Elise Naccarato could sing before she could talk! As a voice student at McMaster University, she has achieved many musical accomplishments such as: receiving the “Adjudicator’s Award” for best soloist at the Chicago Heritage Music Festival in Chicago (2010), singing at Carnegie Hall as part of the American National Youth Choir (2011), being a member of Opera Hamilton’s youth chorus (La Boheme 2010 and Cavalleria Rusticana 2011), a member of the Hamilton Children’s Choir, and a regular guest soloist with the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir (2011/2012). Most recently, Elise has joined the musical ensemble, Arcady, as a singer, soloist, and assistant to Arcady’s Artistic Director, Ron Beckett.

Elise resides in Burlington, Ontario, and is also very involved with music in her community as a member of her church choir, a volunteer with the Hamilton Children’s Choir and as a Teaching Assistant for a first-year music course at McMaster. Her volunteerism in the arts led to her being one of the 2011 recipients of the prestigious Max Rotman Humanitarian Youth Award.

Paula Thomas is a soprano from St. Thomas, Ontario, where she began studying voice and piano, and sang with the St. Thomas Youth Choir. She continued to study with Richard Cunningham at McMaster University where she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Music and a Performance Diploma in 2012. Paula is now studying with Lesley Andrew in London Ont. and singing with the Grand River Chorus, Choral Connection, and the choir at First United in St. Thomas where she is assistant music director and a frequent soloist. Paula began her performing career in 1999 with the travelling contemporary Christian harmony group “Circle of Friends”” She has a wide variety of musical interests which include providing music for weddings, church services, and dinner music. She also sings with a Niagara-based Motown revue. Paula has a growing voice and piano studio in St. Thomas. She hopes to continue teaching and working with children. Paula feels extremely honoured to starting her post-university career with Arcady’s Young Artist Program.

To see our past Young Artists click here.