dylan armstrong, bass
Dylan Armstrong has sung in choirs all of his life (admittedly, some of the early years are a bit fuzzy). Dylan majored in opera and oboe at the Hartt School of Music and has performed throughout New England in opera, oratorio and music theater. Dylan has also been a professional church musician for over 30 years and as such, conceived, wrote and, performed a concert as Charles Ives, celebrating his music in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of his marriage to Harmony Twichell. Dylan was King Kaspar for 20 years at the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival at Asylum Hill Congregational Church. He has also worked as an IT professional for 20 years and is at Hartford HealthCare. Dylan is a proud member of the Voce bass section (he's been a proud member of the tenor section, too). "Voce allows me to come together with my friends, who are all terrific musicians, and create beauty and harmony; something that is always in short supply." Dylan is always thrilled to be able to sing with his lovely and talented wife, Sarah Armstrong.
Sarah armstrong, alto, voce administrator
After earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Choral Studies from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, Sarah moved to Chicago where she began her career as a professional opera singer. Starting as a member of the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago for five seasons, she spent another five years as a solo artist. After a decade of performing full-time, Sarah returned to the classroom, teaching and directing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School, and now at Canterbury School where she is the Performing Arts Chair, Head of Theater Department, Director of Choral Studies, and Liturgical Music Director. Sarah was named a Shining Star in Teaching Excellence in 2011 and was awarded the Harold Grinspoon Award for Teaching Excellence in 2016. Sarah is as a 2018 recipient of the Rod Clarke Endowment to Support Advanced Faculty Degrees and earned a Master's degree in Theater Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Most recently, Sarah was the 2021 recipient of the J.P. Mandler Teaching Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching and was acknowledged by the University of Chicago for excellence in teaching and mentorship. Singing in Voce brings Sarah back to her first love - making music with her friends and serving harmony, and one another, the best way we know how.
adam atkins, tenor
Adam Atkins has had the pleasure of teaching music at The Gilbert School in Winsted, CT for the past 26 years. This allows him the opportunity to teach Vocal Music, Music Theory, and General music to students in grades 7-12. His favorite free time activity is spending time with his wonderful wife, Jennifer, and their 3 beautiful children. When not with them, you might find Adam singing with Voce, working in the yard, playing golf, or just trying to find time to play video games. “I explain to students every day that in order to perform music well, you must be able to hear it in your head first. I love singing with Voce, since this choir is the embodiment of the choir sound that I have heard in my head for the past 30 years!!”
Liz Bologna, soprano
Liz Bologna is a professional singer and soloist in the Greater Hartford area, singing with Voce, Voices of Concinnity, and Schola Cantorum at St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford, as well as at other churches in and around Greater Hartford. She earned her B.A. in English from UCONN and M.A. in English Literature from Boston College. 2017-2019 Liz served as Conducting Fellow with the Vernon Chorale. In 2017, Liz was appointed the Executive Director of the Women Composers Festival of Hartford. She continues to build on the great work WCFH has done for women’s representation in music, and to grow the community WCFH has cultivated. Liz has had the distinct pleasure of singing with Voce since 2015. Being a member of Voce has given her the opportunity to work closely with a number of living composers, and to grow as a singer and overall musician. It is a joy for her to work with such dedicated and responsive musicians.
Sarah Bowe, soprano
Sarah Bowe has been singing with Voce since 2019. She enjoys a diverse range of repertoire, and has regular engagements with Festina (Boston, MA), Red Shift (Baton Rouge, LA), and with numerous sacred institutions in the greater Boston area. She also sings with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (Boston Symphony Orchestra), and is an alumna of Seraphic Fire's Professional Choral Institute at Aspen Music Festival and School. In addition to her work as a vocalist, Sarah is an active conductor and educator, and maintains a varied schedule as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. She currently serves as a Visiting Lecturer at Cornell University, where she directs the Cornell University Chorus and Glee Club and mentors their student leaders. Prior to her appointment at Cornell, Sarah served as Director of Choral Activities at Central Connecticut State University and as interim choral faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She holds an M.M. and B.M. summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is a D.M.A. candidate at Louisiana State University.
ian braverman, Bass
From a young age, Ian has had a love for choral singing and is thrilled to join Voce this year. He is a 2020 graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business where he studied finance and economics. At UCONN, he performed with the UCONN Collegium Choir under Dr. Eric Rice and the UCONN Concert Choir under Dr. Jamie Spillane. A highlight was spring break in Italy with the UCONN choirs singing in the Sistine Chapel. He was also a member of the coed A Capella group, The Rolling Tones, and has many wonderful memories of performing with them. Ian is currently studying voice and piano with Kenneth Lundquist Jr. He is a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch and in his free time pursues his passions which include singing, piano, and long-distance biking.
andrew brochu, tenor, education coordinator
Andrew Brochu has been a member of Voce since 2011 and has loved making music with this ensemble. Andrew sings tenor and is currently serving as the group's Education Coordinator. Aside from singing in Voce, Andrew has been the Choral Music Director at Avon High School in Avon, CT since 2007 and proudly sings with The Barnstormers Men's Chorus. He earned his B.S and M.S. degrees in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University. His most important roles are as a husband and father of two wonderful little girls. His greatest musical passion is using choral music as vehicle to build relationships among people from different ages, singing abilities, and walks of life.
ehren brown, tenor
Ehren is many things to different people: singer, conductor, teacher, husband, and dad. He has sung with Voce since the beginning and is both proud and humbled to be a part of such a talented group of singers. When he is not having adventures somewhere with his son and wife, Ehren teaches music at East Hampton High School and conducts the Vernon Chorale. Ehren sings with Voce because making music is an essential part of living -- like oxygen or food. Singing with Voce feeds his soul.
sarah Chassé, alto, Principal
Sarah Chassé has been a member of Voce since 2013. As a K-5 vocal music teacher for the town of West Hartford, Voce provides Sarah an opportunity to perform high quality choral literature with amazing musicians and bring those experiences back to the classroom. She been the conductor of the West Hartford Inter Elementary Choir for seven years and has a passion for bringing choral experiences to young children. “I sing with Voce because as a member of this ensemble we create music that not only fills my soul, but the souls of all those who hear our song.” Her hope is to instill that same feeling of joy in the children she teaches.
Marinne Cheney, Soprano
Marinne has been thrilled to sing with VOCE since 2017. Coming from a musical family, Marinne grew up singing, playing the piano, and dancing. She graduated with a BA in music from Principia College in Illinois, and a MM from The Hartt School in Piano Performance emph. Pedagogy. After several years as a teaching artist of piano and voice at Summit Studios in Manchester, Marinne went to CCSU and received her teaching certification. She has been the Choir Director at Bacon Academy for over ten years. In 2018 she was awarded Teacher of the Year. Singing with such high level musicians in VOCE has been a distinct privilege and honor which also inspires her own teaching and musicianship. A native of Madison, Connecticut, Marinne currently resides in Gales Ferry with her husband and two hilarious and wonderful sons.
jonathan clune, bass
Jon studied music theory and composition at Yale College before moving to New York City where he founded a street quartet and sang in Cappella Nova, an acclaimed early music ensemble. A charter member of Voce, he loves the choir’s singular ability to make chords shimmer and to generate a rich palette of “Full Color Sound” (once a promotional slogan for Sony Tape!). When not rehearsing or performing, Jon is employed as an attorney at Yale University.
THOMAS F. COOKE, bass, principal, President
Tom started singing as a treble in the boys choir at Trinity Church On-the-Green in New Haven, CT when he was 7 years old, and he just hasn’t stopped singing! He joined the Woodland Scholars in 2005 and, convinced that Mark Singleton and the incredible singers who made up the Scholars needed to be heard by a wider audience, worked with Mark to rebrand the group as Voce in 2006. He currently serves as President of Voce’s Board of Directors. As a singer with Voce, Tom has watched as Voce audience members close their eyes to become part of the experience of harmony – a profound sharing which brings people from all walks of life into the same beautiful moment. Voce's ethereal sound is only possible because of the unity of commitment of its singers, and Tom is proud to be part of that. The world needs Voce. You've got to hear it to believe it!
jennifer ferrand-kelly, soprano
Jennifer Ferrand-Kelly, soprano, has been a member of Voce since 2007. She is an experienced choral singer in Connecticut, having sung with professional ensembles CONCORA for over ten years, and Rhode Island’s Collegium Ancora for two seasons. She has appeared as a section leader and soloist with ensembles including the Hartford Chorale and the Greater Middletown Chorale. Recent solo performances include Messiah with the Worcester Chorus, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and CONCORA’s Bach Clavierfest. She can be heard on recordings including In Delightful Company: Choral Works by Charles Fussell with CONCORA, and Sure on the Shining Night and Music of the Spheres with Voce. In a 2017 review of her Messiah performance, The Worcester Telegram described her phrasing and tone as “gorgeously on target and utterly compelling,” and in 2013, The Hartford Courant described her singing as exemplifying “strong musical intelligence” and “excellent breath control. Jennifer completed a degree in vocal performance at the State University of New York, College at Geneseo, and now works as a clinical psychologist. She is deeply proud to be a member of the Voce team and to perform with a group whose values align with her own.
Gregory Flower, bass
Gregory Flower is a native of Keene, New Hampshire and resident of Cromwell, Connecticut. Flower’s “rich and powerful voice” (Cape Cod Times) has been heard by audiences across New England, where he has performed Opera, Operetta, Musical Theatre, Oratorio and Choral Masterworks. Most recently Flower has had regional engagements singing solos in Mozart Requiem, Faure Requiem, Messiah, Dvorak Te Deum and Elijah. Other favorite performances have included Frank Maurrant in Street Scene, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Lord Mounterrarrat in Iolanthe, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Tom Carter in The Hotel Casa Blanca, Jesus in The Seven Last Words of Christ, and several other Oratorio solo performances. In 2014 he was a national finalist in the Collegiate Division of the Classical Singer Competition. Greg is an active with several professional choirs including: Voce, Vocal Alchemy, Novi Cantori, and Schola Cantorum. He holds a dual degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from The University of Hartford, where he studied voice with Dr Robert Barefield. Since graduating he has balanced a life of performing regionally and teaching choral full time at Haddam Killingworth Middle School in Killingworth, CT, and recently left his teaching job for full time Graduate studies at the University of Connecticut with Dr. Constance Rock.
Chris Gallerani, Tenor
Chris Gallerani has been singing with Voce since 2019. As a student of theater and music at Dartmouth College, he studied the ways in which feminist and queer theory inform the content and structure of musical and theatrical performance throughout history. He also studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, focusing on Shakespeare and classic British works. He culminated his study with an honors thesis, where he shared his story as a queer person through a 75-minute autobiographical solo performance. After a three-year stint in New York City, Chris moved back to his hometown of Suffield, CT, where he began taking private piano and voice lessons to keep his passion for performance alive. When not working as a corporate trainer and singing with Voce, Chris enjoys getting outside, taking in theater, and traveling the world (hopefully again soon).
jessica gray, alto
Jessica Gray is originally from Minnesota and currently lives on the outskirts of Boston, MA with her husband David and their five children. She grew up in a musical family who sang together, and happily continues this tradition with her own children. Jessica has enjoyed singing with choral groups in Minnesota, Utah, California, Michigan, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. In 2018 she joined forces with community members to begin and grow Pepperell Community Arts, whose mission is to provide affordable, high quality programs in the fine and performing arts, and to be inclusive as they teach, inspire and give back to the community. She loves teaching music to children, and volunteers in various capacities in her community, in the schools, and at church. Jessica attended her first Voce concert in 2011 and fell in love with their signature sound. She has been singing with Voce since 2012, and thanks her wonderful family for their continuous support of her passion for music. “Singing with the members of Voce fills my heart and soul with joy! In addition to their incredible level of talent and dedication, these people are tremendous forces for good in this world. I love them all so much and am honored to sing with them in our mission to serve harmony.”
floyd higgins, tenor
Floyd Higgins has been active in the Hartford choir and organ scene since his Trinity College days in the early 80's and has served as organist or subbed at many churches in the region. As a singer he has appeared in musicals, one opera, and numerous choral programs with Gaudeamus, CONCORA, the Woodland Scholars and Voce. Currently, he and his wife Gretchen Collins (a Voce alto), are Directors of Music at Sacred Heart Parish in Suffield, with Floyd serving as the organist. Every Fall, Floyd is the director of music and organist for the High Holy Days at Temple Beth El in West Hartford. His day job is as Head Designer at Austin Organs, Inc. in Hartford. Also, Floyd is color-blind and is a tambourinaire (Google it). Floyd and Gretchen, proud parents of 20-year-old son David, met while singing together at Yale and his life has been all the better for it. Making music together with the many, many friends they have made over the years has been a source of great joy and satisfaction. Both of them are proud to have been with Voce and its predecessor group, the Woodland Scholars, since day one. They are grateful, too, for the intense and high level of music making which the members of Voce expect and produce.
Joshua Hummel, tenor
Joshua Hummel loves being creative and loves to inspire people with beauty and subtlety. He owns an award-winning composition studio, holds an M.A. in Theatre and a MMus. in Composition, and has studied with professors from the Hartt School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, and Julliard. Composition awards include ten choral awards, the Frederick Fennell Prize, the NBA Merrill Jones, and the Leonard Bernstein Award. Josh is an Associate Professor of Music at Capital Community College in Hartford, owns New Leaf Arts, is owned by his nine-year old son, Sebi, governed by his lovely wife of 19 years, Trista, and is utterly smitten with five-year-old daughter, Anya Evangeline. When not doing music, you might find Josh bombing local mountain biking trails, bikepacking, playing disc golf or strategy games with his son, or maybe hiking, cooking, reading, or working on his novel. “The first VOCE concert I attended featured the music of Morten Lauridsen, and I was blown away and thoroughly moved. And now years later, I have the esteemed privilege to sing with these world-class musicians under the direction of one of the best choral directors anywhere in the world.”
brian jones, bass
Brian has been singing with Voce since March of 2011, and has truly loved the journey. The amazing team dynamic and dedication of everyone in the group continues not only to challenge him as a musician, but also informs his teaching. Brian teaches choir at Canton Junior-Senior High School, and is very grateful that he has both teaching and performing in his life. When Brian is not singing or teaching, he is spending time with friends and family, enjoying food and wine, or working in the yard gardening and landscaping.
dana kephart, mezzo-soprano
Dana Kephart, mezzo-soprano, has been praised by the Boston Musical Intelligencer for her “beautifully fluid and expressive voice.” She is a graduate of both the Longy School of Music (M.M., Early Music) and the Hartt School (B.M., Voice and Music Education). Past solo appearances include performances with Eudaimonia, the Farmington Valley Chorale, the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra, Hartford Opera Theater, and the opera chorus of the Princeton Festival. She is on the choral rosters for Voce, CONCORA and the Schola Cantorum at the Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph. She is an active teacher of music and voice in the Hartford area. Dana is thrilled to be a part of Voce, not only because of its beautiful choral sound, but also because Voce is a family of superlatively dedicated musicians with a noble mission. The Voce community provides inspiration to rise to the highest of standards for each other, for audiences, and above all, for the music.
Jennifer lamson, soprano, principal, choral librarian
Soprano Jennifer Lamson, is a proud founding member of Voce. She has appeared as soloist with Connecticut Chamber Singers, Farmington Chorale, and Eastern Symphony Chorus. Jennifer sings with Immanuel Congregational Church as a soloist and section leader and is a current member of CONCORA. Jennifer can be found on recordings such as The Voice of the Archangel with Archangel Voices, What Child Is This? with Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, as well as Voce Live, Sure on this Shining Night, and Music of the Spheres and the upcoming CD Blessing: The Music of Paul Mealor with Voce. Jennifer loves to sing with Voce because of the shared love of creating a musical experience that can reach anyone in the audience as well as being able to make music with such artistic musicians. Jennifer received her B.S. in Music Education from Plymouth State University and her Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Connecticut. Jennifer is a music educator in Wallingford and resides in Portland with her husband and two daughters.
Jennifer McCann, soprano, media manager
Jennifer McCann, soprano, has been singing professionally for over fifteen years, serving as a section leader, interim cantor, and solo artist for various religious and town organizations throughout New England. Jennifer has actively sung with Voce for ten years, and more recently as the ensemble’s Media Manager. She has also sung with local organizations such as the Greater Middletown Chorale, the Cathedral Schola Cantorum, the Vernon Chorale, the Con Brio Choral Society, and the Silk City Barbershop Chorus, and has performed in a number of musicals with the Broad Brook Opera House Players. When not performing, she has enjoyed a busy “other” career in social media and healthcare technology for the past ten years. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the University of Connecticut, and currently resides in Glastonbury, CT with her partner and two favorite puppy dogs. An avid lover of dry, hot weather, Jennifer has been known to say, on more than one occasion, “the only reason I’m still in Connecticut is so that I can sing with Voce.”
herb menzel, bass
Herb Menzel, Jr studied Physics at Bridgewater State University. With over 50 years of choral experience, Herb has been a member of Concordia Youth Chorale, Novi Cantori, Arcadia Players, Springfield Symphony Chorus, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Festival Chorus of Westfield. Currently, he sings with the Immanuel Congregational Church Chancel Choir, Voce, the Greater Westfield Choral Association, and portrays the role of King Wenceslas at the Boars Head Festival, Trinity United Methodist Church in Springfield. When he's not singing, he is an award winning quilter and a professional Santa. Herb sings with Voce because he enjoys the commitment to producing the Voce sound, the comradery and professionalism of its members, and the thrill of being part of a group dedicated to producing the highest quality of choral music.
Alexander O’Neil, Tenor/Countertenor
Alex sings tenor and countertenor in Voce, and is currently finishing his degree in music at Central Connecticut State University, where he spent time as assistant director of both of the schools all male a cappella groups. Under the instruction of artists such as Countertenor Benjamin Rauch and Voce tenor section leader Jack Pott, Alex enjoys singing in a group that encourages flexible voices to achieve the signature Voce sound. Alex is a tenor section leader at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford and also works for Apple as a Technical Expert. After graduating Alex plans to audition for groups such as Chanticleer and pursue singing full time.
david pettyjohn, tenor
David ("PJ") Pettyjohn, Tenor and frequent contributor to tomfoolery and shenanigans, is a huge fan of irony, absurdity, Professional American Football, and classical choral music. (Just a regular guy being a dude). When not singing in Voce, or working at his Software Development job, he is probably thinking about his fantasy football teams or about the next time he gets to wander into the wilderness, perhaps getting lost or crossing paths with potentially dangerous wild animals. He enjoys singing with Voce primarily because of Voce's commitment to being the best they can be, corporately and individually. He lives in the deciduous forests of Simsbury, CT. He is not the droid you are looking for.
Jack Anthony Pott, tenor, principal
“I was born. Specifically, very early on Easter Sunday morning! Even though my entrance to the world prevented my mother from singing with the church choir that morning, it must have been all those weeknight choir rehearsals in the months leading up to it in which I was “present” that made music quickly become an integral part of my life, and something that has continued to this day. Fast forward a few decades….I remember the first time I heard Voce. I thought to myself, “wow, I want to sing with these people!'“ When given the opportunity to join them in 2008, I jumped at the chance, and have loved every minute since. The sense of camaraderie and attention to ensemble are hallmarks of every rehearsal/concert sequence, and something I look forward to every time we get together. Outside of Voce, I am blessed to have the opportunity to make music professionally in many spheres as a director, singer, and voice teacher. But, my greatest joy in life is my family.”
sarah rollins, alto
Sarah Rollins is a recent graduate of Central Connecticut State University with a degree in music performance, where she studied under the tutelage of Joanne Scattergood-Reeves. She has spent most of her life singing in various choral groups and is excited to finally make her professional debut with Voce. Sarah is thrilled to be singing in a group where everyone is passionate about the music they make together and dedicated to creating a top-notch choral experience. When not at rehearsal, Sarah is an alto section leader at Immanuel Congregational Church and works as a paraprofessional at the Gengras School in West Hartford.
Celia Russo, alto
Celia Russo (mezzo-soprano) is delighted to be singing with Voce. She currently performs with the Schola Cantorum at St. Stephen’s Church and Collegium Ancora at Grace Episcopal Church, both in Providence, RI and Et Al. in Boston, MA. She has been a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and was a choral scholar with the Berkshire Choral Festival. In concert she has sung the alto and mezzo-soprano solos in Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Messiah, Schubert's Ständchen, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Distler’s Es ist ein Ros ensprungen. On stage, she performed in and choreographed Opera Providence's productions of Pirates of Penzance, I Pagliacci, Cavalleria rusticana, The Mikado, and La Traviata. She has studied with Constance Rock, René de la Garza and Margaret Frazier and holds her bachelor's in music from the University of Rhode Island. Currently she teaches Kindergarten at Hamilton Elementary School and integrates the arts into her teaching.
stephen scarlato, accompanist
Stephen Scarlato is a collaborative pianist and organist based in central Connecticut. He received his bachelor's degree in organ performance from The Hartt School in West Hartford, CT, where he studied under Larry Allen. While at The Hartt School, Stephen received the University of Hartford’s Regents Honors Award for academic excellence, won prizes in the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA, and graduated summa cum laude. In addition to a wide variety of freelance work, he currently serves as organist at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, CT and as a staff accompanist in The Hartt School's vocal studies division. He has had the privilege of working with Voce’s artistic director, Mark Singleton, in a variety of capacities since the fall of 2001, and especially enjoys playing for Voce due to the group’s high level of musicianship, exquisite and unique sound, and its focus on 21st century choral music.
ali singleton, soprano, Producer & marketing manager
Ali Singleton has been singing professionally for the past seventeen years, beginning while studying voice as an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut. A founding member of Voce, Ali has also been a section leader at multiple churches in the Hartford area, currently serving at Immanuel Congregational Church. She has also performed with other professional choral ensembles including CONCORA and The Woodland Scholars. Outside of singing, Ali has worked in the financial services industry for fourteen years. Ali loves to make music with Voce because of the beautiful artistry of the singers, the unity of the team, the care that each person has for each other and the exquisite sound that Voce brings to the world.
mark singleton, artistic director
Stephen Mark Singleton is a renowned conductor, composer, writer and guest speaker, whose unique career path has taken him all over the world. As a frequent guest conductor and clinician, Mark’s energetic and magnetic leadership has made him one of the most sought-after conductors in New England. In addition to founding Voce in 2006, Mark serves on the faculty of the Hartt School of Music Community Division as Director of Primi Voci from the Connecticut Children’s Chorus and serves as Director of Music at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, CT. Mark made his New York City debut with Voce and Paul Mealor, performing at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in May, 2017. Prof. Mealor returned to Hartford in May, 2018 to co-produce Voce’s most recent album, “Blessing: The Music of Paul Mealor.” In March of 2019, he was appointed as the Conductor-in-Residence at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
ANDREY STOLYAROV, bass
Andrey Stolyarov, baritone, is excited to be joining Voce for a fifth season. Andrey is a Russian-born American composer, conductor, singer, and educator. As a composer, he has received national and international recognition for his works. Andrey is an adjunct professor of music theory at The Hartt School and Capital Community College, and is the Minister of Music at Gilead Congregational Church in Hebron, Connecticut. He is an active professional singer, currently performing with Voce, CONCORA, and the Composers Choir. Andrey is published under Darushkii Publishing and NoteNova Publishing. More information can be found at http://www.andreystolyarov.com/, and you can find his music at https://youtube.com/darushkii as well as https://andreystolyarov.bandcamp.com/
Margaret Tyler, alto
Described as “superb… pinpoint subtle… powerful… sultry… dynamic… magnificent and rich… a voice perfumed with temptation,” mezzo-soprano Margaret Tyler has been featured internationally as a soloist with countless choirs and professional ensembles. One reason Margaret enjoys singing with top-level groups is the opportunity to perform and record with talented composers. Margaret worked with Morton Lauridsen on Voce’s release Sure On This Shining Night; subsequent recordings with Voce include Voce Live, Music of the Spheres, and an upcoming release of songs by Paul Mealor. With Archangel Voices, she is soloist on four albums of Byzantine chant. Icons Singing with Pax Chorum features the compositions of Kevin McGoff, OFM. Recordings with CONCORA include In Delightful Company; Choral Works by Charles Fussell. With Greater Middletown Chorale she recorded the debut of compositions by Grammy-nominated Sarah Meneely-Kyder from her autobiographical opera Letter From Italy, 1944; for the opera’s world premiere Margaret was chosen to portray Ms. Meneely-Kyder’s sister “Dorothea.” Margaret is featured in Karyl Evans’ documentary of the opera, narrated by Meryl Streep. For the premiere of his opera-oratorio Callisto, Christopher Montgomery selected Margaret to create the role of “The Goddess Diana.” Her other operatic roles encompass the traditional as well as the contemporary. Margaret is a lead singer at Calvary Episcopal Church in Stonington, CT, vocal coach for several singing groups, and voice teacher through Calvary Music School. She hosts a weekly radio show on WCNI New London.
rachel watson, alto
Rachel Watson, a Connecticut native, has been a member of Voce since 2019. Rachel is a graduate from the University of Hartford Hartt School, where she was a double major in Vocal Performance and Music Education. She has been performing with choirs since she was young, and loves the sense of community and collaboration choral singing entitles. Rachel is currently a member of the Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, and has previously sung with the First Congregational Church of Willimantic, the Unitarian Society of Hartford, and the Vocal Ensemble for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corp. Venues she has had the pleasure of singing at include the Bushnell, and New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Carnegie Hall.
Emily Williams, soprano
Emily Williams, soprano, is an Actuarial Consultant at Travelers Insurance and has always had a love for music. She is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia where she studied Statistics and Music achieving high distinction in Choral and Orchestral Conducting. While at UVA, Emily spent four years in the University Singers and Chamber Singers with whom she was able to go on two concert tours to the Southeastern U.S. and the Northeastern U.S. & Canada. Musical theatre has always held a place in her heart and drove her to be musical director, play in pit orchestras, and choreograph multiple theatrical productions while in college. Emily is incredibly excited for her first season with Voce!
Jermaine Woodard Jr, bass
Virginian baritone - Jermaine Woodard Jr - devotes himself to an eclectic professional singing career. A passionate ensemble singer, this primal reason has kept him incredibly involved in New England’s theatre, opera, choral, and concert scene since graduating from his undergraduate studies at the University of Hartford’s The Hartt School. Other than his dream ensemble - Voce - he is also seen on the roster of CONCORA, Consonare CT’s Voices of Concinnity, Crescendo, Cathedral of Saint Joseph’s Schola Cantorum, New Haven Chorale, and pro-recording ensemble Composer’s Choir. Recent opera-affiliates are Berkshire Opera Festival, Panopera, Opera Connecticut, Opera Theater of Connecticut, and Hartford Opera Theater. Woodard is currently Baritone section-leader & soloist at Asylum Hill Congregational Church and Baritone section-leader and board member of The Hartford Chorale. Jermaine cantors primarily at Sacred Heart Parish of Bloomfield and infrequently at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center (West Hartford). Some career highlights: (a) Singer in Rothstein’s All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (Playhouse on Park CT); Fiorello-&-Ufficiale in Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Adam in Henry Mollicone’s Beatitude Mass: For The Homeless, (a) baritone soloist in Craig Hella Johnsons’ Considering Matthew Shepard; Baron Duphol in Verdi’s La Traviata; baritone soloist in Duruflé’s Requiem, op. 9; Jesus in J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Aside from an active career, movie-theater-going, physical therapy, vacationing, metaphysical activities, meditation, and nature strolls are what provide an array of balance to his life.
Jeff Vanags, Bass
Jeff Vanags has been an active choral musician in the Hartford community for the past 20 years and is a founding member of Voce. After developing a love for performing instrumental music in his early youth, Jeff began singing in choirs and musicals in high school and never looked back. While attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, Jeff performed in their renowned show choir, as well as with the nationally-acclaimed a cappella group, the JMU Overtones. He later pursued music academically earning his Bachelor of the Arts from Central Connecticut State University. Jeff served as a Bass Section leader and children’s choral program leader at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, CT for fourteen years. As a bass/baritone soloist and small ensemble singer, Jeff continues to perform with various community choral groups, churches, and early music ensembles in the greater Connecticut area. Jeff treasures time with his wife, son and daughter as well as being able to coach and volunteer supporting local youth sports. He is also a successful data & analytics leader while working in the insurance industry for over 17 years. Jeff considers it a deep privilege to make music with the artists of Voce and to serve harmony by bringing our music to our local community and beyond.
Ashley Zadravecz, Soprano
Ashley is an elementary music educator at North Stratfield School in the Fairfield Public Schools. She also conducts the Fairfield County Children’s Choir, a community-based choral program made up of over 300 singers in grades four through twelve from communities in and around Fairfield County. She holds a Master of Music Education from The University of Hartford’s The Hartt School of Music with a concentration in Choral Conducting. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University concentrating in voice and is certified in the Kodály Method of Music Education. Having started choral singing at a very early age, Ashley continues her love of singing at St. Peter’s church in Danbury, CT, where she is Soprano Section Leader and Cantor. She has performed with choirs all around the world, including England, Ireland, Italy, New Orleans, Pennsylvania, and Canada and she has performed at various celebrated venues, including Carnegie Hall. Ashley is incredibly excited to be starting her first season with Voce!