ABOUT THE LUX MEA CHOIR
The Lux Mea Choir is a Manhattan-based ensembles focused on strengthening our community through music. Lux Mea translates to "my light" in Latin. Each of us has light within us that is magnified when we work together, and that greater light in turn enhances the impact we can have for good. This season we hope our light will shine with yours.
We have big dreams of what music can do in our community, and we would love for you be a part of that. Our goal is to give people a place to sing regardless of background or experience level. Our members range from professional musicians to people for whom Lux Mea is their first organized singing opportunity. If you are interested in adding your voice to ours or supporting us in other ways, please email info@luxmea.org.
ABOUT SONUS
Sonus is a Manhattan-based tenor-bass choir dedicated to building community through the power of choral singing. As the sibling ensemble to the established Lux Mea Treble Choir, Sonus shares the same belief that music has the power to connect people, strengthen communities, and bring out the best in one another.The name Sonus is Latin for "sound," reflecting the rich, resonant voices that come together to create something greater than any individual singer could achieve alone. Whether you're a seasoned performer or returning to singing after years away,
Sonus welcomes tenors and basses of all backgrounds and experience levels who are eager to make meaningful music in a supportive and inspiring environment.Together with Lux Mea, Sonus is helping to build a vibrant choral community in New York City where everyone has a place to sing, grow, and belong.
KAITLIN SIMONSON
Kaitlin Simonson is the founder and Artistic Director of Lux Mea Choirs. She teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan. Kaitlin relocated to New York eight years ago after teaching choir at Canarelli Middle School in Las Vegas, NV. Under her direction, the six choirs performed throughout the southwest earning superior ratings at festivals and competitions. As an Senior Associate Conductor for the GRAMMY Award Winning National Children's Chorus in Manhattan, Kaitlin works with the senior division students ages 10-18. She is trained in the Kodàly Method, an experience based pedagogy method that efficiently instils excellent musicianship in singers of all ages. Kaitlin has been a guest conductor of honor choirs in New York, Nevada, and Arizona. Her rapport with students, and focus on the human connection through music make her rehearsals unforgettable.
As a classically trained soprano, Kaitlin has performed as a soloist with the Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra and the San Diego Pro Arte Voices. She is an experienced choral singer praised for her sight reading abilities, preparation and collegiality. Kaitlin holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she studied with Dr. Linda Lister. In addition, she holds a B.M.E. in Choral Music Education cum laude from Northern Arizona University where she studied with Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder. Kaitlin has completed three years of coursework in the Kodàly Methodology with Susan Brumfield at Portland State University.
SHAVON LLOYD
While maintaining an active career as a baritone, music educator, conductor, and award-winning composer, Shavon Lloyd (b. 1997) has been praised as an “uber-talented” (Times Herald Record) artist. In demand as a guest conductor and clinician, he works with ensembles nationwide while performing musical theatre and opera across the United States and Europe. His growing catalog of commissioned works with professional choirs reflects an evolving artistic voice, alongside a deep commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in K–12 music education.
Since earning his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, Lloyd has become a sought-after guest conductor across New York State, working with honors ensembles at all levels. He taught high school chorus and worked in K–12 schools in Washington Heights, cultivating inclusive, student-centered programs. An active contributor to NYSSMA’s BEDR and Composition/Songwriting Committees, he is also a frequent presenter on culturally relevant pedagogy and student empowerment.
As a composer, Lloyd gained early recognition with multiple competition wins, including the Manhattan Choral Ensemble’s New Music for New York and a national award for So Breaks the Sun. He has since received commissions from ensembles such as the Washington Master Chorale, Orpheus Chamber Singers, and Santa Fe Desert Chorale, with performances spanning the U.S. and internationally. So Breaks the Sun appears as the title track on the debut album of the Quava Vocal Group in Johannesburg.
Lloyd earned his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The Juilliard School in 2024. His performance career includes operatic and musical theatre roles, appearances with leading ensembles, a European debut in Geneva, and a Carnegie Hall debut with The Cecilia Chorus of New York. A prizewinner in several competitions, he is also a Novick Career Grant recipient and currently serves as Senior Associate Conductor and Artistic Coordinator for the National Children’s Chorus.
