Music conservatory announces 'Messiah' soloists

The Music Conservatory of Coeur d'Alene has announced the soloists for its marquee concert of the year, Handel’s "Messiah."

Conducted by the music conservatory's Yevgeniy Grechko, the program will feature soprano Chloe Sundet, alto Elizabeth Goodwin-Lauer, tenor Joel Cummings and bass Noah Lauer.

"We are thrilled to bring such talented solo vocalists to the stage — artists full of energy and passion who will deliver music of the highest caliber to the Coeur d'Alene audience,” Grechko said in a Wednesday news release. “Their vibrant spirit promises an unforgettable performance."

Coloratura soprano Sundet has earned praise for her brilliant voice, stylistic range and compelling stage presence. She has collaborated with numerous companies including Pacific Opera Project, Opera Neo, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and Inland Northwest Opera. Her standout role as Mabel in "The Pirates of Penzance" with Pacific Opera Project garnered critical acclaim and helped the production earn San Francisco Classical Voice’s award for Best Opera Performance. She returned to the company as Adele in "Die Fledermaus" in 2024. This winter, Sundet will appear as La Fèe in Viardot’s "Cendrillon" with Opera Modesto. Sundet has appeared in contemporary works such as "The Juniper Tree" by Philip Glass and Robert Moran and Kaija Saariaho’s "La Passion de Simone." She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Arts and Opera from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.

With ringing high notes and a strong stage presence, the Inland Northwest-based Cummings has thrilled audiences of all kinds from across the United States and Canada. Recent local credits include Archibald Craven in "The Secret Garden" and Max Detweiler in "The Sound of Music" with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, George in Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" with Aspire Community Theatre and Franklin Shephard in Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" with Spokane Civic Theater. On the concert stage, Cummings regularly sings with the Spokane Symphony for performances of Handel’s "Messiah" and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, as well as singing for fundraising events with local arts organizations. He will make his debut with the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene in this performance of "Messiah."

Goodwin-Lauer is a mezzo-soprano opera singer raised in Coeur d’Alene. She recently graduated from the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance. Goodwin-Lauer studied with American mezzo-soprano Julia Bentley and world-renowned German baritone Wolfgang Brendel. She has performed in operatic roles including Cherubino in "Le Nozze di Figaro," Madame Preville in "Un Mariage par Quiproque," Suzy in "La Rondine" and Orpheus in "Orfeo ed Euridice." She has also been a featured soloist in major concert works such as Mendelssohn’s "Elijah" and Bach’s "Mass in B Minor" and "Magnificat." She intensively studied in Urbino, Italy, where she trained under Metropolitan Opera singer Edward Crafts and engaged with Italian music, history and language. She performed in historically significant venues in cities such as Florence, Rome and Ravenna. Goodwin-Lauer has recently been accepted into the Berlin Opera Academy in Germany and is preparing to perform and collaborate with the Berlin Opera in summer 2026. She is also a dedicated vocal instructor at the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene and a certified Pilates instructor. She created a Mat Pilates program set to opera music, inspiring her students and clients to connect body, breath and expression.

Lauer is a bass opera singer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He recently completed his Master of Music studies from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with renowned bass Peter Volpe. An international performer, Lauer has sung in opera houses professionally throughout the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. His most recent performance was as for Inland Northwest Opera, performing selections from "Roméo et Juliette" and "Lucia di Lammermoor" in concert. His most recent performance with the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene was in this spring’s "Songful Journey" recital. Previous roles and performances include many lead bass roles such as Frère Laurent in "Roméo et Juliette," Tripaldi in "Ainadamar," Siroco in "L’Étoile," Sarastro in "The Magic Flute" and Judge Turpin in "Sweeney Todd." A champion of new works and underperformed pieces, Lauer premiered the role of Iorwerth in the New Voices Opera production of "Rhiannon’s Condemnation" and with Unsung Opera performed as Monsieur de Preville in "Un Mariage par Quiproquo" and Boniface in "Catherine ou la belle Fermiere." Lauer has also been bass soloist for numerous concert works and masses, including Mozart's "Requiem," Haydn's "Theresienmesse" and Cristoph Graupner's "Der Tod seiner Heiligen ist wertgehalten." Lauer is an educator of voice and teaches at the music conservatory. He also teaches music theory, music fundamentals and music history.

Admission for "Messiah" will be $30 orchestra; $25 lower balcony; and $20 upper balcony. Tickets will go on sale soon at cdaconservatory.org/events.

"Messiah" will be on the Schuler Performing Arts Center stage at North Idaho College campus at 7 p.m. Nov. 16.

Info: cdaconservatory.org

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