Artistic Team
Ken Turner, Artistic Director
Ismael Peña, Assistant Artistic Director
Ismael Peña, Assistant Artistic Director
Ken Turner comes from a family of music educators and performers. He has a Vocal Pedagogy degree from Baylor University and a degree in Music Education from The University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. For 25 years Ken introduced thousands of young people to the joy of choral singing. He was also a much sought after adjudicato
Ken Turner comes from a family of music educators and performers. He has a Vocal Pedagogy degree from Baylor University and a degree in Music Education from The University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. For 25 years Ken introduced thousands of young people to the joy of choral singing. He was also a much sought after adjudicator and clinician throughout Texas. In 2004 his Men’s Chorus from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio was awarded Texas State Honor Choir. In 2016, six of his choirs received the coveted Sweepstakes Awards at the University Interscholastic League competition. He and his students were awarded a “Citation of Merit” from the San Antonio Mayor for outstanding leadership and service to the community. For over 30 years, Ken served as part time Director of Music for numerous churches and denominations.
Ismael Peña, Assistant Artistic Director
Ismael Peña, Assistant Artistic Director
Ismael Peña, Assistant Artistic Director
Ismael Peña is a young choir conductor with a passion for creating meaningful
experiences through music. With a degree in Piano and Choral Conducting from the Universidad de Guadalajara, he co-leads two groups in Guadalajara, " Girls and Boys Cantores of Mayahuel" and " Coro Cuaad", both dedicated to creating a solid community with empathy
Ismael Peña is a young choir conductor with a passion for creating meaningful
experiences through music. With a degree in Piano and Choral Conducting from the Universidad de Guadalajara, he co-leads two groups in Guadalajara, " Girls and Boys Cantores of Mayahuel" and " Coro Cuaad", both dedicated to creating a solid community with empathy and respect through singing. He now collaborates with Las Voces del Lago as a singer and Assistant Artistic Director, aiming to make the music learning process as accessible and enjoyable as possible.
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Robert Thieme, Accompanist
Ismael Peña, Assistant Artistic Director
Robert Thieme, Accompanist
Over his 50-year career, Robert has conducted or staged more than 40 operas and musical theater pieces. He was the Director of the Opera Theatre at West Virginia University for 29 years and for 21 summers he was on the faculty of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria as Dean and Co-Artistic Director. He has performed
Over his 50-year career, Robert has conducted or staged more than 40 operas and musical theater pieces. He was the Director of the Opera Theatre at West Virginia University for 29 years and for 21 summers he was on the faculty of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria as Dean and Co-Artistic Director. He has performed with singers and instrumentalists throughout the U.S. as well as serving as keyboardist for the Wheeling and West Virginia Symphonies. He directs musical shows at the Lakeside Little Theatre and is the keyboardist for the Lake Chapala Orchestra.
Board
Peter Luciano, President
Charles Hoag, COO, Secretary
Charles Hoag, COO, Secretary
During his 15 years in Ajijic, Peter has been heavily involved in the arts. He served multiple terms as President of Lakeside Little Theatre where he led the $6,000,000 MX effort to renovate the theatre, as well as performing on stage acting and singing. He is an avid supporter and sponsor of the Lake Chapala Orchestra and is the founding
During his 15 years in Ajijic, Peter has been heavily involved in the arts. He served multiple terms as President of Lakeside Little Theatre where he led the $6,000,000 MX effort to renovate the theatre, as well as performing on stage acting and singing. He is an avid supporter and sponsor of the Lake Chapala Orchestra and is the founding President of the chorus Las Voces del Lago where he sings bass.
Charles Hoag, COO, Secretary
Charles Hoag, COO, Secretary
Charles Hoag, COO, Secretary
Originally from Vermont, Charles spent over 45 years in senior executive roles with local, regional and national non-profits mostly focused on affordable housing and social service, across the U.S. He specialized in guiding organizations through significant leadership transitions. Charles moved to Lakeside in 2021 from Denver, Colorado.
Originally from Vermont, Charles spent over 45 years in senior executive roles with local, regional and national non-profits mostly focused on affordable housing and social service, across the U.S. He specialized in guiding organizations through significant leadership transitions. Charles moved to Lakeside in 2021 from Denver, Colorado. After a 25-year break from regular choral singing and solo work, he is thrilled to be a member of the bass sections of Las Voces del Lago and Nova Lux.
Laura Foster, Treasurer
Laura Foster, Treasurer
Laura Foster, Treasurer
Laura came to Mexico from Dallas, Texas, where she practiced law for 30 years. She has been active In choral singing since childhood. While in Dallas, she sang with the Women’s Chorus of Dallas and served as a member and treasurer of their board of directors.
Pamela Shaw, CFO
Laura Foster, Treasurer
Laura Foster, Treasurer
Pam is a seasoned accounting professional and educator whose career spans the U.S., Mexico, and Thailand. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida and has taught at Vanderbilt, Tulane, and internationally. Now based in Lake Chapala, she teaches online MBA courses and volunteers with nonprofits, including work with rescue cats, th
Pam is a seasoned accounting professional and educator whose career spans the U.S., Mexico, and Thailand. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida and has taught at Vanderbilt, Tulane, and internationally. Now based in Lake Chapala, she teaches online MBA courses and volunteers with nonprofits, including work with rescue cats, the Lake Chapala Society library, and as CFO of Las Voces del Lago.
Operating Committee Chairs
Sheree Nuncio, Chorus Membership and Support
Carolyn Hansen, Public Relations and Marketing
Carolyn Hansen, Public Relations and Marketing
Born in Michigan, Sheree has been a proud Mexicana for more than 60 years. Though an educator by profession, her lifelong passions have been music and dance. She began focusing on choral music through church choirs and gave her first public concert in 1994 with Harlan Snow's inaugural Schola Cantorum in Guadalajara. Since then, she has e
Born in Michigan, Sheree has been a proud Mexicana for more than 60 years. Though an educator by profession, her lifelong passions have been music and dance. She began focusing on choral music through church choirs and gave her first public concert in 1994 with Harlan Snow's inaugural Schola Cantorum in Guadalajara. Since then, she has enjoyed being a member of Los Cantantes del Lago and Las Voces del Lago.
Carolyn Hansen, Public Relations and Marketing
Carolyn Hansen, Public Relations and Marketing
Carolyn Hansen, Public Relations and Marketing
Carolyn is recently retired from a long career in direct marketing and fundraising. She has lived in Ajijic for the past 15 years and is currently Senior Pastor at Lakeside Presbyterian Church. She has been involved in church, school, and community choirs since age 5 and is grateful to be able to sing soprano in Las Voces del Lago, the Women’s Chorus, and Nova Lux.
Patrick Trotter, Concert Managment
Patrick Trotter, Concert Managment
Patrick Trotter, Concert Managment
Patrick and his husband and their two dogs have been full-time Lakeside residents since 2023. Since arriving, he has worked with Las Voces del Lago, and onstage at all three theatres--Lakeside Little Theatre, Bravo, and Bare Stage. He is happy and proud to help Las Voces in any way that he can.
Bert Propp, Facilities
Patrick Trotter, Concert Managment
Patrick Trotter, Concert Managment
A member of Medicine Hat (Alberta) Musical Theatre for 25 years, Bert was in many productions as chorus, support and lead roles, most notably as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He transitioned into set design and construction, as well as producing and directing shows for the theatre company. He spent three years as a member of the Calgary P
A member of Medicine Hat (Alberta) Musical Theatre for 25 years, Bert was in many productions as chorus, support and lead roles, most notably as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. He transitioned into set design and construction, as well as producing and directing shows for the theatre company. He spent three years as a member of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. Bert is now entering his fourth year with Las Voces Del Lago, and his third with Nova Lux.