As part of the rich musical heritage at UMC Bala, the music program is often enhanced with professional musicians. A select group, known as the "core members", performs each week with the Chancel Choir and also sings special solo selections throughout the year. These singers serve to work with our volunteer members and help to enable success within the Chancel Choir. Each of these musicians has at least a bachelor's degree in music combined with many years of experience. We invite you to learn a bit more about our core members by reading their biographies below.

Diane Walters, Soprano Soloist - Diane Walters, hails from Dayton, Ohio where she began singing with the Kettering Children’s Choir, Dayton Opera, and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Cum Laude from the Capital University Conservatory of Music in Columbus, Ohio. She has studied with Lynn Roseberry and Gene Allen and currently studies with Philip Cho. She made her professional debut at a young age with Dayton Opera as the Page Boy in Rigoletto. Other opera roles include Lisaveta in A Month in the Country, Monica in The Medium, Despina in Cosí fan tutte, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Yum-Yum in The Mikado. She is a member and soprano soloist with the Cancel Choir at the United Methodist Church of Bala Cynwyd and sings with Temple University’s Concert Choir and Graduate Conductor’s Chorus where she is a frequent soloist. She was a core member and soloist with Canticum Novum and sang with the Capital University Chapel Choir where she was a section leader and soloist. She has toured the world singing in Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States. Diane currently resides in Philadelphia where she is pursuing a Professional Studies diploma at Temple University. 


Maggie Nice, Mezzo-Soprano Soloist - Originally from Arlington, Virginia, Maggie Nice is currently a senior at the Temple University Boyer College of Music and Dance in Philadelphia, PA pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance. Nice has performed with temple Concert Choir, the Graduate Conductor's Chorus, and the University Oratorio Chorus, among others, performing works a variety of works at various locations across the Eastern United States. In addition to her choral performances, Nice has performed in several operas as well. Maggie's last role was in Temple's opera Les Mamelles de Tiresias and she looks forward to the upcoming . In addition to her studies in the United States, Nice also studied voice in Milan, Italy during the fall semester of 2010. In addition to her academic studies, she also studied voice with Patrizia Zenardi. The 2011-2012 season marks her second year as the Alto Section Leader and Core Member of the UMC Bala Chancel Choir.