Lucas Tarrant
Artistic Director/Vice President of Music
Lucas Tarrant has a rich history of music-making both on stage and at the podium. He has conducted operas, musicals, and many choruses in varying degrees of skill. In addition to being the Artistic Director, he also maintains a private voice studio and music directs for multiple theaters in the Atlanta area.
While Lucas casts a broad net, his interests are united by one singular goal: to revolutionize a field that has long been inaccessible and to make music attainable for everyone. His desire for diversity and empowerment in the arts drives him and is evident in everything he does, from teaching private voice lessons to fostering an inviting and educational setting at NAV. Lucas is musically multilingual, learning and adapting to each student and artist he encounters to help them connect to the magic of music. As a Music Director, he is encouraging, approachable, and detailed, continuously cultivating an environment for success and expression. His holistic approach to music through extensive training, experience, and advocacy allow him to invest in the people he works with while lending a professional and unique perspective to each project.
With multiple degrees in music from Oklahoma City University, varying from performance to conducting and pedagogy, Lucas is able to take a hands-on approach with singers, actors, and musicians alike. His considerable knowledge and experience in the field make him an ideal candidate for almost any creative environment.
Cheryl James is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Atlanta’s community chorus, North Atlanta Voices, and in many ways, the driving force that allows NAV to realize its goals. Her passion for all living beings and her propensity for organization make her the ideal candidate for such a position and allowing her to help create something beautiful.
A native of Sandy Springs, Cheryl received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Roanoke College in Virginia. Post-college, Cheryl’s ambition led her to Vermont and then to North Carolina, where she co-owned two businesses specializing in logistics and operations. As an instinctive nurturer with educational roots in anthropology and sociology, Cheryl has always been drawn to helping others, whether dogs, cats, or humans. Her love for animals, both wild and tamed, led her to 25 years in the veterinary field and has made her a rescue mom to many. She shares her Brookhaven home with her cat, Jack.
Serendipity and the desire for a deeper connection with music led her to begin piano and voice lessons in 2017 when she met her friend and future co-founder of NAV, Lucas Tarrant. Music has helped Cheryl to nurture her gifts as she nurtures other people. Her thoughtful, dependable, and dedicated nature allows her to anchor the organization she loves while pursuing her love for music and the people in her community
Cheryl JAMES
Executive Director/President
Stephen Frketic
Accompanist
Stephen has been playing the piano from an early age and began accompanying choirs in high school in his native Jacksonville, Florida. He is the music director and organist at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in the Toco Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, a position he started in January 2020.
He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance from Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music and completed his Masters’s degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Toronto in 2013.
During his musical tenure in Toronto, Stephen worked with multiple churches and community choirs and led his church choir on tours to Montréal, Québec City, Dublin, Ireland, and Oxford, England. He is also a recent past president of the Toronto Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Before pursuing his graduate studies, Stephen worked as a high school choir director in Houston, Texas, and as an English Language Instructor in Tokyo. His husband, Anson, is a research scientist at Emory University in the department of human genetics. They live in Decatur.
Board of Directors
Cheryl Logan – President
Lucas Tarrant – VP of Music
Carole Brown – Secretary
Peggy Horn – Treasurer
Stefanie Freinkel – Director of Social Media and Singer Engagement
