Butler Vocal Music Ensembles Train Professional Performers

Headliners rehearse for their upcoming show. (Joe Wescott)

May 4, 2026
Feature

Butler’s eight Vocal Music student ensembles continue to be a community gem, both on campus and in the surrounding area. Performers sing, dance and play instruments to dazzle audiences. They build professional skills and lifelong connections under the direction of experienced coaches: Valerie Mack, Matthew Udland, Chad Ingram, Amanda Pfenninger and Doris Prater.

Although live performances are the highlight of these ensembles, the rehearsals and time spent together off-stage will forever be a memorable experience for these students.

"I’m so much more outgoing than I ever used to be and performing here was definitely a part of that,” sophomore Music major Lauryn Yunglcas said. “We have a pre-show circle before every show, and it brings me to tears almost every time. I can’t even imagine doing it for the next show for the last time.”

Yungclas joined the ensembles after persuasion from her friend’s parents, both Headliner alumni. She participates in Concert Choir, Headliners and the female barbershop quartet group the Noteables. This semester, sophomore Music Education major Jaden Bernard student directs both quartets, which have both scored well this year.

The Noteables live auditioned to sing the National Anthem for the Kansas City Royals and were accepted to perform at an undecided future game. The Smorgaschords, the male quartet, qualified with their highest score in 30 years and will be competing at the 2026 International Convention in St. Louis.

“The greatest power you have as a person and performer is making others feel a certain type of way,” Bernard said. “The ballad for the quartets last show, I was blinking back tears. This was not something I could have imagined for us in October. Watching everyone grow with each other will be my biggest memory.” Bernard performs in Concert Choir and Headliners.

The Headliners choreographed for Andover Central High School’s end of year vocal show, with exceptional choreography. Based on Headliner success, Vocal Music and Dance Chair Valerie Mack selected student teams to choreograph two of the numbers for the final May performance. Her students created their own 70s costumes to wear during the show.

Emma Jellison, freshman Pre-Health Professions major, has a leadership role within the costumes section. “It’s fun to play with the costumes. Communicating with people about their pieces and seeing their own designs come to life is cool. It’s a great environment.”

Jellison is part of Concert Choir and a legacy Headliner, as her older sister was a previous Headliner. The Headliner legacies are a prominent part of the student journeys, as current students enjoy tracing their roster number “lineage” through the ages, even during reunions as alumni.

Yunglas, Bernard and Jellison described the Vocal Music department as a fun, supportive and disciplined place to learn. Vocal students spend countless hours each week together on stage, in rehearsals, during outings and on-campus hide-and-seek games. Jellison noted the welcoming spirit she felt as a freshman from the returning singers.

The three performers are all on a Vocal scholarship, where they receive a books and in-state tuition waiver. Jellison believes that qualifying for the scholarship, even as a health major is a winning point for the department.

Yunglas plans to become a photographer in the near future, using her choreography skills to help pose her clients. Bernard has auditioned for the ensembles and scholarship at the University of Kansas and is hoping his leadership role with the quartets will benefit him. Jellison is focused on returning again as a Headliner and furthering her skills in music and dance.

In addition to the quartets and Headliners, ensembles include Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, A Cappella, Rose Gold and the instrumental addition for Headliner Combo.

Chamber Singers and Concert Choir are popular for local and Wichita-area private and public shows. These students often perform with professional musicians at major ticketed events. At the final show of the year, Concert Choir included American Sign Language.

A Cappella and the Rose Gold ensembles also perform at concerts and local events. A Cappella students create and publish pieces and operate mic and sound equipment. These students have competed internationally, as well.

Through disciplined training and a constant creative outlet, Vocal Music students showcase the caliber of music and dance professionals in the making. Many past graduates currently work in exciting positions thanks to their time here, such as on Broadway and cruise ships.

Students and their ensembles are listed below in order of hometowns, in-state followed by out of state.

Anthony
April Atkins (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Kassidee Hedlund (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Arkansas City
Chloe Coury (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Kayson Hamrick (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Angel Lopez (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Cody Palmer (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Augusta
Megan Ashenfelter (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Kyndall Dodds (Concert Choir, Headliners, Noteables)
Collin Jansen (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Blayke Locke (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Emma Neuschafer (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Ethan Quiring (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Lydia Robbins (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Kabren Wetzel (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Jaxon Williamson (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Samuel Vittitow (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)

Derby
Megan Leidy (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Rose Gold)
Kris McCarthy (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Parker Tauer (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)

Douglass
Mariah Barkus (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Emily Gash (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Wesley Olson (A Cappella, Concert Choir)

El Dorado
Jack Christy (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Ellie Grove (Concert Choir, Headliner Combo)
David Mitchell (Concert Choir, Headliner Combo)
Tanner Riddle (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Tobias Somerville (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Abigail Vail (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Piper Wise (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Florence
Cadence Craig (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)

Goddard
Alexander Villegas (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Hugoton
Lelani Gerber (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)

Kechi
Lucas Smith (Concert Choir, Headliners, Smorgaschords)

Madison
Gabriel Villarreal (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)

Maize
Reagan Archer (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Adyson Cooper (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)

Newton
Andrea Cox (Concert Choir, Headliners, Noteables)

Overland Park
Cooper Crosier (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Protection
Emma Jellison (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Thaddeus Page (Concert Choir, Headliner Combo)

Towanda
Avery Pound (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Valley Center
Brock Saner (Concert Choir, Headliners)

Wichita
Christina Ackerman (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Jaden Bernard (Concert Choir, Headliners, Student Director for Smorgaschords and Noteables)
Collin Berry (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Matthew Bixenman (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Isabel Ceballos (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Taylor Chenoweth (Concert Choir, Headliners, Noteables)
Lucas Christner (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Brooks Cosby (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Jasper Clevenger (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Isaiah Figueroa (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Evelyn Gibbs (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Micah Gifford (Concert Choir, Headliners)
River Hoffman (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Amelia HarriSon (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Chesley Jagears (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Alex Jones (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Alice Jones (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Kael Kolaskey (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Jocelyn Martinez Leal (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Shelby McKedy (A Cappella, Concert Choir)
Albanie McGregor (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Travis Mercier (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Madalynn Perez-Mullin (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Lillie Purcell (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Quinten Recio (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Marisa Ramos (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)
Reed Roush (Concert Choir, Headliners)
Isabel Santiago-Morrison (Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Gracie Smith (A Cappella, Concert Choir, Rose Gold)
Jordan Webber (Concert Choir, Headliners, Smorgaschords)
Lauryn Yungclas (Concert Choir, Headliners, Noteables)
Leah Zubairu (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers)