Mercersburg Area Community Chorus

Kara Goodrich

Kara Goodrich, soprano, is from Philadelphia and a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts. She attended The Eastman School of Music for her undergraduate degree followed by the University of Michigan for her Master’s degree.

Recently, Kara made her role debut as Mimi in La Boheme, Pamina in The Magic Flute, and Micaela in Carmen. Other operatic roles she has performed include Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rusalka in Rusalka, Anna in Le Villi, Juliette in Romeo et Juliette, Conception in L’here Espagnole, and Fiordiligi in Cosí fan tutte. In addition to AVA some of the opera companies Kara has worked for include Philadelphia Opera, Annapolis Opera, Utah Festival Opera and more.

Kara has performed as the soprano soloist in Bach’s Magnificat with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Upper Dublin Choristers. She also appeared as the soloist in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with The University of Michigan Symphonic Orchestra. December 2018, Kara was the first place recipient of the Kennett Square Symphony Orchestra Competition. In 2019 she received the Alphonso Cavaliere Memorial Award in Philadelphia. Kara has also appeared as the soloist in the Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem and Handel's Messiah with The Choristers.

Allison Deady

Allison Deady, mezzo soprano, is a captivating young operatic performer. Hailing from Philadelphia, Allison has an exciting season ahead of her. She will be seen as a Resident Artist at Dayton Opera and will be covering Berta at San Jose Opera. 

Known for her comedic roles, Allison has performed such favorites as Mrs. McClean (Susannah), Tisbe (la Cenerentola), Ruth (Pirates of Penzance), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Marcellina (le nozze di Figaro), and Lola (Cavalleria rusticana). 

A champion of new works, Ms. Deady has premiered numerous operas starting with Speed Dating, Tonight! by composer Michael Ching, and Sister Carrie written by Grammy-winner Robert Aldridge. Last season she worked with Wilmington Concert Opera on their world premier of Girondines, an exciting new work about women of the French revolution. Recently, Ms. Deady workshop & filmed Lily by Garth Baxter. She was also seen in the premiering cast of Omar, a new work by Michael Abels & Rhiannon Giddens.

Luke Norvell

Luke Norvell, tenor, is from Tacoma, Washington, and is a graduate of The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California. He is currently a fourth-year resident artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His previous and upcoming roles include Eisenstein, Die Fledermaus, Clyde Opera Group and Independent Opera Company; Alfredo, La traviata (cover) Landmark Opera; King Kaspar, Amahl and the Night Visitors; Azaël, The Prodigal Son (cover) and Prince Charming, Cinderella, Lyric Opera of Orange County; title role in Faust (cover), Valley Opera and Performing Arts; Die Knusperhexe, Hänsel und Gretel, Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, LAH-SOW; Count Vaudémont; Loge, Das Rheingold and Prince in Rusalka, LAH-SOW, Fenton, Falstaff; Puget Sound Concert Opera; Alfredo in La traviata, Clyde Opera Group.

Brandon Bell

Brandon Bell, baritone, is from Suffolk, Virginia, currently in his second year as a Resident Artist with Pittsburgh Opera. Previous seasons include performances with Pittsburgh Opera, Santa Fe Opera, the Brooklyn Art Song Society, and the Salt Creek Song Festival, Mr. Bell's upcoming season sees performances with Pittsburgh Opera, Cincinnati Song Initiative, and the Santa Clara Chorale.

This past season, he made his role debut as Marcello in La bohème with Borderland Arts Foundation, sang Moralès in Carmen with Virginia Opera, and made a “propitious” role and house debut as the Baker in Into the Woods with Union Avenue Opera (KDHX), which showed Bell’s “strong dramatic baritone” (Broadway World) and “expressive acting and strong vocals” (PopLifeSTL). In concert, Mr. Bell made his Santa Clara Chorale debut as the soloist in Margaret Bond’s Credo and presented Gregory Spears’s Walden with the Cincinnati Song Initiative and Salt Creek Song Festival. Upcoming engagements include singing Wagner in Faust with Heartbeat Opera, Mozart's Requiem with the Mercersberg Area Community Chorus, and a performance with Brooklyn Art Song Society of Carlos Simon’s American Sonnets. In the summer of 2025, Mr. Bell joins Marlboro Music Festival as a musician in residence.