Artistic Leaders:
Kenya Lawrence Jackson,
Music Director
Northlake Performing Arts Society
Elizabeth Messina Floyd,
NPAS Pianist
The Northlake Performing Arts Society was founded in 1995 as an auditioned community choir to establish a venue for fine choral arts performance. Over the years, the NPAS Chorus has developed into an organization known for musical excellence and a high level of professionalism. NPAS recognizes that great music can inspire profound change in our lives, our community and our culture.
NPAS is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to enhance and enrich the cultural life on the Northshore through choral music.
The NPAS Chorus is truly a community organization with a wide range of professions, experiences, musical training and ages blending together in a singular passion for beautiful music.
Kenya Lawrence Jackson,
Music Director
Northlake Performing Arts Society
Elizabeth Messina Floyd,
NPAS Pianist
Stacy Melvin, President
Tim Ellzey, Vice President
Linda Busfield, Treasurer
Kellly O’Connor – Secretary
Julie Bowling – Music Librarian
LaVonta Caldwell – Events
Bob Clark – Facilities
Jennifer Garner – Graphic Design
Sandy Hughes – Webmaster/PR
Vickie Kelly – Events
Michelle Omes – Membership
Lisa Schilling – Grants/Sponsorships
Amy Trosclair – Social Media
NPAS Music Director
Ms Jackson currently serves as the Director of Music and Worship at St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Mandeville, LA where her duties include coordinating a large and diverse music program. She conducts the much anticipated Christmas on the Northshore concerts, showcasing the talents of the 100-voice St. Timothy Choir and the Northshore Orchestra, an ensemble of over 40 local musicians. She also created, produces and directs the annual Of Thee I Sing patriotic celebration each Memorial Day weekend. Ms Jackson has produced many children’s theater productions, including Seussical the Musical, Alice in Wonderland, and Godspell Jr, in addition to several original productions.
Ms Jackson also enjoys performing and is currently the Principal Soprano with New Orleans based opera company Opera Créole. She was last seen as Mother Juliette Gaudin in the award-winning original production of Les Lions de le Reconstruction. She also sang the title role in the award-nominated production of Treemonisha and also helped make Opera Créole history in the title role of Flamenca in the award-winning La Flamenca.
A native of Hammond, LA., Ms. Jackson holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she was recognized with the James Wilcox Award for Outstanding senior. She currently studies with LSU Professor, Dr. Loraine Sims.
Ms Jackson was recently awarded the Performing Artist Award at the 2021 St. Tammany President’s Arts Awards ceremony.
NPAS Pianist
Elizabeth Messina Floyd is a pianist, vocalist, and teacher. She is the Talented Music teacher at Fontainebleau High School and serves as the piano accompanist for St. Timothy on the Northshore. Previously, she was employed by Loyola University New Orleans where she taught piano and served as the director of the Preparatory Arts Program. She has served as music director and church pianist for area churches for over 30 years, and most recently was the music director at Fitzgerald Methodist Church. Throughout her career Elizabeth has been regarded as an in-demand commercial and jazz vocalist. She performed for numerous private and public functions on local and national levels with a variety of bands, including the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra and Jubilation to name a few. She was a featured vocalist with touring orchestras including The Nelson Riddle Orchestra under the direction of Christopher Riddle. She is a founding member of the vocal trio Swing Set and performs with the Victory 6 and The Victory Big Band from the National WWII Museum.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Loyola University and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Southeastern Louisiana University where she studied classical and jazz piano with Willis Delony. As a teacher, her students consistently earn superior ratings and top rankings in local and state auditions and competitions. She is certified in piano instruction by the Louisiana Music Teachers’ Association and the Music Teachers’ National Association. She is the proud mother of college-aged twin daughters and is married to a three-time Grammy award winning trumpet player.
Eli Strain is a graduating senior from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts having studied musical theater for four years. He is a voice student of Sarah Jane Mcmahon Briscoe. Eli is an accomplished pianist in addition to being a vocalist. He is a 2024 Youngarts Winner with Distinction in Theatre/Musical and also the first place winner of the Donald W. Wood Competition sponsored by the New Orleans Opera Association. In addition to being a vocalist, he is also an accomplished actor and dancer and has been seen in productions at Jefferson Performing Arts Center, Tulane Summer Lyric Theater, and Slidell Little Theater. He recently performed the title role in the Nutcracker with Jefferson Ballet Theater in December 2023. Upon graduation, Eli will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater at Carnegie Mellon University and aspires to have a lifelong performing career.
Emma St. Cyr is a 2023 graduate of St. Tammany Parish’s Slidell High School. While is high school, Emma was very active in the LA Music Educators Association District Honor Choir, ACDA All State and National Choir, the Thespian Troupe, and National Honor Society. Emma plans to become a Vocal Performance major at either LSU or Loyola.
Emma believes that music is a point of connection. It can remind us we are not alone. Help us through grief, bring us joy, and connect us to others. Emma will use her music degree to connect with others and remind them that they are not alone.
Turchin came to the U.S. to work on her master’s degree in vocal performance at Southeastern. She has been accepted by La Musica Lirica, International Opera Festival for singers, which takes place from June 18 to July 22 in Novafeltria, Italy.
The festival will give her the opportunity to work with nationally and internationally recognized musicians. Turchin will be a participant in the festival’s Opera division and has been awarded the role of Elvira in “L’Italiana in Algeri” by G. Rossini. The opera will be fully staged and performed with the professional Symphony Orchestra from Ravenna, Italy.
Articles: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_dd518b6a-cafe-11ec-a8cf-e77c8ec9e998.htmlhttps://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/article_24d3485a-d178-11ec-80f1-c32f61fd2bc0.html
SLU student majoring in vocal performance. Jessica would love to make opera and classical voice more accessible to our community.
SLU student. Finalist in the NATS (National Association of Teacher’s of Singing National Competition, June 2019. Accepted to the AIMS (American Institute of Musical Studies) in Graz, Austria, Summer 2019.
William was accepted in 2021 into the prestigious American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS), where he spent the summer studying and performing as a soloist in Graz, Austria. William’s most recent accomplishment was performing the role of Don Magnifico this summer in FIO Italia’s production of La Cenerentola by Rossini. William’s vocal achievements include receiving 1st place in competitions such as NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) state division in 2020, the Marjorie Stricklin Concert competition in 2019, NATS regional division in 2018, and the New Orleans Opera Association’s Donald Wood Opera Competition. After graduation, William plans to attend graduate school where he will continue his study of vocal pedagogy and performance. William is in the vocal studio of Dr. Kristen Marchiafava.
SLU student. 1st place winner of the Jessica’s Voice Scholarship Fund. May 19, 2019