2025 FACULTY
Katie Procell, Music Director

Baltimore-based operatic and new music “emerging soprano Katie Procell is a vocal chameleon” (Opera News). Beyond her time on the stage, she directs musical theatre and operetta, and teaches private voice and cello lessons in the DMV area. She harbors a love for Gilbert and Sullivan and is excited to bring it to the community of Stafford!
Recent directing credits include: Stage director & music director: Seussical (Charm City Players); Music director: Hairspray, Peter Pan, Matilda (Abingdon Community Theatre); Music director: Trial by Jury (JMU); Music director: Iolanthe (Luray Opera Theater)
Past opera credits include Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro; Peach State Opera cover & Le nozze di Figaro; Peabody), six roles in new chamber opera collection Elevator (ENA Ensemble); Lisa (La sonnambula; Opera Alchemy); Giulietta (I Capuleti e i Montecchi; Alchemy); Krysia (cover Out of Darkness; Baltimore Theatre Project); Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia; JMU); Valencienne (The Merry Widow; JMU); Phyllis (Iolanthe; Luray Opera Theater); Patience (Patience; JMU); Despina (Così fan tutte; Alchemy & Luray). She studies with Elizabeth Futral and has studied with Phyllis Bryn-Julson at Peabody Conservatory (MM '18) and Kevin McMillan at James Madison University (BM '16) and has also trained as an apprentice artist with Opera Roanoke. She also sings with the Washington Concert Opera and Annapolis Opera choruses.
Procell works closely with composer Peter Dayton and has premiered several of his works. She made her record debut with Stories Out of Cherry Stems, an album of Dayton’s vocal chamber music in 2022. She also works closely with composer Garth Baxter and premiered the title role in the film premiere of his opera Lily in conjunction with Fraimework Productions. She also appears on a compilation album of Baxter’s Ask of Me What the Birds Sang and Dayton’s All in the Sound.
Recent directing credits include: Stage director & music director: Seussical (Charm City Players); Music director: Hairspray, Peter Pan, Matilda (Abingdon Community Theatre); Music director: Trial by Jury (JMU); Music director: Iolanthe (Luray Opera Theater)
Past opera credits include Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro; Peach State Opera cover & Le nozze di Figaro; Peabody), six roles in new chamber opera collection Elevator (ENA Ensemble); Lisa (La sonnambula; Opera Alchemy); Giulietta (I Capuleti e i Montecchi; Alchemy); Krysia (cover Out of Darkness; Baltimore Theatre Project); Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia; JMU); Valencienne (The Merry Widow; JMU); Phyllis (Iolanthe; Luray Opera Theater); Patience (Patience; JMU); Despina (Così fan tutte; Alchemy & Luray). She studies with Elizabeth Futral and has studied with Phyllis Bryn-Julson at Peabody Conservatory (MM '18) and Kevin McMillan at James Madison University (BM '16) and has also trained as an apprentice artist with Opera Roanoke. She also sings with the Washington Concert Opera and Annapolis Opera choruses.
Procell works closely with composer Peter Dayton and has premiered several of his works. She made her record debut with Stories Out of Cherry Stems, an album of Dayton’s vocal chamber music in 2022. She also works closely with composer Garth Baxter and premiered the title role in the film premiere of his opera Lily in conjunction with Fraimework Productions. She also appears on a compilation album of Baxter’s Ask of Me What the Birds Sang and Dayton’s All in the Sound.
Karen Clotfelter, Collaborative Pianist

Karen Clotfelter looks forward to joining the Stafford Opera Troupe this summer. Karen has been performing in the Fredericksburg area since 1989. She has played for the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg Theater Company, Fredericksburg Theater Ensemble, Lake of the Woods Players, Maranatha Second Generation Choir, Stage Door Productions, local churches and schools. She regularly accompanies All-County and District choirs in the area. Karen was the collaborative pianist for the Chamber Chorale of Fredericksburg from 2005-2022. She is currently employed by the Stafford County School system as a piano accompanist.
Karen loves theater and has served as rehearsal accompanist and member of the orchestra for numerous shows. Some favorites were: Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Little Night Music, Seussical the Musical, Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ordinary Days, and Mamma Mia. She most recently performed in University of Mary Washington’s 2024 production of Nunsense and Fauquier Community Theater’s 2025 production of Jersey Boys.
A graduate of Virginia Tech College of Engineering, Karen is retired from the Department of Defense. Karen and her husband are residents of King George, VA. They enjoy travel and outdoor activities.
Karen loves theater and has served as rehearsal accompanist and member of the orchestra for numerous shows. Some favorites were: Into the Woods, The Secret Garden, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Little Night Music, Seussical the Musical, Putnam County Spelling Bee, Ordinary Days, and Mamma Mia. She most recently performed in University of Mary Washington’s 2024 production of Nunsense and Fauquier Community Theater’s 2025 production of Jersey Boys.
A graduate of Virginia Tech College of Engineering, Karen is retired from the Department of Defense. Karen and her husband are residents of King George, VA. They enjoy travel and outdoor activities.
Evan Keene, Bass-Baritone and Composer

Bass-baritone Evan Keene completed his B.S in Music Education at Liberty University in 2018 studying voice with Dr. Wayne Kompelien. While at Liberty Mr. Keene was active in the Opera Workshop program, performing in scenes as Franck in Die Fledermaus, Grandpa in The Tender Land, and Don Bartolo in Barber of Seville. He has performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and also performed several works with the Roanoke Symphony, including Haydn’s Creation. He is also an accomplished instrumentalist, performing in the Pit Orchestras for the Alluvion Stage Company, MasterWorx Theater, and Academy Center for the Arts Encore Youth Theatre’s Summer Program. Mr. Keene also served as Music Director with the Fredericksburg area’s Rude Mechanicals Shakespeare on the Lawn program, where he arranged, orchestrated and performed with various musical ensembles, both vocal and instrumental. He is a frequent performer with Fredericksburg Theater Ensemble, most recently playing the role of Puck in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is a member of the Chamber Chorale of Fredericksburg, where he sings bass and is a frequent soloist. In 2019, Mr. Keene composed an original opera based on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was performed by the faculty and students of SOT.
Mr. Keene has been a participant in Stafford Opera Troupe since its inception, both performing in scenes and later teaching voice lessons. He is currently in his sixth year as a music educator in Stafford County Public Schools, and also is a frequent Music Director with Aspire Theater, a local children's community group. He recently received his MA in Professional Media Composition from Thinkspace Education, a part of the University of Chichester in West Sussex, United Kingdom. He is excited to continue as a faculty member with Stafford Opera Troupe.
Mr. Keene has been a participant in Stafford Opera Troupe since its inception, both performing in scenes and later teaching voice lessons. He is currently in his sixth year as a music educator in Stafford County Public Schools, and also is a frequent Music Director with Aspire Theater, a local children's community group. He recently received his MA in Professional Media Composition from Thinkspace Education, a part of the University of Chichester in West Sussex, United Kingdom. He is excited to continue as a faculty member with Stafford Opera Troupe.
Mollie Nesaw, Soprano

Mollie Nesaw is thrilled to return as a faculty member of the Stafford Opera Troupe for the 2025 season. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Virginia Tech, where she studied with Robert Chafin and Brian Thorsett. She also earned a Master of Education from Virginia Tech with a concentration in music.
During her time at Virginia Tech, Mollie participated in Opera Workshop classes throughout her undergraduate studies and performed in several productions, including the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Gilda in the world premiere of Lori Laitman’s The Three Feathers. Mollie has taught private voice and piano lessons and previously served as a middle school chorus teacher in Stafford County. She currently resides in Stafford, Virginia, with her husband and their two cats.
During her time at Virginia Tech, Mollie participated in Opera Workshop classes throughout her undergraduate studies and performed in several productions, including the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Gilda in the world premiere of Lori Laitman’s The Three Feathers. Mollie has taught private voice and piano lessons and previously served as a middle school chorus teacher in Stafford County. She currently resides in Stafford, Virginia, with her husband and their two cats.
Katherine Preseren, Soprano

Katherine Preseren is excited to be joining the faculty of the Stafford Opera Troupe for her second year. She holds a BA in Music - Vocal Performance and a Masters of Education from the University of Mary Washington, where she studied with Kathy Ahearn. While at Mary Washington, she studied and performed various opera works in recitals. She was the director of Fredericksburg "Opera on Tap," the concert series dedicated to bringing opera to a broader audience by performing out in the community in unconventional-for-opera places.
Katherine has been working as a music educator in the Fredericksburg region for over 10 years. She teaches private voice and piano, and is a director of both choral and instrumental ensembles. She also previously taught in Stafford and Spotsylvania Public Schools. You can see her performing regularly both solo, with bands, and in choirs. You can see her most often as the lead vocalist and keyboardist of local pop/rock/country band, Ladia.
Katherine has been working as a music educator in the Fredericksburg region for over 10 years. She teaches private voice and piano, and is a director of both choral and instrumental ensembles. She also previously taught in Stafford and Spotsylvania Public Schools. You can see her performing regularly both solo, with bands, and in choirs. You can see her most often as the lead vocalist and keyboardist of local pop/rock/country band, Ladia.
Sam Fulton, Technical Director

Since the first production, Sam Fulton has proven an invaluable asset to the program in multiple capacities. He has built sets, facilitated light and sound design, operated the sound and light boards, assisted with staging, and taught educational seminars for Stafford Opera Troupe. A true jack of all trades, Mr. Fulton's personal resume contains credits for singing, acting, sound and lighting design, and set building. In addition to his work with SOT, he has performed with the Rude Mechanicals, Lake of the Woods Players and Fredericksburg Theater Ensemble. Notable roles include the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Usnavi in In the Heights Jack Absolute in The Rivals, Giles Ralston in The Mousetrap, and various roles in the annual Shakespeare on the Lawn series at Kenmore. He currently teaches at Shirley Heim Middle School in Stafford, Virginia.
Lauren Terrill, Photographer

Lauren holds a B.A. in Spanish as well as M.A.T in Spanish from Christopher Newport University. Currently, Lauren teaches Spanish I, III, and IV at Mountain View High School. While attending CNU, she sang Alto I and II with CNU’s premier chamber a cappella ensemble, CNU Voices. When Lauren is not teaching or singing, she enjoys both digital and film photography, and is excited to be the official photographer for the SOT 2024 season.
Visit Lauren's website here.
Visit Lauren's website here.