Audrey Buxton

Audrey sang with CCSM for seven years in the choirs. She is currently a junior in Glendale High School’s award-winning Chamber Choir and Advanced Choir under the direction of Kevin Hawkins. She has performed with the All-District choir and has received three 1’s at the state level her sophomore year. Audrey studies voice with Carol Chapman and is delighted to be a part of the Young Artists program.

Amanda Hostetler

Amanda has been a member of CCSM for 11 years. She is a junior at Parkview High School. Amanda currently studies voice with Duane Harris, director of the Lyric Singers. While a member of CCSM, Amanda has performed in Carmen and Sleeping Beauty with the Springfield Regional Opera. She enjoyed singing the Mahler twice with MSU, the Mid-America Singers, and the Springfield Symphony. Amanda was selected as the CCSM Outstanding 8th Grade Singer for 2004-2005. Music is her passion. In addition to singing, she plays cello, piano, and guitar. Amanda is delighted to be a part of the Young Artists program.

Alex Lee

Alex is a senior at Glendale High School in Springfield where he participates in the Advanced Choir, Chamber Choir and Jazz Band. He has enjoyed working with Glendale directors Kevin Hawkins, Ed Frederickson, and Matt Schmitz. Alex is an honor student with many interests including team tennis, playing drums and bass, and performing in his band, Unparalleled.

Alex sang in the Children’s Choirs in first through sixth grades and toured Italy as a fifth grader in the Ensemble. This is Alex’s third year to sing with the Young Artists, directed by Duane Harris. Alex played percussion on the CCSM France/England tour in 2004 and sang with the Young Artists and Touring Choir on the New York trip, summer of 2006. Last season, Alex performed with the Young Artists in Sleeping Beauty with the Springfield Regional Opera. Alex studies drums with Mark Pelligrino and voice with Jane Munson-Berg. He is a two time All State Choir baritone and has received superior ratings on vocal solos and ensembles throughout his high school years. Alex hopes to study business in college next year. He is the son of Ed and Debi Lee.

Megan Medley

Megan is a sophomore at Nixa HIgh school. She has been in CCSM for five years, and participated in the New York Tour with the choir in 2006. She also traveled with a church group to Venezuela and witnessed with her voice not only in the services but also on the air. She is also involved with the theater department at her school as well as her school choir. She studies voice with Duane Harris and has received top ratings at both district and state music contests. She also is in a traveling youth ensemble in her church. Megan looks forward to furthering her involvement in music and theater.

Madison Weskamp

Madison is a senior at Springfield Catholic High School. She has been involved in the drama department, performing roles such as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and is currently president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Madison practices voice with Mr. Duane Harris, and has been taking vocal lessons for the past six years. She frequently attends vocal competitions and has achieved a superior rating at both district and state levels. This past summer Madison traveled to Philadelphia to audition for American Idol. Although not selected for the show, she feels it was a great experience. Madison has been involved in CCSM for four years.

Laura Padgett

Laura has been singing with the Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri since moving to the Springfield area in 2003. Now a junior in high school her many accomplishments include: The Young Rep Road Show, part of Toledo’s Repertoire Theatre. The Young Rep Road Show traveled all over the Toledo area performing at various events as well as taking part in many of the Repertoire Theatre’s musical productions (A Christmas Carol; Bye, Bye Birdie; and Once Upon a Mattress) and has been singing solos in a school productions since second grade. When in St. Louis, at age ten, Laura sang in the Kirkwood Children’s Choir, became a paid performer for Historic St. Charles and sang Silent Night during Las Posadas Celebration in front of several thousand people. Upon arriving in Springfield the first play Laura participated in at Springfield’s Little Theater was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Her operatic style led her to join the Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri where she not only sings with the Lyric Singers and Young Artists, but she also enjoys helping with the younger choirs to introduce them to the world of music.

“Singing has been a gift in my life for as long as I can remember. I work hard and I am blessed with the pleasure of working with it everyday. I enjoy working and studying music with Mr. Harris both in choir and as my personal vocal coach.”

Andrew Smith

Andrew, a baritone, began singing solos on Central Assembly’s TV program, It’s A Great Life at age 5. He sang with CCSM from grades 3 through 6, and as a Young Artist in the l0th grade. He spent last semester in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he graduated from Evangel Christian Academy in May. Andrew has played the roles of Sir Harry in Once Upon A Mattress, Fagin in Oliver!, Herald in Cinderella, and Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a role for which he was named “Best Actor in a Musical” by Shreveport- Bossier Magazine. He also won the Shreveport Opera Express High School Broadway Competition. He is currently a freshman voice major at Evangel University, where he is a member of the University Chorale, and he will be performing as Don Giovanni Pig in SRO’ s Three Little Pigs and as Marco in Evangel’s production of Gianni Schicchi.

Tim Stumpff

Tim is currently a sophomore at Reeds Spring High School. This is Tim’s first year in the Young Artist Showcase; however, he sang in the Choristers Choir in 2003-2004 and attended the France/England tour in 2004. Along with choir Tim takes part in many other activities. He has been inducted into National Honor Society, he is vice president of Foreign Language Club, vice president of the Explorers Aviation Post, and involved in Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. Tim is a two year member of the Speech and Debate Team and is a Drama I student. During his freshman year he was involved in Readers Theater, which took first place at districts. Tim also runs on the varsity cross country team and is an honor roll student. Tim would like to give a special thanks to Norma May who sparked his interest in singing, Allison Fleetwood, and family and friends for always being helpful and supportive.