Our Leadership & Staff
Artistic Director
Executive Director
Accompanist
Membership Administrator
Thom served on the Cary Players and Cary Playwrights’ Forum boards. He has written several short plays in his life, but acted a lot, produced some, and directed a few. Thom once realized he had lived nearly half of his life in Texas – he soon moved to NC. He has two grown sons – Alex and Ethan.
Stacy Hanna
President
Ashley Holt
Vice-President
Ashley Holt has served on the CSC board since July 2023. She has been a member of the CSC since the spring of 2021, enjoying all of the opportunities that the CSC has provided in the pandemic and beyond. Originally a Michigan native, she came to North Carolina in 2020 to work in the school system, teaching K-5 elementary music and middle school band. She is enthusiastic about serving on the CSC board and the amazing singers in Cary!
Debi DeAnn
Treasurer
Debi DeAnn has been an alto member of Concert Singers of Cary since 2005 and has enjoyed performing in the CSC symphonic choir as well as the smaller ensemble groups. She began her singing career in Richmond, VA at the age of 13, performing in local musical theatre productions as well as in singing and playing guitar in a 5-piece band. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC, she remained in NYC for 11 years pursuing a musical theatre career. Full time, Debi works at Pro Sound Universe in pro audio equipment sales. Part time, she continues to sing lead and play some bass with ‘Long Story Short’ a local cover band.
Debi previously served on the CSC board of directors from 2016-2021, acting as the treasurer for 5 of those years. She is excited and looking forward to being able to serve again!
Debbie Carroll
Secretary
Francesca Balestrieri
Francesca has been a member of the Concert Singers of Cary since 2023 and started serving on the Board of Directors in 2024. Her love of music started from an early age and continues to flourish each year. Francesca holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from NC State University and is currently a graduate student at NC State in the Master of Microbial Biotechnology program. Along with her passions for music and science, Francesca is passionate about community service and outreach and has volunteered for numerous non-profit organizations such as the Down Syndrome of Greater Winston-Salem, Gigi’s Playhouse, Ronald McDonald House, and Second Harvest Food Bank.
Ann Bingham
Ann has proudly served on the CSC Board since July 2019. She is a retired math professor who has always loved music. Her other volunteer work includes helping to prevent eviction with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and helping with the food bank at Catholic Parish Outreach. She and her family moved from NJ to Raleigh in 1994.
Megan Brachtl
Forrest Burris
Forrest is a passionate student of music with a rich musical background. Growing up in a family of professional musicians, he developed a deep love for choral performance and musical theatre. His passion for classical and baroque music has been a motivating force throughout his life. Forrest’s day job as a Systems Engineer in the Pharmaceutical industry keeps him grounded, yet music remains his true passion. He has been honored to perform with several reputable ensembles and will continue to lend his talents as a basso profundo. Now, as a new board member, Forrest is committed to supporting the organization’s mission and fostering a vibrant musical community.
Brian Fitch
Brian Fitch is a North Carolina native, Father, Husband, musician and microbiologist. Brian shares a love for the arts with his wife and children. Beginning at a young age, he pursued this passion through piano and trumpet performance in marching band and symphonic band leading to a scholarship. In college, Brian retained that passion leading in fulfilling the requirements for a minor in music through scholastics and participation in multiple university groups such wind ensemble, brass ensemble, jazz ensemble and pep band. Brian has continued pursuing his love of music and the trumpet into adulthood by performing with a number for organizations such as The Tune Swingers Orchestra, The Blue Notes, the NC Film Orchestra and Audio Kudzu. Professionally, Brian pursues his other passion of science as a Manager of a Microbiology lab in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry. Brian holds a BS in Biology with Minors in Music and Chemistry from Campbell University as well as a Master’s in Public Health from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Joshua Johnstone
Assistant Conductor
Joshua Johnstone is a North Carolina native, humanist, and avid musician, and has sung for the Concert Singers of Cary as a fill-in since 2017. In 2022, he became a full member and Assistant Director, supporting the Artistic Director by leading sectionals and rehearsals when necessary and conducting repertoire. Joshua works in the software industry as a risk analytics professional, and holds BAs in music and math from UNC-Greensboro, as well as a Masters of Financial Mathematics from NC State University. He began serving on the CSC Board of Directors in 2023.
Rachael Lubbers
Rachael has been a member of the Concert Singers of Cary since 2018 and served on the Board of Directors since 2019, serving four years as Treasurer. She started her singing career at the age of eight, when she joined the local children’s choir and got hooked. From there she went on to earn multiple degrees and travel the world singing for anyone who would let her. She’s worked in a variety of fields including social entrepreneurship, behavioral economics, higher education, and graphic design. She’s currently living her best life snuggling her pitbull, playing all the board games, and trying to eat at all the best restaurants in the Triangle. She is also a founding member of Opera on Tap Raleigh.
Laura Pavlot
Laura has been singing with the CSC since fall 2023 and joined the board in 2024. Laura has been singing since the third grade when they joined a musical theater school, and has been finding ways to incorporate music into their life ever since! A Pittsburgh native, Laura moved to Cary in 2016 and has been exploring all of the parks and botanical gardens the area has to offer. Laura works as a program manager and currently works for an environmental non-profit dedicated to mitigating the impact of climate change. They also volunteer with Best Friends Pet Adoptions working with rescue cats. Laura is excited to join the board and support the CSC!
M.J. Weissenberger
M.J. has been a member of the Concert Singers of Cary since January 2024 and has served on the Board of Directors since July 2024. M.J. is an HR professional with a focus on organizational design, and she holds a Masters of Public Administration with a specialization in Nonprofit Management. She has committed to volunteer work throughout her life, and also has served on multiple boards. Currently, M.J. is a volunteer with Queer Christian Fellowship and is a Guardian Ad Litem in North Carolina. She moved to Raleigh from Charlotte in 2023 and is enthusiastic about investing in community programs, local businesses and grassroots movements here in the Triangle. Aside from CSC performances, M.J. is also found out on hiking trails with her dog, frequenting farmers markets, or reading at an open mic poetry night.
Bianca Muñoz
Not pictured
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
The Concert Singers of Cary
Cary Arts Center
101 Dry Avenue
Cary, NC 27511-3312
910-242-4314
The Concert Singers of Cary have earned a Silver Seal from Candid.
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We're a proud member of the Cary Chamber of Commerce, Chorus America, The Heart of Cary Association, and ArtsNC.