Category: Announcement

We’d like to introduce you to the newest member of Inspirata, Wendell Valdez!

Wendell joins us as a Bass and currently calls Dallas, TX, home after living in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma over the years. Born and raised in Metro Manila, Philippines, he grew up singing in choirs and taking piano lessons. He and his family emigrated to the United States when he was in his late teens. He graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a BBA in Computer Information Systems.

While attending ULM, Wendell studied private voice and sang with the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. On occasion, he accompanied other voice students and was a pianist for a couple of choral ensembles on campus. After college, he sang with church choirs and performed in musicals that include Bella Vista Players’ production of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ where he played the role of Motel the tailor, and Arkansas Public Theatre’s production of ‘The Music Man’ where he played the role of Olin Britt, the barbershop quartet’s bass.

In Dallas, Wendell sang with the Chancel Choir and Vox Nova at First United Methodist Church, was staff accompanist for FUMC children’s choirs, and performed with the Arts District Chorale for 5 seasons. Currently, he sings with the Chancel Choir at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church and the Mobile Music Ministry ensemble that performs at various nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Dallas metroplex.

Please join us in welcoming Wendell to Inspirata!

Three Tenors, that is 🙂 It is our pleasure to announce that Hunter Birkhead has joined our Inspirata family!

Hunter is a professional choral conductor, music educator, and vocalist, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and a Master’s in Music Education; Choral Conducting, from the University of Oklahoma.

As a conductor, Hunter has served as the Music Director of First Christian Church, (Midwest City, OK) as well as St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Hurst, TX). Additionally, while working on his Master’s degree, Hunter gained experience conducting the Norman Community Chorus, and has conducted the OU Combined Choirs in concert.

As a professional vocalist, Hunter has performed leading roles in operas, operettas, and oratorios, while also maintaining engagements as a professional chorister, singing with the Richard Zielinski Singers, The Orchestra of New Spain, and The Dallas Bach Society.

Hunter also has enjoyed teaching private music lessons, specializing in piano, voice, and drums.

Please give Hunter a warm welcome, we are blessed to have him with us!

Please join us in welcoming our newest Alto, Katherine Cotten, to Inspirata!

Katherine is a Dallas resident and grew-up performing with the Children’s and Youth Chorus of Greater Dallas as well as the Dallas Opera Children’s Chorus. After graduating from JJ Pearce High School, Katherine attended Abilene Christian University to study Music Education and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. Katherine also studied abroad with Westminster Choir College for two separate summers in vocal performance programs in both Italy and Austria.

After graduating from ACU, Katherine taught voice in RISD schools for a semester and then became a Choral Director in Abilene, Texas. Throughout the past several years, she has performed in various professional ensembles including Dallas Chorus Festival, Voci d’Amici, and Abilene Chamber Singers. Katherine currently attends SMU during the summers to receive all three levels of Kodály Certification in the Choral Track. During the school year, she is the Choir Director at Parkhill Junior High in Richardson ISD.

We are excited to have Katherine singing with us!

We are excited to announce that Holly Howard has joined Inspirata as a Soprano!

A native of Houston, Holly is now based in Dallas, TX. She graduated from Baylor University in 2016 and studies private voice with Heather and Edward Crafts. Since graduating, she studied in Italy with Opera in Concert during the summer of 2018 and more recently, spent June 2019 with Respiro Opera in Manhattan, NYC. Frequently heard in recital, she is also a principle artist with the Dallas Classical Singers – a group of operatic soloists that perform favorite opera arias, duets and ensembles in the DFW area. This is Holly’s premiere year with Inspirata and she is very excited to share her love of early sacred music with their audience.

Please join us in welcoming Holly to the Inspirata family!