Our Artistic Staff
Laura Pinto, Artistic Director
Laura Pinto conducts all four performing ensembles of Pro Musica: A Cappella, Harmonia, Canterini, and Primo Coro. She has over a decade of experience directing youth choirs, presenting music outreach programs, teaching private voice lessons, adjudicating contests, and conducting masterclasses throughout the Midwest. An equally accomplished performer, she has appeared as both a soloist and professional chorister with Haymarket Opera Company, The Newberry Consort, Music of the Baroque, Schola Antiqua, The Oriana Singers, and Sugar Creek Opera. Mrs. Pinto holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from DePaul University and a Master of Music in Opera from McGill University. She lives in Elmwood Park with her husband and children.
Linnea Erickson, Principal Accompanist
Linnea Erickson is the Pro Musica Youth Chorus accompanist for all ensembles. She is a middle school orchestra teacher in Niles, Illinois. Ms. Erickson received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Master of Music Education from Vandercook College of Music (Chicago, IL). Ms. Erickson is an active performer and serves as an accompanist for many recitals, concerts and church services. She also works with several area theater companies. Ms. Erickson has had the pleasure of working with Pro Musica since 2007.
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Magaly Cordero-Dietz, Melody Makers
Magaly Cordero-Dietz is the owner and primary teacher of Pop-Up Music School. An active performer and educator in Chicago, she has been performing classical music throughout the Midwest for over 15 years and is a proud member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Magaly also had a vibrant private voice studio for the last 10 years in Oak Park, IL. In addition to teaching music, Magaly taught Spanish to preschoolers. Magaly currently assists with the choral music program at Chicago's St. Procopius School.
Magaly holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from Northwestern University and a Master's degree in Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts. A trained classical/ opera singer, she has performed roles with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theater in Iowa, Evanston's The Savoyaires, and Chamber Opera Chicago. She has also sung with the South Shore Opera Company, Music Theater Works, and Wisconsin's Music by the Lake festival.
Karen Kitto, Executive Director
Karen Kitto joined Pro Musica in April 2021. She has a Fine Arts degree from Concordia University in Montreal and a degree in Education from The University of Western Ontario. As an educator and traveler, Karen made her way from her hometown of London, Canada through South America, the Middle East, and Europe before landing in Oak Park in 2004. With two daughters to focus on, Karen stepped away from full-time teaching, working as a school volunteer and community leader. Karen spent the 2020-21 school year teaching music, drama and English at The Panamerican School of Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil, and returned home to Oak Park in July 2021. Karen is thrilled to have this opportunity to combine her passions for music, education, kids, and organizing! She lives in Oak Park with her daughter; her older daughter studies at McGill University.
William Chin, Artistic Director Emeritus
William Chin worked tirelessly for the Chorus for 18 years, conducting Harmonia and A Cappella --- the advanced ensembles of Pro Musica Youth Chorus. He has led the Pro Musica on tours to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Carnegie Hall. Mr. Chin is also Founder/Artistic Director of The Oriana Singers, a six-voice ensemble that has presented concerts nationally and internationally since 1979, and was Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus for twenty years. Mr. Chin is director of music at First United Church of Oak Park, chorus director for the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, and recording session conductor for GIA Publications. He has taught at both DePaul and Roosevelt Universities, is a choral director at the Chicago High School for the Arts, and is a recipient of a Joseph Jefferson Award. His final concert with PMYC was in May of 2022.
Our Board
Peter Olson, President
Jeff Chandler, Treasurer
Betsy Edgerton, Vice President
Mary Bellmar, Secretary
Margo Thomas-May
Our Staff
Karen Kitto, Executive Director
pmyouthchorus@gmail.com