Our Team
Laura Ritter
Director
Laura Ritter is the founder and artistic director of Young Voices of the Foohills. After serving as choral director and department chair at Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN, she relocated to South Carolina and is currently on staff at Anderson University. Laura is the Minister of Music at First Baptist Greenville and works with area high schools and middle schools as an accompanist. She is an active member of the American Choral Director’s Association and Choristers’s Guild. Laura earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Furman University and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois. In addition to her work with churches and choirs, Laura has been heavily involved with musical theatre and has music directed shows at Clemson Little Theatre, Centre Stage of Greenville, and Encore Theatrical Company in Tennessee.
Michelle Ross
Co-Director
Michelle Ross taught choir at Liberty Middle and High Schools for 5 years before transitioning to a career as a freelance musician. In addition to her work with Young Voices, she accompanies at Anderson University, Seneca High School, West Oak High School, and Daniel High School. She has a degree in Music Education from the University of Washington and is currently pursuing a Master of Music Education from Clemson University.
Eric J. Lapin, MBA, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Eric J. Lapin holds BM and MM degrees in clarinet performance, an MBA in entrepreneurship, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Arts Leadership. In addition to his role as Executive Director of YVF, he serves as a Principal Lecturer of Music at Clemson University where he teaches music history, music business and entrepreneurship, and applied clarinet. He is a speaker for the SC Humanities: Speakers Bureau, co-author of The Artist Entrepreneur: Finding Success in a New Arts Economy, and Production Editor for GoFollowLead by Dr. Janna Magette Butler. Previous arts administration roles include Director of Artistic Operations with the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, Chief Operations Officer for GoFollowLead, LLC, and Operations and Personnel Associate with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. He loves to read, travel with his wife, Leigh, and search the beach for shark's teeth.