Santa Fe Women's Ensemble

Mickey Bond, alto, joined the Ensemble in 2006. A mixed-media artist, she is co-owner of Artful Soul: Creative Experiences Santa Fe, a studio and gallery featuring creative art classes for adults. Artful Soul is located downtown in the Santa Fe Village Mall. www.artfulsoulsantafe.com

Nina Brown, alto, sang with the Ensemble in the 1980s. She has sung with the Pacific Chorale in California and the Kentucky Opera, among others. She holds a master's degree in voice from CSULB, Long Beach, CA. Nina sings in the First Presbyterian Church choir and studies with Sandra Twibell.  

Laura Fram Cowan, soprano, has sung with the Zia Singers, various spiritual and a cappella choirs, and as a music thanatologist (hospice bedside singer). An avid traveler, hiker and gardener, Laura is also a painter, sculptor and glass artist. (lauraframcowanartworks.com)

Barbara Doern Drew, soprano, is excited to celebrate her 40^th season with the Ensemble, having joined the group in 1982. What a joy it has been! A singer in SSA and SATB groups since early youth, she is currently taking voice lessons from Alicia Solomon. You can learn more about her professional tarot practice at creativeagingdrew.com/voicesoftarot.html.

Gwen Gilligan, alto, has been with the group for nearly all its 42 years. She has sung when the group is both smaller and larger, and she loves the addition of so many new voices this season. Here’s hoping you all enjoy this repertoire with our new, enhanced configuration of singers.

Amy Gross, soprano, joined the Ensemble in 2018. She performed for many years with the Austin Singers in Austin, TX, and has sung in several church choirs, including the First Presbyterian Church choir. Amy is a legal secretary, a freelance editor and an avid birder.

Sue Katz, alto, joined the Women’s Ensemble in 2005. She has also sung with the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus, Santa Fe Pro Coro and Canticum Novum. Sue is a family physician at La Familia Medical Center and a volunteer provider at the Villa Therese Clinic.

Julie Kirk, soprano, is in her 22^nd year with the Ensemble and manages our website and Facebook page. An insatiable reader, traveler and renowned chocoholic, Julie is a longtime volunteer with the Santa Fe Civitan Club. She also sings with the Zia Singers.

Nancy Maret, soprano, is enjoying her seventh season with the Women’s Ensemble. Additional singing credits include many years with the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and with the First Presbyterian Church choir. Her days are filled with telecommuting as a financial technology consultant, music, Ensemble treasurer work and being with her herd of horses and humans.

Connie Marks, alto, is delighted to sing in her 14th season with the Ensemble. She has served on the board of directors and now assists its grants committee. A retired teacher of students who are deaf, she volunteers with the Santa Fe Civitan Club.   

Jill McCormick, soprano, a lifelong singer and musician, has sung with the First Presbyterian Chancel Choir and the Symphony Chorus. She enjoys working with tuning forks to bring healing tone into the body in her practice at Ancient Tides Wellness. She expresses other creative outlets through training Waldorf teachers.

Lynn Osborne, alto, is a retired SFPS music teacher; previously she was a mural artist and scenic charge painter for stage and film. She has sung with the Zia Singers, Schola Cantorum, Coro da Camera, Coro Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus. Lynn is delighted to join the Women’s Ensemble!

Catrinka Randall, alto, is delighted to join the Women’s Ensemble this season! She also has sung with the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus. Catrinka is a wildlife watercolorist, the author of 10 books and a former professor of medieval and Renaissance French. She adores her husband, Randall Balmer, and her golden retriever, Tigger.

Maggie Wright, soprano, is a first-year member of the Ensemble and has also loved singing with the Zia Singers. She works as a homecare nurse and facilitates contemplative prayer with small groups of incarcerated people. She enjoys life in Española with her partner, J.J. Oviedo, and their fiery, whip-smart, stinking-cute 18-month-old, Uriel.

Bill Epstein, pianist, began studying piano at age 8 in Linden, New Jersey. Further studies were at the Chicago Musical College and Harvard University. In 2002, Bill moved with his wife, Sheila, to Santa Fe, and he became the Women’s Ensemble accompanist in 2006. His work here has included church jobs, playing for eurythmy dance at the Santa Fe Waldorf School and accompanying the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus, Canticum Novum, the Men’s Camerata and the Santa Fe Community College Chorus.