Mariia Pechenova joined Cantare as Artistic Director in 2014. She holds a Master’s degree in Conducting from St. Petersburg State University, Russia. She serves on Sacramento Valley Choral Coalition’s Board of Directors, is Music Professor at Folsom Lake College and Sierra College, and is a pianist and organist. She holds the title of Laureate, winner of the Grand Prix and First Prize at European and Russian competitions. Mariia has assisted internationally renowned artists Vladimir Miller, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Elena Obraztsova, and conductors Yuri Temirkanov, Saulius Sondeckis, Alexander Sladkovsky, Andreas Spörri. Mariia’s conducting experience includes work with professional choral groups and instrumentalists.

Cantare Chorale of the Sierra Foothills, founded in 1992, is a community chorus of mixed voices based in El Dorado County, California. Their mission is to bring quality choral music to their community and to provide a venue for aspiring musicians to develop and share their talent. The group includes singers from diverse musical and personal backgrounds--administrators, businesspeople, educators, engineers, homemakers, designers, medical professionals, and more. Singing a variety of styles of music—classical, madrigal, sacred, secular, folk, jazz, Broadway, spiritual, contemporary—with pleasure they share their voices and music with the El Dorado County community and beyond.

Cappella Gedanensis was founded in 1981, continuing tradition of the 16th century Gdańsk Board of Aldermen Ensemble. Prof. Alina Kowalska Pińczak is the founder of the orchestra and historically its 17th Kapellmeister, but also the very first woman holding this position.
So far Cappella has had the honour of touring through almost all of Europe, as well as North America and Asia, taking part in numerous festivals and concerts. They specialize in baroque music and in bringing into light the rich heritage of Gdańsk music. Their repertoire includes – among others – composers such as: F. de Rivulo, P. Siefert, C. Fórster, C. Bűthner or pieces by Freislich brothers.

The ensemble’s recording oeuvre features two platinum discs: ‘The Four Seasons’ by Antonio Vivaldi in 2000 and Christmas Carols CD entitled ‘Nowy Rok u Ojca Świętego’ (New Year with the Holy Father) in 2002.
 

Ernest R. Neal currently serves the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa as the Cathedral Organist/Choirmaster as well as Director of Music for the Diocese. He holds a Master's Degree in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.

The Holy Family Cathedral Choir is a semi-professional ensemble that serves as the principal choir for Cathedral as well as for diocesan services such as ordinations of priests and bishops.

Carole Bellavance is the musical director of Le Chœur de la Cité. She holds a B. Mus degree from Université Laval in Quebec City. Her involvement with the youth Ms. Bellavance has spent nearly thirty years teaching music to the younger generation in Beauport, a Quebec City suburb. She has initiated and developed the «music-studies» programme at the Premières-Seigneuries School Board. Her involvement with adults For over twenty years, Carole has worked with adult choirs, initially as a pianist and then as choir director. A well appreciated pedagogue, she is renowned for her ability to bring the best out of every singer in a rigorous but friendly atmosphere. Over the years, under her leadership, her choirs have acquired a solid reputation in the community based on precision and musicality proper to her. These choirs have performed in the province of Quebec and in concert tours in Europe and the United States. Ms. Bellavance has contributed significantly to major events such as tribute concerts to honor Jean-Pierre Ferland, Jean Ferrat, Gilles Vignault, Paul Piché and Claude Léveillée. During the Quebec City 400th anniversary celebrations held on July 18, 2008, she acted as designer and musical co-director of a major event gathering a chorus of 1400 voices at the Quebec Coliseum. She also assisted in the preparation of a grand chorus for the famed event « Le mur du son» presented in Montreal in 2009, Quebec City in 2010 and Lauzanne (Switzerland) in 2012. Since 2002, she has often been invited to participate in major choral happenings in France, including tribute concerts for Gilbert Bécaud and Claude Nougaro in Alès and similar events in Champagne and Rhônes-Alpes. Honors and awards Ms. Bellavance is the recipient of the Jean-Paul Guindon award, presented by the Alliance des chorales du Québec to emphasize her outstanding implication and work ethics. She was presented with the «Distinction Seigneurie 2011» trophy by the Education community in recognition of her remarquable contribution to the radiance of the educational world in the collectivity. Carole Bellavance is actually the musical director of le Chœur de la Cité, le Chœur de Bellechasse and le Chœur en Supplément’Air, all located in Quebec City and its vicinity.

In the hearth of the city, le Chœur de la Cité In September 2005, following a singers meeting, Carole Bellavance, Lucie St-Pierre and a few chorists decided to meet once a week for the sole pleasure of singing. Le Chœur de la Cité was born. Since then, much has been accomplished and many challenges have been taken on. By choice, its repertoire includes mainly French and ‘’québécois’’popular songs, however, on occasion, the group has performed in different musical styles over the years. Consequently, le Chœur de la Cité was invited to participate in Quebec City sponsored cultural events such as the Quebec Winter Carnival and the Victorian Christmas. Other activities held at Le Musée de la Civilisation and at l’Aquarium de Québec were also intertained by the choir. Since 2012, le Chœur de la Cité has been associated with the Centre des Loisirs St-Sacrement and has been actively involved in its activities. Le Chœur de la Cité loves sharing its passion for music with other choirs and musical ensembles, as evidenced by concerts held at Palais Montcalm with l’Harmonie des Cascades de Beauport in 2008, 2009, 2014 and at a benefit-concert «Assurer la relève» at Grand Théâtre de Québec in 2015. Moreover, the choir has been associated in major events targeting large audiences such as a choir happening to celebrate Quebec City 400th anniversary in 2008 and a 1400 voices chorus concert entitled «et si Québec m’était chanté» also held in 2008 at the Quebec Coliseum. In the same vein, le Choeur de la Cité participated in a spectacular event «Juste pour Chanter» held in Montreal in 2009 as part of the «Juste pour rire» festival and contributed significantly to the magnificent « Mur du son» concert in Quebec City in 2010. Open to the world, the choir has represented its province in a tour of New England French speaking communities in 2007. In 2008, they were host to La Chorale Saint-Jean representing the University of Alberta and in the fall of 2010, Viva Voce singers from Chambéry, France were their invited guests. Le Choeur de la Cité visited Chambéry in 2014. Choir singing knows no boundaries. In 2012, le Choeur de la Cité presented some of its repertoire in France at Périgueux, Juno Beach Center in Courseulles-sur-mer, Ouistreham and in Waterloo, Belgium. In 2014, the choir toured France and Italy and shared the stage with local singing groups in Chambéry, Aix-les –Bains, Laudun and Ollioules. It was an unforgettable experience for all those involved. In the summer of 2011, le Choeur de la Cité had the great privilege of sharing the stage with world renowned musical ensembles such as the Red Army Chorus during a military TATOO, part of The Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands. This wonderful event was repeated in 2012 and 2013. Thereafter, the choir was invited to represent Canada at the Liberty TATOO in Caen, France in June 2014. Participating in this memorable show, an integral part of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy celebrations was quite an honor for the choir. As sole representative of Canada, le Choeur de la Cité received a heartwarming welcome from the residents during other concerts held in Mondeville, Courseulles-sur-Mer and Arromanches. In addition to the above commitments, the choir has regularly performed in its hometown at concerts, in the spring and at Christmas. At times, this meant having to memorize up to 80 musical pieces. All this success could not be achieved without the contribution of outstanding individuals. In that regard, le Choeur de la Cité has greatly benefited from its choir director’s creativity, boldness and high expectations. Ms. Carole Bellavance’s implication and accomplishments in the choral world are well known and vastly recognized at home and abroad. From the onset, she has associated herself with Lucie St-Pierre, her faithful accomplice, who with passion and pleasure has accompanied the choir at the piano for the last ten years. Let’s not forget the chorists without whom nothing would be possible. It is worth mentioning that fifteen of those chorists were members of the inaugural cohort along with Carole Bellavance and Lucie St-Pierre ten years ago. Ten years, and it’s only the beginning.

Finley Woolston devotes himself to music after a career in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy.  He was a cum laude voice major at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  He’s the Music Director of The Crystal Coast Choral Society, a community chorus based in Swansboro, NC, and The Joyful Band of Singers, an auditioned chamber choir formed as needed for special events.  He’s also the Music Director of Richlands United Methodist Church, Richlands, NC. He sings tenor with Schola Cantorum, the official choir of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina.  He’s prepared choruses for performances in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, and has also toured in Turkey as a member of The Jonathan Griffith Singers. Woolston serves on the Board of Directors for the Carolina Chamber Music Festival and the East Carolina Musical Arts and Education Foundation. His voice is heard on Public Radio East, WTEB, 89.3 FM as a classical music announcer weekday mornings, and as producer and host of The Choral Tradition heard Sundays at 3:00 p.m. 

The Joyful Band of Singers is an invitation only, auditioned chamber choir formed by Music Director Finley Woolston in 2004 in response to a request from the American Cancer Society to provide entertainment for a fund raising concert in Greenville, North Carolina.  Membership depends on the requirements of the occasion and varies from concert to concert.  The original name of the group was The Sine Nomine Singers, but after a few concerts needing to explain that is Latin for “The No Name Singers” the name was changed. After that original concert the group was invited to sing at numerous events in Eastern North Carolina.  

The ensemble has appeared at fund raising events in support of relief efforts for different causes, including the United Methodist Church Haiti Relief, Foundation for Hospice, and local food banks and homeless shelters.  They have performed as backup singers and in concert with Ginger Garner and Her Band, a local jazz ensemble. They have also established an on-going tradition of travelling to Ocracoke Island on the Outer Bands of North Carolina to perform annual Christmas concerts in support of local charities.  They have been invited to Ocracoke Island to perform as part of OcraFest, one of the premier folk music festivals on the east coast.  In 2010 they were invited to sing in New York City as part of events honoring a U.S. Marine seriously wounded in Afghanistan. 

Rick Noel is a resident of Minford, Ohio. He studied music at Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio. Mr. Noel is the Director of Music at First Baptist Church in Waverly, OH., the percussion director of the Marching Oaks High School Band, Oak Hill, OH., and is the associate director of the D.M. Davis Male Voice Choir and combined Choirs and the Director of the D.M. Davis Ladies Choir, all of Jackson, Ohio.

The D.M.Davis Male Voice Choir, Est. January 2009 in Jackson, Ohio. Senior Director, Wilbur McCormick, Associate Director Rick Noel, Accompanist Stephanie Jarvis. The D.M.Davis Ladies Choir, Est. February 2015, Jackson, OH. Director Rick Noel, Accompanist Stephanie Jarvis. These two choirs, each with membership of over 25 voices, perform on their own and/or will combine and perform as a mixed chorus of around 50 voices. Their home is the Markay Cultural Arts Center in Jackson, Ohio.

Katie McGuire Menges started her musical career at a young age singing, playing piano, trumpet and the accordion. Mrs. Menges attended South Dakota State University where she received her degree in Music Education and recently started her ninth year of teaching. Mrs. Menges has traveled the world performing with several groups including the Air Force's premier entertainment unit, Tops In Blue as a keyboardist. Mrs. Menges has been serving in the Air National Guard for over 14 years. She has enjoyed being a member of the Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus and humbled to direct such a talented group.

The Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus was formed in 1975 by Founding Director, Steve Johnson, along with 50 energetic and spirited singers from local communities. The inaugural choral engagement, the Testament of Freedom-Writings from Thomas Jefferson, was held at Lion’s Park on Bayshore Drive in Niceville, FL. Since then the FWBCC has produced Spring and Christmas concerts each year, blending Patriotic, contemporary and musical Broadway numbers. Our current cast of long-standing and newer members are dedicated singers and performers whose objective continues to be providing quality and enjoyable entertainment to everyone. As a non-profit organization, the FWBCC has awarded more than ,000 to local graduating seniors as the further their education in music.