Noila Ortega

The Jacomo Chorale is pleased to announce the selection of Noila Ortega as its director, to begin the Chorale’s 41st season in August.

Born in Cuba and now residing in the Heart of America, Noila Ortega is a well rounded professional musician, conductor, and bilingual educator.

Coming from a family of influential musicians, Ortega started piano at seven and graduated high school from National School of Art with an emphasis in Music Theory, Piano and Chamber Music Teaching. She continued her studies and graduated from the University of Arts in Havana, Cuba with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus in Orchestral Conducting and Musicology. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Foreign Languages (Spanish) from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Ortega has a broad range of experience in performing and conducting orchestras from large ballets to youth orchestras, accompanying ballet classes and choirs, as well as teaching all ages and levels. Currently, she is the head of the Music and Spanish departments at Outreach Christian Education, is a piano accompanist at the Kansas City Ballet, has a private teaching studio, and freelances as a conductor and accompanist.

Suzanne Isbell – Pianist

We’re pleased to welcome Suzanne Isbell to the role. Suzanne Hatcher Isbell began her career as an acclaimed singer, coach, conductor, arranger, and vocal pedagogue having taught and performed throughout the United States and Europe. Now, she prefers to play the piano while other people sing. Suzanne’s training includes degrees from California State University, Stanislaus (B.A.); Rice University (M.M.); and studies at the University of Miami, where she completed the coursework and exams for the Doctorate of Musical Arts. While Suzanne still sings some professionally, at this point in her life she has settled into stability with more boring jobs in retail and corporate management. Currently, she is the Administrative Coordinator and Music/Worship Director for Indian Heights UMC and a staff accompanist at Kansas City, Kansas Community College. Suzanne is married to Dan, and has three kids: Fella, a 3 year old smooth-haired Collie mix; Samson, a 5 year old Maine Coon mix; and Delilah, a 12 year old diluted Tabby.