Committed to excellence in vocal performance and offering our audiences an exceptional listening experience…
“Ear Candy for the Soul”
Jessica Wright - Soprano
Jessica was born in a multi-generational music loving family. From infancy to girl bands to choirs in school and church, her soul resides with music. If she wasn’t writing, directing, and producing musicals for her neighborhood she was acting on stage as often as possible. Jessica continues with this passion performing with the Idaho Falls Opera Theatre on whose Board she currently serves. She has enjoyed several leading roles throughout her life and most recently her roles as Gretel in IFOT’s production of Hansel & Gretel, Cinderella in the musical Into The Woods and Rita in Lucky Stiff. Her favorite role, however, is being a mother and wife to three wonderful children and her doting husband, Sam.
Nykele Shapiro - Soprano
Nykele grew up with music being, in a way, a love language. Singing together was often the only times she and her elder brother got along. A certain peace and joy can envelope those striving to be of one sound and focus, especially in a choral setting. Singing with Octavoce+ has been an exhilarating reminder of this joy of producing beautiful sounds. With three little kiddos keeping her on her toes, she’s trying to stay involved with music as much as she can. Nykele received her Bachelor’s of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from BYU-Idaho. She performed in a variety of opera scenes concerts, as well as portrayed Elizabeth in Savior of the World. She, alongside her darling husband, Adam, recently performed as the smitten lovers in HMS Pinefore, through Idaho Falls Opera Theater. In IFOT’s 2022 production of Into The Woods, she played the role of Rapunzel.
Joelle Willmore - Mezzo
Joelle graduated from Utah State University with a degree in
Vocal Performance. Joelle has enjoyed singing with Anam Cara and the Virginia Symphony Chorus as well as playing leading roles in the Sound of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Signor Deluso, Old Maid and the Thief, La Vida Breve, The Bartered Bride, Carmen, Hansel and Gretel, among others. She has enjoyed working with children in Cache Valley Children’s Choir Vocal Camp. She most recently performed in Into the Woods as the Witch. When Joelle isn’t singing, she is enjoying time with her husband RJ and their four beautiful children.
Megan Scott - Mezzo
Megan Scott (mezzo soprano) studied music at Arizona State and has her bachelor’s in music education (vocal/choral). She has been a member of Anam Cara and was a soloist with its production of Handel’s Dixit Dominus. While music will always be her first love, her musical career currently plays second string to her family: 7 amazing children, and her fantastic husband, Thomas. They live in the country with some rabbits, too many chickens, and a turkey. Her hobbies include binge reading, collecting and caring for houseplants, and doing at least 3 loads of laundry daily. When she isn’t keeping up with the needs of her family, Megan loves singing, playing the piano, and arranging music.
Adam Shapiro - Tenor
Adam Shapiro (tenor) loves to sing and can be caught regularly singing in the shower. In high school, after hearing him perform in a church production, his sisters were shocked to realize he sounded kinda good. They then bullied him into joining choir. From then on, he was drawn to singing and it became a part of him. As a Mechanical Engineer, his coworkers are baffled when they learn that he is an enthusiastic vocalist. While attending BYU-Idaho he enjoyed the peace brought by the hour spent in Collegiate Singers every day. Through that choir he and his wife had amazing experiences, including traveling to Ghana, Africa and performing with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. More recently, he played a love stricken sailor in HMS Pinefore beside his wife. Although he did not get to smooch her on stage, he had a blast with this role. He is a goofball and brings laughter and joy to all he’s around. Especially his kids.
Alex Withers - Tenor
Alex graduated with a BM in Vocal Performance in 2014 from BYU-Idaho where he had the opportunity to perform in countless opera scenes, barbershop quartets, and with the Collegiate singers as they toured in places like Alaska, Seattle, and Ghana. While at BYU-Idaho he sang as tenor soloist for the premier of Bring Forth My Zion, a new oratorio by K. Newell Dayley. Since graduation he has participated in a number of church and community choirs. Captain Von Trapp in the Rigby, Idaho production of The Sound of Music. His favorite musical experience occurred in 2019, when he was invited to Aberdeen, Scotland as Tenor Soloist for a new oratorio written by Doctor Mike Merrill, and performed by the Choir of King’s College, Aberdeen. When he isn’t singing you can (or can’t) find him in the mountains outside of cell service.
Phillip Marlowe - Baritone
Phillip Marlowe has been singing his whole life, but enjoys many different activities. Phil has extensive experience on stage in operatic and musical theatre productions and has performed frequently in the southeast United States as well as in Europe. Additionally, he holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Tennessee (Vol for Life), and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Idaho State University. He has engaged in several video and audio production projects and enjoys the many aspects of digital media design. He has served on the Board of Directors and as President for Tennessee Valley Players in Knoxville, Tenn., and was a resident artist with Knoxville Opera and Shreveport Opera. Figaro from The Barber of Seville is his favorite operatic role; not only is it a favorite to sing, but he sees himself as a factotum—just like the character. Now, he is a Physician Assistant at Idaho Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Idaho Falls. He holds a Master of Health Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies and is a member of the Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants. Phil has recently enjoyed returning to his hometown of Idaho Falls, although, it is a little colder than he remembers!
Mark Kerback - Baritone
Mark Kerback (baritone) is the founder of OctaVocé+ and has sung in choirs since his college days at Brown University and Oberlin Conservatory where he studied trombone, conducting, and music education. He played trombone professionally and taught music – choral and instrumental – at the high school level before entering the business world. He has conducted church choirs and various instrumental ensembles. He is a member and President of the Board of Anam Cara and on the Board of The Idaho Falls Opera Theater and enjoys performing with both organizations. He has played rock ‘n roll guitar since his youth and enjoys jamming with the Eastern Idaho Jazz Society. He has three daughters and two granddaughters and enjoys living with his wife Vera in Idaho Falls.
Ruth Schweitzer - Pianist
Born and raised in California, Ruth Schweitzer began piano lessons at age five. As she progressed she enjoyed accompanying her parents who sang together often in her father’s church. In high school she briefly studied organ and played for church services until she left for college. She majored in music at BIOLA University where she met her future husband Dale (who claims to have taught her everything she knows…) and after graduation became the staff accompanist for several years. After thirty plus years managing the medical education department at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, she and Dale retired in 2020 and moved to Idaho Falls. They really enjoy the beauty of this area and having the time to travel. Ruth is so honored to be accompanying such accomplished singers as well as so many opportunities for she and Dale to perform piano duets.