Featured Guest Choir for our Fall Masterworks
The Thurman White Academy Advanced Choir
The Thurman White Academy Advanced Choir has been under the direction of Athena Mertes since 2015. This 7th and 8th-grade ensemble is known for its high standard of performance, consistently earning superior ratings at district festivals and sweeping the 2019 Worldstrides Choral Festival in San Diego with awards for 1st Place, Gold, Outstanding Choral Group, and Overall Sweepstakes. Thurman White Academy operates as a Performing Arts Magnet Middle School that admits students through a random lottery system. The diverse ensemble performs within the community, including appearances as a guest choir with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra.
The choir is regularly selected for major regional and national showcases. Their virtual performance of “Don’t Give Up On Me” was selected to be featured at the 2022 Western Region ACDA “Stories of the Pandemic” conference. They went on to perform live at the Western Region ACDA Conference in Pasadena in March 2024, followed by a featured performance at the ACDA National Conference in Dallas in March 2025. Most recently, in April 2026, the choir made its Carnegie Hall debut, performing Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.
Athena Mertes
Athena Mertes is the director at the Thurman White Academy of the Performing Arts, where she has over 400 students in her program, where she has been given many accolades for her outstanding teaching. Ms. Mertes is also the Chorus Master of the Opera Las Vegas Youth Chorus. In 2020, she received the Teacher of the Year Award from Magnet Schools of America. As a singer, Ms. Mertes is one of the Valley’s most celebrated Sopranos, and has performed numerous opera roles. She has performed as a guest soloist with the Burbank Philharmonic, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Henderson Symphony, Opera Las Vegas, Vegas City Opera, Lexington Opera Outreach, and the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society.
Lhara Groberg
Lhara Groberg is the Director of Vocal Studies at Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts and has taught in the Clark County School District for ten years. She previously led the choir program at Hyde Park Middle School, growing it to over 280 students. Ms. Groberg holds degrees in Choral Music Education from Northern Arizona University and the University of North Texas. She is an active member of American Choral Directors Association and serves as State Secretary and All-State Co-Chair for the Nevada Music Educators Association. She sings with Desert Singers Las Vegas as the Soprano 1 Section Leader. She was named one of SBO+ Magazine’s “50 Most Influential Music Teachers” in 2024. Her goal is to build confidence, community, and commitment through choral music.
The Las Vegas Academy of the Arts’ The Academy Singers
The Las Vegas Academy of the Arts’ The Academy Singers is the premiere chamber choir from the 12-time Grammy award-winning Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. This ensemble consists of forty-four of the most talented singers on campus. As the voice of LVA, The Academy Singers have performed nationally and internationally including with Hugh Jackman, Barry Manilow, Wayne Newton, Foreigner, Star Wars in concert, the Boston Brass, Andre Rieu, with the stars of the Broadway show Memphis, Producer Kenny Ortega, and many more. In addition, in this past year, they have been featured on nationally televised performances for the NFL Draft, the NFL Pro-Bowl, the Las Vegas Raiders home game season opener, a Timberwolves game and a PBS Special with Daniel Emmet, Pia Toscano, and David Foster. They are a talented, driven and focused group of students with a true passion for singing. Although they come from many different backgrounds, their goal is the same – to share their love of music.
Matthew Ostlie
Matthew Ostlie is currently in his 12th year of teaching in the Clark County School District and his third year at the award-winning Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. In his first nine years of teaching, he rebuilt the Eldorado High School choir program, conducting 6 choirs, co-directing the musicals, and serving as the fine arts department chair. At the Las Vegas Academy, Mr. Ostlie conducts the Academy Singers, LVA’s premier chamber choir, Bella Voz, an advanced treble chamber ensemble, and Laudate, a tenor/bass choir. In addition, he co-directs the vocal electives, Contemporary Voices and On Stage. Mr. Ostlie is thrilled about his role as a vocal director at LVA, where students are held to high standards of excellence in musicianship, performance habits, character, and academics. His choirs have had many notable performances, including collaborations with The Legends of Las Vegas, Foreigner, David Foster, Barry Manilow, the NFL Draft, Wayne Newton, the NFL Pro Bowl, Daniel Emmett, Pia Toscano, Clint Holmes, and others. Mr. Ostlie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from South Dakota State University, studying under Dr. Steven Grives and Dr. Laura Diddle, and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, studying under Dr. Joseph Svendsen and Dr. Stephanie Council.
Lois & Jerry Tarkanian Middle School
The Tarkanian Middle School Chamber Choir has been
directed by Heather Barclay Drusedum since January 2024. This talented ensemble
consists of 24 dedicated, hardworking individuals who commit an extra hour each
morning to create and achieve musical excellence. Last spring, they received a
Superior rating at the Green Valley High School Invitational Festival. We are
excited to travel to Anaheim, California, this spring to perform at the Forum
Music Choral Festival.
Heather Barclay Drusedum
Heather Barclay Drusedum, born and raised in Henderson, Nevada, currently serves as the director of choirs at Tarkanian Middle School. She recently graduated from Northern Arizona University, where she earned a degree in Secondary Music Education with an emphasis on choral studies. During her time at NAU, she was a member of several choirs, including the Shrine of the Ages Choir, Vox Astra, University Singers, and Chamber Choir. Heather also held leadership roles as the President of the American Choral Directors Association Student Chapter, the President of the Choral Union, and the Student Coordinator for the Jazz Madrigal Festival. In 2023, she was honored with the Gold Axe Award, recognizing her as one of the top 1% of graduating seniors.