Soprano Lauren Athey-Janka is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, where she teaches applied voice, vocal pedagogy, vocal literature, and diction courses with nearly 20 years of classical voice teaching experience. Her impressive international presence includes teaching positions at Opera Viva! in Verona and the Florence Voice Seminar in Italy, masterclasses at prestigious institutions like Het Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and former faculty positions at Westminster Choir College, West Chester University, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Ms. Athey-Janka's students have achieved remarkable success, performing with major opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne Opera, and numerous European theaters, while winning competitions such as the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and the Lotte Lenya Competition. She co-authored five vocal anthologies with Dr. Christopher Arneson following their acclaimed "Literature for Teaching" guide, and continues her own education through various professional development programs. Ms. Athey-Janka holds degrees from Boston University and Westminster Choir College, with additional studies at Temple University, and has been recognized with the Milton Cross Young Artists Program award and an Enrichment Grant from the Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fund.

Melissa Manzano - Instructor
Melissa Manzano is in her 14th year of teaching choir, general music, and theater in Southern NJ. She is active on the West Deptford District Equity Committee and the NJMEA Strategic Planning Committee. She holds a BA in Music and Theatre from Rutgers University, a M.A.Ed. in Teacher Leadership from Strayer University and recently completed her NJ Supervisor Certificate through Rowan University. This past fall, she taught sophomores at Westminster Choir College with Dr. Sarah Perry. In March, Mrs. Manzano had the opportunity to conduct the SJCDA Elementary Choir having had wonderful memories singing with the organization as a Soprano 1 all the way down to an Alto 2.

Patrick Carpenter - Instructor

Mr. Carpenter is the Choral Director at Kingsway Regional High School, where he also graduated in 2015. He earned his degree in Vocal Music Education from RowanUniversity in 2020, studying voice with Professor Lauren Athey-Janka and choral conducting with Dr. Christopher Thomas. He previously taught Pre-K–8 General Music at Alice Costello Elementary School and directed the All South Jersey Region Jazz Chorus in 2022 and 2024 through NJAJE. Alongtime member of the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Men’s Chorale, Mr. Carpenter has performed in Spain, Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, and China, as well as at prestigious events including Good Morning America, performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and twice at Carnegie Hall. In addition to teaching, he has been a private vocal instructor in the South Jersey area for over seven years, specializing in vocal technique and pedagogy. Mr. Carpenter served as a Rowan Choral-Vocal Camp counselor in 2019 and is thrilled to return this summer to work with a new group of students.