Santa Fe Women's Ensemble

Linda Rice Beck, soprano, is a published composer and member of ASCAP. She has written three commissions for the Santa Fe Women's Ensemble, as well as for the Sangre de Cristo Chorale, St. Bede's and several others. She is thrilled to have composed The Raney Songs, with the beautiful poetry of Raymond Raney!

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

Laura Fram Cowan, alto, is pleased to continue performing in this 2023–2024 season with the Ensemble. She has been enchanted by Santa Fe for 40 years and raised her two beautiful children here. In 2014, Laura began her Artworks business—fused glass, watercolors, sculpture and glass jewelry. Visit www.LauraFramCowanArtworks.com to view her artwork.

Barbara Doern Drew has happily been a soprano with the Women’s Ensemble since 1982. She is also passionate about co-writing spiritual articles and co-teaching workshops and courses with her husband, Walter, about relationships and the aging process; their children, Lane and Morgan; and her professional tarot practice. Learn more at creativeagingdrew.com/voicesoftarot.html.

Gwen Gilligan, alto, has been with the group for over 35 years. She wants to thank the audience members for continuing to show support for this long-standing Santa Fe choral institution and hopes you all enjoy the music that has been chosen for this performance. Gwen invites you to sit back and take it all in! 

Amy Gross, alto, is singing in her fifth season with the Ensemble. She performed for many years with the Austin Singers in Austin, Texas, and has sung in several church choirs, including First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe. Amy is a legal secretary, freelance editor and avid birder. 

Elena Guardincerri, soprano, is delighted to join the Ensemble. She has sung with the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and with the Los Alamos Choral Society. Elena works as a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and, in her free time, grows lavender and keeps bees with her husband, Flaviano Prosperini, and their beloved dogs and cat. 

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 24th year with the Ensemble. She manages our website and Facebook page, and is on the editing, publications and repertoire committees. Julie has sung with the Zia Singers for 22 years. She is an insatiable reader, loves to meet new people and to travel the world. 

Nancy Maret, soprano, is happy to be singing in her eighth Ensemble season. After six years of board service and recently retiring from a long professional career in financial technology, she is now filling the revived Ensemble administrator role. Additional singing credits include the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and First Presbyterian chancel choir. 

Connie Marks, alto, is in her 15th season with the Women’s Ensemble. She has also served as a past president of the board of directors. The joy of singing sustains her hope and passion for the positive effect of music as a force for healing in our world. 

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.

Cheryl McCulla, alto, a retired Latin teacher, is thrilled to join the Ensemble this season. She has been a choral singer for almost as long as she has been talkin,g and on a number of different continents as well. She also loves reading, painting and fiddling with her motley collection of musical instruments. 

Lynn Osborne, alto, migrated from New York City in her twenties to be the scenic charge person at the Santa Fe Opera; New Mexico and opera enchanted her. In New Mexico, Lynn created sets and murals, switching midlife to teaching elementary school music. Now retired, she sings and creates art with kids and adults. 

Maggie Wright, soprano, is a second-year member of the Ensemble and thankful to be making music with the group. She works as a homecare nurse and facilitates contemplative prayer with small groups of incarcerated people. She enjoys life in Chimayó with her partner, JJ, their toddler Uriel, and their baby-to-come in December 2023. 

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.