Ben Bongers (BME, ’89) was an international award winning operatic tenor and practicing sommelier for 30 years and has written monthly articles for trade magazines in wine and singing. He earned an MA in Gerontology and publish in an eldercare textbook in 2020. He has written several books, all published by EnRoute Books and Media. His first novel, THE SAINT NICHOLAS SOCIETY, has won many awards, and his other two, TRUE LOVE—12 Christmas Stories My True Love Gave to Me, and THE FARMER, THE MINER, THE ARTISAN (a children’s book). Ben is a Knight in the Order of Malta and helped start an overnight homeless shelter at his San Francisco, CA parish. Today, he is a Permanent Diaconate Candidate in Kansas City, MO.
Dr. Dustin S. Cates (PhD ’19) (he/him/his) is a teacher, conductor, singer, researcher and proud native of Kansas City, Missouri. He is passionate about building meaningful relationships with people through music. Dr. Cates is Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Boyer College of Music and Dance, part of the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts at Temple University. At Temple he conducts the University Chorale, supervises graduate students, and teaches courses in music education, choral/vocal pedagogy, and choral methods. His research focuses on issues of equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice in choral music. Cates is an active conductor/clinician for honor choirs and music festivals throughout the United States and a frequent presenter of workshops for music educators. Dr. Cates earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees in choral music education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and a master’s degree from Baker University. Prior to his work at Temple, Cates was Artistic Director and Conductor of Heartland Men’s Chorus, Associate Director of Worship Arts at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and taught high school choral music in the Kansas City metropolitan area. He currently serves as the American Choral Directors Association National Repertoire and Resources Chair for Tenor/Bass Choirs and is Past President of the Kansas Choral Directors Association. Dr. Cates considers his most important roles to be husband to Dr. Raymond Cattaneo, and father to their son Emmaus.
Dr. Troy Dargin (LLM ’22; MA ’11) began his first Master’s degree in music, he was diagnosed with acid reflux. Because of this his singing voice was not functioning well and he was unable to finish his Master’s of Music and so turned that degree into a Vocal Pedagogy degree. It was during this time with his study under Dr. Anne DeLaunay that he became interested in the science of the voice, because he wanted to “fix” his voice. In turn this led him to his PhD studies in Speech-Language Pathology. Currently Dr. Dargin is a professor and owner of Visions in Voice where he provides continuing education for Speech-Language Pathologists who hold ASHA licensure. His current research interests include Voice Production in aerodynamics, acoustics, and semi-occluded vocal tract exercises.
Clayton DeLong is a guitarist in Kansas City - graduating UMKC Conservatory in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Performing Arts Degree - emphasis in Jazz. Clayton also has been booking live entertainment & throwing events for the past 10 years - along with his many different bands he performs with regularly. Joining the UMKC Alumni Association in 2020 - Clayton DeLong is now the President (June, 2024). Keeping Kansas City Jazz alive and well - growing with the community and teaching the next generation is a constant goal. Each moment is a chance to make an impact.
Victoria Frank (MFA ’09) is a multi-genre stage manager currently freelancing in corporate event show calling. Originally from York, England, she can now usually be found in Kansas City, MO which is on the native territories of the Kickapoo, Kaw/Kansa, Osage and Great Sioux nations. She earned her BFA and MFA from the University of Missouri - Kansas City and was the production stage manager for Kansas City Ballet from 2013-2023. Victoria is a member of the UMKC Conservatory Alumni Board of Directors and, for the Stage Managers’ Association, she is the regional representative for Kansas City and Social Media Committee Chair. She continues to work towards being a better anti-racist, ally and advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ members of our communities. Her pronouns are she/her/hers.
Katie Gilchrist (MFA ’03) is a multi-hyphenate artist with a focus on “artistic first response”. As an actor, producer, and director, she is inspired to civic engagement through purpose-driven storytelling, accessible and equitable opportunities for all, consent forward practices, and healthy doses of magic & mayhem.
Upcoming: Dial M for Murder(KCAT/Director), KC Strips: “Heavenly Bodies” (Artistic Director/Grand Theatre), Fire Work (Unicorn/Director), and the ongoing curation/production of “the1994project”; a yearlong celebration of music and film from that year. She is a member of the AIDS Service Foundation Steering Committee, an Intimacy Director working towards her second professional certification, and a vocalist with local band Lost Wax. www.katiegkc.com.
Max Levy (MA ’18) performs often throughout the KC metropolitan area, playing an eclectic mix of straight-ahead jazz music at various venues. He can also be seen playing with other prominent ensembles including Son Venezuela, KC FLO, Patrick Lentz Band, Baby J, Mike Pagan Big Band, Swing’n KC Jazz Band, Clayton Delong Duo and countless others. Max originally hails from North Carolina where he acquired his Bachelor’s in Jazz Performance from East Carolina University under the tutelage of educator and bassist Carroll Dashiell. He made his way to Kansas City to go to school at UMKC in the fall of 2016 and has remained ever since. Max has studied and worked with such legendary saxophonists as Bobby Watson, Dan Thomas, Dr. Frank Bongiorno, Benton Hill, and Rob Holmes of the Navy Jazz Commodores.
Erica Lohman (BFA ’21) graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. She currently is with American Midwest Ballet (AMB) in Omaha, Nebraska, where she has danced numerous roles in their productions and serves as the Assistant Director of the Ensemble and the Director of the Regional Solo Program for the AMB School. She has previously performed with De La Dance Company, Kansas City Ballet, Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and she danced at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the American College Dance Festival, and the Kansas Dance Festival.
Erica has choreographed dozens of works for various student and professional organizations. As a Certified Yoga Instructor, she also enjoys sharing the joy of movement and dance in conjunction with AMB’s Outreach programs.
Dr. Lorissa Mason (DMA ’19) is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut in June 2022, and most recently conducted the Ozark Festival Singers in a concert at Cadogan Hall in London in collaboration with Paul Mealor and Apollo 5. Dr. Mason is a founding member for the World Choral Conducting Network (WCCN) and an active member of ACDA, Chorus America, and the International Conductor’s Guild. In 2019, she completed a DMA in Conducting at UMKC’s Conservatory, where she studied with Dr. Robert Bode. She will begin as Artistic Director for the Arkansas Chamber Singers in July, and will return to the Carnegie Hall stage, conducting Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass on June 1, 2025.
Lyle Simpson graduated from UMKC Conservatory in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. While at the Conservatory, he performed with the Wind Symphony under the direction of Steven D. Davis, the Wind Ensemble under Dr. Joseph Parisi, the Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, and a Jazz Combo. After graduation, Lyle taught band in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools for three years. He is now the Band Teacher at Hocker Grove Middle School in the Shawnee Mission School District. Outside of teaching, Lyle is a trumpet player for the Kansas Army National Guard and a freelance musician in the Kansas City area.
Dr. Regina Tanujaya (DMA ’21) is an Indonesian pianist and educator currently based in Kansas City, USA. She actively performs in numerous concert series and premieres new works as a solo and collaborative musician. She has performed in Carnegie Hall - New York and had her debut performance with Ashdod Symphony Orchestra in Italy. Her recent appearances include a solo recital at Steinway Hall Detroit in 2023, a live-broadcast performance on the Kansas Public Radio in 2024 and was invited as a guest pianist at the Emerald Coast Music Alliance Festival in 2024. Dr. Tanujaya is currently the pianist for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and a piano faculty at both MidAmerica Nazarene University and Kansas City Kansas Community College. She also serves as Co-Artistic Director for the Classical Music Express, a concert series based in Kansas City. While maintaining her busy schedule, she also enjoys doing outreach programs in teaching and performing as well as promoting Indonesian music, culture, and arts.
Grace Troesser graduated from the UMKC Conservatory in May 2021 with a BA in Music Therapy with minors in Entrepreneurship and Psychology. During their time at UMKC Grace held various leadership roles in the music therapy department, Greek life, and the Office of Admissions. Upon graduation Grace completed her 6 month internship at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Upon completion of internship Grace started working as a professional at Research Psychiatric Center where she started the music therapy program. Recently Grace has been collaborating with Research Medical Center to provide music therapy services in the NICU.
Katherine Turner (MM ’15) an Omaha, NE native, recently relocated to Milwaukee in fall 2023. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance and is also a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Katherine also earned a Performer’s Certificate in Collaborative Piano at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Katherine's approach to playing the piano has been shaped by a variety of study with instructors including Elena Abend, Karen Kushner, Dr. James Johnson, Jackie Jenkins, Dr. Marie Rubis Bauer, Mark Misfeldt, and Dr. Jane Solose.
Post graduate studies, Katherine was invited to participate in the 2015 and 2016 Maccagno Piano Days Festival and Competition held in Northern Italy. Her performances of Beethoven, Bartók and Liszt earned her a finalist spot in the 2015 festival’s international competition.
Katherine now enjoys a busy and successful career of teaching and freelancing. Before relocating to Milwaukee, Katherine served on the music faculties at Midland University, Omaha Conservatory of Music and College of Saint Mary. When not at the piano, Katherine enjoys scuba diving, horseback riding and running.
Social Media Committee:
Emily Adair (BFA, ’21)
Emily Adair graduated cum laude with honors from the University of Missouri- Kansas City, receiving a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. Adair is a former professional dancer with Storling Dance Theater. Currently, she holds her 600-hour Classical Pilates Education certification and teaches Pilates throughout the metro and beyond. Adair also teaches ballet and modern throughout the region, both in regular class settings and as a master class teacher.
