IN UNISON Young Artists

Dillon Carl has been a member of the IN UNISON Chorus since 2021. They acquired a Bachelor of Music degree from Lindenwood University before entering the world of performing. After experience in teaching voice and piano lessons, Carl decided to move in a different direction with their musical journey. They have many years of choral and theatrical arts under their belt and is looking for a career in stage performance. The IN UNISON Chorus, as well as the Young Artist program, has been an amazing experience and helped open many doors.

Alayna Epps, soprano, is an IN UNISON Young Artist and the Arts Administration Fellow with the SLSO IN UNISON Chorus for the 2023/2024 season. She graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Degree of Distinction in Creativity in the Arts. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Music Therapy at Maryville University to become a board-certified Music Therapist, with hopes to serve families in the St. Louis Community. Epps also serves as the worship leader at her church, Agape Times Ministries, Inc.–City of Refuge and believes it’s her purpose in life to shine God’s light here on Earth through music and acts of love. Learn more about Epps and her upcoming performances at alaynanicoleintl.com.

Bekah Ford is grateful to return for her third season as a Young Artist with the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music from Millikin University where she found a passion for writing, recording, and performing original music. She also toured internationally with OneVoice Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Dr. Steve Widenhofer, director) and nationally with University Choir (Dr. Brad Holmes, director). Since graduation in 2020, Ford has continued writing and is incredibly thankful for the role music continues to play in her life. She gives all her love to family and friends who have never stopped supporting her journey.

From the suburb on O’Fallon, Illinois, Ja’Quis Hardin is a multi-faced individual with his heart anchored in the worlds of Music Education and Television Production. After several years of privately teaching Musical Literacy and Piano, and conducting two gospel choirs, he reached a peak in his music career by joining the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus. Since then, he has served this Grammy Award-winning organization as a Young Artist, and featured soloist, performing for audiences over 3,000 on a regular basis at Powell Hall. Specializing in Television Production, he worked at ABC in New York on the set of the former hit daily talk show, Strahan, Sara & Keke. While in New York, he acquired experience acting on the sets of various major film and television series. Hardin now runs his own production company where he produces long-form entertainment content and offers standard video production and photography services. He also hosts a digital platform, “Ja’Quis On The Beat,” where he reports on and highlights events in the St. Louis Metro area.

Alexandar Johnson is currently pursuing his Master’s of Arts and teaching degree from Lindenwood University. He also received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from that same university in December 2020. Outside of the IN UNISON Chorus, Johnson is a ten-year member of the Ambassadors of Harmony, a five-time international champion chorus of the Barbership Harmony Society. He is also a former ten-year member of the Recruits Chorus, the youth counterpart to the Ambassadors of Harmony. The 2023/2024 season is Johnson’s third season as an IN UNISON Chorus Young Artist, and he looks forward to many more opportunities to sing with the incredible musicians of the chorus. Johnson was also recently hired as the head choir at Hazelwood West High School. He would like to thank all the directors and mentors that he’s had along the way.

Nadia Maddex is a Lindenwood University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Music Education, and a minor in Musical Theatre. She is currently the Director of Vocal Music at Maplewood Richmond Heights as well as Eliot Unitarian Chapel. Maddex has been in the SLSO’s IN UNISON program for five years, and has participated in the IN UNISON Chorus program in many capacities. She was first a member of the IN UNISON Scholar program through which, most recently, she served as the Arts Administrative Fellow. She has also had the pleasure of singing at the SLSO’s annual Forest Park concert, and representing the SLSO through the IN UNISON Church program. Currently, she represents the Chorus as a Young Artist. She is incredibly grateful for the doors IN UNISON has opened for her as a performer, and she is looking forward to continuing to grow as both a musician and educator in the program.

A St. Louis native, Veronica Rice graduated from Webster University’s Department of Music. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a vocal emphasis. During her time at Webster University, she received Departmental Honors, Academic Honors, and was a recipient of the Sister Eloise Jarvis Award for work ethic, talent, and leadership. Currently, she is thrilled to be teaching choir at Triad High School in Troy, Illinois. There, she directs several curricular choirs as well as the spring musical. Rice also is a choral clinician, voice teacher, and piano teacher. 

In addition to serving as an IN UNISON Chorus Young Artist, Austin Shariff is a Modern Worship Leader and Youth Ministry Director at Dardenne Presbyterian Church. With a deep passion for music, he also teaches private lessons, performs with his band “saint chuck,” and plays solo gigs. He is dedicated to nurturing spiritual growth and musical talents within the St. Louis community. He would like to thank all of those who make the IN UNISON Chorus possible, as well as his friends and family for their endless and unconditional support.