Natalia Romero Arbeláez

Originally from Colombia, Natalia is an experienced performer, educator and musician. As an educator, she thrives in the intersection of contemporary music education and culturally relevant teaching. She is passionate about equity and musical citizenship in her classroom and performing practices. Natalia’s strength lies in her ability to connect and engage learners across all settings, although she is particularly fond of working with and learning from teenagers.

Natalia works as the Upper School choir director at the Blake School where she directs three curricular ensembles and two extra-curricular groups. Before that, she taught choir, piano and EL world music at Harding High School in St. Paul.

Natalia is an active performer and vocal coach. As a coach, she has worked with the Guthrie Theater, Ashland Productions, and the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. She can be found singing with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and Border CrosSing, where she also directs a bilingual community choir called Heritage Choir.

Natalia holds a Bachelor of Music from Saint Olaf College and a Master of Music Education at the University of Saint Thomas.

Jared Miller

Born in San Diego, California, Jared discovered his passion for Collaboration while participating in his high school choirs. He graduated from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Music and an Asian Studies concentration studying with Dr. Ananda-Owens, and recently finished a Master’s Degree in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at the University of Minnesota with Dr. Lovelace. At St. Olaf, he worked extensively with the vocal, choral, lyric opera, and theater departments. During his time at the U of M, he played for the University Singers, opera scenes, and a production of Menotti’s The Consul, under Lara Bolton.

As a freelance pianist in the Twin Cities, Jared has worked with Calliope Women’s Chorus, BorderCrosSing, Schubert Club, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Mill City Opera, Arbeit Opera Theatre, and Journey North Opera Company. One of Jared’s musical passions is in studying and performing the music of Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.