Soprano
Cindy Cockerell has been performing with Cantare since 2012. Her experience includes local musical theater and church groups for over 20 years. She and her husband have three children and six grandchildren. Her interests include health, fitness and science.
Jessica Dickens lives in Pollock Pines with her husband and 6-year old son. Jessica
began singing at age 12 and has performed with many choral groups, including the Sunnyvale Valley Chorale, Valley Choral Society and UC Davis University Chorus. She enjoys true crime
books, crossword puzzles and making people laugh.
Joyce Hoagland, a retired English teacher, has been musical since singing in her church children’s choir. Playing piano, guitar, and singing duets with her twin sister led to symphonic and marching bands, instrumental ensembles, and more. She now sings with Cantare, her church choir and plays clarinet in the Sierra Symphony Orchestra. She’s a 17-year resident of the area.
Linda Ford Hughes, a retired schoolteacher, has been singing in choral groups since elementary school. She joined Cantare in 2010. She and husband, Floyd, are active in the
Placerville Church of the Nazarene and enjoy traveling.
Rachel Lum lives in Placerville with her partner and pups and joined Cantare in 2022. She is a classically-trained soprano with a broad international performance background, including choirs, a capella, musical theater, chamber music, and operatic productions. Rachel spends her free time surrounded by trees, music and laughter.
Natalia J. Martynenko grew up in Brazil where she studied classical piano and voice. She came to America in the 80's, taught private music lessons and later worked as a music teacher in public schools for 10 years. She loves to perform in weddings and special events and sing a cappella in her church choir. She also enjoys singing in different languages like Portuguese in Bossa Nova style!
Carrie Penaloza, soprano, joined Cantare in 2015. Born in Napa, residing many years outside California, she returned to Shingle Springs in 2010. Involved since childhood in choruses, church choirs and community chorales, she has two grown children. She enjoys music/singing, dancing, travel, and reading.
Alto
Ann Hoyt, alto, grew up in San Jose where, in addition to singing in high school, college, and church choirs, she sang in the Santa Clara Chorale. She and her husband and four sons relocated to El Dorado Hills in 1999. They now have three grandsons who live locally. Ann recently retired after 42 years as a dental hygienist.
Judy Hunt-Brown. Music has been important throughout her life. She played the piano, sang in choirs, and graduated from SDSU with a degree in Music. Following a career in education as a teacher and elementary school principal, she is now reestablishing her musical roots as a third year Cantare member.
Kathy Keleshian grew up California and the Bay Area. She now lives in Shingle
Springs. Her family includes husband, Phil, daughter, son, and seven wonderful grandchildren who live in the area. She worked in education and is retired. She sang in high school, college and church choirs in addition to Cantare.
Natalia J. Martynenko grew up in Brazil where she studied classical piano and voice. She came to America in the 80's, taught private music lessons and later worked as a music teacher in public schools for 10 years. She loves to perform in weddings and special events and sing a cappella in her church choir. She also enjoys singing in different languages like Portuguese in Bossa Nova style!
Ruth O’Shea moved from South Carolina to Shingle Springs with her husband in 1986. A Registered Nurse with a Master’s Degree in Nursing from Emory University, retired and serves as a Faith Community Nurse at the Church of the Nazarene. Ruth joined Cantare in 1994 and is President of the corporation.
Donna Trevino born in Kansas, raised in Sacramento vacationed at Sly Park often. She and husband, Ed, consider this area just about as close to perfect as a location can get and moved here in 1980 to raise their two boys. She teaches at El Dorado High.
Tenor
Alex Grambo received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Pacific. His performing experience includes Music Circus, Sacramento Master Singers, and the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. He is the Music Director at Northminster Presbyterian Church and the Secondary Music Teacher at John Adams Academy, El Dorado Hills.
Dr. Douglas Rose served as a department chair and professor of choral music in several institutions in a career spanning more than 30 years. He has also sung with professional choirs in Canada and the United States. Having just moved to California (with his wife Linda and son Nathan) he is pleased to have found Cantare as a place to share his love for choral singing.
Curtis Sanders played musical instruments in high school and rediscovered the joy of performing music many years later. He has since sung and played musical instruments in several community groups. Curtis began per-forming choral music with the Folsom Lake College Choir in 2017. He hopes to expand his knowledge and ability to play different instruments.
Bass
Paul Hoagland is new to Cantare in 2022. Paul has been singing all his life, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music, and has led both instrumental and vocal music in school, community and church organizations. Paul currently directs the choir at Foothills United Methodist Church in Rescue, CA.
Stanley Price learned to sing in mid-life with the Gold Rush Chorus, Placerville. He sang with the SCSO for 10 years under Donald Kendrick. His musical tastes are "omnivorous”, and his favorite music is "live music". Cantare needs Stanley because of a severe beard shortage.
Al Woods had been a member of Cantare since 2011, has been involved in choral singing since elementary school. He has also sung in gospel quartets and mixed quartets. Al holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and worked in the aerospace industry prior to arriving in Placerville
in 2009.