our team
The people who craft the vision of Artefact Ensemble, who work daily to make that vision a reality, and who intentionally take time to celebrate together like a family (and who in some cases actually are a family)
staff
benedict
sheehan
Artistic Director
Two-time GRAMMY® nominee and American Prize-winner Benedict Sheehan has been called “a choral conductor and composer to watch in the 21st century” (ConcertoNet) and “a remarkable musician” (Choral Journal). He is Artistic Director and Founder of Artefact Ensemble and the GRAMMY®-nominated Saint Tikhon Choir, and the current Artist in Residence at St. Tikhon’s Monastery in Pennsylvania. His compositions have been praised as “luminous and uplifting” (Choir & Organ), “evocative” (Gramophone), “hypnotically beautiful” (MusicWeb International), “fresh and vibrant” (Audiophile Audition), and “otherworldly” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), and his performances as a conductor have likewise been described as “technically flawless” (Musical America), “choral singing at its most exquisite” (HRAudio), “extravagantly beautiful” (The American Organist), and “beyond praise for excellence” (Fanfare Magazine).
lydia
given
Executive Director
A dynamic leader with an extensive background in special education, educational technology, and non-profit management, Lydia Given is the former General Manager of the GRAMMY®-nominated Saint Tikhon Choir, where she oversaw concert and touring activities, an acclaimed recording project (Benedict Sheehan: Vespers), and daily ensemble operations. From 2021 to 2022 she also worked as Media Manager for Cappella Records in Portland, Oregon, where she helped with the label’s expansion and rebranding and spearheaded publicity and communications for two of their recent Billboard Top Ten releases. In addition to her work for Artefact Ensemble, Lydia is also a Program Specialist at California Virtual Academies, where she supervises a team of thirty teachers and oversees inclusion programs in English and Math that she built herself.
Beyond her administrative work, Lydia is a longtime choral conductor, singer, church musician, and music educator. Working together with Talia Sheehan, Lydia created a thriving choral program for teens at St. Tikhon’s Monastery in Pennsylvania that continues to this day as part of St. Tikhon’s Singing School. She currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband Brad, their two children Maggie and Dominic, and their dog Itza.
enrico
lagasca
General Manager
Filipino-American bass-baritone Enrico Lagasca is enjoying a career singing oratorio, opera, chamber music, and recitals with repertoire from early to contemporary music both as soloist and chorister across the United States and internationally.
Enrico regularly performs with the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola, Bach Choir of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Musica Sacra, Cathedral Choir of St. John the Divine, New York Choral Artists, TENET Vocal Artists, Clarion Music Society, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Conspirare, Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, Bach Collegium San Diego, Spire, The Thirteen, Seraphic Fire, Artefact Ensemble, and with The Leonids.
When he isn’t performing, Enrico freelances as a consultant to projects from concerts to recordings. He maintains an active private voice studio and is a mentor to TENET Vocal Artists’ Artist Mentorship Program. Enrico is General Manager to Artefact Ensemble, Digital Media Manager for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Choral Contractor for Benedict XVI institute, an Audio and Video editor, and freelances as a Social Media coordinator for Classical Artists. For his season calendar and more info about his work, visit enricolagasca.com or follow him on social media @enricolee.