About Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship/New Voices
Applications for the 2024-2025 Bushnell Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship/New Voices are now CLOSED.
The Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship Program presents Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowships/ New Voices! A young artist program for curious, open-minded, highly motivated and talented singers with strong points of view and stories to tell! EDNV meets performers “where they are” in their journey and encourages each individual to connect more deeply to the ways they self-identify in order to access their most expressive and authentic voices. The experiences of each artist will be unique and built to help them get the most out of the program.
In this inclusive and supportive environment built for exploration and growth, EDNV will guide a select group of young artists as they learn about their voices. The program includes complimentary:
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private instruction, including vocal coaching and voice lessons
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monthly masterclasses
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collaborative work with other young artists
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mentorship opportunities with industry professionals
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one complimentary ticket to MJ The Musical at The Bushnell
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concert performance at The Bushnell in the Spring of 2025
The Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship/ New Voices program will strive to provide a platform for innovative, transformative, and unique storytelling for creative vocalists interested in Musical Theatre, Classical/Opera, Pop/Rock, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jazz/R&B, Country, Gospel, Folk, Latin/International Music, Original Works and more!
Meet the 2024/2025 ENSIGN-DARLING NEW VOICES ARTISTS
Shriya Dharan
Shriya Dharan is a Junior at Avon High School. At the age of four, she started her journey by learning Indian Classical Music. In addition,For the past six years she has received vocal instruction at The Hartt School of Music from her teacher, Daniel Brevik .Under his instruction, Shriya has won many competitions and has earned many accolades, including her performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, after getting first place in her category in the international Grande Music Competition. Shriya wants to continue her singing career and hopes to expand her learning with more theatrical performances.
Gracie Percival
Gracie Percival is a high school senior from Southington, Connecticut, who has been passionate about music and theater since childhood. She is the featured vocalist for the SHS jazz band and regularly performs the National Anthem at her school’s sporting events.
Musical theatre credits include leading roles in Heathers, Cinderella, Legally Blonde, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Recently, she has performed at the Thomaston Opera House, Seven Angels Theatre, and the Bushnell Center for Performing Arts for the last two years in the Ensign Darling program. She will return to the Belding stage on June 14 as a finalist in Hartford's Got Talent, and hopes to see you there!
Gracie has been recognized by the GRAMMY Museum and UConn Department of Music for her musicianship, and plans to pursue a degree in Popular Music Performance with a minor in Music Industry at the University of Southern California next fall. She is incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity to share her love of music on the Bushnell Stage!
Tiernan Cabot
Tiernan is a senior at South Windsor High School, and he is excited for his second year with the EDNV program! He was recently nominated for "Best Actor" at the Stephen Sondheim Awards for playing the Baker in Into the Woods. Other past roles include Gomez Addams in The Addams Family (SWHS), Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde (SWHS), Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid (WHSAF), and Crutchie in Newsies (CTPAC). He is a multi-time soloist in South Windsor High School's show choir, Choral Spectrum, for which he won the "Best Soloist" award at a competition in 2024. He would like to thank his mom, dad, and siblings for their support, as well as the rest of his family and friends for cheering him on. He would like to thank you (yes, you) for your continued support of the arts! Tiernan studies voice with Anthony Dedominicis at Fox Hill School of Music.
Aditi Verma
Aditi is a senior at South Windsor High School, and she is so excited to be a part of The Bushnell's EDNV program for a second year! She most recently played Elsa in CTPAC’s production of Frozen, and past performances also include Morticia Addams in The Addams Family (SWHS), The Baker’s Wife in Into The Woods (SWHS), Sharpay in High School Musical (Hartford Stage), and Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde (SWHS). She is a member of South Windsor High School's Choral Spectrum show choir, through which she won the award for "Best Performer" at a regional show choir competition in March 2024. She is also a multi-time soloist within the group. Aditi would like to thank her family, friends, and the audience for their continued support! Aditi studies voice with Nancy Andersen at The Hartt School.
Mateo Velasquez-Maineri
Mateo is a senior at CREC AAE. He is grateful and excited to be returning to EDNV! Some of his favorite roles he’s been fortunate to play include (Chino) in West Side Story at Landmark Community Theater, (Seymour) in Little Shop of Horrors at AAE, and (Emmett) in Legally Blonde at Hartford Stage. He currently studies voice privately with Ariana Valdes and Nancy Anderson. “Thank you to my family and friends who have helped me this far. Your support never goes unnoticed.” He would like to thank the creative team for this opportunity to join the fellowship once again!
Tatum Roche
Tatum is 16 years old and lives in Redding, CT. Tatum has studied private voice with Jeanine Pardey Levine from the Hartt School for the past three years. This is her third year as an Ensign-Darling New Voices fellow and is so grateful for the opportunity. Tatum recently attended the Washington National Opera Institutes summer opera program and spent three weeks studying and performing with them at the Kennedy Center. She was the recipient of the First in School Award at Education Without Walls–the first freshman to win this award–celebrating her leadership, academics, strength of character, and peer support.
New Students
Natalia Ortiz-Villacorta
Natalia is a first-year acting student at the Hartt School of Music and is excited to join the Ensign Darling Vocal Fellowship this year. Onstage, she has played The Witch in Into the Woods, Martha Cratchit in A Christmas Carol and Les in Newsies. Additionally, Natalia studies voice with Dr. Lisabeth Miller and is a member of Hartattack Acapella at Hartt. She is looking forward to working with so many wonderful artists. Natalia is grateful for the support of her Mamá, Papá, brother Esteban and every mentor that has supported her throughout her musical and artistic journey.
Abigail Boland (She/Her)
Abigail is so excited to be a part of the Ensign-Darling New Voices Fellowship. She is a first year student at The University of Hartford where she is studying Psychology and Sociology. She is from Haverhill, Massachusetts, and is a graduate from Central Catholic High School. Abigail is also a proud Broadway Workshop alumni! Previous shows include: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt), Carrie (Carrie White), Spring Awakening (Martha Bessell), Footloose (Rusty), The Little Mermaid (Ursula).
Gordon Beck
Gordon Beck is a junior at Kingswood Oxford School and performs with their select vocal groups and theater program, with roles including A Chorus Line’s Al Deluca, Sweet Charity’s Herman, and TJ Jefferson (Hyperfocus). Other roles include Troupe Apprentice in LTM’s Something Rotten, Young Charlie (Kinky Boots), and orphan/Fagin’s Gang member in Oliver! at The Goodspeed. He founded and runs the student performance clubs KOffeehouse and Rock band. Gordon studies voice with KO’s Steven Mitchell and HARTT’s Danny Brevik. He is thrilled to be a part of this program, and thanks his family and friends for all their support.
Erica Dessalines
Erica Dessalines is very grateful to be involved in the Ensign Darling program at the Bushnell. She has always had a love for music and performing and is excited for this journey of growth and experience. Special thanks to friends and family for the consent encouragement. The Drowsy Chaperone as The Drowsy Chaperone, Newsies Elma (U/S Crutchie), Parade as Angela, Footloose as Urleen (U/S Rusty), Anything Goes, FBI agent (U/S Purser) at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School. Mean Girls as Janis, West Side Storyas Consuela (U/S Rosalia) at the Landmark Community Theater.
Sophia Sherman
Sophia is a 14 years old freshman at East Lyme HS, and is overjoyed to be a part of the Ensign-Darling New Voices fellowship this year. In the past, Sophia has had the pleasure of acting in several regional theater shows including: Matilda, Beauty and the Beast, and the School of Rock. She has also performed at the Eugene O’neill Center Jr. Fellows and Don’t Tell Mama’s Cabaret. Film and TV projects include The Not Too Late Show with Elmo and IF. She hopes to continue developing as a performer and expand her learning in music. Sophia thanks her vocal teacher, Natalia Syed, and Erin Sousa-Stanley from the Niantic Bay Playhouse, and her parents.
Zianna Miller
Zianna is a 15 year old sophomore, who goes to Newington High School, and Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts halfday. She is so excited to be given the privilege to be in this program. In school she takes Voice Classes, with Abigail Winkler. She has played roles such as, Officer Lockstock in ‘Urinetown’, Pearl in ‘Spongebob the Musical’. She’s heavily involved in her school’s theater program, taking many classes on the subject of Musicals and performing. She is excited to share and see others work at this program.
Jordan Carter
Jordan Carter, a senior at Manchester High School, is thrilled to join the Ensign Darling Vocal Fellowship for the 2024-25 season! Jordan is a member of many of her school's music ensembles, performing in the Songbirds Show Choir and serving as Alto section leader for both Chorus and the Roundtable Singers Chamber Choir. With a passion for the arts, Jordan is also an active member of her school's Sock N' Buskin Drama Club, where her favorite role to date has been Ariel in Footloose. She proudly leads as President of her school's TRI-M Music Honor Society, which earned Connecticut Chapter of the Year for 2023-24. Last summer, she had the privilege of studying voice at New England Music Camp, taking private lessons under the direction of Dr. Chris Sierra. Outside of School, Jordan works in the cafe at the Summit Studios Music Center. Jordan plans to pursue a BFA in both Vocal Performance and Musical Theater and hopes to make a career of her lifelong passion! She thanks the EDVF program deeply for helping her get one step closer to her dream and can't wait to see where her journey takes her.
Noah Summerer
Noah Summerer is a junior at Simsbury High School and is thrilled to be joining the Ensign-Darling Vocal Fellowship this year. Since joining theatre in elementary school, Noah has performed in various musicals, open mic nights, and choirs, including leading the mixed a capella group at SHS. His favorite roles include Trent Oliver in The Prom and Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. Noah participated in the CMEA All-State Mixed Choir for the past two years and looks forward to this opportunity to learn from the talented musicians in the ENDV program.