Born and raised in Cincinnati, Nicholas Pridonoff is a strategic business leader known for building high-performing teams, driving growth, and elevating operational excellence. As the son of world-renowned classical pianists, he grew up in the halls of CCM, with a strong upbringing in music performing in both a boys’ choir and the Wyoming school choir. These early experiences instilled in him a deep sense of discipline, creativity, and collaboration; qualities that continue to shape his leadership style today.
Nicholas has led talent, technology, and organizational development efforts across both corporate and nonprofit environments. In his professional services career, he launched and managed new business divisions, oversaw full P&L operations, and guided HR, sales, recruiting, and marketing teams. He introduced performance strategies that increased efficiency and scalability, earning multiple President’s Club honors along the way.
Having spent seven years leading a youth-focused nonprofit, Nicholas expanded services, elevated program quality, and built sustainable operational systems that strengthened long-term impact. His commitment to developing young people and supporting local communities continues today in his role as Board President of Anderson Youth Football & Cheer.
Outside of work, Nicholas enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, traveling, and coaching football.
Ryan Ellis is a distinguished educator and accomplished jazz pianist based in Miami, Florida, who has made significant contributions to the music community both locally and nationally. Ryan’s performance career is marked by versatility and breadth, having showcased his talents in renowned venues across Miami, New York, Hawaii, and throughout the Caribbean. His ability to engage with diverse musical traditions allows him to connect with audiences from various cultural backgrounds, making his performances both dynamic and enriching.
Ryan currently leads the high school vocal magnet at Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer, a Miami-Dade Public Magnet School, where he inspires students through his passion for music and commitment to excellence. Under his guidance, the choirs at Miami Arts Studio have flourished, earning national and international recognition for their artistry and professionalism. Ryan has led his choirs to perform at various prestigious events across the United States, bringing the joy of music to audiences far and wide. His dedication to choral music not only enhances the skills of his students but also cultivates a strong sense of community and teamwork among them.A visionary leader in the music community, he founded and serves on the board of MAS Records Inc, an independent, nonprofit student-led record label. This innovative initiative juxtaposes music students with local industry professionals; it provides students with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the music industry, from recording to marketing. The label serves as a platform for students to produce and distribute their music, promoting collaboration among peers and industry professionals who guide the students in the development of their craft. This practical experience not only enhances their musical skills but also equips them with valuable insights into the business side of the music industry.
Ryan Ellis continues to be a vital force in the music education landscape, blending his performance experiences with his teaching to create a rich learning environment for his students. His work not only shapes skilled musicians but also instills a lifelong love for the art of music.
Cindy Ellis is a Cuban-American choral conductor, jazz vocalist, and music educator serving as middle school and high school choral director at Miami Arts Studio in Miami, Florida. Her award-winning ensembles have performed at prestigious venues and events including Carnegie Hall, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) State, Regional, and National Conferences, and the 2022 Summit of the Americas. Her students regularly record for major television broadcasts, including the Latin Grammy Awards and American Music Awards, and have collaborated with renowned artists such as Gloria Estefan and Jacob Collier.
As a conductor, Ellis has led performances at The New World Symphony Center, Carnegie Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. As a performer, she has appeared with the JMAX Singers on Saturday Night Live alongside Coldplay and at the 2024 BBC Proms Festival at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Her work has been published through GIA Publications, and she regularly contributes to music education journals. Ellis also serves as World Musics Coordinator for the Southern Region of ACDA.
A recognized leader in music education, Ellis was named Miami Arts Studio’s 2025 Teacher of the Year and was a 2025 and 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award semifinalist. Most recently, her advanced ensemble, Bellarmonia, performed at the TED International Conference and represented the United States on a multi-city tour at the 2026 Gyeongnam International Choral Festival in South Korea.
Melissa Surman, a Cincinnati native and mother of 5, has been involved in choral music since middle school in various capacities. She received her Bachelor’s in music education from Mount Saint Joseph University in 2002, and has been teaching private and group piano, voice, and general music lessons since 1999. With a passion for joyful music literacy, she completed her three levels of Kodaly training from 2018-2021 at the Chenaniah Summer Music Institute in Moscow, Idaho, during which time she wrote and self-published a music curriculum for elementary aged students entitled “The Joyful Grammar of Music”, which combines Kodaly philosophy with classical methods. One of her goals as an educator has been to start a homeschool choir, so she was thrilled to receive the opportunity to help direct the Vivo Coro homeschool group for CYC in 2023. When Melissa isn’t teaching or hanging out with her family, you will find her running marathons and trail races.
Jacquelyn Thompson has worked with singers of all ages and has a passion for choral education as a way to enrich lives through music. She currently conducts Vivace and serves as an administrative assistant for the Cincinnati Youth Choir.
As a versatile educator, Jacquelyn has taught general music, choir, and band for preschool through high school at public and private schools in Iowa. She has also led several community choirs, including a children’s choir, an adult women’s ensemble, and an active choir of senior adults. Her experience includes teaching methods courses at the collegiate level, conducting college choirs, and serving as a guest clinician for high school choirs in Iowa and Chicago.
She received her Master of Arts in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa and her Bachelor of Music Education: Choral K-12 from the University of Northern Iowa. During her training, she also studied voice and has performed as a vocal soloist.
Known for cultivating a supportive and engaging learning environment, Jacquelyn blends technical expertise with creativity to help each student grow musically, working together towards meaningful and inspiring choral experiences.
Kang Ning Yong is an accomplished pianist, educator, and collaborative artist based in Oxford, Ohio. She serves as Principal Accompanist for the Cincinnati Youth Choir and teaches at Miami University and Northern Kentucky University. With extensive experience working with choirs, vocalists, and instrumentalists, Kang Ning has performed in chamber and solo recitals throughout the region. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Miami University and is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM). Dedicated to artistic excellence and creative pedagogy, she strives to inspire young voices and build meaningful musical partnerships through her work with CYC.
Read Kang Ning’s full bio HERE…
Mary Okotie is a music education (voice) student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music! She graduated from Lakota West High School in 2023 where she was an active member and leader in the choral and theatre departments. Upon the completion of her undergraduate program, Mary plans on obtaining her master’s in Choral Conducting. She will use her knowledge and passion to impact the lives of everyone she comes into contact with whether that be at the educational or professional level!
Hope Kesling-Milthaler is entering her 23rd year as Director of High School Choirs at Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio. She teaches AP Music Theory & served 10 years as 7-12 Music Department Chair for the Kings Local School District. Hope holds a double Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting & Music Education from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, & a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Wright State University.
She is honored to be a founding member of Jason Max Ferdinand’s National Education Advisory Team, whose Teaching With Heart choral compendium projects are available at GIA Publications. She has shared her Every Voice Has A Home: Culture-Changing, Student-Driven Voice Placement strategy around the nation, and is currently at work on a supplemental workbook for teachers and students to practice for the large score aural multiple choice section of the AP exam.
Hope relentlessly cultivates a culture of health and an atmosphere of welcome in each unique choral ensemble she teaches and conducts, and charges her students with leading their own ongoing pursuit of excellence. Most importantly, she teaches them to be conduits of the human that can be found in every score, and to sing with authenticity no matter where or for whom they are afforded the gift of music making.
Raised in Solon, OH, Kelsey D. Burkett is a 2006 Graduate of Capital University, where she majored in Music Education and served as the alto section leader in the renown Chapel Choir. She completed her Masters of Music in Music Education and Kodaly Certification from Capital University in 2019. In her 21st year of teaching, she has a passion for the developing voice and middle school singers. She serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Memorial Middle School, where she directs the 7th Grade Treble Choir, 8th Grade Treble Choir, and Blue Notes A Cappella. She also worked with Shades of Blue A Cappella, who were the 2023 ICHSA National Champions and 2025 ICHSA National Runner Up.
Choirs under her direction have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings and Grand Championships at the District, State, and National Contest levels. In June 2016, the MMS Choirs made their Carnegie Hall Debut as a part of the Songs of Inspiration and Hope Concert under the director of Mrs. Lori Loftus. In Summer of 2018, the MMS 8th Grade Treble Choir performed for the Ohio Choral Director’s Association Summer Conference at Otterbein University. In 2021 and 2025, the 8th Grade Treble Choir was invited to perform at the Ohio Music Education Professional Development Conference. Recently, she served as the Program Chair for the 2026 American Choral Directors Association Midwest Conference and the Middle School Honor Choir Chair for the Ohio Choral Directors Association. As of 2026, she will serve as President-Elect of the Midwest Region of the American Choral Directors Association.
In March 2020, she was awarded the 2020 Country Music Association Foundation’s Music Teachers of Excellence, one of only 10 teachers from across the United States.
Above all her professional accomplishments, her greatest joy is being mom to 7-year-old Harper, wife to Jen, and dog mom to Biscuit Kevin Van Burkett.
Carson School: Trinity Dumford
James P. Gamble Montessori Elementary School: Dennis Betz
Parker Woods Montessori School: Catherine Buckles
Roll Hill School: Grace Devoid
Roselawn Condon School: Denniz Betz
William H. Taft Elementary School: Dennis Betz & Alina Stroh
Winton Hills Academy: Rachel Kline
Woodford Academy: Melinda Wallace
Piccolo Coro: Melissa Surman
Vivace: Jacquelyn Thompson
Covington (John G. Carlisle Elementary): Julie Brumback
Homeschool: Melissa Surman
Mason Elementary: Jacquelyn Thompson
Spencer Center for the Gifted: Matthew Jenkins
Dennis Betz
Zach Karp
Max Kreeger
Alyssa Soong
Stephan Variames
Mathew Zalusky
Your generosity helps the Cincinnati Youth Choir provide transformative musical experiences for young singers. Donations directly support essential program needs, such as hiring skilled accompanists and teaching artists, purchasing new music, and ensuring children have access to high-quality choral education. Contributions also help fund performance attire, transportation for engagement programs, and scholarships for young musicians. Larger gifts enable us to commission new choral works and bring in guest artists for residencies, enriching our singers’ education and expanding their artistic horizons. Every donation plays a vital role in sustaining our mission and creating lasting musical opportunities for youth in our community. ❤️🎶
