KAITLIN SIMONSON
Conductor
Kaitlin Simonson is the founder and Artistic Director of Lux Mea Women’s Chorus. She teaches music at The Brearley School in Manhattan. Kaitlin relocated to New York five 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 associate conductor for the National Children's Chorus in Manhattan, Kaitlin works with the junior division students ages 4-6, and 10-12. 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 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. She serves on the KONY board as a general member. She is a member of ACDA, OAKE, and NAfME.
DAN MEINHARDT
Piano
Dan Meinhardt, multi-instrumentalist and composer, has been the Associate Pianist for Lux Mea Women’s Chorus since its inception in 2019. At once sensitive and dynamic, Mr. Meinhardt has become a first-call collaborator for musical projects of all kinds.
Primarily a dance musician, Mr. Meinhardt works with the dancers of New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Ballet Hispánico. Prior to his time in New York, Mr. Meinhardt worked with the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, and Visceral Dance Company, was an associate pianist for the Chicago Children’s Chorus, and taught as a frequent guest educator for the Merit School of Music.
Mr. Meinhardt holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from Lawrence University, where he studied with Steven Jordheim and Fred Sturm, and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon, where he studied with Steve Owen. In 2016, he released his second album of original compositions - Outset - on ears&eyes Records.
The Team
Meet the Choir
Alto
Addison Landsburg
Addison Landsburg (she/her) is happy to be singing again after a seven year hiatus from choir. When she is not catching up on the never ending onslaught of television or convincing friends to accompany her to the AMC, she can often be found humming. This is her first season with LuxMea. She is so grateful to this community for giving her the freedom to practice singing again.
Alto
Alyssa Brown
Alyssa Joy Brown (she/her) is a PhD student in the department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology at Columbia University. She is interested in understanding ecosystem resilience to novel disturbance regimes, which she is currently undertaking by studying tropical rainforest response to hurricanes in Puerto Rico. Alyssa does not view science and art as being dichotomous finding that music stretches her brain intellectually just as much as science does creatively. She is grateful to be part of the Lux Mea community.
Soprano
Amanda Savino
Amanda Savino (she/her) is a social work student and mental health coach specializing in religious trauma. Having spent her whole life singing in church and college choirs, she was looking for the perfect vocal home and found it in Lux Mea in 2023. She spends most of her time between Brooklyn and the Rockaways, where the ocean is her happy place.
Alto
Anna Dunlavey
Anna Dunlavey (she/her) is an English teacher from outside Washington, DC. She grew up singing in school choirs, playing violin, and attending concerts for her dad’s Irish rock band. She is so happy to be singing in Lux Mea! You can often find her swimming, biking, reading, doing trivia, or playing mandolin at traditional Irish sessions.
Alto
Anna Mazina
Anna Mazina has been singing with Lux Mea since the very beginning. She is a scientist from Moscow, a grandmother, a teacher, and she loves to garden.
Alto
Caitlin Plovnick
Caitlin Plovnick (she/her) is a medical librarian and occasional cartoonist. She has always loved singing and is thrilled to be part of the choral community of Lux Mea!
Soprano
Christina Gaudino
Christina Gaudino is very happy to be a new member of Lux Mea choir! She sang in the Queen's Chorale as a student at Rutgers University. She currently works in the United Nations community. In her free time, Christina loves reading, writing, editing, and caring for her plants.
Alto
Denise Abner
Denise Abner (she/her) is very happy to have joined the choir this spring. Denise studied flute performance at The Eastman School of Music and has been a music educator for many years. She is currently teaching instrumental and general music at the Leffell School in Westchester. Singing in Lux Mea provides a creative and musical outlet in a wonderful community. Denise has raised three children with her husband and now as empty nesters they enjoy life with a small Havanese dog named Rosie.
Alto
Elisabeth Abell
Elisabeth Abell (she/her) is grateful for the choral community of Lux Mea! When she’s not working as a nonprofit coordinator, she enjoys biking in Central Park and working on art projects.
Soprano
Hannah Moloshok
Hannah Moloshok is so excited to be singing her first season with Lux Mea! When she's not singing choral music or opera she works as a public relations account executive and spends her free time training for triathlons and baking.
Soprano
Jordan Smithson
Jordan Smithson (she/her) is a writer and graduate student who moved to New York City in 2024. She has been singing her entire life and is thrilled to be back on stage for her first season with Lux Mea. In her free time, you can find her reading in the park and trying new cafes and bakeries with her friends.
Soprano
Julia Napolitano
Julia Napolitano (she/her) is a biomedical engineer. She started singing as a kid with her two younger sisters, and is so excited to continue pursuing her love of music with such talented, passionate people. She is the Treasurer for Lux Mea. In her spare time, she likes doing crosswords, caring for her plants, and collecting sea glass at the beach.
Alto
Juliana Brassfield
Juliana Brassfield (she/her) is a fifth grade science teacher at an all girls school in Manhattan. She grew up in Texas singing in school and church choirs. She is grateful to have found Lux Mea shortly after moving to New York a year ago, as it has reignited her love of music and performing.
Soprano
Madeleine Chow
Madeleine Chow (she/her) joined the choir this fall. Her background in music comprises playing the cello since age ten and signing in her all-female choir in high school. She has been working at law firms since her graduation from Middlebury College in 2021 and has a degree in English literature. Madeleine is excited to return to music as a creative outlet.
Soprano
Madilyn Bass
Madi (she/her) has lived in New York on and off for 10 years. She currently works in operations at a fintech company. This is her first season with Lux Mea, where she is thankful for the new found community. In her spare time, you can find her doing yoga and walking her dog Flo in the park.
Soprano
Megan Villa
Megan Villa (she/her) is excited to join Lux Mea this season after a long hiatus from choir. When she’s not working at the American Museum of Natural History, Megan can be found diving into a good book, catching a Broadway show, or hanging out with her dog, Poppy.
Soprano
Miranda Gibson
Miranda (she/her) is so so excited to be singing with Lux Mea again this year! After taking time off to travel, she is back in the city working in legal support. When she is not singing, she can be found reading, walking through Prospect Park, or planning dinner parties with her friends.