Deborah (Debbie) Agopian, hailing from Westbury, NY, is a Creative Project Manager who first performed with Belle Voci in 2020. She is inspired by the profound connection she shares with the community of women in Belle Voci, finding comfort and empowerment in singing for a cause like cancer, especially given her personal experience with the disease. Her most memorable experience with Belle Voci was performing “Supernal Musings”, written and composed by Dr. Miceli and Ike Sturm.

Caleigh (Kiki) Camarata, a student, professional singer, and employee at Bon Bons in Huntington, NY, is participating in Belle Voci for the first time this year. She joined after being deeply moved by her sister’s performance with the ensemble last year, and is grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented women.

Liva Camarata, from Huntington, is a singer who first performed with Belle Voci in 2024. She was excited to join after her musically enriching experience working with Dr. Miceli in the Huntington Choral Society, and finds simply singing with all the women in the choir to be a beautiful and loving experience. A memorable moment was when thunder and lightning struck right at the climax of a song during rehearsal.

Catherine (Cat) Daniels, a Choral Teacher from Coram, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2024. She is inspired by the joy of creating beautiful, expressive music in harmony with others and the opportunity for musical and personal growth within a supportive group of women. Hearing everyone’s unique reasons for joining during introductions at the first rehearsal was a memorable experience that fostered an immediate sense of belonging.

Courtney Dunn, a music teacher from Franklin Square, NY, first joined Belle Voci in 2016. Her primary inspiration for participating in Belle Voci is honoring her Dad who passed from endocrine pancreatic cancer in 2016. Each rehearsal, she loves the way the ensemble begins warm ups by taking in a deep breath and releasing all of the tension in our bodies. The transition from the real world to our singing space is very powerful.

Rebecca (Becca) Engel, a Preschool Music Teacher from Shirley, New York, first performed with Belle Voci in 2015. She joined to be part of a group bigger than herself, as cancer has impacted her life both before and during her time with the group. Her most memorable experience was during her very first concert with Belle Voci, placing her rose in the vase as her grandfather’s name was spoken, a moment she will never forget.

Samantha (Sam) Koch, a Choral Director from Valley Stream, NY, first joined Belle Voci in 2013. Raising awareness and singing to support a cause close to her heart is very important to her, and she feels inspired singing with these lovely ladies every week. When she returned to singing with Belle Voci, she fondly remembers being showered with warmth by friends she hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Amanda Jean-Louis, a Voice Lesson Teacher from Uniondale, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2019. She loves to sing and values sharing her passion with others for a great cause. She immediately fell in love with the concerts and knew she wanted to be a part of Belle Voci for as many years as possible. Performing “Warrior,” a song whose lyrics deeply resonated with her, was her absolute favorite experience with Belle Voci.

Gabrielle Marcoux, a Medical office administrator from Shoreham, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2012. She sings for peace, love, and unity, aiming to make a difference through song with these amazing and talented women. One of her most memorable experiences with Belle Voci was singing Kim Baryluk’s composition, “Warrior,” a powerful piece focused on the empowerment and meaning of being a woman. “Tundra” by Ola Gjeilo, performed by the LIU Women’s Choir where she had the honor of being the soloist, also deeply impacted her life.

Kim Santora, an art director for Karl Lagerfeld and Bebe at Marchon Eyewear from Farmingdale, NY, has performed with Belle Voci since its inception in 2004. She participates in Belle Voci to make beautiful music with friends and perform in honor of loved ones affected by cancer. Traveling abroad to London and Wales with the ensemble ranks high in her memories, where strong bonds were created with many of the ladies during an unforgettable experience. She particularly enjoys performing “Con Te Partiro” every summer with Belle Voci.

Esther Valliant, a Biomaterials Scientist from Plainview, New York, is joining Belle Voci for the first time this year. She loves to sing and believes that in a choir, they can create something greater than they could individually. She looks forward to making new memories with the group.

Lily Wasoski, a student at Huntington High School, first performed with Belle Voci in 2024. She loves that music brings people together and that Belle Voci raises awareness about a terrible disease. Her most memorable experience with the ensemble was during the concert at Christ Church, when her grandfather placed a rose in memory of her uncle. Since joining Belle Voci, “Time to Say Goodbye” has become a comfort song for her when she has lost people in her life.

Kathleen (Kayte) Camarata, a dental assistant at Huntington Bay Dental in Huntington, NY, is participating in Belle Voci for the first time this year. She is inspired by her daughters every day to sing with all her heart, and loves working with this group of women who are so passionate about the cause, especially as it allows her to sing in a group with all three of her girls. “Considering Matthew Shepard” performed with the Huntington Choral Society profoundly impacted her by opening discussions with her daughters about national issues.

Linda Contino, a recent retiree from Stony Brook, NY with 40 years as a High School Choir and Musical Theater Director, first performed with Belle Voci in 2005. She loves the music, sisterhood, and vocal nurturing provided by Belle Voci. Her most memorable experience was performing with her daughters and conducting the commissioned work, “Supernal Musings,” written by Dr. Miceli in honor of her mother.

Courtney Folan, a middle school choral director from Wantagh, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2010. She considers it an honor to participate in such high-caliber music making, which serves as her personal singing outlet. She was honored to receive a solo during a recent concert, and remembers the excitement of connecting with the audience. Performing “The Flower Duet” from the opera Lakme in her first Belle Voci concert alongside her talented sisters in song was an unforgettable experience.

Debbie Guastella, a retiree and avid traveler from Huntington, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2023. She appreciates singing for a good cause and loves performing with an all-women choir, a preference stemming from her first choral experience in an all-girls high school. Her most memorable experience from Belle Voci was singing in the United Kingdom tour.

Kim LoPresti, a Middle School Teacher from Smithtown, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2019. She primarily sings with Belle Voci to make beautiful music with a fantastic group of musicians, and her most memorable experience with Belle Voci was touring with the group in 2023. Having performed with various other choral ensembles, singing with John Rutter conducting at Carnegie Hall was an experience she will never forget.

Martha Mihaltses, an Environmental Scientist from Bayville, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2008. She sings to share her love of choral music with a talented, loving, and supportive group of women in support of cancer research and cure, and for her mother, Eileen, a lifelong singer and cancer survivor. The 2015 Belle Voci concert, the last one she sang with her mother before she passed, was deeply meaningful, bringing them both comfort and healing.

Bernadette Reyes, is a Parish Administrator for St. Stephen’s Church and also works for the Business & Liberal Arts Honors Minor program at Queens College. She first joined Belle Voci in 2023 to explore more contemporary repertoire and support cancer prevention and cure, especially as a cancer survivor herself. Her first year with Belle Voci was an intense, challenging, rewarding, and cathartic experience, highlighted by the amazing U.K. tour and bonding with fellow members.

Jenny Syed, a Director of Academic Inclusion for Coney Island Preparatory Charter Schools from East Northport, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2023. She praises Belle Voci for its talented, brilliant, compassionate, and generous women, and finds singing under Jen’s direction to be a deeply musical and enriching experience. Something magical happens when Jen’s vision of a piece is realized with added instrumentation, exemplified for her with “By Night” by Hagenberg, transforming the space with collective power.

Courtney Thaler, a Montessori Assistant Director from Huntington Village, first performed with Belle Voci in 2018. She believes Belle Voci provides healing through musical excellence and sisterhood, serving as a physical and emotional “place” to channel energy during grief, battle, healing, care-taking, honoring, remembering, and creating. Courtney believes Dr. Miceli is a rare person who holds space for spiritual and musical growth, creating performances that exceed the sum of their parts. Singing with her daughters in the ensemble after her own cancer treatment was incredibly empowering, as was traveling to England and Wales to sing in magnificent spaces like Bristol Cathedral.

Marla Waterman Pelzer, a Voice Professor, Music Teacher, and Singer from East Norwich, New York, first performed with Belle Voci in 2011. She loves singing with the talented choir members under a fabulous conductor. Her most memorable experience with Belle Voci was their amazing 2023 trip to Wales and England, where they performed in cathedrals, churches, and a London hospital to raise awareness of the urgent need for cancer research.

Jean Brown, from Centerport, NY, is a Retired Communication Coach who first performed with Belle Voci in 2019. She sings in memory of the many people in her life affected by cancer, especially her father. Her most memorable experience with Belle Voci is the emotional welling up she feels while singing “Con Te Partiro” at the end of each concert.

Jennielynn (Jennie) Damiano, a Budtender and Private Music Lesson Instructor from Queens, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2016. She joined when her grandfather was fighting cancer and continues to sing for him, her father, and all loved ones affected by cancer. She fondly remembers her first concert where they performed “Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary” by Karl Jenkins, recalling her family’s excitement.

Morgan D’Argenio, a High School Choral Director from Deer Park, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2020. She cherishes the sisterhood of Belle Voci and how they connect and inspire through song, and sings for her paternal grandmother who was a breast cancer survivor. Her first live performance with Belle Voci in 2021 was truly touching, especially the emotion of the rose remembrance ceremony.

Jan Esposito, an independent educational consultant from Commack, NY, is performing for the first time with Belle Voci this year. She loves to sing beautiful and challenging music with other women and sings in memory of her mother who had Alzheimer’s. During the first rehearsal, she was inspired by the beautiful sound the ensemble created together and hearing everyone share their personal backgrounds.

Jaclyn Koch, a model and student from Coram, NY, is making her debut with Belle Voci this year. She joined Belle Voci to honor all the people she has lost to cancer and believes coming together in song is a powerful way to stay strong in the face of adversity. During her first rehearsal with the ensemble, she was moved by the sense of community and sheer talent shared by this inspiring group of women.

Brianna Kraut, a Music Teacher from Commack, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2017. She sings in memory of her grandpa who passed from pancreatic cancer, and also for the sense of community and the uplifting happiness that singing brings her. Her most memorable experience with Belle Voci was the England and Wales tour in summer 2023. “By Night” by Elaine Hagenberg is her favorite piece sung with Belle Voci, deeply moving her from the very first read-through.

Michelle Parsinski, a Chorus Director, Music Educator, and Vocalist from Oyster Bay, New York, first performed with Belle Voci around 2017. She feels a strong sense of belonging and motivation to sing for her mom within Belle Voci, and the comradery and love she receives make her look forward to each season. Going on tour to the U.K. and witnessing her ten-year-old daughter Lily solo for the first time in London, and the magical reception she received, is a core memory from her experience with Belle Voci.

Kate Shoulders, an Actor/Barista from Denver, Colorado, is participating in Belle Voci for the first time this year. She joined Belle Voci because music is an incredible gift that provides a sense of community and healing, which she finds imperative now more than ever. Sight-reading a few selections and hearing the full choir sound on the first day was a cathartic experience for her. “Earth Song” by Frank Ticheli, which she performed in college, never fails to bring her to tears and feels very fitting for current times.

Kaitlyn (Kaite) Sottung, a K-5 General Music Teacher from Mastic, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2020. She loves being part of Belle Voci’s wonderful community of women who share their gift of song, raising awareness for those affected by cancer and providing a space for healing, feeling, and connection through music. Conducting a piece during the group’s “Power Of She Tour” in Europe, and having a mini dance party with Doc Miceli on the bus, was a memorable experience.

Alison (Ali) Wenchel, a Retail Merchandise Manager from Coram, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2024. She loves singing and being part of something that empowers women and aids cancer research, recognizing that cancer has touched everyone’s lives. During her first summer in Belle Voci, participating in the Sunrise Cancer walk before rehearsals, singing songs for the participants, was an unforgettable experience. “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre, with its clashing notes and melodies, gives her chills every time.

Kristina Allocco, a Music Teacher from Massapequa, NY, is performing for the first time with Belle Voci this year. She joined seeking a community of strong women with whom to create and learn music, and was immediately filled with excitement and energy by the passion and fullness of sound during the first read-through of the season.

Samantha (Sam) Clarke, a Music Educator from East Rockaway, New York, is singing with Belle Voci for the first time this year, though she played flute with the group in 2016. She is always grateful to work with Dr. Miceli and finds it a blessing to make music while helping others with this inspiring group of women. Primarily a conductor and flutist, she is looking forward to pushing herself this season by participating as a singer, as well as playing flute and sharing the podium with Dr. Miceli.

Bonnie Dawkins, a Floral designer from Huntington, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2023. She joined to sing with a high-performing ensemble of like-minded musicians in support of their mission. A particularly memorable experience during the Belle Voci U.K. tour involved her tour guide literally running miles back to their hotel to retrieve her handbells, ensuring she could perform in the Evensong service. Fauré’s Requiem is a sentimental favorite for her, among many other works.

Sophia Gary, an Education Supervisor/Teacher from Babylon, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2023. She participates in Belle Voci to support cancer awareness and sing with excellent vocalists. Traveling to the U.K. in 2023 and singing at the Royal Hospital of London was her most memorable experience with Belle Voci.

Kaitlyn (Kait) Heal, an N-8th Grade General Music Chorus Teacher from Bohemia, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2013. She primarily sings to honor the memory of family members lost to cancer, while also enjoying the musical camaraderie and sisterhood. Playing various percussion instruments each year, especially the singing bowls, is particularly memorable.

Donna Houman, a Mathematics Teacher and student musical theater director from Oyster Bay, New York, first performed with Belle Voci in 2012. She appreciates the high level of musicianship in Belle Voci, as well as the passion shared by its members in the fight against cancer.  Donna is moved each year during the Rose Ceremony portion of the concert, and fondly remembers the 2023 Belle Voci Tour to Wales and England, especially singing in The Royal Hospital of London.

Alexandra (Allie) Michaelis, a teacher from East Meadow, NY, first joined Belle Voci in 2019. She loves singing the thoughtfully curated repertoire and performing the unmatched precision of the rose ceremony with a sisterhood. In Belle Voci, each performance is more than just a concert – it is a celebration of resilience, a tribute to all those affected by cancer, and a call to action. Bringing our voices together for strength, healing, and solidarity is extremely grounding. 

Courtney Sack, a Chorus Teacher from Glen Head, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2015. She sings in Belle Voci to honor her parents, who both passed from cancer, and many other family and friends touched by the disease. She has been honored to read names of cancer survivors, those living with cancer, and those who have passed from cancer during the Rose Remembrance Ceremony for the past few seasons.

Eva Sheldon, a Teacher from Greenlawn, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2022. She sings with Belle Voci to be part of a community of women who create beauty, healing, and connection through music, finding it a powerful emotional outlet and source of inspiration. Singing beside a close friend after her mother lost her battle with pancreatic cancer was one of her most meaningful experiences with the ensemble, demonstrating how music can hold space for sorrow, healing, and connection.

Stephanie Visceglie, a music educator from Huntington, NY, first performed with Belle Voci in 2019. She appreciates singing quality repertoire in memory of those lost to cancer and to fulfill the need to help others experiencing similar loss or sadness. She views the group as a musical family, and enjoys the sisterhood within Belle Voci and the ability to donate/support cancer prevention and cure.

Yunxin Xie started singing in choir in college, and choral music has become an important source of joy and support in her life. She believes in its power and is excited to make music this year with Belle Voci, a truly special and heartfelt community.