ALUMNUS & CHOREOGRAPHER

Julia is a graduate of the Houston Children’s Chorus, H.S.P.V.A., and she attended Boston Conservatory. She has been featured in Broadway touring productions, Pre-Broadway workshops, Off-Broadway, 11 productions with TUTS (including a leading role in “Elf” in December, 2019), 5 productions with Alley Theater, and numerous regional theater productions. She was awarded the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and NFAA. She is married to Charlie Mechling of “Straight No Chaser” fame. She is the proud mom of Hayden and Ely. Her parents are the royalty of Houston theater, Charles & Chesley Santoro Krohn. Chesley Krohn was the Children’s Chorus’ very first choreographer! Julia snuck into membership in the Chorus when she was in the 3rd grade, when the requirement was 4th grade or older. She was the first kid to graduate after being in the Chorus for 6 years! While in the Chorus, Julia sang a solo for President & Mrs. George H.W. Bush at the very first “Celebration of Reading”. She was also featured as a soloist with the Children’s Chorus and the Houston Symphony Christmas Pops.  We are SO excited to have (the grown up) Julia as our choreographer!

ALUMNUS & REHEARSAL ASSISTANT

Amy Zolkoski Cann has been a part of the Houston Children’s Chorus family in various capacities since 1990, when she joined as a Chorus member at 8 years old. During the past 33 years, Amy has served as a rehearsal assistant, apprentice choir director, assistant director, marketing/public relations intern, volunteer and board member. Amy currently serves as President of the Chorus Board of Directors and volunteers her time as a rehearsal assistant.

Building upon the early love of music developed through her participation in the Chorus, Amy earned a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from The University of Texas at Austin, receiving a prestigious UT Austin George H. Mitchell Co-Op Student Award for Academic Excellence in 2004 for her work with the Houston Children’s Chorus and underprivileged children in Ajijic, Mexico. As a 2007 graduate of South Texas College of Law Houston, Amy has practiced oil and gas law in Houston for the past 16 years. She lives in Houston with her husband, Taylor, and their three children, Henry, Emma and Frances. She is devoted to the accessibility of arts education for all children and furthering the success of the Houston Children’s Chorus. In a true full circle moment, Amy is most thrilled that her son, Henry, is starting his third year singing in the Chorus this Fall as a fourth grader in the Concert Choir.

OFFICE MANAGER

Alneisa Slaughter is originally from Queens Village, NY and moved to Houston with her family in 1995. She is extremely passionate about her family life, and loves to volunteer at her children’s schools. She is a Dance & Basketball Mom to her eldest children who are in the 11th and 7th grade, while her youngest is a member of our Preparatory Choir. She enjoys bike riding, reading a good book, and spending quality time with family & friends. Alneisa has a background in Business Administration and is in charge of managing our HCC office. Alneisa worked for Girl Scouts of San Jacinto for several years and is no stranger to commitment within an organization. She currently resides in Cypress, TX with her four children: Autumn, Alaina, Braylon and Alanah. Alneisa is a Certified Notary Public.

ALUMNUS, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Jenny was a member of the Houston Children’s Chorus for 5 years, returning for many after as a Rehearsal Assistant and Choreographer. She studied at the University of North Texas and has been in the Marketing & Social Media space since 2011. She is an Alto who plays piano, loves musical theater, and has performed with Houston’s AD Players. Currently, she lives in Katy with her husband Grant, children Ellie & Jack, and two very crazy Brittany Spaniels named Rocky & Margo. She helps the Chorus with Marketing, Social Media & Communications.

OFFICE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Katie Llagostera is our Volunteer Coordinator and serves as a Rehearsal Assistant.  She joined the Houston Children’s Chorus as a member in 1993 when her family moved to the Houston area from her home state of Ohio.  Katie was reunited with our organization in 2021 when her oldest son, Leo, joined the Chorus as a member of the Concert Choir.  Katie is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where she studied biochemistry and was an active member of the Trinity Choir.  After graduation, she worked in the pharmaceutical field as a research chemist and most recently fully devoted her time to raising her children.  Katie lives in Spring, Texas with her husband, Domingo, two sons, Leo and Anthony, and Sheepadoodle, Buffy.  Beyond her Chorus commitments, Katie also enjoys painting murals and commissioned artwork, volunteering at her sons’ schools and attending indoor cycling classes.

ALUMNUS, REHEARSAL ASSISTANT & OFFICE INTERN

Julian is currently a sophomore at Bridgeland High School and joined the Chorus in 3rd grade. He was a part of the Galveston project each year and went abroad to Taiwan with the Chorus. He plans to study Music Theory in 12th grade to do something related to music in college and the future. In addition to choir, Julian can also play the piano and would like to eventually start composing his own music. HCC is so happy to have another volunteer from the Fang family for the Chorus!