Vocal
Gloria Cuadrado received her Bachelors Degree in Vocal Music Education from Loyola University in New Orleans and her Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green where she studied with Argentinean concert pianist Sylvia Kersenbaum. Mrs.Cuadrado has taught General Music, Chorus, and Drama in New Orleans area schools for over 25 years, and is currently teaching 1st through 8th grade General Music and Chorus at Kehoe-France School in Metairie. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators National Conference, and the Choristers Guild and has accompanied and served as vocal director for over 40 musical theater and opera productions in New Orleans, Slidell, and Bowling Green, KY. She has been the organist/choir director at Old Metairie Protestant Church for 30 years as well as the organist/choir director at Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church for the past 18 years. Mrs. Cuadrado has been an accompanist and vocal coach for NOCCA’s Saturday Vocal Workshop and summer sessions since the Fall of 2003 and will currently be accompanying the new NOCCA Regional Chorus.
A native of Sunset, Louisiana, also teaches classes in choral conducting, musicianship, aural skills, music history, music theory, and piano.
Mr. James earned the B.M.E. from Loyola University New Orleans, graduating summa cum laude, and the M.M. from Louisiana State University, Program in Choral Conducting. As an undergraduate student, Mr. James was awarded the first Theodore Presser Award and Scholarship by the College of Music faculty for academic and performance excellence. Mr. James is currently satisfying the requirements for the D.M.A., Program in Choral Conducting. His music teaching experience prior to NOCCA includes positions at Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans. Mr. James’ professional affiliations include: American Choral Directors Association; College Music Society; Louisiana Music Educators Association; National Association of Pastoral Musicians (National Council Representative); National Association of Teachers of Singing; National Collegiate Choral Organization; Music Educators National Conference; and National Educators Association. Mr. James serves as Coordinator of Music Ministry and Conductor of the Adult Liturgical Choir at St. Francis Xavier Church. He also conducts the Children’s Choirs at St. Francis Xavier School in Metairie, Louisiana.
Receiving her B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Piano Performance from the University of New Orleans and M.M. Piano Pedagogy from Louisiana State University, Anne Sumich has been an accompanist, teacher and church organist from the age of 16. She has rehearsal accompanist for the Augusta Opera for three years, during which she performed in the opera chorus in Carmen. While at the University of New Orleans, she played the piano score for Gian-Carlo Menotti’s opera The Medium with the composer in attendance. Anne has played at recitals and numerous locations including: Natchesz Opera, Genghis Khan Restaurant with violinist and concertmaster for the New Orleans Philharmonic Henry Lee, Covenant Presbyterian Church, St. Francis Xavier Church and Gates of Prayer Synagogue. Currently, Anne performs each summer in City Park’s Twilight Concert Series, is organist at Holy Name of Mary in Algiers and maintains a private teaching studio.
Receiving her B.M. and M.M. in vocal performance from Loyola University of New Orleans, Phyllis Treigle made her professional debut with the New Orleans Opera Association as Flora Bervoix in “La Traviata,” in 1980. She was a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio in the early 1980’s, and appeared in several roles with Houston Grand Opera, including Bekhetaten in the American premiere of “Akhnaten.” Ms. Treigle subsequently appeared with the New York City Opera, Dublin Grand Opera Society, New Orleans Opera (“Der Fliegende Holländer”), Pittsburgh Opera (both heroines in Tito Capobianco’s production of “Mefistofele”), Sarasota Opera Association (“The Turn of the #####,” Rosalinde von Eisenstein in “Die Fledermaus,” Mina in “Aroldo,” Amelia in “Un Ballo in Maschera,” and Amelia Grimaldi in both versions of “Simon Boccanegra”), The New Opera Theatre, Skylight Opera Theare (Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni,” directed by Francesca Zambello), Wolf Trap Opera Company (“Transformations” and “Postcard from Morocco”), Eugene Opera, New York Opera Repertory Theatre, Pennsylvania Opera Theatre, and Jefferson Performing Arts Society (“Susannah,” opposite Michael Devlin). She also sang the first New Orleans performance of “Sãvitri” and “La Voix Humaine.” In 1997, the singer-actress portrayed the title role in the original production of Cherubini’s “Médée” for Opera Quotannis at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, which was later recorded on CD by Newport Classic. Ms. Treigle has been teaching in the vocal music division at NOCCA since 2001, and has been the head of the vocal music division since 2006.