Erica Ancell, soprano, is excited to be joining The Bach Society of St. Louis as a Young Artist. Under the instruction of Martha Hart, Erica earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Webster University. She was the 1st place winner of Union Avenue Opera’s Crescendo! Program 2022, which earned her a chorus role in UAO’s recent production of Falstaff. Formerly a Scholar Singer at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Erica has a long history as a liturgical singer in several Churches and choruses. She had her start as a choral singer in the St. Louis Children’s Choirs and as a solo singer in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ Artists in Training Program. Erica is looking forward to continuing her studies and to learning from the talented musicians of The Bach Society.

Theresa Flores, mezzo-soprano, is grateful to have been accepted for a second season with The Bach Society of St. Louis as the Alto Young Artist. A St. Louis native, Theresa holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where she studied piano, voice, and choral conducting. She is currently studying voice with Alison Neace. She was a cantor and choral scholar at the Cathedral Basilica for several years under the remarkable instruction of Dr. Horst Buchholz and sang for two seasons under his direction in St. Louis’ only early music ensemble at the time: Pro-Arte. Theresa, a cradle Catholic and professional musician since the age of 16, has been passionate about and employed in the field of liturgical music for all her young professional life. She currently holds her dream job as the Director of Sacred Music at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, IL, where she directs the choirs, plans and plays music for all church events, and a little bit of everything else. Despite her love of liturgical music and polyphony, her true love is jazz; her vocal inspirations include Rosemary Clooney, Eydie Gormé, Keely Smith, and Diana Krall, and she would probably drop everything to become a jazz singer or studio singer if given the opportunity. She has been off the stage for several years, but her favorite role to date was playing Sandy in Grease. Theresa will be married in November 2022 to another amazing member of The Bach Society, she is the big sister to two and godmother to one, and they are her life’s greatest joys.