GET TO KNOW US
CONNECTING SONG AND COMMUNITY
Belle Voci is an auditioned choir comprised of treble (soprano, alto) voices in our local Pittsburgh community. We sing an eclectic repertoire that inspires and excites our audiences.
We believe music encourages creativity. Music promotes civic engagement and a healthy community. Our Mission is “Connecting Song and Community” through exemplary collaborations of artistic diversity.
We are committed to fostering and preserving a culture of diversity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our rehearsals and performances are accessible via public transportation. Our Sensory Friendly Performances are free, open to the public and widely accessible. Belle Voci welcomes singers of all backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, religious beliefs, and mental and physical abilities.
Belle Voci and Solo Voci are "In-Residence" and rehearse weekly at Aspinwall Presbyterian Church. The church provides office and music storage space free of charge. In return, our ensembles happily provide special music for occasional worship services throughout the church year.
OUR STORY
Belle Voci was founded in 2012 by Craig Cannon, who currently serves as the organization’s President.
Over the years, we have honored movements that matter such as Andrea Ramsey’s Suffrage Cantata, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. We sang inspiring and educational works such as Anne Frank: A Living Voice by Linda Tutas Haugen; and a set of Signal Songs of the Underground Railroad.
"Sing for the Cure," funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation was based on true stories of breast cancer survivors. Our "Forward Into Light" repertoire, "Loving the Stranger," featured the title piece, written exclusively for Belle Voci by David P. Goldstein.
In 2023, Lorraine Milovac began serving as our Artistic Director.
Under Lorraine’s leadership, we began hosting the Western Pennsylvania Treble Choir Festival in the fall as an opportunity to bring together high school, university, and community choirs.
This past season, Belle Voci performed new modern arrangements of beloved tunes such as Joni Mitchell’s “River,” arranged by Au Arias. We premiered an exclusive collection based on poetry, “Suite Dreams,” by local musician Bryan Sable.
Our choir has expanded our reach globally with concert tours to Austria, Czech Republic, France and Spain.
Listen to OUR CHOIRS
Tune into a sampling of our repertoire on Youtube.
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Belle Voci
Auditioned Treble Choir
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Solo Voci
A Cappella Internal Choir
Collaborative Pieces
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Sensory Friendly Concerts
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Seasonal Performances
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Collaborative Pieces . Sensory Friendly Concerts . Seasonal Performances .
We believe music is for everyone. We launched Sensory Friendly Concerts, which allow us to genuinely connect song and community by creating a welcoming space for folks to enjoy music.
We offer provisions to aid in our patrons' enjoyment of these performances:
Genuine Understanding
Freedom to move around as needed during the performance
Patrons may talk, make noise, or leave their seats during the performance
Patrons may bring their own manipulatives and support items
Shorter in length performance
Assistance and Support
Our volunteers are trained in assisting patrons as needed.
There is a help desk for extra assistance.
We provide sensory support items such as gadgets, earplugs, manipulatives.
Venue Enhancements
You can tour the facility before the performance.
There are quiet areas available within the venue.
We lower both the lighting and sound of the performance.
Complimentary tickets and transportation arrangements are funded by grants, and we are grateful for their support. Please contact President and Accessibility Coordinator, Craig Cannon at craig.g.cannon@gmail.com for all Sensory Friendly performance information, ticket provisions, and special offerings.
Our Board of Directors
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Gail Mosites, B.S., M.M.
Interim Board Chair
Vocalist (soprano) Pittsburgh Opera Chorus
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Charles J. Wolenter, C.P.A.
Secretary/Treasurer
Tax/Accounting: Independent Certified Public Accounting Services
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Peter Bianchi, B.M.
Vocal Department Teacher, CAPA
East Liberty Presbyterian Church and Pittsburgh Opera Chorus Singer -
Stacey Brett Davern
Vocalist (Soprano), Choral Conductor and Music Educator, Degree of M.M. in Vocal Performance, B.M.E. in Music Education and Vocal Performance, 17th year as Director of Choral Activities at Chatham University
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Mary Findlay, B.A.
Belle Voci Singer
Choir Liaison to the Board
Belle Voci Music Librarian
BA in Psychology and History
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Darlene Berkovitz, B.M. Ph.D.
Retired Teacher, Chatham University, Producer, Belle Voci Singer
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Pamela M. Kimmel, M.Ed.
Belle Voci Singer
Business Administrator, East Liberty Presbyterian Church (retired)
East Liberty Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir Singer -
Suzanne Masri, B.A.
Belle Voci Singer
VP of Marketing Communications and Engagement, Fred Rogers Productions
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Gina McKlveen, Esquire
Lawyer at Pollock Begg, Practicing Attorney, Passionate Artist
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Gerald Savage, M.A.
Director of Vocal Music, CAPA (retired)
Composer, arranger, sound therapist, founder of SoundPill -
Doris Zurawka, B.S.
Project Logistics Manager ThoughtForm Inc. (retired)
Belle Voci Singer
Belle Voci Music Librarian
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Franklin Mosley, B.M.E, M.M.
Choral Director, The Ellis School, Music Director, Vocalist
Our Leadership
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Lorraine Milovac
Artistic Director
Lorraine serves as the Artistic Director for Belle Voci, completed her 27th year as the Director of the University of Pittsburgh Treble Choral Ensemble and has recently retired from Upper St. Clair where she taught high school choir.
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Rachel Eaton
Solo Voci Director
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Kelsey Benigni
Collaborative Pianist
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Craig G. Cannon
President
Craig G. Cannon is the founder, former Artistic Director, and current President of Belle Voci. As a biracial conductor, he has always had a passion for singing, creating quality art in the form of group singing performances, and for using music as a path to community outreach and social justice. -
Mikayla Ferchaw
Mikayla serves as the Bookkeeper, Donations Coordinator, and Online Ticket Sales webmaster. She sings in both Belle Voci and Solo Voci.
