Staff
Kaitlin Foley
Voice Teacher
Kaitlin Foley, soprano, has “emerged as one of the truly great musicians of this city” (Vocal Arts Chicago). With her “vocal gleam and fiery dramatic involvement” (Chicago Classical Review) and her “absolute technical security” (John von Rhein), Ms. Foley is a versatile performer with an ear for early and new music. She has sung with the Haymarket Opera Company, Grant Park Chorus, Third Coast Baroque, Ensemble Dal Niente, and is a founding member of the genre-bending female vocal trio Artemisia. Foley recently debuted as a soloist with the Grant Park Chorus and Orchestra on Schubert’s Mass in G. Through various cultural exchange programs including Village Harmony and SongRoots, she has studied non-Western vocal traditions in Corsica, Republic of Georgia, Cuba, and Appalachia. She achieved her M.M. in Voice Performance from DePaul University and completed her undergraduate work in music education at the University of Missouri. Ms. Foley is a Vocal Artist in Residence at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. She equally enjoys teaching and performing, and directs various choirs and teaches voice at People’s Music School, The Musical Offering, Rockefeller Chapel, Women of Note, and Niles West High School.
Cole Seaton
Voice Teacher
Cole Seaton, Lyric Tenor, is an active performer, singer, and educator. He is a professional member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus where he holds the position of Tenor Section Leader. He has a long association with the CSO Education and Community Outreach programs at the South Shore Cultural Center and the Symphony Center in Chicago. For 18 years he has been a Governor on the National Board of Governors for AGMA, The American Guild of Musical Artists, the union which represents professional classical choristers, soloists and opera singers, Ballet dancers and Stage Managers across the country. Mr. Seaton is a tenor soloist and section leader at the historic Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago on Michigan Ave. and at Chicago Sinai Congregation’s in downtown Chicago. He received his formal training and degree in vocal and opera performance at the Cleveland Institute & Conservatory of Music. He has appeared as tenor soloist in numerous national television and radio broadcasts.
Mr. Seaton maintains voice studios in downtown Chicago, at Niles North and Niles West High School in Skokie and at Evanston Township High School. He has been an adjudicator with the Chicago Public Schools and various state districts for the ILMEA District and State Choral competition, Cole has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Berlin Staatskapelle at Carnegie Hall in New York. Mr. Seaton sang on the 2010-2011 Grammy Award winning recording of Verdi’s Requiem with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. He can also be heard on the soundtrack of Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award nominated movie “Lincoln". For more info about Mr. Seaton's musical life and groups, visit his website at coleseatonmusic.com
Kelsey Sandefur
Voice Teacher
Kelsey Sandefur will be stepping in for Ms. Foley as she takes a parental leave from ETHS!
Kelsey Sandefur, soprano, is at the launching point of an exciting career. A Chicago native, Miss Sandefur holds a Master of Music degree in Voice and Opera Performance from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance with a Minor in Theatre from Ball State University. She has performed operatic roles such as Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), The Witch (Hansel and Gretel), and both Marcellina and Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro); she has also covered the roles of Mimì (La Bohème) and Mother (David T. Little's Dog Days). Her theatrical roles have included Mrs. Meers (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Mae “Mama” Peterson (Bye Bye Birdie, Juror #9 (Twelve Angry Men), and Betty (David Ives's All in the Timing/Sure Thing). In addition to her stage work, Miss Sandefur is a soloist and section leader at Kenilworth Union Church and has been teaching private voice lessons for about eight years. Though most of her performance experience has been in opera and musical theatre, Miss Sandefur loves to teach all genres! She has taught her students repertoire including jazz, art song, pop, R&B, alternative, country, and of course, opera and musical theatre. Miss Sandefur’s goal is to expand upon each student's vocal, musical, and dramatic skills so that they are able to perform beautifully, confidently, and with their own unique voice.
Ray Vergara
Voice Teacher
Ray Vergara, Baritone/Bass, has been teaching music since 2015. Mr. Vergara or Mr. V earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Northeastern Illinois University. His calm and patient approach with voice lessons benefits all singers, whether they are preparing for competitions or trying to sing for the first time! Mr. Vergara's background is singing classical music, and he believes that the techniques used for classical singing promotes healthy singing. Vergara works with students to transfer a classical-style approach of singing to bring a healthy quality of singing to any other style students want to learn. Although Mr. Vergara does not perform much as a soloist, he remains heavily involved with music personally and professionally. Mr. V enjoys playing the piano, and he has accompanied students during competitions and performances. He also works with Evanston Township High School's musicals as a rehearsal accompanist!