Lakeside Academy
Vocalist Workshop
Andrew Anderson
Andrew Anderson enjoys a rich and full performing career and teaches over a dozen bass students of all levels, as well as scores of up-and coming orchestra students each week. Andrew is acting assistant principal bass for the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra, a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, and also performs with Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Philharmonic, and Chicago Camerata. He has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and New World Symphony and as a soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra, McCall Music Festival, and the Midwest Clinic. He has held positions in thirteen different orchestras across eight states, serving as principal bass in five of them.
Andrew holds teaching positions at Wheaton Conservatory, and Roosevelt University, and is on the faculty of the Masterworks Music Festival. Andrew is the founder and executive director of the Lakeside Artists Guild, which has produced more than 300 performances since fall of 2020 including dozens of free public performances. He teaches at The Lakeside Academy in Cedar Lake, Indiana, and serves as orchestra director at Illana Christian High School.
Andrew studied string pedagogy with Robert Culver at the University of Michigan, and low string pedagogy at Indiana University with Helga Winolt. Andrew has appeared regularly as a sectional coach at DePaul University, the Elgin Youth Symphony, the Chicago Youth Symphony and Midwest Young Artists. Andrew has supported public school music programs with benefit recitals in and around his hometown of Portland, Oregon. From 2011 to 2014 Andrew started a before school string ensemble at Westminster Christian School in Elgin, Illinois where he volunteered as the director.
Andrew has a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music Degree from Indiana University, and served as a doctoral teaching fellow at the University of North Texas.
Andrew's students are among the nation's top artists, filling roles in major symphonies, and winning many international solo competitions.
Benton Wedge
Benton Wedge is a professional viola player and has played with Music of the Baroque, Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and The Grant Park Symphony. He was formerly a member of the Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa and the Fidelio String Quartet, based in Lisbon, Portugal, where he also performed numerous solo recitals. Ben has served as principal violist for the Sarasota and Spoleto Opera Festivals, as well as the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared on Empire, The Oprah Show, and Home Alone 2! He has performed live with numerous artists including Hugh Jackman, Michael Buble, Seth McFarlane, and many others.
As a composer, Ben’s music has been performed by the William Ferris Chorale, the choir of Old St. Patrick’s Church, 4spiel, the Covington String Quartet, and members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
In addition to his work with Cadence, Ben is the artistic director of the Lakeside Artists Guild and teaches at The Lakeside Academy in Cedar Lake, Indiana. He is also the orchestra conductor at South Suburban College, in South Holland, Illinois.
Ben has received both Bachelor’s and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University with Professor Peter Slowik.
Pat White
Patricia White was introduced to the cello at the age of 9 and at the age of 16, she made her debut as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a result of winning the Young Performer's competition. Patricia also won the Union League, Civic & Arts Foundation prize and the Society of American Musicians competition.
Patricia attended the Juilliard School, from which she received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in cello performance.
Patricia is active as a performer and as a teacher.
She plays with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, and is principal cellist of the South Shore Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she plays with Lakeside Artists and Stringsound Ensembles.
In 2021, Patricia joined the faculty of Olivet Nazarene University, to teach cello.
Ola Rafalo
Ola Rafalo received her Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University, and Young Artist Programs at Opera Tampa, Sarasota Opera, and Palm Beach Opera.
Ms. Rafalo is dramatic mezzosoprano, has been called a “Vocal Powerhouse” , and “the next Cossotto”. She has earned critical acclaim in a variety of roles and venues. In the Verdi repertory: Azucena in Il Trovatore, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Fenena in Nabucco, and Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera.
Her most celebrated role thus far is Carmen, which she has sung with Syracuse Opera, the Lyric Orchestra, Gulfshore Opera, New Jersey Verismo Opera, and highlights with the Pacific Symphony.
Other roles performed include Charlotte in Werther, The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Fricka in Die Walküre, Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana.
She made her debut at Carnegie Hall, singing the Vivaldi Gloria, and the Kennedy Center singing a Verdi Gala.
She has performed with the Springfield Symphony, Orlando Opera, Baltimore Lyric, Opera Carolina, Teatro Curci di Barletta, Paderewski Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Evanston Symphony, Opera Festival of Chicago, Columbus Opera Project, Florentine Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and more. Ola received an award from UNESCO for her performance as Alkmene in the Olympic Torch, by P.Karousos. She has also been a featured recitalist for the Wagner Society of America.Ola is the Maria Callas prize winner of the Giulio Fregosi competition 2020.
She is very passionate about teaching the technique of the old school bel canto lineage, passed down from Garcia, Reid, and Melocchi. This technical school is the basis of great singing in all genres, not only opera. Ola has successful students who sing pop, rock, jazz, and musical theatre. Ola is also very passionate about teaching music to children, and opening their ears and their minds to great art. For more information including prizes and awards, critiques, upcoming engagements, www.olarafalo.com.
Dr. Melody Smith
Dr. Melody Smith has a long history of directing church choirs, for both adults and children. She has led church choirs in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana, and Northwest Indiana. For six years, she directed a multi-church community choir for the Easter Sunrise Service in Merrillville sponsored by the area ministers’ association. She began playing piano at age five, then discovered her love of choral music in fifth grade choir when first singing two-part harmony using aesthetically rich, yet fun children’s repertoire. As a children’s choir director, her educational aims for students include music literacy, singing skills, music history, teamwork, building confidence in performance, and a discernment for artistic beauty. She believes that choirs uniquely allow people from all walks of life and wide age-ranges to enjoy a community in which they learn together, and discover and develop new talents.
Melody has a Bachelor’s degree in Church Music from the University of Valley Forge. She also holds a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Education degree in Christian Leadership from Liberty University. Dr. Smith is an ordained Assemblies of God minister with a particular interest in classical Christian education, and also serves as an adjunct instructor and dissertation supervisor at Liberty University.
Rev. Lane Keister
Lane Keister is a conductor, pianist, baritone soloist, and long-time music educator. He has conducted church choirs, oratorio societies, and community choirs for over twenty years. Coming from St. Olaf College, with its magnificent choral music, Lane has a passion for communicating the grand traditions of Western music, and especially sacred choral music, to the youth of today.
He holds a piano performance degree from St. Olaf, where he studied piano under Dr. DeWayne Wee, and conducted with Dr. Steven Amundson and Dr. Robert Scholz. He went on for a fellowship with the European Wagnerian soloist Roberta Knie and also worked as her studio pianist. He has been a staff accompanist for the Philadelphia Boys Choir, the Bucks County Choral Society, and numerous Other choirs and soloists.
Recently, he has played piano in-studio classes for Desiree Ruhstrat, of the Lincoln Trio. He is a pianist with the Lakeside Artist Guild and the Lakeside Artist Academy, as well as a conductor of both choir and orchestra at the Lakeside Artist Academy.
Lane Keister is also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and serves an OPC church in Illinois. He is a Registered Parliamentarian with extensive experience in facilitating business meetings. He is a published author in several theological journals and has a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology degree from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.