Board of Directors

Music has been part of Mike's life since age six, when he first sang as a boy soloist in his church's rich a cappella and sacred music tradition. In high school he performed leading roles in The Red Mill, Show Boat, and Oklahoma! and later spent three years in Gustavus Adolphus college a cappella concert choir. After seminary and graduate studies, Mike built a distinguished career in health-policy, health services research, geriatric program development, and executive leadership across medical schools, medical practices, health-care systems, and created one of the nation's first assisted-living companies. He has served on several nonprofit and corporate boards, including the Monterey Symphony. Mike returned to choral singing through the Monterey Symphony Chorus and the San José Symphonic Choir and completed intensive bel canto training in Bologna with a professional opera singer. He now brings his lifelong musical passion and organizational leadership to I Cantori, where he serves as Vice President.

Alexa grew up on the stage of the Stuttgart State Theatre in Germany performing with the children's opera chorus before moving to Carmel as a teenager. She earned her Bachelor of Music in opera performance, and returned to Germany to work as a freelance opera singer and actress. She has premiered works by Ulrich Rasche and performed in many children's operas from Jonathan Dove to Jaques Offenbach. She has worked with directors Achim Freyer, Enrico Lübbe and Peter Konwitschny to name a few. Her most influential teachers were Richard Cassilly, Patricia Craig and Helene Schneiderman. After many years of working in the art world as an art appraiser and auctioneer in Europe, she is happy to be back in Carmel and singing again with I Cantori di Carmel. In her spare time, Alexa and her husband enjoy hiking with their dog Bonsai and flying small airplanes.

Liz's background includes strong experience in the performing arts. She was a member of the renowned professional choral group Woodley Ensemble, a guest artist with Tallis Scholars and Cambridge Singers, and sang with the Charleston Bach Soloists, the Charleston Renaissance Ensemble, and the Washington Bach Consort.  Her arts experience extends beyond performance to management, and she has served as the Executive Director of the Washington Bach Consort and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center, the Contemporary Music Forum, and the Virginia Choral Society. She was the Director of Public Relations for the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Director of Public Relations and Programs for the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, where she was the head of programs and public relations for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. During her 12 years with the Department of Agriculture, Liz managed the grants program, which assisted non-profits working in food security. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Monterey Symphony.

Born and raised right here on the Monterey Peninsula, Riley Brearton is a local musician and educator who strives to inspire the next generation of young artists. He teaches private lessons to students of all ages, and has enjoyed singing with I Cantori since January 2025. Through his experience in backstage work and various theater departments, Riley is excited to join the board as Director of Operations. In his free time, you can find Riley writing songs, cooking, or hiking!

Semi is a transnational soul who grew up in Korea and has since found a home in California. Along the way, she earned her PhD in Maryland and began her career as an assistant professor and educational measurement specialist. Music has been a lifelong companion—she has sung across genres and played instruments including the flute, acoustic guitar, and drums. She joined I Cantori in Fall 2022 and is delighted to lend her voice to the ensemble. 

Katie was born and raised in Marina. She has been a musician for nearly two decades. She has played in multiple ensembles, starting out as a viola player but eventually joined concert band and choir as well. Music became an all-consuming passion at a young age and continues to drive her to this day. Katie started singing with I Cantori di Carmel in 2021 and it has quickly become her favorite group to perform with. She is currently working as a private music teacher at a music studio in Gilroy. In her spare time, Katie can be found with a needlepoint project or with a book.

Daniel Henriks is Artistic Director and Conductor of I Cantori di Carmel and serves as an ex officio member of the Board. He conducted his first symphony at age 13 and later founded the Junge Philharmonie Ruhr in Germany before building an international career as a dramatic baritone. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Hochschule für Musik Hannover, he performed at leading European opera houses and concert venues including Staatsoper Stuttgart, Oper Köln, Oper Zürich, Theater an der Wien, and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Drawing on his experience on both the podium and the operatic stage, Daniel now leads I Cantori and its professional orchestra in repertoire spanning the choral, symphonic, and operatic traditions.