Katelyn Lee

Recognized by Chicago Classical Review as having a “beautifully bright” and “silvery” tone, American soprano Katelyn Lee is making her mark in Chicago and across the United States. Known for her ability to sing numerous styles with ease, Katelyn is regularly sought after to perform opera, art song, musical theatre, and oratorio. This versatility has provided her with the opportunity to collaborate with notable arts organizations across the country.

Katelyn has performed numerous opera and musical theatre roles. Most recently, she performed the title role in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Hansel and Gretel. Katelyn has sung in multiple productions at Lyric Opera and other companies such as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Haymarket Opera Company, Chicago Opera Theater, Ozarks Lyric Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera, and Folks Operetta. Notable roles include Romilda in Serse, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Doris Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, Antonia in Man of La Mancha, Cunegonde in Candide, Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and the Female Narrator in the world premiere of Jason and the Argonauts.

In concert, Katelyn has sung a wide variety of repertoire. She is an expert in Baroque performance practice and is a frequent soloist with Music of the Baroque, led by world-renowned conductor, Dame Jane Glover. Other credits include Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, and Chicago a cappella.

As a lover of the arts, Katelyn strongly believes in educating communities about the necessity of classical music in our society. She is proud to have performed operatic roles at several outreach organizations, including Lyric Unlimited and Opera for the Young. It is her honor and privilege to support this cause.

Katelyn received her Master of Music degree at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and her Bachelor of Music degree at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She is currently based in Chicago and lives with her husband and tenor, Joe Shadday and their cat, Liza.

Angela Presutti Korbitz holds degrees in voice performance and vocal pedagogy from The University of Illinois and Roosevelt University. She has also studied at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy and The Britten-Pears School where she studied art song with Elly Ameling. She is a professional member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and The Grant Park Chorus. Angela has appeared as a soloist and small ensemble member with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and as a soloist with numerous orchestras including The Grant Park Orchestra of Chicago, Bel Canto of Milwaukee, The Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, Salt Creek Sinfonietta, Sinfonietta Bel Canto, and The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed recital programs for The Musicians Club of Women, West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, Fairmont Chamber Music Society, and the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series. She has also performed programs at colleges and universities throughout the Midwest. Angela also performs regularly with guitarist and husband Ron Korbitz. Their collaboration has led to performances on WFMT, The Chicago Classical Guitar Society and numerous recital series throughout the Chicagoland area. Recent performance highlights for Angela include a tribute to Leonard Bernstein on WFMT and The Messiah with the Elmhurst Choral Union and a tribute to Nadia Boulanger on WFMT. Angela is on faculty at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago and North Central College in Naperville.

Angela’s goal as an educator is to help every singer find their most efficient and beautiful sound. She follows an approach that addresses the five systems of the voice: breath, phonation, resonance, articulation, and registration. This philosophy is based on voice science, motor learning principles, vocal pedagogy, and ideas she has gleaned from her teachers and experiences as a professional singer. She is particularly interested in the various body awareness disciplines as these practices encourage singers toward experimentation and guided discovery. Angela endeavors to help each person find their true voice and guide them in developing musicianship and artistry to their fullest potential.

Robert Sinclair

Dean of Graduate Studies Dr. Robert L. Sinclair has served VanderCook as Director of Choral Activities since 2001. His educational background includes three years at Luther College, where he sang in the Nordic Choir under the direction of Weston Noble. After transferring to Sam Houston State University, he completed his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music degrees with B.R. Henson. In December of 2000, Dr. Sinclair completed a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction (music education) at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he worked with Drs. David Rayl and Wendy Sims.

Dr. Sinclair has 10 years of public school teaching experience and has presented sessions to the Music Educators Associations of Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and Texas, the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), as well as the Southwestern and Southern Divisions of ACDA. He continues to work as an active choral clinician and adjudicator for junior high and high school students from across the nation and abroad, including honor choirs in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, and Japan in addition to all-state choirs in Illinois and Wisconsin. Dr. Sinclair is an active member of ACDA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Fraternity, and the National Association for Music Education.

Michele Thomas is an American jazz musician, vocalist,  songwriter and educator from Chicago, IL. Born the daughter of a  Pentecostal preacher in the Church of God In Christ, Thomas grew up on a steady diet of gospel music. The impact it had on  her, even at a young age, was profound.  

These feelings, along with her innate talents, led to Thomas arranging and conducting her church’s choir while she was still in her preteen years. Her continued cultivation of those skills rewarded her with a position in the Chicago All-City Choir and a  scholarship to the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. This ultimately led to her attending North Park University, graduating with a BA in music, and establishing the first-ever gospel choir in the university’s history. Thomas’ cultivation of the choir program caught the eyes of community choir leaders in Sweden and in  1996 and 1998, she was invited to teach and perform gospel music for Scandinavian audiences. These collective experiences furthered her dedication to music education and in 2004 she formed the Soulstream Music Studio of Contemporary Voice. 

Thomas furthered her studies after college, attending the  University of Massachusetts Amherst Jazz In July Workshop under the tutelage of Sheila Jordan. She began study of the Somatic  Voice Work-The Lovetri Method in 2011 and has recently reached  Level III Certification.  

Thomas has taught voice and choir at Clarendon Hills Music  Academy, Merit School of Music, Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church and the Maywood Fine Arts Association. She also most recently taught jazz voice and directed the Vocal Jazz Ensemble at DePaul  University. She was a featured clinician focusing on CCM singing for Mark S. Hubbard’s (former president of the Grammys’ Chicago  Chapter) Chicago Made Music Collective, and Next Showcase  Chicago. And she has served as a music supervisor and vocal coach for the second season of the HBO Max acclaimed comedy series, “Southside” in 2020. 

Thomas has performed both jazz and gospel music regionally and abroad. As a bandleader, she has appeared at such prestigious  Chicago venues as the Green Mill, Winter’s Jazz Club, Pete Miller’s and Green Dolphin Street, as well as featured performances at the Jazz Showcase, Constellation, Chicago City Winery and Andy’s  Jazz Club. She has also been invited to perform at concerts and festivals presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs,  Little Black Pearl Workshop, the Edgerton Arts Council, the  Evanston and Wicker Park Chambers of Commerce, and  Northwestern University. In 2017, Thomas was a featured  performer at the Chicago Jazz Festival.