ABOUT VOCTAVE

Voctave is a dynamic 11-member a cappella group hailing from Central Florida, renowned for their intricate and captivating vocal arrangements. Founded in the winter of 2015 by esteemed producer and arranger Jamey Ray, Voctave brings together a rich tapestry of musical backgrounds. The group’s members have performed globally and contributed to numerous recordings, showcasing their versatile talent.

Voctave has collaborated with a host of Grammy, Dove, and American Music Award winners, earning acclaim for their exceptional performances. They are proudly represented by Opus 3 Artists management, a testament to their esteemed place in the music industry.

Their impressive discography boasts multiple #1 songs and albums on platforms like iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify, and they have made significant strides on Billboard Magazine’s charts, ranking in the top 25. With over 200 million views across social media platforms, Voctave’s impact on the a cappella scene is undeniable. Their albums are widely available on all digital music and streaming platforms, allowing fans worldwide to experience their stunning vocal artistry.

VOCTAVE MEMBERS

Kate Lott – Soprano 1

Kate has traveled the world with her voice, and she began with a broad variety of roles in Regional Theaters around the country before moving to Orlando more than a decade ago.  Honoring her BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah University, Walt Disney Entertainment invited Kate to move to Orlando, Florida, where she has been singing First Soprano with the Voices of Liberty for over ten years.  As a soloist, Kate has sung the National Anthem for the Atlanta Braves, Run Disney, and President Barack Obama.  Her signature high notes have been captured on multiple studio recordings. She and her husband Rob reside in Windermere, Florida with their dog, Leo.

Tiffany Coburn – Soprano 2

Tiffany Coburn has been called a singer’s singer!  Her love of music is undeniable.  Whether you hear her singing with Voctave or performing her own gospel concerts, your heart will be moved by her voice.  Her career has been filled with “pinch me” moments!

At the age of 17, she began the “tour” life beginning with the Continental Singers and Orchestra. She has toured with TRUTH, Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patty just to name a few.  She has had the privilege of performing as a soloist with the Boston Pops, the Orlando and Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestras, appeared at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and sang for the closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics.  She represented the United States at the April Spring Friendship Festival in Pyongyang, North Korea against 40 other countries and brought home First Place Honors.  Tiffany was a member of EPCOT’s Voices of Liberty for over 25 years, recorded the theme song “Share a Dream Come True” for Disney’s 100 Years of Magic,” as well as recordings for parades, stage shows and special events for Disney World as well as the other parks worldwide.  She became a Dove Award Nominated Artist with her most recent recording “You Are More” in the categories of Inspirational “Album of the Year” and Grass Roots “Song of the Year.”

She currently lives in Clermont, FL with her husband of 30 years.

Ashley Espinoza – Soprano/Alto

Ashley Espinoza lives in Florida with her husband, Christian and children, and is a singer with the Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. In her spare time, she is a studio singer, and she records and travels with the viral group, Voctave. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance, & discovered barbershop at her college, Vanguard University of Southern California. In the past she has been a member of the Harborlites Chorus, Hypnotic, Vogue (2010 Rising Star Champions), Charmed, and Windsor. Along with her love for music, she also enjoys reading, loves cats, and is enjoying learning how to be a good wife & mother.

Sarah Whittemore – Alto 1

Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Sarah Whittemore grew up immersed in music, singing in touring children’s choirs, leading church services, and fronting her own jazz trio.

For the past 19 years, she has called Central Florida home, where she has established herself as a premier live and studio vocalist. Her signature silky sound is featured in the world-renowned a cappella group Voctave, and her Disney roots run deep from her years with the Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. Sarah has also been featured as a guest artist with the Orlando Philharmonic, Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, and Macon Pops, and has appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

A veteran of the session world, Sarah has recorded hundreds of projects worldwide. Her work includes recordings for Disney parks across the globe, Universal Studios Japan, Norwegian Cruise Line, FELD Entertainment, and albums for Jon Anderson of Yes and various Broadway artists.

In 2021, Sarah released her debut solo recording, Love Song EP, showcasing her vocal jazz artistry. More recently, she has expanded her reach as a songwriter with Excelsia Publishing. In addition, her latest collaboration with writer/arranger Rick McKee, A Halloween Carol, is currently available on all music streaming platforms.

Chrystal Johnson – Alto 2

Chrystal Johnson is an accomplished singer and actress who is a 13-year veteran of Disney World’s famed “Voices of Liberty” at Epcot, a lead performer in Disney’s Festival of The Lion King, and many other venues throughout Greater Orlando, Florida.  She was raised in the Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, where she began her singing career and received a degree in Public Relations and Religion from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.  While at Lee, she was a premier singer for the “The Voices of Lee,” where she recorded with numerous artists as well as toured the world with the popular gospel group The Gaithers. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and four children.

E.J. Cardona – Tenor 1

Born and raised in Orlando, FL, E. J. has performed all over the world in a variety of ensembles and venues. Some of his favorite theatrical credits include, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Voice of Quasimodo), West Side Story (Chino) and In the Heights (Piraguero) at Musical Theatre West. In his many years with Walt Disney World Entertainment, he has performed featured roles in Finding Nemo: The Musical (Crush), High School Musical 3: Senior Year and various Special Events.

As a session vocalist, he has recorded in studios such as Capitol Records, The Imagination House, Roy O. Disney Studios, Jim Henson Studios and many more.

E.J. was a contestant in the premier season of The X Factor (FOX), the first winner of Orlando Idol (FOX) and was seen in GAP’s holiday commercial (national). He has sung background vocals for SuperFruit, Jordan Fisher (ABC), Shoshana Bean, Jackie Evancho, Chris Daughtry and others. E.J. has a passion for a cappella music, performing/collaborating with groups such as Pentatonix, The Voices of Liberty (Disney), The American Music Machine. He is also a Director of Live Entertainment at Hawkmoon Creative!
Much love to my entire world, Lindsay and Leo!

Drew Ochoa – Tenor 2

Originally from Ohio, Drew relocated to Orlando, FL to pursue an entertainment career with Walt Disney World. He is a full-time member of The Voices of Liberty and can sometimes be found hanging around with The Dapper Dans. Drew holds a BA in Music Education from Bowling Green State University and a MM in Voice Performance from Roosevelt University. He is an avid a cappella singer in the barbershop style winning the 2018 International Barbershop Quartet Contest with his quartet, After Hours.

Jamey Ray – Tenor 3/Arranger

A native Floridian, Jamey serves as the sole arranger and producer for Voctave, crafting every note the group has ever sung and producing all their recordings. Since founding Voctave in 2015, Jamey has guided the group to prominence with their distinct a cappella renditions of Disney classics, Broadway hits, Christmas favorites, jazz standards, and many other exciting projects.

For 15 years, Jamey was a music professor at Rollins College, an experience he is deeply grateful for. Now, he brings his expertise to Excelcia Music Publishing as the choral editor, where he continues to curate the ever-growing choral catalog, ensuring a rich selection of music for choirs of all ages and levels.

With arrangements appearing on albums by Pentatonix, The King’s Singers and The Swingles, Jamey has produced hundreds of recordings and dozens of full albums for multiple Broadway and Disney performers as well as groups including Voctave, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park and the Liberty Voices.

Kurt von Schmittou – Baritone

Originally from the Nashville Tennessee area, Kurt was raised in a somewhat musical family. Kurt began playing piano at age 5, and later played trumpet and tuba, eventually attending college on a tuba scholarship.  After getting  his Bachelor of Music degree majoring in Recording Industry Management from Middle TN State university, performed in several shows at the Opryland theme park, sang as a solo artist on the Grand Ole Opry, and toured internationally as lead vocalist with The Chippendales. He has performed with numerous recording artists including Conway Twitty, Wynona Judd, Loretta Lynn, Brenda Lee, Lee Greenwood, Jessica Simpson, and Yanni to name just a few.

Kurt’s Broadway credits include the closing cast of the original run of CATS and the Original Broadway Cast of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. Performing at Walt Disney World for over 3 decades, Kurt’s voice can be heard either singing or providing voiceovers in every Disney theme park in the world.

Currently Kurt spends time traveling with his husband Zach and taking care of his 2 cats, Thunder & Pride.

John Hannigan – Baritone/Bass

John has been Voctave’s baritone sub since 2022, and he was honored to perform with the group for the first time during their Spring 2024 tour and now joins them in 2025 as an official member of the group!

Originally from Long Island, New York, John studied music at Cornell University before receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from NYU. During his 15-year Wall Street career, John performed in local musical theatre productions on nights and weekends before leaving the financial services industry to pursue the arts full-time.

Since then, John has performed at regional theaters across the country, appearing in productions of JERSEY BOYS, FOREVER PLAID, BANDSTAND, and most recently the new barbershop harmony musical, THE APPLE BOYS, at the prestigious Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He also works professionally as a commercial actor, lifestyle model, and session singer.

John currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with his partner, Joe.

Karl Hudson – Bass

Karl Hudson is a bass singer who has traveled all over the world, sharing his passion for music and the pursuit to uplift humanity through song. He has had the privilege of recording with Grammy Award winner David Benoit at Capitol Records, Shoshana Bean, Pentatonix, Marc Broussard, Mindi Abair and David Foster amongst other amazing artists.

He is the bass singer of MTV’s Top Pop group The Edge Effect, a five-man vocal band who has opened for Robin Thicke, Sky Blue of LMFAO and can be seen touring throughout the year. No stranger to the Mouse, he has been with Disney’s premier a cappella group, Voices of Liberty for ten years. He also plays the role of Kiume in Disney’s Festival of the Lion King and countless special events for the Walt Disney Company.

He studied at the Hartt School of Music where he was introduced to the a cappella world through Barbershop. Karl earned an international collegiate gold medal in the group Men in Black who later went on to become an international top ten quartet in the main competition. After graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre, he started his career working in NYC and regional theaters playing roles from Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime to Balthasar in Much Ado About Nothing with Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba and Joe in Show Boat. Soon after he began working as a studio voice over actor landing his first big commercial for Centrum Vitamins. Karl is blessed to do what he loves and always grateful for the next opportunity to share it.

VOCTAVE TEAM

Rob A. Lott – Show Director

Rob A. Lott has been proudly but quietly writing and directing Voctave’s live shows since 2018. Rob has been a professional performer and director for twenty-five years. From Tokyo and New York, to Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, he and his teams have created intimate atmosphere shows as well as spectacle stage productions for large audiences. Rob is the Owner and Lead Creative at Blue Trumpet Creative, specializing in creating unforgettable experiences for audiences and artists alike. You can hear his thoughts on Leadership and Creativity on his regularly hosted show, The Leading Creative Podcast as well as Let’s Talk Soon – The Podcast where he and his sister, Tricia, New York Times Best-Selling Author, talk about the latest things they are reading about, writing about, thinking about, and speaking up about. Rob and his wife, Kate (yes, that Kate), live in Orlando, FL with their dog Leo. @RobALott

Bradley Roberts – Music Director

Bradley Roberts has served as Music Director for Voctave since 2020. It is truly one of the greatest and most fulfilling joys of his life. His music making and leadership career has spanned his entire life.  From leading choirs and performing in his home state of Tennessee to performing and music directing for Royal Caribbean International to a 15-year career as a tenor and vocal captain for the Voices of Liberty at Epcot, he has a passion for coaching and leadership in every opportunity he is given. Currently, Bradley is honored to serve as the Senior Director of Traditional Music at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando in addition to his continuing role with Voctave.  “Gratitude guides my steps.  And for my Voctave journey and family I am forever grateful!”

Kendall Thomsen – Sound Engineer

Kendall has extensive experience in recording production and live sound reinforcement.  He began his career in the Air Force Band in Washington DC, touring providing sound reinforcement needs and managing the Air Force’s recording productions.  After working in DC for 10 years, Kendall was offered a position as chief engineer and studio manager at Starke Lake Studios in Orlando, FL.  Kendall has worked with many prestigious clients such as Warner Bros., Walt Disney Entertainment, Universal Studios, Sea World, NASA, and many others.

Kendall is the owner of Specialized Personnel Locators and provides recording production and musician contracting services for several publishing companies.  He is also actively working with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Choir and Orchestra.  He travels with Voctave providing sound reinforcement and recording services.