Deah McReynolds
Artistic Director
Conductor, Stele & Voci de Lumina
dmcreynolds@luminayouthchoirs.net
Deah McReynolds holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida. Deah is Artistic Director for Lumina Youth Choirs. This diversified program of vocal arts sustains six choirs of boys and girls, grades 2 through early college, which perform locally, nationally, and internationally in choral festivals, concerts, and competition settings. She is the Conductor of Lumina Stele & Voci de Lumina. In 2018, she conducted the combined Lumina Youth Choirs in their debut performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
An active adjudicator and clinician, Deah regularly works with high school, middle school, and elementary school choirs, ensembles & solo musicians across the state of Florida. In addition to her work with young singers, Mrs. McReynolds is an Outreach and Education Conductor for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, bringing in-class workshops and formal concert experiences to over 1000 elementary students in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties each year. While attending USF, she conducted the USF Chamber Singers, Collegium, and Collegiate choirs.
Mrs. McReynolds is also adjunct Artist Faculty at The University of Tampa, currently teaching Studio Voice and University Treble Chorus. Deah has had the pleasure of singing with celebrated Broadway performers Kristin Chenoweth, Susan Egan, Allie Mauzey, and Kyle Dean Massey. She was a featured soloist with The Florida Orchestra in performances of Video Games RePlay and performed as a soloist twice for The Orchestra Sings educational outreach concerts, also with the Florida Orchestra. She is an active member of The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and has enjoyed singing as a soloist and with various ensembles throughout the Tampa Bay area for more than 30 years.
Kyla Knauer
Conductor, Aurora –
Mrs. Kyla Knauer is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Music Education. While at UCA, Ms. Bailey was the winner of the 2007 UCA Concerto Aria Competition and performed her winning selctions with the Conway Symphony Orchestra. She was then invited to represent UCA as a guest soloist with the Fujian Symphony Orchestra in Fuzhou, China during the Christmas season later that year.
Ms. Bailey has been with Hillsborough County Schools for 14 years and is currently the Elementary Music Teacher at Turner Bartels K-8 in North Tampa. Mrs. Knauer also serves the District as a member of the Hillsborough County Elementary Music Educators Council as well as co-sponsoring the Student Council at her own school. She currently conducts several performance groups at Turner Bartels including two choruses, Orff Ensemble, and World Drumming. She has been selected three times as a conductor for a Chorus in the Hillsborough County Fine Arts Festival. In 2013 she was voted Lanier Elementary's Teacher of the Year, and was then named a finalist for the 2013 Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year.
Judy Williams
Conductor, Amiaza
jwilliams@luminayouthchoirs.net
Judy Williams has a degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Saint Leo University. She has been teaching both elementary and secondary music in Hillsborough County since 2002 and currently serves as the Assistant Principal, Curriculum at Davidsen Middle School.
Judy has sung with the USF Chamber Singers, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and the St. Lawrence Chorale. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Florida Vocal Association, and the Florida Orchestra Association. She enjoys helping young people appreciate and understand the music in their lives, as well as molding a well-rounded education.
Luis Nuñez
Conductor, Serata
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Luis Nuñez received his Bachelor's in Music Education from The Florida State University. During his time at Florida State, he served as the President of the University Singers and was a member of Chamber Choir. Luis also studied both conducting and rehearsal techniques under Dr. Kevin Fenton, Dr. Judy Arthur, and Dr. Kari Adams.
An educator and a performer, Mr. Nuñez has placed first and third in the National Association for Teachers of Singing Southeast Region solo competitions and has performed as both soloist and choir member in distinguished venues around the world, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to historic theaters in Puerto Rico. He also is an active member of The Festival Singers of Florida, under the direction of Dr. Kevin Fenton.
Luis is a Lumina Youth Choir Alumni. He was a member of Serata and Voci de Lumina from 2016 to 2018 and returned as a Lumina intern for the 2018-2019 season. Mr. Nuñez is very excited to begin his new role and reunite with his LYC family. He hopes to help shape the next generation of young singers and provide them with lifelong musical memories. “
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Phil McReynolds
Accompanist
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Phil McReynolds received his Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Florida. Phil has also accompanied the Elementary All County Choir for the Hillsborough County Fine Arts Festival for seven years. Phil has performed extensively in the Tampa Bay Area, including playing with national touring musicals casts of The Radio City Music Hall Revue and Evita. Currently, he is employed as an Elementary Music Specialist at Stowers Elementary in Lithia, Florida.