Singing with AI Team
Justin Montigne
Director
Victor Ikenna Chukwuezi
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Victor Ikenna Chukwuezi is a talented pianist from Nigeria with a growing presence in the world of contemporary and classical music. He began his formal music education at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), where he developed a strong foundation in piano performance and music theory.
Currently, Victor is pursuing a degree in Piano Performance at the University of North Dakota (UND), where he continues to refine his craft under the guidance of accomplished mentors. Known for his expressive playing and musical sensitivity, Victor is also passionate about exploring the intersection of music and technology.
He is presently working on an innovative project titled “Singing with AI” as part of the VVIP team, where he is blending artificial intelligence with vocal performance to push the boundaries of music creation and collaboration.
Ilanora Peterson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ilanora Peterson is a third-year Political Science (Pre-Law) major at the University of North Dakota, with minors in Legal Studies, Music, and Philosophy. Passionate about advocacy, education equity, and ethical innovation, she brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the Virtual Voice Performance Project. Ilanora has held national leadership roles in student organizations, taught voice and piano, and worked in both education and marketing. She is especially interested in how emerging technologies impact student leadership, academic integrity, and creative expression. Through VVPP, she hopes to help shape a future where AI empowers—not replaces—authentic voices and ethical artistry.
Lucy Welsh
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Lucy Welsh, soprano, is finishing her junior year at UND getting a BA in music. Lucy is a soprano and sings in the UND Concert Choir, Vivo Chamber Choir, Dr. Justin Montigne's voice studio and plays French horn in the UND Wind Ensemble. She also enjoys playing piano and violin. Lucy is the secretary of UND Early Music and a SNATS board member as Studio Representative for the Montigne Voice Studio.
Ryen Xander
Undergraduate Research Assistant.
Ryen Xander, tenor, is in his sophomore year at UND pursuing a BA in music. Ryen sings in Justin Montigne’s voice studio and has been on the Dean’s List and President Armacost’s Honor’s Roll. He enjoys composing and producing music in Digital Audio Workstations (mainly Cubase) along with playing the piano and bass guitar.
Maya Zepeda
Graduate Research Assistant
As a current master's student at UND, Maya is a composer, researcher, and technology enthusiast. She studies composition and music technology under Dr. Michael Wittgraf, and has composed for and performed in many voice projects over the past few years. So far at UND, she has been a part of many different research endeavors, including the first and second cohorts of the Virtual Voice Performance Project.
Zhongling Zhang
Graduate Research Assistant
Zhongling is a PhD student in Music Education at the University of North Dakota and a graduate assistant with expertise in vocal pedagogy, qualitative and quantitative research, and education equity. Her research interests include higher music education, the use of AI in music teaching and learning, and cross-cultural perspectives in music education. With academic training in both China and the United States, she brings a global outlook to her work. Zhongling is passionate about building inclusive, research-informed learning environments and exploring how cultural context and emerging technologies influence contemporary music education.