Every Wednesday Nights @ 7 PM at Grace Episcopal Church, 819 Madison St, Syracuse
- Please enter the church through the doors in the center of the building on the Madison Street side.
- Early arrival is much appreciated. When you arrive, please don a name tag, fill out a registration form, sign in on the attendance sheets, and collect your music.
- Newcomers will be welcomed and advised where to find these things.
We’re hoping to find people who are willing to help with some early volunteer needs. Can you lend a hand?
Choir Besties
We’ve started a program to welcome new singers into the choir and get them off to a good start. Each new singer will have a “choir bestie,” a buddy to introduce them to people, show them the ropes, answer their questions, and make sure they have what they need to be a happy and successful member.
If that’s something you’re willing to help with, please contact Tracy at tracyjoholmes@gmail.com or (315) 708-7077.
Setup / Cleanup Crews
At each rehearsal there are setup and cleanup tasks that need to be done, and many hands make light work.
- If you’re willing to arrive by 6:30 to help with set up, please contact Shanah at (315) 880-1796.
- If you’re willing to help with cleanup and can stay until 9:15, please contact Tracy at tracyjoholmes@gmail.com or
(315) 708-7077.
10/7 - First rehearsal/info meeting
Come find out what we have planned for this season, learn about choir policies, and sing.
Meet the Adult Choir Creative Team
Colleen Kattau
Colleen is a bilingual vocalist and songwriter. Her music expresses a loving, spirited presence, with a voice that soothes and haunts with its range and clarity. Music and activism infuse her music and she has performed at many social justice events, from celebrating the working folk of this country to “singing clear” for renewable energy. She recently won a songwriting award for her anthem I Will Rise at the Great Labor Arts Exchange, Silver Spring MD, and also recorded Woody Guthrie’s classic, Deportee. She has recorded seven albums and three successful benefit CDs for environmental & peace actions. Colleen believes in the transformative power of song to make a more just and peaceful world.
Laura Enslin
Soprano Laura Enslin is excited to work with the Syracuse Community Choir! She left a full-time academic career in 2016 to start a private studio called CNY Singing Garden (singinggarden.org). Laura attributes her success to many people she's taught and worked with over the years at Syracuse University (Department of Drama and Setnor School of Music); Nazareth College; and the Eastman School of Music, where she also earned a Master of Music in Voice.
A lifelong learner, Laura expands her personal and professional horizons by studying yoga, sound healing, voice, vocal pedagogy and music of all genres. Currently, she is a student of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP). She earned a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Kevin Ammann
Kevin is a music educator with a passion for choral singing and composing. Kevin joined the Syracuse Community Choir for the winter concert season directing in the adult choir and leading the teen and young adult choir. Music and helping others are at the core of who Kevin is. He has taught in Utica, Syracuse, and Star Lake, both in public and private capacities. Kevin loves to compose and arrange music for choral ensembles. When not singing, other instruments Kevin enjoys playing include French horn, clarinet, and piano. Outside of music and teaching, Kevin enjoys reading, learning new skills, travel, and spending quality time with loved ones.
Barry Torres
Schola’s founding and present Music Director Barry Torres, for whom early music been a longstanding professional passion, served 25 years as Director of Music Ensembles at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, until his retirement in 2023. At St. Lawrence he taught singing and 16th Century performance practice in addition to directing the Laurentian Singers (St. Lawrence's 28-member select choir), the University Chorus, and the Gospel Choir and Band. As a singer and as a player of early wind instruments, Mr. Torres has appeared with the Orchestra of Northern New York, with NYS Baroque, and as a member of Sonare. His dedication to early music began at the Syracuse University School of Music, where he studied composition and music theory.
Malichi Simmons
Malachi Simmons is a rising soulful vocalist, singer, and dancer based in Syracuse, New York. A prominent fixture on local stages, Malachi has captivated Central New York audiences with his smooth R&B vocals, intense energy, and compelling stage presence.He first gained widespread local recognition as a sophomore at PSLA at Fowler High School, delivering a powerful, televised performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on CNYCentral. Beyond his vocal talents, Malachi is a highly versatile artist recognized for his choreography and dance skills, which have led to international collaborations. Whether performing live or working behind the scenes, Malachi remains deeply committed to enriching the CNY arts and music community. He co-leads our teen and young adult choir.
