Meet the team

Jackie Criswell

Founder/President

Jackie Criswell is the founder of Sing Out Loud.  She obtained a Bachelor of Music in voice/violin from Wheaton College but then decided to go to law school. She chaired the Intellectual Property Group at Tressler LLP and acts as both a litigator and counselor on these issues. Most of her time is now devoted to sharing the joy of singing and developing genuine friendships with our seniors. She is a sports fanatic, especially basketball and football, and is a secret introvert.

Favorite Song to Sing with our Seniors: Frankie Valli's "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You". 

Veronica Oczowinski

Vocalist

Veronica Oczowinski has been singing and performing since the age of 5. She moved to Chicago to complete her undergrad in Musical Theatre and Voiceover at Columbia College Chicago. Sing out loud inspired her to obtain her MS in Speech and Language Pathology at DePaul University where she incorporates music into her clinical approach.  She has been a founding member of the Sing Out Loud team since 2018 and loves being able to connect with people through music. She has always had a deep love for music from various decades and is an avid Frank Sinatra fan.

Favorite Song to Sing with our Seniors: It changes monthly but "Pistol Packing Mama" is a lot of fun!

 Mitzi Lebensorger 

Vocalist

Mitzi loves the joy and community of group music-making. She’s especially fond of sharing it with folks with limited access to such experiences. With those in assisted living or long-term care, she has been privileged to start singalongs, accompany resident choirs, and sing at bedsides. She is grateful to Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music and West Virginia’s Augusta Heritage Center, where she made lifelong friends, learned to play guitar and fiddle, and honed her harmony singing. Mitzi is honored to be a part of Sing Out Loud.

Peggy Browning

Vocalist/Guitar and Banjo Player

Peggy began as a student at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the mid ’90s. There she found a home surrounded by music, friends and history that became an integral part of her life. Ten years later she was hired to teach and has proudly carried on the traditions and vision of the school. Her music and teaching reflect her eagerness to learn and to welcome others. “As long as there are voices to sing and hearts to listen, your work, your songs, and your labor will spread to bless and fertilize the land.” — Woody Guthrie

Lexie Foley

Vocalist

Lexie has been singing and making music since she can remember. She received her Bachelor's  in Musical Theatre Performance from Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts in 2021. Since then, she has pursued her passion of teaching musical theatre to kids with disabilities. In 2023, she received her Master's in Nonprofit Management from DePaul University, which she hopes to use to start her own nonprofit theatre company for disabled artists. She joined Sing Out Loud in 2025 and is excited to continue building relationships and making music with the Seniors. For Lexie, music is about connection, healing, and joy--all things that Sing Out Loud exemplifies beautifully. 

Morgan Thompson 

Vocalist

Morgan has been singing since she was 4 and has always loved performing,  whether in church choir, recitals or musicals. She moved to Chicago in 2017 to attend Moody Bible Institute where she received a Bachelor of Music in voice. Morgan now works as the Music Office Coordinator at Moody and leads worship at her church weekly. She thoroughly enjoys working with our seniors and considers it a joy to be able to share her gifts with Sing Out Loud. 
Favorite song to sing with the Seniors: There’s so many good ones but right now I would say “Que Sera Sera.”

Nicholas Guetterman

Pianist

Nicholas Guetterman began his music training at the age of four, when his Mom, who also plays piano, realized that Nicholas was greatly intrigued when he tried to copy what his mother played at the piano. Throughout his life, Nicholas played many other instruments, including flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, and a variety of percussion instruments. He participated in his high school marching band, indoor concert band, indoor drumline, choir, and orchestra. He received a substantial scholarship to study at DePaul University, where he received his Master's in piano performance.  As a second-year master's student, he studied with internationally recognized pianist George Vatchnadze. Nicholas lives in Chicago,  where he teaches piano and collaborates with other local musicians, composers, and directors. He has been a valuable member of Sing Out Loud since April of 2021. One of the things that Nicholas appreciates most about being a part of this organization is the absence of a barrier between “performer” and “audience”.