Offering for the Earth

Alexandra Palting is a performer and award-winning writer based in New York City. Aside from her time as Artist in Residence at The Kennedy Center, other favorite local credits include CATF, Olney Theatre Center, Imagination Stage, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and The Keegan Theatre. She is the performer, writer, lyricist and co-composer of 0874: A Filipino-American Love Story, a one-woman musical that was performed locally at The Kennedy Center, off-Broadway at Connelly Theater, and internationally at the U.S. Consulate in China. Most recently, she was a featured soloist on the original off-Broadway cast album Chasing Grace. She has performed her original music at venues including The Lincoln Theatre and Merriweather Post Pavilion and her career as a singer has taken her from the swing clubs of Baltimore to the Vatican. Her most recent on-camera work can be seen on "Law and Order," and her most recent voiceover work can be heard on Audible produced by Macmillan Audio. Alex feels so blessed for any chance she has to return to her Catholic home at St. Louis.

Isaiah Shim is a “crossover” pianist/keyboardist whose specialty ranges from classical to jazz, instrumental to vocal, orchestral to choral, and meticulously-practiced masterworks to free-form improvisations. He currently serves as Assistant Conductor of Columbia Pro Cantare and Organist at St Louis Church. He is also an educator teaching in the Howard County Public School System.

He has been involved with a number of organisations in the area, including Annapolis Opera, Baltimore Chamber and Symphony Orchestras, Columbia Orchestra, Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, Montgomery Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, and Young Artists of America. Outside of the US, he has performed in several countries in Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, and Europe. Artists he had the opportunity to work with include Avi Avital, Kristin Chenoweth, Andrew Lippa, Nicholas McGegan, Stephen Schwartz, Gil Shaham, Christoph Storgårds, among others.

Isaiah Shim received graduate degrees in conducting and collaborative piano from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where he was mentored by Marin Alsop and Eileen Cornett. Additionally, he received Bachelor of Music degrees in piano performance and music education from Wheaton College in Illinois, where he studied piano with Dr Karin Redekopp Edwards and conducting with Drs Daniel Sommerville and John William Trotter.

Laura Hill has over a decade of professional experience in sacred music, performing as both a soloist and choral singer, and serving as a cantor in churches throughout the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington. A lifelong member of St. Louis Parish, she regularly sings as a cantor at Sunday Masses and in support of other parish ministries. 

She began her college studies in musical theatre at the Catholic University of America before transferring to the University of Maryland, where she pursued another field of study while completing a minor in vocal performance. 

When she’s not singing, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and their two energetic boys. For her, music is both an art form and an expression of faith. She is honored to be a part of the concert series at St. Louis, a place that has played a significant role in both her faith and musical journeys.

Paul Heinemann is renowned for his tremendous gift of connecting with middle school adolescents. His energy and enthusiasm have inspired his students to achieve at high levels. He is currently the choral director at Loiederman Middle School, a magnet program for the Performing Arts. His choirs have consistently earned superior ratings at county, state and interstate festivals and competitions and they have performed as a demonstration chorus for multiple MMEA conferences. 

Paul has served as a guest clinician and adjudicator for festivals throughout Maryland, as well as a guest conductor for numerous middle school honors choruses, including 9 years as the resident director of the Montgomery County Middle School Honors Chorus. He has presented at local and state conferences multiple times. Additionally, Paul has served as an artistic and music director for theatre programs at both the middle and high school levels and is the Director of the JR (middle school) program for Young Artists of America.

Paul was recognized with the Montgomery County Gazette’s ‘Favorite Teacher’ award in 2011. His choral program was awarded the ‘Program of Excellence’ award from the Maryland Music Educators Association in 2012. Paul was also recognized with the Maryland Music Educators Association ‘Outstanding Music Educator’ Award in 2018.