Messiah Bios - 2025
- Raquel King
- Dec 17, 2025
- 12 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
VOCE NWA presents Handel's Messiah in concert on December 20, 2025 at 2PM at Inspiration Point Center for the Arts. Tickets are available at opera.org. The following artists will be performing in the concert.
Valery Saul, conductor
Raquel King, soprano
Dr. Samantha Stinson, soprano
Donna Rollene, soprano
Jennifer Powell, mezzo-soprano
Autumn Capocci, mezzo-soprano
Rachel Cornett, mezzo-soprano
Chris King, tenor
Judd Burns, tenor
Chris Senty, tenor
Dr. Jonathan Stinson, baritone
Shayne Piles, baritone
Traci Hall, keyboard
Miranda Burns, violin
Benjamin Weir, violin
Molly Sharp, viola
Tom King, cello
Garrett Jones, string bass
Josue Avelar, bassoon
Valery Saul, conductor
Described as a “powerful presence on the podium” by Marin Alsop, conductor Valery Saul is recognized for her dynamic leadership, technical command, and charismatic rapport with musicians and audiences alike. She is in her third season as Associate Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and also serves as cover conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, and Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Valery was recently selected from an international pool of candidates for the Dallas Opera’s renowned Hart Institute. She makes her Masterworks debut in May 2026 with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
A master of multiple genres, Valery has led the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to great acclaim in her Pops concerts, Broadway Rocks, Lights, Camera, Action! and Bond and Beyond. In December 2024, she led acclaimed performances of The Nutcracker with Ballet Arkansas.
She has been an invited participant of several prestigious masterclasses with orchestras from around the world. She has worked with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain, National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Romanian Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a participant at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Valery was the second place winner of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra’s Conducting Competition. For two summers, she has been a conducting fellow at the Bellingham Festival of Music.
A graduate of Peabody Conservatory in 2022, Valery has been mentored by Marin Alsop, Cristian Macelaru, David Danzmayr, Marcelo Lehninger, and George Manahan. In addition to conducting, Valery is a professional opera singer.
Raquel King, soprano
Raquel King, soprano, holds a master’s in vocal performance from Wichita State and a BA from John Brown. Having performed for 25 years in NWA, Wichita, and beyond, Raquel created VOCE (Voices of the Ozarks Concerts and Events) in 2025 to share the brilliance of classical composers through the medium of our local professional voices live in beautiful acoustic venues. She is joined by seven amazing board members with a second season on the way. Opera leading roles include L’elisir d’amore, Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute, and a premier performance of Hageman’s Nightingale and the Rose. A choral music enthusiast, she won a position in Helmuth Rilling’s Festival Choir in Germany through the International Bach Academy during her grad program and won finalist placement for the international voice competition, Cadenza Contest in 2021. She especially enjoyed giving the gift of a song to over 90 individuals for Lee-Mingwei's Sonic Blossom performance art installation at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville in 2023. Her students at NWACC, Har-Ber High School and King Classical win leading roles, are awarded top spots in competitions and are offered highest scholarships in college auditions.
She and her husband, Chris King, enjoy time with their five children and also traipsing around cities looking for beautiful music.
Dr. Samantha Stinson, soprano
Dr. Samantha Stinson maintains a diverse career as a performer and educator. Her favorite roles performed include Violetta in La Traviata, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Musetta in La bohème, Lily in The Secret Garden, Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Her symphonic work includes Orff's Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach's Weihnachtsoratorium, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasie and Symphony No. 9, Tommasini’s Three Spanish Songs.
In addition to her performance career, Samantha serves on the Learning and Engagement team at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR, where she and her team welcome over 25,000 children per year to experience professional live theater. She was recently ordained as a Cantor and serves as the Spiritual Leader at Temple Shalom of NWA.
Donna Rollene, soprano
Donna Rollene, soprano, was Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop at John Brown University for 10 years and adjunct professor of voice at the University of Arkansas. She has her Masters in Vocal Performance from the University Of Arkansas, and performed in concerts, operas, oratorios, churches and musical theatre productions including Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Verdi’s Falstaff and Puccini’s La Boheme, while working with world-renowned vocal technicians, coaches and conductors.
Numerous awards include 1st Place for an AIMS scholarship provided by the American Friends of Austria and the Austrian Consulate General; Finalist in the Mobil Oil Meistersinger Competition (Austria); 1st Place Award at the GMA of the Rockies Vocal Solo Competition and the Farwell Award (Chicago).
Donna has taught voice lessons for 45 years and has been married for 46 years to Jerry Rollene, past Director of Alumni and Parent Relations (JBU). They live in Springdale, Arkansas and have three daughters, three son-in-laws and four granddaughters.
Jennifer Powell, mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano, Jennifer Powell has made a presence in major opera houses around the country including The Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theater of St Louis, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. She has also been a featured soloist throughout the United States and has received several honors and awards throughout her career. She currently resides in NW Arkansas where she maintains an active private voice studio and enjoys spending free time with her niece and nephew. Jennifer holds a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance.
Autumn Capocci, mezzo-soprano
Autumn Capocci is a mezzo-soprano originally from Buffalo, New York. Currently based in Dallas, Texas, she performs with companies across the country. Most recently, she appeared with Fort Worth Opera as Carmen in Peter Brooks’ adaptation The Tragedy of Carmen. Her previous appearances with Fort Worth Opera include Hansel and Gretel (The Witch), La Traviata (Marie Brécourt), Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World (Frida Kahlo), and Stone Soup (Edna). Prior to that, she was a member of the Hans and Leslie Fleischner Young Artist program with Pittsburgh Festival Opera, where she performed Kleonike in Mark Adamo’s Lysistrata in the first feature-length film of the opera. She graduated in May 2020 with a Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas, where she studied under William H. Joyner. While there, she performed with the UNT Opera as Zita in Gianni Schicchi and Lapák the dog in The Cunning Little Vixen. Autumn Capocci has appeared as a soloist in concert across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, performing works such as Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Handel’s Messiah, in addition to concerts of art song such as Home Away From Home: Songs of Alan Smith.
Rachel Cornett, mezzo-soprano
Rachel Cornett is a graduate of Green Forest High School and the University of Arkansas, where she earned a Bachelor’s in Choral Music Education and a Master’s in Music Education. While at the U of A, she studied classical voice, sang in Schola and Inspire, and played percussion and piccolo in the UA Marching Band.
Rachel taught middle school choir in Bentonville, Arkansas, for ten years—earning Teacher of the Year in 2003—and co-directed the Bentonville Children’s Choir. In 2011, she moved to New York City, where she taught music and held leadership roles at TEP Charter School in Manhattan.
In 2013-2023 Rachel taught 8th and 9th grade choir at Lakeside Junior High in Springdale and earned her National Board License, ESL Certification and served as the Children & Community Youth Choirs Chair for the Arkansas ACDA Board. She is currently teaching middle school choir in Bentonville at Old High Middle School.
Rachel has served as a clinician for multiple All-Region Choirs and regularly presents at conferences, including the NWA Teach Music Conference and SWACDA & Arkansas ACDA summer conventions. She was named the 2020 Outstanding Jr. High Choir Director of the Year by her peers.
She has performed professionally with Vocalis, The Link, and the Arkansas Gospel Chorale. Rachel lives in Fayetteville and has two daughters, Audrie and Annie.
Chris King, tenor
Chris King is a lyric tenor and choir director from Springdale, Arkansas. Memorable stage credits include Tamino in The Magic Flute, Nemorino in The Elixir of Love, and the Evangelist in Schütz’s Christmas Story. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music from John Brown University, where he met his wife and frequent collaborator, soprano Raquel King. Chris currently serves as choir director at Christ Church, Fayetteville, and continues to perform regularly.
Beyond the concert hall, Chris is an author and an award-winning speaker in the field of data engineering and artificial intelligence currently working as a distinguished data architect at Walmart’s home office in Bentonville.
Judd Burns, tenor
Judd Burns, tenor, graduated in 2016 with a master's degree in voice performance from the University of Arkansas. Throughout his career Judd has sung as a featured soloist and with several professional vocal ensembles. In 2020 he moved to Louisville with his wife Miranda, a classically trained violinist, to attend the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. He graduated in 2024.
During dental school he sang for two seasons as a member of the Louisville Chamber Choir, performing in concerts featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma and tenor Andrea Bocelli. Now back in Northwest Arkansas, Judd sings to his patients during their dental work and performs whenever opportunity presents itself to do so.
Chris Senty, tenor
Chris Senty studied vocal performance at the University of Arkansas. He is married to his wife Jessica Senty. He currently serves as the worship pastor for Church Alive NWA in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Dr. Jonathan Stinson, baritone
Dr. Jonathan Stinson has appeared in leading roles with opera companies throughout the United States and in Europe, including Cincinnati Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Central City Opera, Winter Opera St. Louis, Kentucky Opera, Opera Omaha, Opera Memphis, Dayton Opera, Cleveland Opera, Ozarks Lyric Opera, and Delaware Valley Opera. Abroad, he has sung Don Magnifico in Rossini’s La cenerentola in Asiago, Italy, the title role of Mozart’s Don Giovanni in Cortona, Italy, the title role of Rigoletto in Manchester, England, and Guglielmo in Mozart’s Così fan tutte in Varna, Bulgaria.
Recent roles include Marcello in La bohème, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, the title role of Gianni Schicchi, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, the title role of Don Giovanni, Olin Blitch in Susannah, Monterone in Rigoletto, Tobias Mill in La cambiale di matrimonio, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, and Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking. This summer, Dr. Stinson will sing Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore for the Southern Illinois Music Festival and Leporello in Don Giovanni with Delaware Valley Opera.
Dr. Stinson is a past Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in and a recipient of the Bel Canto Award at the Orpheus National Voice Competition. Dr. Stinson is a Teaching Associate Professor of Voice and Director of Opera Theatre at the University of Arkansas.
Shayne Piles, baritone
Shayne Piles is a Missouri-based baritone who received his Masters in Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of Grammy Award winner Nathan Gunn. His most recent role was with the Ozarks Lyric Opera as Schaunard in Puccini’s La bohème. Piles made his South Bend Lyric Opera debut as The Father in the World Premiere of Paul Herman’s The Gift. While at Illinois, he performed the titular role in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. He has also performed roles in selected scenes including: Giorgio Germont from La Traviata, Falstaff from Falstaff, Rodrigo from Don Carlos, Rigoletto from Rigoletto, Count Capulet from Roméo et Juliette, and Escamillo from Carmen. He received his BM in Vocal Performance from Missouri State University studying under Chris Thompson. While at MSU he performed Jupiter in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, Jim in Conte’s Gift of the Magi, F. Scott Fitzgerald in Evan Mack’s Ghost of Gatsby, and Count Carl-Magnus Malcom in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music under the direction of Tony Award Nominee Robert Westenberg. With Ozarks Lyric Opera in Springfield, Missouri, under the artistic direction of Sean and Michael Spyres, Shayne was a featured performer at the OLO's 40th anniversary gala, and has performed the roles of: Montano and Heraldo in Verdi’s Otello, Maximillian in Bernstein’s Candide, Il Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Pa in Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land. Other performances include Sarastro in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Big Deal in Bernstein's West Side Story at the Bayview Music Festival in Petoskey, Michigan.
Traci Hall, keyboard
Traci Hall, pianist, has been accompanying and collaborating with vocalists, instrumentalists, ensembles, and choirs, as well as teaching piano students and serving as an instrumentalist for special events for over 40 years. She is currently the staff collaborative pianist for the Northwest Arkansas Community College, the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas, and the Community Music School, and is one of several freelance collaborative pianists who serve the University of Arkansas voice and instrumental students. She also serves as collaborative pianist for a number of regional junior high and high school choral programs and string studios. Traci and her husband enjoy spending time with their kids and young grandchildren.
Miranda Burns, violin
Miranda Burns is a violinist and teacher based in the Northwest Arkansas area. She teaches violin and viola to a wide range of students through her private studio and performs regularly with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra. Miranda holds a degree in Violin Performance from the University of Arkansas and a Master’s in Education from Georgetown College. She enjoys sharing her love for music with both her students and the community. She also enjoys occasionally sharing the stage with her husband, tenor Judd Burns.
Benjamin Weir, violin
Benjamin Weir is a violinist with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Aside from performing locally, he works with the Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as an instructor and conductor’s assistant, conducts for the Bentonville Community Orchestra, and teaches one-on-one violin lessons. Ben is currently pursuing a degree in violin performance at the University of Arkansas.
Molly Sharp, viola
Molly Sharp recently moved back to Fayetteville, AR, from Richmond, VA, where she was the Principal Violist of the Richmond Symphony for 31 years. She also taught viola at Virginia Commonwealth University and was the violist for the Oberon String Quartet. Molly is the creator of VlaTutti.com, which provides resources for violists that elevate teaching, learning, and performing through the joy of collaboration.
Molly received a Bachelor’s Degree from Vanderbilt University/Blair School of Music, studying with Kathryn Plummer. She received her Master’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Heidi Castleman and apprenticed with the Cavanni Quartet. In addition to playing with the Richmond Symphony, Molly has also been a member of the Nashville Symphony and the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra. Molly has played chamber music with many different groups and festivals, including the Chamber Music Festival of Central Virginia, Richmond Chamber Players, ACE (Atlantic Chamber Ensemble), the Fulbright Summer Chamber Music Series (Fayetteville, AR), the Cascade Music Festival (Bend, OR), and the Santa Fe Symphony Summer Series.
Recent highlights include joining the faculty and coaching chamber music at the Gettysburg Chamber Music Workshop and presenting at the American and International Viola Society Festival on the topic of A Trauma-Informed Approach to Pedagogy and Performance Anxiety. Molly was the Artist in Residence for the American Viola Society in January and February of 2024, and will present again at the AVS Festival in June 2026. Molly has performed at the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria, for the last two summers.
Tom King, cello
Alvin Thomas King is a cellist, luthier, and educator who holds an A.B. from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from Yale. A lifelong musician, he began his exploration of instrument making under the guidance of Willis M. Gault, a well-known violinmaker in the Washington, D.C. area. Over the years, Tom has studied with a number of master luthiers, including Deena Zalkind Spear, Geary Baese, Karl Roy, Carleen Hutchins, and Terry Borman, deepening his understanding of classical construction, varnishing, and tonal principles rooted in the Cremonese tradition. Tom operates a full service violin shop in downtown Fayetteville where he makes violins, violas, and cellos and provides repair services and tonal adjustments.
Tom and his wife, Jill, are passionate advocates for young people and are deeply committed to enriching the educational experiences of students from all walks of life. Their work—both in the arts and beyond—reflects a shared belief in the transformative power of mentorship and learning.
Garrett Jones, string bass
Through the years, bassist and Arkansas native Garrett Jones has performed for national and international touring acts including “The Official Blues Brothers Revue,” where he worked under the musical direction of Paul Shaffer, as well as Broadway touring productions of “West Side Story,” “Spam-a-Lot,” “Mean Girls,” and “Wicked.” His versatility as both an upright and electric bassist has allowed him to perform with a vast array of artists including The Vine Brothers, Joe Purdy, Opal Agafia, Candy Lee, Red Oak Ruse, Ashtyn Barbaree; as well as jazz ensembles including The Yaniv Taubenhouse Trio, The Jake Hertzog Trio, and VGM sensations The OneUps. He is also a regular performer with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra and works for SONA’s education outreach program as a guest clinician at many of the Northwest Arkansas regional schools. As a content producer, Garrett has featured musical groups and songwriters of a variety of backgrounds and performance styles through The Vine Brothers online channels. He served as the orchestra director for Arkansas Arts Academy for five years, and currently instructs at the University of Arkansas as well as Palmer String Studio teaching both upright and electric bass lessons. In 2024 he was recognized as bassist of the year by the Arkansas Country Music Awards.
Josue Avelar, bassoon
Josue Avelar is an active bassoonist in the Northwest Arkansas area. Josue teaches in the public school system as well as teaches privately. Whether it is playing with surrounding orchestras or doubling woodwinds with musical theater programs, Josue is always looking forward to making music!
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