Afterlight Ensemble
ABOUT US
Elizaveta Boyce, soprano, is an active performer throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She has appeared in leading and featured operatic roles with organizations including Victorian Lyric Opera Company, Bel Cantanti Opera, and Mason Opera, with role highlights including the title role in Viardot's Cendrillon, Susanna in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, and Yum Yum/Rhythm in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado/The Bravado. In the realm of concert performance, she was a featured soloist with the Osanna Chamber Ensemble at the 75th Anniversary of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary Benefit Concert and in their concert tour in New York. Her other concert work includes being the soprano soloist in Mozart's Laudate Dominum with the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms with the George Mason University Singers, and Britten's Cantata Academica with the Northern Virginia Community Chorus.
Solo pianist, collaborative artist, and teacher, Dr. Megan Slay enjoys sharing her music throughout her home state of Virginia and beyond. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at George Mason University, where she was a Dr. Linda A. Monson Scholar. Dr. Slay’s research focused on the solo piano works of contemporary American composer, Dr. Glenn E. Smith.
Megan's talent has been recognized internationally. She earned a Gold Medal at the Grand Maestro International Music Competition and an Honorable Mention in the Sixth International Online Piano Competition. She was selected as a first prize winner in the Charleston International Music Competition. Dr. Slay holds a Master of Music degree from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Cliff Stevenson (b. 1994) is a classical guitarist from Ashland, Virginia. He began studying piano at age five before taking up the guitar at ten, developing an early musical foundation through blues, rock, jazz, choir, and jazz band. Cliff earned a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University as a Jesus Silva Merit Scholar, where he studied with Dave Robinson. He went on to complete a Master of Music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, studying with Graham Devine, and furthered his studies at the University of Alicante in Spain.
While in London, Cliff performed regularly with the Greenwich Guitar Duo alongside English guitarist Dan Maloney. He has appeared at venues including Wigmore Hall, St. James’s Piccadilly, and the Queen’s House, as well as in performances throughout Europe, including a recognition ceremony for Manuel Barrueco at Alicante City Hall. Now based in Virginia, Cliff performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the region. Recent appearances include a concert with banjoist John Bullard at VCU. He performs regularly with pianist Megan Slay throughout the DMV area and is a member of the VCU Community Guitar Ensemble.