The New Day Singers was originally fashioned after the iconic ensemble known as The King’s Singers, whose lineup consists of two countertenors, one tenor, two baritones, and one bass. Building upon The King’s Singers’ example but wanting to allow for greater flexibility in the voices, the original NDS ensemble was formed with one soprano, one alto, two tenors, one baritone, and one bass.
As of late 2025, NDS has expanded to an octet: two sopranos, two altos, two tenors, one baritone, and one bass. In addition to expanding the repertoire possibilities for the ensemble, this number of singers will enable NDS to explore different combinations of voices in smaller groups, as well as facilitate more availability for various performances.
Catherine Clifton Hardman
Catherine Clifton Hardman (she/her), soprano, was born into a musical family and doesn’t remember a time she wasn’t singing. From participating in every choir available in every school she attended to founding and directing a cappella choirs in college, from touring in England and France to seeking private study during her postgraduate years, Catherine has spent her life seeking new musical experiences and working to be a valuable member of an ensemble. In addition to her exciting venture with The New Day Singers, Catherine serves as a section leader at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, NC, and is entering her ninth season with the Bel Canto Company. She has also been a member of the early music ensemble Musica Anima and worked at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in High Point, NC.
Catherine holds a BA in English and vocal music from Sewanee: The University of the South, and an MFA in creative writing (fiction) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She works as Director of Professional Resources for the National Board for Certified Counselors and is managing editor of their online academic journal, The Professional Counselor. Catherine loves reading, attending sporting events (or just yelling at the TV), and taking high tea at the O. Henry Hotel. She lives in Greensboro with her (brand new!) husband, Robin; their Labrador, Luna; and their three cats, T. Magnificat (Tux), Nunc de Mittens Van Hardman (Van), and Stevie.
Alicia Reid
Alicia Reid (she/her), soprano, had her first introduction to choral music sleeping in her baby swing as her mom directed choir practice. It must have left an impression, because she has been singing ever since! Originally from Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, Alicia grew up singing in choirs and musicals, while also learning to play the harp. She continued both instruments all through grade school and college, performing in orchestras and school choirs, and went on to pursue music in college. Some of her previous choral ensembles include the Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir (now Shallaway); Capital City Girls Choir in Raleigh, NC; the Cantata Singers at UNC School of the Arts; and the Chamber Singers at UNC Greensboro.
Alicia holds a BM in vocal performance from UNC School of the Arts and an MM in vocal performance from UNC Greensboro. She currently serves as Music Director for St. Paul’s Christian Church in Raleigh, is entering her eighth season with Bel Canto Company, and teaches voice lessons at Moore Music in Greensboro. She also performs regularly with local theatre companies. Recent roles include Meg in Little Women with Summerfield Stage, Maria Rainer in The Sound of Music with Creative Greensboro, and the title character in Pauline Viardot’s Cinderella with Piedmont Opera. Alicia regularly performs on harp for weddings and other events. She has most recently accompanied local groups such as the River Landing Ringers and Bel Canto Choral Ensemble. She spends her free time performing as various princesses and fairies around the Triad and hanging out with her three guinea pigs, Finn, Linny and Peanut!
Ashley Ellin
Ashley Ellin (she/her), alto, is delighted to join The New Day Singers following their expansion into an octet. Ashley joined her first choir in the eighth grade, hoping to improve her singing voice to prepare for auditions for the high school musical. Serendipitously, it was here that she found an unexpected love for choral and group singing that has fueled her passion for music ever since. During college, she had the pleasure of singing with a group of UNC Greensboro choristers through Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg. In addition to The New Day Singers, Ashley serves as a section leader at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro and is currently enjoying her fifth season with Bel Canto Company.
Ashley holds a BM in vocal performance, studying under the late Clara O’Brien, and an MA in speech language pathology, both from UNC Greensboro. She works as a speech language pathologist with stroke and traumatic brain injury patients at Moses Cone Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation Center. When she’s not singing, Ashley loves reading; running; sewing; travel photography; and spending time with her husband, Ike, and her adorable black pug, Merida.
Rachel Sommers
Rachel Phillips Sommers (she/her), alto, is thrilled and humbled to be a founding member of The New Day Singers. She moved to Greensboro in 2012 and has been performing in various venues ever since. Her first foray into performing in the area was in the Community Theatre of Greensboro’s (CTG) production of Cabaret as Fraulein Kost. From there she took on the role of Smee in CTG’s production of Peter Pan. She is most proud of her work as Ursula in The Little Mermaid. Rachel is singing with the Bel Canto Company for her 10th season; serves as a section leader for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro; and has also been a member of the early music ensemble, Musica Anima.
Rachel holds a BS in vocal music education from Western Carolina University. She works as Graphics Team Lead for the National Board for Certified Counselors, where she gleefully works alongside fellow NDS singer Catherine. Rachel lives happily in Greensboro with her husband, Erik, and together they share a wonderful home with their two cats, Empurror “Bert” Pawpatine and The Notorious K.I.T., AKA Kitty “Kit” Smalls.
Sean Toso
Sean Toso (he/him), tenor, is overjoyed at the opportunity to be a founding member of The New Day Singers. Following his introduction to choral music as a member of the Metropolitan Boys Choir of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, Sean has been involved in some form of ensemble-based singing ever since. Throughout middle and high school, he continued to grow a passion for music, singing in church choirs, school choirs, and musical theatre productions. While earning his undergraduate degree, Sean served as the president of the Concert Choir and the music director of his a cappella group, The Statesmen, for two years each. As a soloist, his credits include performing with the Boundless Bodies Contemporary Ballet company, singing in the world premiere of Scott Eggert’s Memoria with the Penn State Concert Choir, and being selected to sing the national anthem at the 2017 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, AZ. Sean currently serves as a section leader and Assistant Music Director at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, NC; is singing with the Bel Canto Company for his third season; and is the co-director/music director for the Western Rockingham Middle School Drama Program.
Sean holds an MM in vocal performance from UNC Greensboro and a BM in vocal performance from Penn State University. He is enjoying the newlywed life in Greensboro with his wonderful wife, Olivia, playing board games and crafting charcuterie boards in his free time.
Tandy Brown
Tandy Brown (he/him), tenor, is excited to join The New Day Singers as they expand to an octet! He often refers to himself as the geezer in the room, but his experience in choral music is unmatched and his humor is impeccable. Tandy has been singing with Bel Canto Company since the 1988–1989 season, has performed with early music group Musica Anima, and is the founder of local jazz quintet The Quintessentials, among other musical pursuits. He is extremely grateful for so many years of participating in the making of fine choral music. His mother, Ann Brown, led the alto section in her church choir in Wilmington, NC, for 70 years, so Tandy may be around for a while yet! He enjoys hiking and the great outdoors, and looks forward to visiting most, if not all, of our national parks now that he is a recent retiree.
Robin Hardman
Robin Hardman (he/him), baritone, started his singing training early in childhood when he joined the Raleigh Boychoir. From there, he spent his entire secondary education years in school choirs, musicals, and music theory classes, until he went on to pursue a degree in Music Education at UNCG. Once he arrived in Greensboro, he began working with various Episcopal churches in the Triad, as well as ensembles like Bel Canto Company, Music Anima, and even some out-of-state ensembles as far away as Arizona.
Robin has a passion for choral music and the collaborative spirit contained in the best ensembles in the world. There is an inherent beauty in coming together to become more than the sum of an ensemble’s parts, and he revels in that beauty any chance he can get. When he’s not making music, Robin works as an IT engineer and has many technical hobbies, including computer building, photography and videography, astrophotography, drone flying, and just about any other sort of nerdy activity you can name. He lives in Greensboro with his (new!) wife, Catherine; their Labrador, Luna; and their three cats, Tux, Van, and Stevie.
Zeke Duncan
Ezekial (Zeke) Duncan (he/him), bass, is a Winston-Salem native, and is very passionate about music and music education. Zeke has served as co-director of The Acafellas, an all-male a cappella ensemble; founder and music director of The Win-Pipes, a co-ed a cappella ensemble; President of the Tri-M Music Honors Society; and a music and theater intern for the WSFCS Summer Enrichment program. Zeke is currently serving as a staff singer at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in High Point, NC. Outside of NDS, Zeke is a student at the UNCG School of Music, a member of Bel Canto Company, and a legal assistant for a law firm here in Greensboro.
Alumni
Sam Thienemann founded The New Day Singers in 2022, though he dreamed of the group and started working on its inception many, many years before. As an avid King’s Singers devotee and a member of vocal ensembles from the age of two, Sam was the perfect person to bring The New Day Singers to life, and his enthusiasm and passion are matchless. Having spent the first few decades of his life attending and traveling the world with The American Boychoir School, singing across the United States, Japan, and Taiwan; performing with groups such as The New York Philharmonic, The Boston Symphony, The Vienna Philharmonic, and Cantus; performing with Chamber Singers and performing with and then serving as president of The University Singers at the University of Virginia; returning to The American Boychoir to serve as Tour Manager; and singing nine seasons with Bel Canto Company and two seasons with Greensboro Master Chorale, Sam’s musical and professional experience has been an incredible asset to NDS. Sam stepped away from the group in 2024, but we are looking forward to calling him up to the stage (to his great chagrin) at many a future concert!
Danny Paparozzi joined The New Day Singers as the founding tenor 2 and served as an endless source of excellence and camaraderie (as well as our in-house pitch pipe!). Danny started singing choral music at the age of 8 as part of a gospel choir in Wilmington, NC, where he would continue to be active in the choral music scene both through his high school and college choirs, as well as with local community ensembles. Beyond choral music, Danny was an actively engaged member of Wilmington’s musical theater and opera scenes. Upon finishing his vocal performance degree in 2018 at UNC Wilmington, Danny moved to Greensboro, where he’s spent his time working as a private voice instructor and musical director at Stagelights Theater Company. Danny keeps up with his own singing as a hobby and personal passion, and he has participated in two fall seasons with Bel Canto Company in addition to singing at FPC Greensboro as a member of the chancel choir. Other than making music with other people, Danny’s favorite activities are playing video games and spending time with his lovely wife.
