Soprano Candace Taylor embodies an eclectic style and vocal range throughout various music genres with concentration in both classical and jazz literature, performing as a soloist throughout the U.S. and abroad including Canada, Italy, and Venezuela.
She is active as a concert soloist of the many great masterworks of oratorio/sacred music, a recitalist, a jazz performer, and a recording artist. Concert soloist credits include premiere performances of Marc-André Bougie's Ave Maria, Requiem, Mass of St. John Vianney, Mass of Saints Peter and Paul, and Magnificat; Bruckner’s Te Deum; Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate, Great Mass in C Minor, Coronation Mass, Requiem, and Litaniae Lauretanae; Handel's Messiah; Poulenc's Gloria; Beethoven's Mass in C and Ninth Symphony; Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Magnificat ; Mendelssohn's Elijah; Orff's Carmina Burana; Haydn's Creation, Nelson Mass, and Mariazeller Mass; and J. M. Haydn’s Requiem in C Minor. Recording credits include being a featured performer for Sweethearts (Gilbert and Sullivan) and Ave Maria: The Wedding Album (La Musique des Sources).
Candace has been a soloist with the Orchestra Cantelli (Italy), Orquesta Sinfonica de Falcon (Venezuela), Sherman Symphony, Texarkana Symphony, Texarkana Regional Chorale, Shreveport Opera Chorus and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. She is currently the featured vocalist of the Majestic jazz ensemble.
Candace is a native of Shreveport, LA, and a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University where she studied Occupational Therapy/Cello/Voice. She holds a Master’s degree in Education and practices as an Occupational Therapist/Certified Hand Therapist. She enjoys serving in the music ministry, traveling, performing/collaborating with various music ensembles, and spending time with her daughter Miriam and husband, conductor/composer Marc-André Bougie.
Pianist/Singer Miriam Taylor Bougie is a native of Texarkana, USA, and she has been studying piano for 7 years with Mr. Larry Dymott as well as the organ.
She has competed with high marks in the James Herrin Piano Festival (winning both the middle school and high school competitions), the National Federation of Music Clubs Competitions, and the Piano Guild Contests. Miriam has also been featured as soloist on Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer at the Regional Music Heritage Center November 2019 Joplin annual birthday celebration. While in middle school, Miriam played clarinet, making All-Region for 2 years. Miriam is in her eleventh year of dance (ballet/tap/jazz) with the Judith McCarthy School of Dancing and is an assistant teacher. She has enjoyed auditioning and playing roles for the Texarkana Community Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker the past eight years. Some of her favorite roles have included Baker, Snow, Arabian and Spanish. Miriam has also participated in Ballet Arkansas summer intensive programs. She enjoys playing the clarinet and organ, singing, composing her own music, gymnastics, Latin studies and Social Studies, and attending Faith Formation on Wednesdays. She is a member of the Texarkana Regional Chorale, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir. Her favorite performers are pianist Glenn Gould and organist Diane Bish. Miriam attends Premier High School in Texarkana, AR.