Congratulations to our 2026 soloists
Randi Bivens is excited to be apart of Her Story! She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from University of Texas at Arlington, and has been teaching private voice for about six-years. She is a lover for performing, and has been singing since a very young age. She has been in several choirs, operas, and musicals around the DFW area.
For students in her voice lessons, she likes to focus on the aspects of performing, such as artistry, presentation, and technique. Ms. Bivens also loves for her students to have fun and find their creative and confident voice in singing, as music is an important outlet to have in their daily lives! Outside of teaching, she enjoys painting, crafting, playing with her two cats, and spending time with family and friends.
Shelley J Burton, a native of Plano, TX, has performed operas, musical theatre, recitals and community outreach programs for veterans, seniors, interfaith organizations, and preschool and elementary aged children throughout Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri, France, and Germany.
Shelley has a passion for new vocal works; she has created roles in five world premieres and served as stage director for multiple new operas. Recent appearances include a tenure as a Soprano Soloist with Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX, and as a featured soloist with Her Story: A Benefit Concert and Opera on Tap North Texas.
Emma Crawford is 15 years old and in 9th grade at Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy. She is excited to perform for the third year with HerStory and for the first time as a soloist. She was most recently seen as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple and as a Fury in The Insanity of Mary Girard at GPFAA. She can also be frequently found onstage with the Coppell Community Chorale. When she is not performing, Emma is working towards her 4thdegree black belt in Taekwondo and Gold Award in Girl Scouts. She would like to thank her parents, family and teachers for their encouragement and support.
Diya Dhanesh is a passionate and dedicated young artist with a deep love for music and the performing arts. From an early age, she has viewed music not just as a hobby, but as a powerful form of expression and connection. Inspired by the belief that one’s purpose is to discover their gift and share it with the world, Diya is committed to honing her talent in singing and using it to inspire others.
Currently in 8th grade, Diya is actively involved in her school’s choir and theater programs, where she continues to grow as both a singer and an actress—an interest she discovered in 6th grade. In addition to her vocal and acting pursuits, she is a trained classical and show choir dancer, embracing every opportunity to explore different facets of the performing arts. Diya lives with her parents and younger brother and is grateful to be part of a supportive and creative community. Through her journey, she hopes to remind every woman that they are beautiful, valued, and loved—just as they are.
Abigail Garner is a flutist from Cedar Park, Texas who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Flute Performance at Southern Methodist University (SMU) after completing her undergraduate studies at Baylor University. Abigail is engaged in a diverse range of performing ensembles, including the SMU Meadows Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, chamber music groups, and was a winner of the 2025 National Flute Association Masterclass Performers Competition. Outside of performing and helping as a flute teacher with the SMU Young Artist Flute Ensembles, she likes to bake, watch Disney movies, and spend time with her friends and loved ones.
Rebecca Germany, soprano, is a native of Arlington, Texas. She was recently seen as the Foreign Princess in Rusalka with Opera Arlington, as well as Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Fort Worth Opera. She has also performed with the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia (ISOFOM) as the First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and in the title role of Suor Angelica.
In addition to her performance career, she is the founder, treasurer, and organizer of a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women’s shelters and educating the community about works composed by women. She is also an experienced music educator who has helped students from Pre-K through 12th grade develop their vocal skills and deepen their understanding of music.
She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Emily Hansen is a soprano from Houston, Texas currently pursuing her Performance Diploma in Voice Performance from Southern Methodist University. Emily received her Honors Bachelor of Music with a Music Entrepreneurship Certificate from the University of Utah in 2022, and her Masters of Music in Voice Performance from Southern Methodist University in 2026.
Emily has performed the roles of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Laurie in The Tender Land, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica. You can follow her singing career on Instagram @emilyhansensoprano.
Hailey Hightower is a senior Music Education major at the University of Texas at Arlington. A lifelong musician, Hailey began singing at age ten and was a member of the 2022 TMEA All-State Choir. At UTA, she is a third-year member of the A Cappella Choir under Dr. Karen Kenaston-French. She has performed in two opera roles at UTA. Including Pamina in The Magic Flute and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.
Hailey currently studies voice with Jessica Ferring Glenn. After graduation, she hopes to pursue Master’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Conducting, with the goal of becoming a high school choir director.
Rachel Wilkins Pfeiffer is Dallas-based performer and voice teacher who provides lessons via her in-home and online studios, as well as in-school lessons (Highland Park, Plano, and Carrollton-Farmer's Branch ISDs), adjudication, and workshops throughout the DFW area. While at home in a professional choral setting through church and local ensembles, other performance interests include operatic, contemporary music theatre, and crossover genres.
Rachel holds an MA in Music Pedagogy (Texas Woman's University), is an SVI-Recognized Vocologist (University of Utah), and has the PAVA-RV (Pan American Vocology Association Recognized Vocologist) designation. She serves as President of the Northern TX Chapter of PAVA, which fosters vocology in the community by empowering singers, scientists, clinicians, and other voice-related professionals to engage in interdisciplinary discourse.
Brooke Waters is a passionate vocalist, educator, and performer dedicated to using music as a powerful form of storytelling and connection. With a foundation in classical voice training and a background that spans opera, choral performance, and contemporary styles, Brooke brings both technical excellence and emotional depth to every stage she steps on.
She has performed in a variety of productions, including leading roles such as Addie in Regina by Marc Blitzstein and The Mother in Hansel and Gretel. She has also appeared as a chorus member in productions such as La Bohème, as well as with The Dallas Opera during its 2025–2026 season in productions of Don Carlo and Dialogues of the Carmelites. These experiences have further shaped her artistry and deepened her connection to the operatic tradition. Her work is rooted not only in performance, but in a deep love for teaching and mentorship. As a voice and piano instructor, she is committed to helping students of all ages discover their own unique sound and confidence.
This summer, Brooke will travel to Berlin to perform the role of The Mother in Hansel and Gretel with the Berlin Opera Academy at the Berlin Opera House. She is currently raising funds to support this exciting opportunity, which marks an important step in her artistic journey and international performance career. Brooke believes that music is more than just sound—it is a vessel for identity, healing, and expression.
Her work often reflects a desire to build community, uplift others, and tell meaningful stories through song. She is honored to be part of Her Story, sharing her voice in celebration of strength, resilience, and the power of women’s narratives.