BarbaraBarbara has been singing in Sonoma County for the past 20+ years. She started caroling with the SRJC caroling group, and shortly after formed her own group, The Figgy Pudding Carolers & then the Silver Belles Caroling Group.
She has performed on stage & in various groups from musicals, opera, rock bands, gospel, and her favorites, an early music & jazz group both being a cappella. She studied music and completed the voice program both at Santa Rosa Junior College. Barbara's most memorable Chrismas memory is at the age of 3, her brother Greg and her decided to open up all the presents before the rest of the family was awake. Santa wasn't too happy & came back to take most of their presents back. It was a blast being caught up in the frenzy though! DaniellaDaniella is a lyric soprano with a range that allows her to sing Soprano & Alto for the Belles when needed! Her career has included solo concerts, opera, jazz, blues, and original works in the United States and abroad. She received her classical training at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
With a passion for contemporary works, Daniella often collaborates with composers to bring their music to the stage. In addition to performing, she is a music teacher both in the classroom and privately, is the music director at Sonoma United Methodist Church, and proud founder of The Artists' Salón. She currently resides in Sonoma County with her toddler, Phoenix. Her favorite Christmas tradition that she remembers from childhood and carries with her own family is leaving out cookies for Santa and his elves as eel as reindeer snacks to give Rudolph enough energy to fly the sleigh all night. |
ChristaChrista has performed in hundreds of concerts & shows in the greater Bay Area, performing in classical recital halls as well as intmate cabaret venues. She grew up in a family of carolers and has been a member of a caroling group almost every year since 1995. She teaches voice and piano both at Music to My Ears in Cotati & at her private studio.
Christa's fondest memories of Christmas are of Christmas Eve's, when a nearby neighbor would give her family homemade tomales. She and one of her brothers, Joel, would stay up all night, watching movies in the dark with the Chrstmas tree all lit up. Sometime during the night Joel would eat all of Santa's cookies and milk so she'd believe Santa truly visited! KatieKatie has enjoyed singing in musicals, operas, and choirs over the past 12 years in Sonoma County. She studied vocal performance at SSU, studied abroad in Germany for a year, and then switched gears a bit to earn her Elementary teaching credential in 2013. She has been teaching 1st grade for the past 3 years, bringing music and singing to the kids whenever possible! This will be her second year singing with the Silver Belles, though she loved caroling with her family and church group as a kid!
Katie has many fond memories of Christmases spent at her dad's house in Tahoe. One of her favorite memories is listening to her parent's classical Christmas music throughout the day as she and her sisters made her grandma's famous apple strudel, opened presents, and ate dinner together. The night usually ended in everyone playing an instrument or singing and making Christmas music together. MaureenMaureen grew up in the choir loft. The daughter of two church musicians, she later met her husband at a National Pastoral Musicians Convention. She moved from the choir loft to the Santa Rosa Children’s Choir, continued in the Analy Honor Choir, SRJC concert choir and finally at Chapman University where she earned her degree in Music Therapy.
Maureen's favorite Christmas memories are of lighting the advent wreath at church. Sitting in the pew each Sunday, excitedly awaiting the new color. First the purple candle was lit, then the pink, then finally the beautiful white candle in the center meaning... Christmas is here! The candles burned brightly as her family gathered in the choir loft welcoming in Christmas together. She now continues the tradition with her husband Bill and their three year old daughter Charlotte. |
EricaErica has been singing in Choirs and Caroling groups in the Bay Area for the past ten years.
She graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Music Education in 2008, earned her teaching credential in 2009, and has been teaching Band, Orchestra, Guitar, and Music Theory at Windsor High School ever since. She enjoys performing instrumental music, but has found her passion to be singing, especially during the joyous Christmas Season. Erica's fondest holiday memory is seeing Santa Claus with her very own eyes on Christmas morning at age 6. Out of his small sack he pulled an amazingly large present, like magic! Although she was later told that her neighbor dressed as Santa to come over, she is still not quite convinced she did not meet Santa that day. AjaAja has been performing since the age of 6. Her favorite roles include Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Dorothy in The Wiz, Irene in Hello Dolly! Crissy in Hair, Petra in A Little Night Music, Ti Moune in Once on This Island and Eponine, in Les Miserables.
Aja holds bachelors degrees in both Voice & Harp. 14 years ago she founded a now thriving music school in Cotati, Music to My Ears. The last shows she directed with MTME included Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. You can find her around Sonoma County as a performer and a director. Recently she directed the musical Hair for 6th Street Playhouse and Ain't Misbehavin' for Sonoma Arts live! Aja is inspired daily by her two amazing children and her loving husband Dan. They create warm family and community memories each year during their celebration of Kwanzaa. |