Board of Directors

Lucy grew up in Pacific Grove and loved it, but was eager to experience a four-season climate. After finishing a degree in biology at Sacramento State, she spent two years studying limnology in Sweden.She had the great pleasure of singing with Allmana Songen in Uppsala, Sweden for two years and touring in Europe. An MA from San Francisco State led to teaching in Japan and then at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is content to be back in PG, where it never snows, and especially to be singing with I Cantori di Carmel.

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 has built a career that bridges two worlds: the energy of the symphony hall and the drama of the operatic stage. He began his musical journey as a conductor, developing a deep foundation in orchestral repertoire that continues to shape his work today. His conducting career spans the great masters from Brahms and Mendelssohn to Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and 20th-century innovators. His commitment to choral excellence is reflected in performances of works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Puccini, and Kodály.

After first establishing himself on the podium, Henriks went on to build an acclaimed international career as a dramatic baritone. He performed at leading opera houses including Staatsoper Stuttgart, Oper Köln, Oper Zürich, Theater an der Wien, and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, earning praise for his dynamic artistry and powerful stage presence.

Festival appearances at the Wiener Festwochen, Festival Mozart Coruña, and the Edinburgh Festival, as well as performances at the Cologne Philharmonic and Konzerthaus Dortmund, helped shape his international profile. His performances have also been broadcast on Norddeutscher Rundfunk.

A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Hochschule für Musik Hannover, Henriks now brings a conductor's vision and a vocalist's sensitivity to the podium, combining the emotional depth of opera with the expansive energy of the symphonic repertoire.

Offstage, he is an avid pilot, coastal hiker, and lover of good Rhône wines.