ABOUT US
Why “Rehart Gesner?”
At its conception, the Rehart Gesner Fund was born from a place of inspiration. Inspired by the similar relationships we had with our grandmothers, we decided to name our cause after them.
Ruth Rehart, Michelle’s grandmother, was always there to encourage her in her music endeavors. They shared a love of fashion and baking chocolate chip cookies.
Lorraine Gesner, Katy’s grandmother, was her advocate in life and in music. She paid for private piano and voice lessons and attended every performance.
We want to honor the memory of our grandmothers by advocating for singers the way our grandmothers advocated for us. Offering assistance to those who want to grow and nurture their talent, when they otherwise might not be able to, is the heart of our cause.
MEET OUR CO-FOUNDERS
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DR. MICHELLE LATOUR
With over 33 years teaching experience, Dr. Michelle Latour currently owns the LATOUR voice studios, LLC, where she teaches both classical and CCM genres. Michelle is a founding member and former Co-Managing Diva for Opera-On-Tap, Las Vegas, and most recently joined forces with several other Las Vegas voice teachers to form the Vegas Voice Teachers Cooperative™. She also is a regular contributor to Classical Singer Magazine.
Prior to becoming an independent studio owner, Dr. Latour served on the voice faculties at UNLV, Bluffton University, SDSU, the University of San Diego, and the International Opera Performance Experience, an intense, four-week opera skills training program in Italy.
Michelle received her DMA from USC, where she was a graduate assistant and scholarship recipient. She earned her MM from Boston University and her BA from CSU, Fresno. Post-doctoral studies include Vocology certification through The National Center for Voice & Speech, certification in Levels I-III in Somatic Voicework™, and OperaWorks™ Voice Teacher Training Program.
Dr. Latour’s students have gone on to win prestigious awards, to perform professionally in a variety of genres, and to become voice teachers with thriving private studios or serving in academia. She is also incredibly proud of her students who take voice lessons just because they love it- they love the journey, they love discovering their potential, and they just love to sing!
MEET OUR ADDITIONAL TEACHERS
KATY MORRIS
Katy has considered herself a singer for as long as she can remember. Growing up, she was actively involved in choir, theater, and took piano and voice lessons. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by singing lead in the vocal jazz group, Genesis, at Mt. Hood Community College, but ultimately pursued a degree in Psychology from Portland State University. Katy left the music world for more than a decade.
In December of 2021, she had a strong urge to go back to music and to singing. Given a lead by an old college peer, she auditioned to study with the LATOUR voice studios, LLC. Katy has since worked hard to nurture and grow her voice, discovering a whole new side of herself and of her talent. She has since performed in several recitals and competed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition.
In addition to studying music, Katy loves to travel, to cook creating original recipes while hosting friends and family and is currently pursuing a career in fitness. Someone once told her, “the best way to change the world is to help those closest to you.” That is exactly what she hopes to do with the Rehart Gesner Fund.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
KIMBERLY KANITZ
Kimberly Kanitz is a nationally sought-after vocal coach with over 20 years of experience instructing professional voice users, along with 25 years of performance expertise. Known for her intuitive and holistic approach, she integrates vocal exercises with wellness techniques to help her clients achieve optimal health and performance.
As a professional vocalist, Kimberly faced many challenges that singers often encounter, including vocal nodules, sinusitis, and acid reflux. Through vocal therapy and lifestyle changes, she healed over time, which led her to discover her calling: helping singers achieve their professional goals while maintaining vocal health and longevity.
Kimberly is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, specializing in Laryngeal Massage and TMJ dysfunction. Additionally, she is a Level 3 NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) practitioner and holds certifications in McLoughlin Scar Tissue Release (MSTR), Cupping, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), Reiki, and Mindfulness & Meditation. She believes that understanding one’s own instrument and maintaining a free mind and body are key to sustained vocal health. Her comprehensive approach has empowered many performers to overcome vocal challenges and reach their full potential.
In her own words: "Las Vegas is a tough place for vocalists, with most performing six nights a week, four hours a night, often in less-than-ideal conditions. When I was a performer, I began to burn out vocally. Fortunately, I found incredible mentors who helped me discover something unique in my voice. After years of study while performing, I started helping my peers with common vocal issues, and it was then that I realized my passion for teaching. My true fulfillment comes from watching performers grow. Combining my performance experience with the knowledge I’ve gained, I feel I have a lot of valuable information to share."
DR. KIMBERLY GRATLAND JAMES
Dr. Kimberly Gratland James, Mezzo-Soprano, joined the UNLV School of Music faculty in 2017 with over 20 years of professional performance and teaching experience. She previously served as an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Montana, where she taught applied voice, voice pedagogy, and diction for singers.
Currently, she maintains an active voice studio, serves as the Associate Director for the School of Music, and continues to perform as a concert artist and recitalist. She has appeared with renowned ensembles such as the London Sinfonietta, New World Symphony, and Los Angeles Symphony, and on stage with New Orleans Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, among others. Her diverse repertoire includes oratorio works by Bach, operatic roles from Purcell to Gordon, and concert pieces by Verdi, Mahler, Ravel, and contemporary composers. A passionate advocate for chamber music, she has performed with colleagues from the University of Montana and the University of Nevada in local, national, and international venues.
In 2008, James developed a growing interest in the intersection of hard sciences and singing, leading her to complete a vocology certificate program at the National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS) under the guidance of renowned voice scientist Ingo Titze. She is currently collaborating with Titze and others at NCVS on a comprehensive literature review project, exploring the effects of vocalization on heart rate, blood pressure, fluid transport, and viscosity changes in organs and tissues.
Her research has been published in the Journal of Voice, Journal of Singing, and VoicePrints, and she frequently presents at regional, national, and international conferences. James is an active member of the Pan American Vocology Association (PAVA) and has served as a leader in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the College Music Society (CMS) at various levels.
SHANE JENSEN
Shane Jensen is a pianist, composer and vocal coach residing in Las Vegas, NV. Currently he is the Assistant Praise Team Director at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, a position he has held for over 8 years. Shane was raised in Lakewood, CO, and early on developed a love for music after taking piano lessons. He is also an accomplished golfer. Shane has extensive experience playing for choirs, musical theater and various community events. He has collaborated with Opera Las Vegas, Vegas City Opera, various schools in CCSD and the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. Shane regularly plays for the Studio of Dr. Michelle Latour, a collaboration of over 10 years and going. Most recently he was the Musical Director for the Rainbow Youth Theater production of Matilda. Shane received his Bachelor’s degree in music and Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from UNLV.
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HYE YOUN JOO SIN
Hye Youn Joo Sin knew she wanted to be a music teacher at age 4, when she first started taking piano lessons. Since then, she has performed in various choirs, including a well-known children's choir in South Korea and the Las Vegas Master Singers. She received her B.M.Ed cum laude from UNLV and her M.Ed in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University. She is currently teaching general music at Dr. Beverly S. Mathis Elementary School. She has led her students to participate in Clark County Orff Festival for four years and co-chaired one year. She is currently serving as treasurer on the board of Nevada's Desert Valley Chapter of American Orff Schulwerk Association. She has been studying with Dr. Latour since 2012 and currently teaches voice and ukulele.
STEPHANIE REDMAN
Stephanie Redman is a graduate of UNLV, where she received her B.A. in Music Education and her M.M. in Vocal Performance. While at UNLV Ms. Redman was a frequent performer in UNLV’s opera theater performing principle roles in such productions as The Magic Flute, Carmen, Old Maid and the Thief, The Telephone, L’enfant de Sortilèges, Suor Angelica, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Ms. Redman is also a frequent performer around Las Vegas. She is one of the two co-managing Diva’s for Las Vegas’ chapter of Opera on Tap. Ms. Redman has also performed in many productions and recitals for Opera Las Vegas, Vegas City Opera, and the LATOUR voice studios., LLC. In addition to performing Ms. Redman is the music teacher for Ruby Duncan Elementary School in Las Vegas and teaches private voice at her own personal studio.