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., and internationally in Santiago, Chile.
Outside of music, Bekah is an avid reader, devoted cat mom, and the self-proclaimed Cool Aunt to an incredible niece.