Ms. Sophie Taillefer – Vocal Coach and Stage Director
Sophie Taillefer is a mezzo-soprano from Montreal, who now resides in Bordentown NJ. She came to the United States in 1998 with the invitation to study at the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Since then, she has entertained audiences in many venues.
While living in Canada, Ms. Taillefer added many roles to her repertoire. At Opera McGill, she sang Tisbe in La Cenerentola, La Principessa in Suor Angelica, Hata in Smetana’s Prodana Neviesta, as well as La mort in Le Rossignol and La mère in Mavra, both by Stravinsky. In Toronto, she interpreted a touching performance of Gertrude in Thomas’ Hamlet with the Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. She was soloist for “L’orchestre du Nouveau Monde” in Mozart’s Requiem. At the Mountain View festival of song in Alberta, she performed Notturno by Strauss and Les trois chansons de Bilitis by Debussy. At AVA, she performed the roles of Maddalena in Rigoletto, Flora in La Traviata and Florence in Albert Herring. In 2000, at the Academy of Music of Philadelphia, she performed in the Brava Philadelphia concert, where she interpreted the role of Nicklausse in Les contes d’Hoffmann. In 2002, she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Pacific Opera. Ms. Taillefer has sung with several American companies. At the Ash-Lawn Highland Opera Festival, she sang the role of Hattie in Kiss me Kate. She sang the title role in Carmen with the Bismarck Symphony Orchestra. She was a Resident Artist at Natchez Opera where she performed the role of the Third Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute. With the Chautauqua Opera, she performed the role of Hebe in H.M.S. Pinafore and was featured in a French Concert with the Chautauqua Symphony. She sang the role of Katisha in The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan with the Lyric Opera of Cleveland. She also performed her solo recital called “La Belle Époque” for many French Alliances including Charlottesville, Cleveland, Buffalo, New Orleans and Philadelphia. She was a soloist in the Saint-Saëns’s Christmas Oratorio for the Delaware Westminster Choir. She has also sung the role of Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana with the Regina Opera of Brooklyn.
Sophie Taillefer’s latest creative venture is as the founder and director of Rising Stars Voice Studio, where she transmits her love of music to the younger generation. Sophie has directed her Rising Stars in many shows including The Pirates of Penzance, Kiss Me Kate, Les Miserables, Beauty and The Beast, Annie and Sweeney Todd. This year she will be directing Les Miserables and the famous Beauty and the Beast at the Scottish Rite Hall in New Jersey. A magnificent mezzo-soprano, Sophie Taillefer gives depth to every character she plays, and knows how to captivate an audience. She continues to share her love for French music all over the United States and Canada.
Mr. Kahlil V. Gunther
Kahlil V. Gunther holds a Masters Degree in Music from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Since 1995, he has served as the Director of Choral Activities at Woodstown High School where his ensembles regularly receive Superior ratings at festivals and competitions. He has worked extensively as a performing pianist, accompanist, musical director and vocal coach.
Becky Brodowski – Choreographer
Rebecca Brodowski is in her second year as a Dance Major attending Mercer County Community College where she is currently studying Ballet, Choreography, and Modern dance.
This past summer Rebecca was the Choreographer for the Christian Community Choir’s Junior Christian Arts & Music Program.
Rebecca is an alumni of the Rising Stars Voice Studio.
Louise
An alumni of Trenton State College, Louise brings a life long passion of music and the performing arts to Rising Stars. A former student of voice, dance, choir, and modeling, this mother of three believes every child has a voice, with confidence and determination the world is your stage!
Megan Malfi
Megan Malfi is a mezzo-soprano from Eastampton, NJ. She is in her first year at Rider University’sWestminster College of the Arts where she is majoring in Music Theatre. She is currently studying voice,acting, ballet, and piano. Megan has been asked by Rider faculty to work as a tutor for the next group of incoming freshmen in Music Theory. She hopes to graduate in 2015 and obtain a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre. She has previously studied voice with Sophie Taillefer.
As an alumnus of Rising Stars, Megan took part in many Rising Stars productions. Most notably, she played Fantine in Les Miserables, Lois Lane/Bianca in Kiss Me Kate, and Ruth in Pirates of Penzance. In Holy Cross High School productions, Megan’s roles included Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Luisa in The Fantasticks, Balthasar in Much Ado About Nothing, and Lady Thiang in The King and I. Most recently she was a part of Burlington County Footlighters’ Intern Company where she helped create the script for Horror Stories and played the roles of Madame Dark and Sam Green.
Julianne Schaub
Julianne is in her junior year atLenapeHigh School, inMedford,NJ. She LOVES Musical Theater and is planning on majoring in Musical Theater in college and preparing for a career on Broadway!
Julianne has performed in dozens of shows with several Theater Companies inSouthern NJincluding Mt. Laurel STEP theater; Moorestown Theater Company; Voorhees Theater Company;MainstageCenterfor the Arts; Haddonfield Plays and Players; Lenape High School Theater and her current favorite company, Rising Stars!!
Julianne has taken classes in Musical Theater at the Walnut Street Theater inPhiladelphia; Haddonfield Plays and Players and Broadway Bootcamp. She has been taking private voice lessons for 5 years. She sings inLenapeHigh School’s Concert Choir and Chamber Choir and Cantors at the Teen Mass at St Joan ofArcChurchin Marlton. She has had training in ballet and jazz with Little Creek Ballet Company and Core Academy of Movement.
Julianne will next be on stage in March, inLenapeHigh School’s production of Wizard of Oz and in Rising Stars’ production on Seussical in the summer.
Julianne loves children and is thrilled to introduce them to Musical Theater
