2024–2025 Season

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

**Garrett Johannsen** is a classically trained tenor from Schiller Park, Illinois. He graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Recent career highlights include Jane Austen's Persuasion UK Tours with Chamber Opera Chicago, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Carnegie Hall, Nederlander Centennial Medley Soloist at Jay Pritzker Pavilion and a recording collaboration with James Stephenson’s As The Fireflies Watched as tenor soloist. He has performed with the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony and Grant Park Choruses, Chicago a cappella, Bella Voce, Music of the Baroque, The William Ferris Chorale and contemporary ensemble Stare at the Sun. This past summer, he performed at Concordia University in a concert performance of select scenes from Christine Steyer and David Shenton's new opera Outside the Ring and was a featured dater in Michael Ching's contemporary opera Speed Dating Tonight! directed by Carl Ratner. Among having performed in many operas, recitals, cabarets and city wide events, Garrett is honored to have sung our nation’s national anthem at Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, Toyota Park and Soldiers Field. Garrett is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.

A native Chicagoan, **Nora Engonopoulos** earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from DePaul University and a master’s degree in Opera/Voice from McGill University in Montreal. She has been a member of Bella Voce since 2014 and has also sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Grant Park Chorus. During the day, Nora works in non-profit fundraising.

A native of the Washington, DC area, baroque trumpeter **Josh Cohen** is greatly sought after by many leading early music ensembles throughout North America. For the past 20 seasons, Josh has been principal baroque trumpet with the Washington Bach Consort as well as the National Cathedral Baroque orchestra He has also performed as principal and solo baroque trumpet for ensembles such as Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, Arion (Montreal), Bach Sinfonia (Washington DC), Aston Magna (Boston), Musica Maris (Rhode Island), Houston Bach Society, Ensemble Telemann (Montreal), and participated in festivals such as the Indiana Festival of Early Music, International Festival of Baroque Music at Lameque (N.B. Canada) and the Bach Festival of Montreal. Mr. Cohen has recorded some of the most famous and demanding works for baroque trumpet. Most recently, Mr. Cohen recorded J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 with Montreal-based Ensemble Caprice. He can be heard in the Washington Bach Consort’s recording of J.S. Bach’s Cantata no. 51 with soprano Elizabeth Futral. Two recordings Mr. Cohen participated in with prominent Canadian ensembles were both nominated for the 2009 Juno Awards: “Let the Bright Seraphim” with soprano Karina Gauvin and Tempo Rubato, and his recording of Vivaldi’s Gloria with Ensemble Caprice, the latter of which won the Juno award for Best Album of the Year in the vocal category. Most recently, Mr Cohen has released his first solo disc Altissima (2023) on the Chandos label which received critical acclaim all over the world and was even CD of the week in Amsterdam upon its release. Mr. Cohen received a M.M. from McGill University and a B.M. from the New England Conservatory of Music. He currently plays on a Baroque trumpet made by Matt Martin of Norwich Natural Trumpets after an original by Kodisch 1710.

Soprano Kimberly Eileen Jones is an alum of the Ryan Opera Center with the prestigious Lyric Opera of Chicago. Her performances there include the slave girl, Margru, in the world premiere of Anthony Davis' *Amistad*, which was released nationally on the New World recording label. She also portrayed the feisty Olga in *Fedora*, Princess Xenia in *Boris Godunov*, and the spitfire Despina in *Così fan tutte* student matinee performances. With the Ryan Opera Center, she portrayed Laetitia in Menotti's *Old Maid and the Thief*. Additionally, she made her Grant Park Festival debut as Zerlina (*Don Giovanni*) and Adele (*Die Fledermaus*) the following season.
Kimberly performed in Houston Grand Opera's colorful production of the *Magic Flute* (Papagena), and reprised her role of Xenia in *Boris Godunov*. Also with Houston, she participated in their production of *Porgy and Bess*, as Clara. This tour graced the international stages of La Scala in Milan, the Bastille in Paris, and the Bunkamura in Tokyo, Japan. For her portrayal of Clara, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the NAACP Awards.
She captivated audiences in her Alice Tully Hall debut with the Little Orchestra Society in an evening of Vivaldi arias. She received rave reviews as the Composer in Mozart's Jewel Box with the Chicago Opera Theater, as well as Mahler's Second Symphony with the Madison Symphony. She has also appeared in concert with the Ravinia Festival (Bourgeois Gentilhomme), Richmond Symphony (*Knoxville: Summer of 1915*), and with Madison Symphony (Messiah and Christmas Pops). Her first Carmina Burana and Haydn Creation were performed with the Rockford Symphony, later repeated with Chicago Sinfonietta. She was showcased opening weekend of Jay Pritzker Pavilion of Millennium Park in Chicago.
She was selected by Maestro Bruno Bartoletti, Lyric Opera's former Artistic Director, to appear with the Orchestra della Toscana in Florence, La Spezia and Piombino. (Barber Knoxville Summer of 1915) She was one of four opera center artists showcased at the Chatelet in Paris, France.
She has received a 3Arts grant, George London grant, Sullivan grant, and a Licia Albanese Encouragement grant. She has been nominated for the Richard Tucker grant, received three grants from the MacAllister Awards competition, and was awarded the Richard Gold Career Grant from the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is a Union League Civic and Arts Foundation (now Luminarts) prize winner . At the recommendation from Ardis Krainik, she was presented in Opera's Now magazine's "Who's Hot in Opera".
She has performed the Philip Glass Symphony #5 at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany, and with the Stuttgart and Danish Radio Symphonies in Germany and Copenhagen. She has performed four times at the Chicago Cultural Center in Preston Bradley Hall, including a WFMT radio broadcast of the Dame Myra Hess concert, and a Negro Spirituals concertwith award winning actress, Irma P. Hall.
She made her Connecticut Opera debut as Fiordigili in *Così fan tutte*.
Kimberly returned to Mandel Hall singing Vaughn Williams' Sea Symphony and Brahms Requiem. She made her Grand Rapids Symphony debut with Maestro David Lockington in Handel's Messiah. She repeated her performances of Mozart's Exultate Jubilate.
She is recurring artist with the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival. With South Bend Symphony, she performed in her first Britten War Requiem. She sang the soprano solos in her first Verdi Requiem with Chicago Community Chorus.
She debuted with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in an evening of *Porgy and Bess* excerpts and spirituals. She is the founder of the soprano trio group, called simply, "Tres Belle."
She was showcased in engagements that included Carmina Burana with the Chicago Sinfonietta, and Beethoven Mass in C with the DePaul Community Chorus.
She was a frequent guest with Yachatz Festival in Yachatz, Oregon. She was showcased in the Christmas Pops South Bend Symphony for Maestro Tsung Yeh's retiring season.
Other engagements included the title role of *The Fairy Queen* with Chicago Opera Theater, repeated with Long Beach Opera. Also with COT, Stewart Copeland's *Invention of Morel* as Dora, Micaela in *Carmen* and Grace Alumond in *Quamino’s Map*. She performed in Lyric Opera's production of Terence Blanchard’s *Fire Shut up in My Bones*.
In concert appearances, she sang with Fox Valley Symphony, and Fort Wayne Symphony.
She sang the roles of Tibrino/Amore in the Haymarket Opera production of L'Orontea, and Galatea in *Acis*. Last summer she portrayed Angelica in an operatic video of Handel’s’ *Orlando*.
Miss Jones is on the voice faculty at Roosevelt University and DePaul University.

Tenor **Oliver Camacho** has been praised as “superbly stylish” by the *Chicago Tribune* and “emotionally generous” by the *Chicago Reader.* A proud graduate of Chicago’s Lane Technical High School, Oliver went on to study music at Northwestern University, and historically informed performance practice at Amherst Early Music Festival and Early Music Vancouver. Oliver has been a soloist with the Newberry Consort, Chicago Choral Artists, Bach Cantata Vespers, the Chicago Bach Ensemble, Vox 3 Collective, and Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra. Oliver is co-host of *Opera Box Score* podcast; and is Music Director of Classical WFMT, where he hosts *Listening to Singers.*

For over two decades, **Eric Miranda** has performed in venues throughout Chicago, gracing audiences with his “pliable, warm baritone” (*Chicago Classical Review*).
Eric has appeared as a soloist at Orchestra Hall and Millennium Park, and as a versatile and sought-after singer, he is a frequent collaborator with early music and choral groups, including Newberry Consort, the Grant Park Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.
In the realm of opera, he has appeared with Haymarket Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Upcoming season highlights include performances ofLatin American Christmas with Newberry Consort, and, in the Spring of 2025, singing the role of Aeneas in Henry Purcell’s *Dido and Aeneas* with Bella Voce.

**Martin Davids** came to earth to explore the wonders of Love. This has led to many adventures and two children with his wife of 24 years. When not philosophizing, he enjoys podcasting, cooking, and mixing cocktails with his collection of prohibition era cocktail shakers. He also enjoys playing the violin, especially when it can be used to make connections with other people. No one should have to play alone. His tastes include all styles of music, but he can often be found performing in Baroque ensembles as that is more or less his mother tongue.
He can be heard leading the Callipygian Players (which he founded), Brandywine Baroque (DE), Bach Collegium San Diego, and Bella Voce Sinfonia. He is principal second violin with the Haymarket Opera Company, and Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. In Chicago, he also plays with Music of the Baroque. In the summer, he performs at the Staunton Music Festival (VA). He also works with other ensembles across the USA and Europe. He performs on a Baroque violin by Ferdinando Alberti from 1750 with Baroque bows by Canadian master bow makers Michelle Speller and Stephen Marvin.
Of his recordings, he recommends listening to *12 Sonatas for violin and continuo* by Henry Eccles and Michael Christian Festing, Violin sonatas, to start. He’s excited about 3 albums coming soon including the premiere recording of his French Duos arrangements recorded at Chateau Lizieres in January 2024.
Mr. Davids published a volume of arrangements for two violins of J. S. Bach’s solo violin fugues in early 2016. Called *Bachfor2*, it is the first arrangement of its kind. A second volume was published in 2019. His arrangements of French harpsichord solos for violin and viola duet were published in late 2020, as was his chaconne for solo viola (or violin). He is a third generation disciple of the YiZung Yue school of internal martial arts. He also hosts the “Classical Happy Hour” podcast.

“Expressive, velvet toned” (*Chicago Classical Review*) **Anna Rasmussen**, mezzo soprano, is making her mark as an emerging soloist and distinguished choral artist in her hometown of Chicago.

“Mezzo-soprano Anna Rasmussen brought buoyancy and crisp diction to her committed readings of “Behold, a virgin shall conceive” and “O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion,” but stood out in a particularly measured, poignant “He was despised.” (Chicago Classical Review)
Most recently, Anna joined the Music Institute Chorale as the mezzo soprano soloist for Mozart's *Requiem* in July 2024, and previously appeared as a soloist for Vivaldi’s *Gloria* in July 2023. In November 2022, Anna joined the Elgin Master Chorale for a performance of *Messiah*, Part I alongside José Maurício Nunes Garcia's *Matinas do Natal* as the mezzo soprano soloist.
Other highlights include an appearance with the Music Institute Chorale in March 2022 as the mezzo soprano soloist on a program of Bach and baroque hallmarks, joining the Elgin Master Chorale in April of 2019 as mezzo soprano soloist in Handel’s *Dixit Dominus*, mezzo soprano soloist in Handel’s *Judas Maccabaeus* with the North Shore Choral Society, as well as mezzo soprano soloist with Wicker Park Choral Singers on Aaron Copland’s profound choral masterpiece, *In the Beginning* in November 2018.
Anna is currently on the rosters for Bella Voce and The William Ferris Chorale, and is the Alto Artist-in-Residence at University of Chicago's Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. Additionally, Anna has participated in the Chicago Bach Week festival under the direction of Richard Webster.
Anna holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from North Park University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Valparaiso University.

Bass-baritone **Vince Wallace** is a native of St. Louis, MO. He has been on the scene in Chicago for over 15 years now singing primarily at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Vince usually has contracts also with Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago Symphony and Grant Park Music Festival. For over a decade, Mr. Wallace has sung the national anthem for the Bears, Cubs, White Sox and Bulls as well as other college and semi-pro sports teams in the city.
Vince performed at the Metropolitan Opera during the premiere of Terrance Blanchard’s opera *Fire Shut up in my Bones* which landed him a Grammy award (2021). He also has an Emmy for Lyric Opera’s production of *Pagliacci* (2022).

Soprano **Anna Joy Buegel** is actively engaged as a singer, vocal instructor, and music teacher throughout the Chicagoland area. She regularly serves as a chorister and soloist for various professional ensembles, including the Grant Park Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Bach Festival Chorus, Bella Voce, Stare at the Sun, Roots in the Sky, and The New Earth Ensemble. She also serves on staff as the soprano section leader at Trinity United Methodist in Wilmette.
AJ teaches private voice at Maine East and Niles West High Schools, serves as a faculty member at The Musical Offering in Evanston, and directs Trinity United Methodist’s Youth Choir.
She holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from North Park University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music from Moody Bible Institute.

2023-2024 season

EXPANDING THE CANON

**Liza Calisesi Maidens** is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Calisesi Maidens’s research centers around the expansion of the choral canon, the life and works of Imogen Holst, and undergraduate student belonging. As an adjudicator and clinician, she has presented interest sessions at state, regional, national, and international conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, the College Music Society, and the International Society for Music Education. Recent engagements involve students and audiences in Arkansas, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Nevada, Washington, and Italy. Her choirs have enjoyed invitations to perform at state music conferences in Illinois and Michigan, Detroit’s Orchestra Hall, and the Detroit Opera House. Liza has sung professionally with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, mirabai, and sounding light. Her editions are published by MusicSpoke. She holds degrees from Michigan State University (DMA), Westminster Choir College (MM), Central College (BA).

STRING EQUINOX

**Ryan Berndt**
Gramophone Magazine describes trumpeter **Ryan Berndt** as “versatile, superb, and committed.” He is known for his chamber, baroque, and new music interpretations.

After eleven seasons with the Gaudete Brass Quintet, Ryan has emerged into the freelance and studio scene as a recording artist for Netflix and Amazon Prime, most notably on American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, starring Al Pacino and Meadow Williams. He has performed, toured, and recorded with numerous ensembles on both modern and baroque trumpets, including Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma, Apollo’s Fire, Haymarket Opera, Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin College, Regis Philbin Big Band, and the Zohn Collective.

Mr. Berndt has given concerts and masterclasses nationwide at renowned educational institutions, including the Manhattan School of Music, Colburn Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music, and The Juilliard School. Ryan is a recording artist for Cedille Records, a Schilke Artist, and an Ambassador for Denis Wick. He is currently on the trumpet faculty at the Merit School of Music.

**Martin Davids**
Violinist **Martin Davids** founded and directs the Callipygian Players. “A devoted Baroque artist and performer of considerable note” (Jack Neal, KUNR-FM), Davids is concertmaster of Brandywine Baroque & Plectra Music (DE), Bella Voce Sinfonia, and often leads Bach Collegium San Diego. He is principal second violin with the Haymarket Opera Company, and Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. In Chicago, he also plays with Music of the Baroque. In the summer, he performs at the Staunton Music Festival (VA). He also plays with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Galilei, Chicago Opera Theater, Central City Opera, Aradia, the Toronto Consort, and numerous others across Canada and the U.S. Davids earned the prestigious Performer Diploma in Baroque violin from Indiana University, where he studied with Stanley Ritchie. He also earned a Master's Degree from the University of Michigan.
Davids published a volume of arrangements for two violins of J.S. Bach’s solo violin fugues in early 2016. Called *Bachfor*2, it is the first arrangement of its kind. A second volume was published in 2019. His arrangements of French harpsichord solos for violin and viola duet were published in late 2020, as was his chaconne for solo viola (or violin).
Davids often gives masterclasses in performance practice and improvisation at schools and universities. He performs on a Baroque violin by Ferdinando Alberti from 1750, with Baroque bows by Canadian master bow makers Michelle Speller and Stephen Marvin. A third generation disciple of the YiZung Yue school of internal martial arts, he lives in Skokie with his wife Julia, and their children, Judith and Solomon.
Davids’s solo album, *Baroque and Alone*, released in 2022, is available on iTunes and Amazon Music.

**Edwin Huizinga**
Performing both Baroque and modern repertoire, Canadian violinist **Edwin Huizinga** has appeared alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, Dawn Upshaw, Mike Marshall, and Stevie Wonder, and has been featured as a soloist with the San Bernardino Symphony, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Guelph Symphony.
Huizinga is a founding member of the Baroque ensemble ACRONYM, which has released ten full-length albums of previously unknown and unrecorded baroque and new music. He also performs worldwide with his folk and Baroque duo Fire & Grace, and tours extensively with Tafelmusik.
Huizinga is part of the artistic leadership of Carmel Bach Festival, and serves as the Artistic Director for Sweetwater Music Festival and Big Sur Fiddle Camp.
An avid composer, Huizinga was commissioned to write a piece for Canada's 150th anniversary.
He is a member of the Juno-nominated indie rock band The Wooden Sky, and is a founding member of the Classical Revolution—an organization dedicated to shaping the future of concerts and jam sessions in alternative locations around the world.
Currently, Huizinga is a professor at Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

**Jason Moy**
**Jason Moy** is the Artistic Director of Ars Musica Chicago and one of the most sought-after Early Keyboard specialists in the Midwest. He is a proud graduate of the Early Music program at McGill University in Canada, and counts Hank Knox, Ketil Haugsand, Andrew Lawrence-King, and the late Bruce Haynes among his most influential mentors and teachers. Jason teaches at DePaul University, where he was awarded the School of Music’s first-ever endowed chair as Monsignor Kenneth J. Velo Distinguished Professor in 2022, and at Roosevelt University, where he was recently appointed Artist-Faculty in Early Keyboards in the Chicago College of Performing Arts. He frequently performs with such esteemed local ensembles as the Newberry Consort, Haymarket Opera Company, Bella Voce, and the Bach Week Festival Orchestra. Of his myriad musical activities, Jason is most passionate about working with his inquisitive and talented students, and opening their eyes and ears to the language and syntax of Baroque music. In his spare time, he enjoys collecting antique teaware, reading early American military and maritime history, and cooking for family and friends.

**Anna Steinhoff**
Based in Chicago, **Anna Steinhoff** specializes in the baroque cello and viola da gamba. She performs with ensembles including Haymarket Opera Company, Apollo’s Fire, Second City Musick, Music of the Baroque and the Bella Voce Sinfonia. During the summers, she has the pleasure of performing at the Staunton Music Festival and the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival. Anna can also be heard on recordings with bands including Mysteries of Life, Saturday Looks Good To Me, MONO, and children’s artist Justin Roberts. Anna received degrees in cello performance from the Oberlin Conservatory and Northwestern University, where her principal teachers were Peter Rejto and Hans Jensen.

MESSIAH (2023)

Orna Arania

Orna Arania has performed extensively as a soloist in concert series and festivals with most of the leading orchestras in her native country of Israel. She has toured as a soloist with various Israeli ensembles in Italy, Germany, Austria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and the United States.
Since arriving in the United States, she has performed as a soloist with ensembles and orchestras such as The Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra, Distinguished Concerts International Orchestra New York, Elgin Symphony, Lima Symphony, Illinois Valley Symphony, The Callipygian Players, Ars Antigua, Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Northern University Symphony Orchestra and more.
Her performances include a vast repertoire of solo oratorio roles such as Hymn of Praise and Psalm 42 by Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 9, Mass in C and Choral Fantasy by Beethoven, Mass in C minor, Requiem and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore by Mozart, Theresienmesse by Haydn, Symphony No. 4 and Songs of a Wayfarer by Mahler, Messiah by Handel, the Requiems of Bruckner, Fauré and Rutter and many more. She also performed several contemporary concert pieces for voice and symphonic orchestra including the world-premiere of Quomodo Sedet Sola by Yehezkel Braun, and The New Moon by Tõnu Kõrvits, the American-premier of Mirror of Perfection by Richard Blackford, and the Illinois-premiere performances of American Requiem by Richard Danielpour, and Requiem for Peace by Larry Nickel. Her performances also include numerous chamber and solo recitals.
In addition to her performances as a soloist, she sings with leading ensembles in Chicago, such as Bella Voce and Bella Voce Camerata, and serves as both a singer and assistant conductor of The Lakeside Singers, with whom she performed extensively in prestigious venues throughout the Chicago area, including multiple appearances at the Ravinia Festival.
Arania earned both her Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in voice and opera performance from Northwestern University. Her bachelor's degree in voice (including a minor in choral conducting) is from the Buchman-Mehta School of Music (formally known as the Rubin Academy of Music), Tel Aviv University, Israel. She teaches at Northern Illinois University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Oliver Camacho

Tenor Oliver Camacho has been praised as “superbly stylish” by the Chicago Tribune, “emotionally generous” by the Chicago Reader, and “pleasingly soft-grained of timbre and attentive to word meanings” by Chicago Classical Review. He is a co-director of the Liederstube, an oasis for art song in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building founded by pianist and author Dr. Eugenia Cheng with whom he regularly collaborates. A proud graduate of Chicago’s Lane Technical High School where he first learned to sing under the mentorship of George Rico, Oliver went on to study music at Northwestern University, and historically informed performance practice at Amherst Early Music Festival and Early Music Vancouver. Oliver has been a soloist with the Newberry Consort, Bella Voce, Chicago Choral Artists, Bach Cantata Vespers, the Chicago Bach Ensemble, Vox 3 Collective, and Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra. Oliver is a producer and host of Opera Box Score podcast; and is Music Director of Classical WFMT, where he hosts Listening to Singers.

Josh Cohen

A native of the Washington, DC area, baroque trumpeter Josh Cohen is greatly sought after by many leading early music ensembles throughout North America. For the past ten seasons, Josh has been principal baroque trumpet with the Washington Bach Consort. He has also performed as principal and solo baroque trumpet for ensembles such as Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montreal, Arion (Montreal), Bach Sinfonia (Washington DC), Aston Magna (Boston), Musica Maris (Rhode Island), Houston Bach Society, Ensemble Telemann (Montreal), and participated in festivals such as the Indiana Festival of Early Music, International Festival of Baroque Music at Lameque (N.B. Canada) and the Bach Festival of Montreal. Mr. Cohen has recorded some of the most famous and demanding works for baroque trumpet. Most recently, Mr. Cohen recorded J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 with Montreal-based Ensemble Caprice. He can be heard in the Washington Bach Consort’s recording of J.S. Bach’s Cantata no. 51 with soprano Elizabeth Futral. Two recordings Mr. Cohen participated in with prominent Canadian ensembles were both nominated for the 2009 Juno Awards: “Let the Bright Seraphim” with soprano Karina Gauvin and Tempo Rubato, and his recording of Vivaldi’s Gloria with Ensemble Caprice, the latter of which won the Juno award for Best Album of the Year in the vocal category. Mr. Cohen received a M.M. from McGill University and a B.M. from the New England Conservatory of Music. He currently plays on a Baroque trumpet made by Matt Martin of Norwich Natural Trumpets after an original by Kodisch 1710. Cohen’s first solo CD, released on the Chandos label earlier this year, was submitted for Grammy consideration in the solo classical category.

Carolyne DalMonte

Praised for her lithe and elegant lyric soprano, Carolyne DalMonte is a versatile singer who loves to sing opera, oratorio, and choral music. She enjoys an active and similarly versatile career from her new home city of Chicago. As a sought-after oratorio soloist, she has performed Bach’s Magnificat, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Handel’s Messiah, The Fauré Requiem, The Brahms Requiem, and the Haydn Nelsonmesse (among other oratorios) with various ensembles across the United States. Her performed opera roles include Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Dorinda in Orlando, Mimi in La Bohème, the title role in Manon, and Despina in Così fan tutte. She also immensely enjoys her life as a choral artist and feels lucky to have performed with many excellent ensembles in her career, including the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Choir, Brevitas, The Thirteen, the Grant Park Festival Chorus, Bach Collegium San Diego, Bella Voce, Music of the Baroque and the Choir of the Ascension (Chicago). In addition to her work as a performer, Miss DalMonte is a passionate voice and piano teacher who loves to inspire and empower her students along their musical journeys. Outside of her musical endeavors, she finds great joy in taking walks with her husband and her beloved dog, Apollo.

Julia Davids

Dr. Julia Davids is passionate about the difference music makes for individuals and communities. She comes from London, Ontario, Canada, where she grew up singing in the Amabile Youth Choir, her church choir, and the Ontario Youth Choir. She now enjoys singing professionally with Bella Voce and other choirs in the Chicago area.
Julia is the Stephen J. Hendrickson Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Chair of the Music Department at North Park University, where she directs the University Choir and Chamber Singers and teaches vocal pedagogy and conducting. Julia co-authored with Stephen LaTour the award-winning book, Vocal Technique – A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers, published by Waveland Press, now in a second edition. She is a frequent workshop and master class leader and has presented at numerous conferences for organizations including Choral Canada, the American Choral Director’s Association, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Julia is in her 15th year as Music Director for the North Shore Choral Society and her 20th as Director of Music Ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette.
Julia is a founding member of the Canadian Chamber Choir, Canada’s national professional choir dedicated to building communities through choral singing. Artistic Director of the CCC since 2004, Julia returns to Canada multiple times a year to conduct and sing with the ensemble. The Canadian Chamber Choir’s 2016 recording Sacred Reflections of Canada – A Canadian Mass was nominated for a Juno award for Classical Album of the Year, Choral or Vocal Performance. Julia has earned degrees at Western University, the University of Michigan, and a D.M. from Northwestern University. She lives in Skokie with her husband and their two children.

Nora Engonopoulos

A native Chicagoan, Nora earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from DePaul University and a master’s degree in Opera/Voice from McGill University in Montreal. She has been a member of Bella Voce for nine years and has also sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Grant Park Chorus. During the day, Nora works in non-profit fundraising.

Mark Haddad

Basso-Profundo Mark Haddad earned his BM in Vocal Performance from Texas Tech University and his MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Delaware. Aside from his work with Haymarket Opera Company, Mr. Haddad currently sings with Chicago-based chamber choirs Bella Voce and the William Ferris Chorale, as well as the choir of St. Chrysostom’s in Gold Coast. He is also a member of the supplemental chorus for the Grant Park Music Festival, and performed the Rachmaninoff Vespers in July of 2017. In August of 2017, as a member of the Lakeside Singers, he performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Music Festival. In March of 2018 he performed the role of Herbert in the World-premiere of Ross Crean’s The Great God Pan with Chicago Fringe Opera. When he is not singing, he works as a substitute teacher with Intrinsic Schools of Chicago and also works security at various concerts and festivals. In his free time, he works out regularly, and is an avid pool player.

Garrett Johannsen

Garrett Johannsen is a classically trained tenor from Schiller Park, Illinois. Garrett graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. His career highlights include multiple summer tours in the UK with Chamber Opera Chicago performing Jane Austen's Persuasion, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, a Nederlander Centennial medley performance at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion and soloist performances with the Elgin, Elmhurst, and Waukegan Symphonies. He has performed with the Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony and Grant Park Choruses, Bella Voce and The William Ferris Chorale. He has also performed in many operas, recitals, cabarets and city wide events. Garrett is a member of the Actors' Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Kimberly E. Jones

Lyric soprano Kimberly E. Jones is an alumna of the Ryan Opera Center with the prestigious Lyric Opera of Chicago. Performances there include Margru in the world's premiere of Anthony Davis' Amistad, which was released nationally on the New World recording label. She also performed as Olga in Fedora, Xenia in Boris Godunov, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte. With the Ryan Opera Center, she performed Laetitia in the Old Maid and the Thief, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Adele in Die Fledermaus. She was chosen to perform at the Chatelet in Paris with three other ensemble members. Maestro Bruno Bartoletti, Lyric's former Artistic Director, selected Kimberly to perform concerts in Italy (Knoxville: Summer of 1915).
With Houston Grand Opera, she graced the stages as Clara in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. She has performed in concert performances of Haydn Creation, Brahms Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Exultate Jubilate, Carmina Burana, and Verdi Requiem. She frequently performs Handel Messiah, as well as recently Mass in the Time of War (Haydn), The Ordering of Moses (Dett), Beethoven Mass in C, Beethoven 9, and several other musical favorites.
She frequently performs with Haymarket Opera (Tibrino in L'Orontea, Angelina in Orlando). With Chicago Opera Theater she has performed as the Fairy Queen and shows such as Freedom Ride and Quamino's Map and other operatic favorites .
Kimberly is on the faculties of Roosevelt University (CCPA), DePaul University, Columbia College, Old Town school of folk Music, and Merit School of Music.

Patty Kennedy

Originally from Seattle, Washington, soprano Patty Kennedy’s love of singing was nurtured from a very young age. Patty moved to Appleton, Wisconsin to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance at the Conservatory at Lawrence University, where she studied both classical and jazz singing. Upon completing her degree, Patty moved to Chicago to pursue a career in music. Patty is a licensed Kindermusik educator and teaches early childhood music classes at Bucktown Music Studio in Chicago. A passionate chamber musician, Patty has sung with area ensembles including Chicago Choral Artists, The Choir at St. Chrysostom’s Church, The William Ferris Chorale, Peregrine Vocal Ensemble, Innova Singers and Chicago’s professional women’s ensemble La Caccina.

Amanda Koopman

Mezzo-Soprano Amanda Koopman is a singer and soloist in the Chicago area. Solo highlights include Bach’s Mass in B-minor with Bella Voce, Mozart’s Requiem, Bach Magnificat and Cantata 80 with the Elgin Master Chorale, Purcell anthems and Bach Mass in F with Music of the Baroque, San Ignacio chamber opera at the Art Institute of Chicago, and a recital celebrating motherhood with the Musicians Club of Women and Northwestern University. She has performed two recital series in China, the country in which she grew up, in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Yan Cheng. She regularly appears with well-known performing groups such as Grant Park Chorus, Bella Voce, and Music of the Baroque. She holds a M.M in vocal performance from Northwestern University.

Eric Miranda

For over two decades, Eric Miranda has performed in venues throughout Chicago, gracing audiences with his “pliable, warm baritone” (Chicago Classical Review). Eric has appeared as a soloist at Orchestra Hall and Millennium Park, and as a versatile and sought-after singer, he is a frequent collaborator with early music and choral groups including Bella Voce, the Grant Park Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. As a soloist, he has appeared several times with the Elgin Master Chorale, led by Andrew Lewis. Other recent appearances include Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, with the recently formed Voices of Madonna, led by Dr. Kirsten Hedegaard, and Florida’s Loco for Love Festival with El Fuego, led by Spanish and Latin American early music specialist, and frequent Newberry Consort artist, Salomé Sandoval. Upcoming engagements include A Latin American Christmas with Newberry Consort, and Vaughan Williams’s The First Nowell as part of the Music on the Hill series at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington.

Matthew Schlesinger

Matthew Schlesinger holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University and a Master's Degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music, and an Educational Leadership Certificate from Roosevelt University. He is proud to be in his sixteenth year as the Choral Director at Hoffman Estates High School, as well as the Choral Director of the D211 Adult Chorus. Outside of D211, He also serves as the ILMEA State Honors Choir Chair, and the Division VII Choral Representative.
Matthew has performed around the Chicago area with numerous organizations. This includes such groups as the Grant Park Symphony Chorus, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Oriana Singers, the Chicago Choral Artists, and most recently with Bella Voce. He has also had the opportunity to serve as the cover soloist in the CSO’s productions of Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet, Verdi's Otello and Britten’s War Requiem. Matthew has also appeared as a Tenor soloist for Harper College and Bella Voce. A review by John von Rhein in the Chicago Tribune of the Oriana Singers production of Songs of Love and War stated that “Matthew Schlesinger wielded the ideal Monteverdi tenor: light, clear, technically solid and musically accomplished.”
Even with all of this, Matthew’s greatest joy in life is spending time with his wife Melissa, and being a father for his two daughters, Emily and Elyse.

Anna VanDeKerchove

Anna VanDeKerchove, mezzo soprano, is making her mark as an emerging soloist and distinguished choral artist in her hometown of Chicago. Most recently, Anna joined the Music Institute Chorale as the soloist for Vivaldi’s Gloria in July 2023. In November 2022, Anna joined the Elgin Master Chorale for a performance of Messiah, Part I alongside José Maurício Nunes Garcia's Matinas do Natal as the mezzo soprano soloist. Other highlights include an appearance with the Music Institute Chorale in March 2022 as the mezzo soprano soloist on a program of Bach and baroque hallmarks, joining the Elgin Master Chorale in April of 2019 as mezzo soprano soloist in Handel’s Dixit Dominus, mezzo soprano soloist in Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus with the North Shore Choral Society, as well as mezzo soprano soloist with Wicker Park Choral Singers on Aaron Copland’s profound choral masterpiece, In the Beginning in November 2018. Anna also frequently steps out as a soloist with Bella Voce, most recently on Handel's Messiah. Anna is currently on the rosters for Bella Voce, Stare At The Sun, and The William Ferris Chorale. Additionally, Anna has participated in the Chicago Bach Week festival under the direction of Richard Webster. Anna is a member of the Schola professional choir at Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Edgewater, Chicago. Anna holds a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from North Park University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Valparaiso University.

Byrd Is the Wyrd

Allison Selby Cook

Allison Selby Cook is a Chicago-based singer, actor, and multi-instrumentalist specializing in early music. She first performed with Bella Voce last spring, in Paul Hillier's "And I Heard a Voice," in Newberry Consort's season finale collaboration, and in a yet-to-be-released recording. She returns to Bella Voce this season for Byrd is the Wyrd, Ceremony of Carols, & Expanding the Canon. A Newberry Consort season regular since 2018, Allison has been featured as a singer, a violist in the Renaissance violin band, and in a touring collaboration with Piffaro in Philadelphia. Allison’s upcoming 2023-24 season also includes multiple appearances with Music of the Baroque and festival concerts as part of Loyola University’s William Byrd 400th anniversary celebration. In previous seasons, Allison has performed or recorded with Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia, Marion Consort, Early Music at the Barn, Schola Antiqua, Early Music Now (Milwaukee), WFMT 98.7FM, Chicago Radio Theatre, ShawChicago, The Shakespeare Project of Chicago, and Court Theatre. After studying with Ellen Hargis and David Douglass at Northwestern University, Allison went on to opera and early music festivals in Siena (Italy), New York, Boston, and Berkeley.

Matthew Dean

Matthew Dean, tenor, is highly regarded for his “ringing sound, cantorial fluency, and elegance” in period ensembles around the country, including The Newberry Consort, His Majesty’s Men, and Bella Voce. A University of Chicago-trained medievalist, Dean conducted fieldwork along the Camino de Santiago, and has developed concerts with The Rose Ensemble and Schola Antiqua, highlighted by the BBC, WFMT, and The New Yorker. In contemporary idioms, he has enjoyed collaborations with Quince Ensemble and Eighth Blackbird and tour stops with the Notorious RBG in Song project, Video Games Live! and Andrea Bocelli. Dean has served on the faculty of the Madison Early Music Festival and as longtime Artist in Residence at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, featured as an oratorio soloist and Bach Evangelist (www.matthew-dean.com).

John Orduña

Omaha native John Orduña enjoys a consistently varied performance schedule here in the Chicago area. He performs with the choruses of Music of the Baroque, Grant Park Music Festival, William Ferris Chorale, Chicago A cappella, Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony. His solo concert work includes performances of Händel’s Messiah with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Richmond Symphony, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Cincinnati May Festival. His principal opera work includes the role of The Donkey in the world premier of Jeanine Tesori’s The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me with Washington National Opera, Dancaïro (Carmen) with Opera Omaha, and Schaunard (La Boheme) with North Carolina Opera.