EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Teaching Artist: 

Mary Anne Sims is an educator and musician with over twenty-five years experience in the classroom, including thirteen as a vocal music instructor in the Des Moines public schools. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa and her Master of Arts in Music Education from the Ohio State University, where her thesis developed pedagogy for English language-learners  in the music classroom. While in pursuit of her Master’s degree, she sang and soloed in The Ohio State University’s Gospel Choir “Inspirational Voices,” and studied urban music education under Dr. Jan Edwards. She has taught at every grade level, with experience in urban, rural and suburban general music and choral programs, including leading the highly successful Des Moines Roosevelt Varsity Show Choir and receiving ten consecutive Highly Superior state ratings for her Women’s Ensemble.  She has also served as a mentor and consultant to programs across the country, working with youth choirs of all ages.  She is a successful choral arranger, having written commissions for several schools in the Midwest, as well as community organizations such as the World Food Prize and Bravo Greater Des Moines, and is also an accomplished pianist and accompanist.  She serves as an adjudicator during show choir season, and loves to work with young performers.

TEACHING ARTISTS:

Sarah Jorgenson has been teaching voice both privately and in the collegiate setting for nearly 20 years. Before landing in Iowa, Sarah began her musical journey by graduating with a classical voice performance degree and extensive master’s pedagogy classes from the University of NE- Lincoln. She has won many vocal competitions including the Soli Deo Gloria Voice Competition and has been selected as the soprano soloist to perform with multiple orchestras including the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and the New York Symphonia. She can be heard on the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album singing with Johnny Mathis. Deciding that musical theatre was an exciting change from the classical voice and opera she had studied for so long, she moved to NYC. Sarah has performed lead roles in numerous operas and theaters regionally. As an equity actor in NYC, Sarah had the pleasure of joining performers such as John Groff and Michael Zygo in raising money and awareness by performing with Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. After stopping in Des Moines while en route to Chicago for an audition, Sarah met her husband and decided to plant her roots permanently in Iowa. She is the founding director of Rising Stars Show Choir 4 Kids, a non-audition fully inclusive choir for children of all ages and abilities. She is now a professional blogger for the local chapter of the City Moms Blog group and often blogs about the most favorite role she’s ever had: being a mama to four amazing kiddos who keep her on her toes every minute of every day.

Chris Powell, keyboard and voice teacher, is a multi-talented performer who can be found in many corners of the Midwest every year, from a solo set at Covered Bridge Fest in Winterset, IA to leading a 13-piece band at the Four Seasons in downtown Chicago. Chris is also passionate about making the pastime of playing music more accessible, having educated more than 1,000 students in classes, lessons and workshops across the country since 2008. Raised in Iowa, Chris graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, and earned degrees from the School of Music Vocations (SWCC) and the University of Northern Iowa.

Mayte Gomez-Cruz, voice teacher, is a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) and a new Teaching Artist at City Voices! A member of the inaugural class of City Voices students in 2013, Mayte grew her love for music and performance at Des Moines North High School before going on to pursue a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Therapy at The University of Iowa. Upon graduation, Mayte presented her honors recital celebrating music in Spanish and Hispanic composers (featuring a student mariachi group!) as well as a senior project presentation on Family- and Community-Centered Care in Pediatric Music Therapy. Mayte established her career as a music therapist at a children’s hospital in Chicago, working with patients and families of all ages to support coping, reduce potential medical trauma, and aid in pain management. Now back in Des Moines, Mayte works as a music teacher for Music Class for Tots as well as a professional Spanish-English interpreter in early education and medical settings.

Emilia Jurzyk received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a Biology minor at Drake University. A passionate teacher and performer, she also enjoys blending her interest in science with thoughtful musicianship. Emilia understands both the joy and vulnerability of making music and strives to create a studio environment grounded in trust, curiosity, and permission to take risks (and make a few funny sounds!). She believes that with enough adaptability and resourcefulness, she can reach any student. As an active vocalist, Emilia has a wide range of performance experience. In the spring of 2026, she performed the titular role in Carmen at Drake University, and she performed in a showcase of Mozart opera scenes with Opera Carolina in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has placed in national competitions, and is a multiple first-place winner of regional competitions. With a strong interest in vocal health and physiology, Emilia has developed solid diagnostic skills and an appreciation for the science of singing. At Drake, she conducted research examining vocal fatigue in singing lessons and the effects of manual therapy on singers. Emilia has also shadowed in multiple different speech-language pathology settings, including ENT, pediatric, and acute care environments.

Allegro Hernandez is a musician, songwriter, instructor, and artist based in Des Moines who loves to share their music with the world. They enjoy teaching youth and adults. Allegro brings their experience as a performing artist and recording musician to the lesson room. They work to create inclusive, safe, and brave spaces for all identities and cultural backgrounds in the Iowa music community. Allegro teaches guitar at City Voices and also can teach bass, and ukulele lessons along with music theory, ear training, songwriting, and artist mentorship. They also have experience with piano and drumming. They love teaching students of all ages and skill levels and have experience playing many different styles of music including rock, blues, pop, metal, jazz, funk, and R&B. Allegra is dedicated to crafting each lesson to the individual needs and goals of the learner. They studied McNally Smith College of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance and holds a bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music. Allegro is passionate about preparing students for the stage and developing foundational skills in song-learning, technique, applied music theory, reading, improvisation, and rhythm. They foster a learning environment that strongly enables self-expression and exploration of oneself, musically and personally. Allegro strives to draw a balance between learning the precise, technical skills needed on the instrument combined with fluid expression and musical creativity.

BOARD MEMBERS

Mary Anne Sims, Executive Director

Napoleon Douglas, Board President – Lead Producer, Noce Jazz Club, Artistic Director, Pyramid Theatre Company. Board member since 2017. napoleonmdouglas@gmail.com.

Ryan Williamson  – Associate Principal at North High School in Des Moines, IA. Board member since 2019. amicich@iastate.edu. 515-314-6549.

Lori Glawe – retired Theater Director, Roosevelt High School.  Board member since 2015. Loriglawe64@gmail.com. 515-554-9491.

Dr. Rose Dino – Associate Principal at Brody Middle School in the Des Moines Public Schools. Board Member since 2025. Rose.dino@dmschools.org. 515-242-8443.