Alissa has performed with numerous professional, community, and church choirs, including Los Robles Master Chorale, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Jouyssance Early Music Ensemble, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Choir, and ensembles performing music for Final Fantasy and NieR concerts in Los Angeles. She currently sings with the New West Symphony Chorus in addition to Areté Vocal Ensemble.

She also enjoys singing with professional holiday caroling quartets seasonally, as well as performing as a soloist and in small ensembles throughout the year. In February, she appeared as a soprano soloist in a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, participating in outdoor activities, and attending live music performances.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at California State University, Northridge, where she also sings with the Northridge Singers. In addition, she performs with the New West Symphony Chorus.
Outside of music, Mackenzie enjoys a wide range of artistic pursuits, including pottery, sewing, macramé, embroidery, and painting. She currently resides in the San Fernando Valley and plans to continue her education through the credentialing program at CSUN, with the goal of teaching in the near future.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Production and recently earned her teaching credential in music. She currently inspires elementary and middle school students through vocal instruction.
Alexa has performed in a variety of choral ensembles throughout her academic career, with standout experiences including singing at Carnegie Hall with the National Festival Chorus under Jefferson Johnson, performing for Pope Francis at the Vatican, and sharing the stage with Josh Groban at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

She continues to pursue her artistry through freelance vocal performance and music production, including releasing original music. As both an educator and performer, Alexa is dedicated to creating meaningful musical experiences and connecting with audiences through expressive, heartfelt vocals and storytelling.

Breena earned her PhD in Musicology from University of California, Los Angeles, along with a Graduate Certificate in Early Modern Studies from UCLA’s Center for 17th- and 18th-Century Studies. She also holds a Master of Arts in Musicology and a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University. She studied abroad at University of Oxford (St Hilda’s College) and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from SDSU, where she earned a Bachelor of Music with a double major in vocal performance and business administration, along with an Honors Minor in interdisciplinary studies.

As a classically trained soprano specializing in early and classical music, Breena has performed with ensembles including San Diego Opera, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra Nova, Bach Collegium San Diego, Pacific Academy of Ecclesiastical Music (PACEM), St. Paul’s Cathedral, Angeles Chorale, and Conejo Valley Choral Society and Chamber Singers. She has sung under the baton of Marvin Hamlisch, Edoardo Müller, Karen Keltner, Sir John Rutter, and Sir David Willcocks, and was the soprano soloist for Fauré’s Requiem under the direction of Dr. Martin Neary of Westminster Abbey.

In addition to her performance work, Breena conducted a church choir for nearly eight years and founded a private music instruction studio. She is passionate about expanding access to music education and performance opportunities for underserved communities and has volunteered with organizations dedicated to this mission.

Breena is grateful for the opportunity to sing with Areté Vocal Ensemble under the leadership of Dr. Wyant Morton.

Cayton earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Chapman University in 2020. There, she sang with the Chapman University Singers under the direction of Stephen Coker and performed with Opera Chapman, appearing as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music, and as the understudy for Adele in Die Fledermaus. She also participated in Chapman University musical theatre productions.

After graduation, Cayton moved to Nashville, where she taught voice and worked in the music industry, writing contemporary pop music with local artists and producing her own work. Now back in California, she has returned to classical singing, joining the New West Symphony Chorus and Areté Vocal Ensemble in early 2026, and serves as a soprano section leader for a local church choir.

Koby Yousem is thrilled to be joining Areté Vocal Ensemble. He has been singing since his freshman year of high school, when his brother, Gil, convinced him that choir was better than a free period—he was right. In the past two years, Koby has toured Eastern Europe and performed at Carnegie Hall with the California Lutheran University Choir.

Outside of Areté, Koby can be found singing with the Temple Adat Elohim Chorale or music directing at Mesa Verde Middle School.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Koby is an avid carpenter and runs @chai.woodworking, where he creates custom projects and furniture.

Gil Yousem is thrilled to be joining Areté for the first time after a two-year break from music. His musical journey began in 2014 when he joined his high school choir, sparking a lasting love for singing. Since then, Gil has performed in a variety of musicals, operas, and ensembles while attending California State University, Northridge. During his time there, he sang with the acclaimed Northridge Singers until graduating with the Class of 2022.

Outside of music, Gil enjoys spending time with his family and staying connected to his creative roots.

Lucas Sprague is a composer and multi-instrumentalist currently on staff with Class Act Musical Theatre. Lucas received his B.A. in Music with an Emphasis in Composition from California Lutheran University, where he performed with the CLU Choir, University Wind Ensemble, and the Kingsmen Quartet.

Lucas is an active member of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, the American Guild of Organists, and the Academy of Scoring Arts. He also currently performs with the Areté Vocal Ensemble, New West Symphony Chorus, the Conejo Valley Community Band, and the Camarillo Community Band.

Timothy Ross Waters baritone/tenor began his musical training with Solfège and classical piano. He earned a B.S. in Physics with minors in Music and Mathematics from Principia College, where he sang in choir and toured nationally.

He has been a church soloist in Southern California for thirty years and enjoys performing with regional choral societies. He is immensely grateful to have joined Areté Vocal Ensemble in 2025.

Professionally, Timothy serves as Vice President and Principal Consultant at NV5’s Technology and Acoustics division.

Music has always been an integral part of Sarah’s life. She began playing piano at age 4 when her grandmother, a church organist, sat Sarah down at her baby grand and showed her middle C. Sarah studied piano throughout her childhood, high school, and college, earning her B.A. in music from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. During her junior year abroad, Sarah studied piano performance and furthered her study of German in Vienna, Austria.

Upon college graduation, Sarah attended the University of San Diego School of Law, earning her J.D. in 1989. She returned to Europe shortly thereafter to study European Community International Trade Law at the Europa Institut in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, earning her L.L.M. in 1991. After practicing law in Los Angeles, Sarah decided her heart would be happier as a teacher; she earned her teaching credential from California Lutheran University in 1996 and has been teaching ever since. She feels extremely fortunate to be the wife of Wyant and mother of Sam and Hannah.

In addition to her passion for piano, Sarah has always had a love of singing and choral music. She has sung in choirs throughout her life and is thrilled to be a member of Areté Vocal Ensemble.