MEET THE ENSEMBLE
Back row (L to R): Julie Kirk, Sue Katz, Barbara Doern Drew, Nancy Maret, Gwen Gilligan, Elena Guardincerri, Connie Marks, Laura Fram Cowan, Cheryl McCulla, and Mickey Bond
Front row (L to R): Amy Gross, Maggie Wright, pianist Bill Epstein, Linda Rice Beck, Jill McCormick, Lynn Osborne, Dr. Linda Raney
Not pictured: Serine Calvin-Grothe
Photo Courtesy of Ken Kirk
Linda Rice Beck
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
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).
Serine Calvin-Grothe
Serine Calvin-Grothe, soprano, is excited to join the Ensemble, having moved here in 2023. In Seattle, she sang with numerous church choirs and performed with The Washingtonians! in the large ensemble and chamber chorus. She sang in Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera Chorus, North Dakota. Serine is happily retired.
Laura Fram Cowan
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 https://www.LauraFramCowanArtworks.com to view her artwork.
Barbara Doern Drew
Barbara Doern Drew, soprano, has sung with the Women’s Ensemble since 1982. Other passions include writing spiritual articles and teaching workshops and courses about relationships and the aging process with her husband, Walter (creativeagingdrew.com); her children; and her professional tarot practice (voicesoftarot.com).
Gwen Gilligan
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
Amy Gross, soprano, 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
Sue Katz
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
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 also 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
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 enjoying a less stressful lifestyle. Additional singing credits include the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and First Presbyterian chancel choir.
Connie Marks
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
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
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 talking, 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
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
Maggie Wright, soprano, is a second-year member of the ensemble. Maggie works as a homecare nurse and facilitates contemplative prayer with small groups of incarcerated people. She enjoys living in Chimayó with her husband JJ, her mom and suegra, Rosalie and Patricia, and her young sons, Uriel and Patricio.
Bill Epstein
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.