Rita Schien, soprano, is thrilled to join The Bach Society as a Young Artist. Rita is currently studying Vocal Performance at the University of Missouri- St. Louis under the instruction of Dr. Leslie Allnatt. At UMSL, She sings with University Singers, Vocal Point, and Opera Theater. Rita is the President of the Choir Program at UMSL and has received multiple awards for her outstanding efforts in both the choral and vocal department. Over the past year, Rita has worked for The St. Louis Children’s Choir, as an Ensemble Assistant, and has gotten involved with the Barbershop Harmony Society. She has served as the Tenor section leader for The Recruits chorus and for Acappellooza Summer/Fall. In 2023, Rita placed 10th in the International Varsity Barbershop Quartet contest with her quartet Evening Glow. Rita is grateful to have been given the opportunity to grow as a musician with The Bach Society.
Sarah Collins, soprano, is a senior at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and is working towards her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. At SIUE, Sarah is a student of Dr. Marc Schapman. She began studying classical voice as a member of Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s Artists in Training Program while she was in high school, and fell in love with the art. Her most recent performances were that of Despina in The Three Little Pigs with Opera Edwardsville and Maurya in Riders to the Sea with SIUE. She was also featured as a young artist at the Southern Illinois Music Festival. She recently won second place in Union Avenue Opera’s Crescendo Competition. Sarah would like to thank her friends and family for their unwavering support in her musical endeavors.
Kelly Beekman, alto, is a St. Louis native and a recent music graduate from Webster University. She is thrilled to be working with The St. Louis Bach Society for their 2023-2024 season. Joining her first choir when she was six, she has devoted her life to music ever since, dazzling audiences with her captivating stage presence and astounding voice in many genres, including classical, jazz, musical theater, and contemporary pop and rock. She was a recipient of the Christine Brewer Annual Scholarship in Vocal Music Performance. She also received departmental honors for her tireless dedication to her craft and her outstanding performances in opera and jazz. Other achievements include participating in Union Avenue Opera’s crescendo program and earning a role in the chorus of their 2022 production of Eugene Onegin. Upcoming roles include chorus for two Winter Opera St. Louis productions, Manon Lescaut and Naughty Marietta.
Parker Miller (He/They) is honored to be a Young Artist with The Bach Society in their ‘23-’24 season. He’s currently completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory with a Principle Vocal Study at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) with plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Conducting or Music Direction soon thereafter. Parker was raised in music, beginning piano lessons at 5, and quickly developing a love for studying music and singing. He recently traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Convention, singing baritone with the Ambassadors of Harmony (AOH) who took home 1st place in the Chorus championship. Recently, his quartet, Memento, ranked 9th in the world in the Next Generation Youth Quartet Contest and also earned the 139th Street award, netting them a prize of $10,000 due to their “Novice Quartet” status. He also worked on the administrative team for the Acapellooza Summer Camp hosted by UMSL and AOH which brings students together to grow as musicians and people through barbershop singing. When he’s not enveloped in music, school, or work, he spends his time writing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and caring for his two beautiful daughters: Tigress and Panther.