Singing Angels’ new leadership to return group to its roots

by Karen Nathan

The music of change is in the air for the Singing Angels, Northeast Ohio’s Premier Youth Chorus. Between November and January, the group formed an entirely new leadership team, moved their offices and created an alliance with the Urban Community School. 

According to Independence resident Lisa Wright, the new executive director, “Four or five of us Singing Angels alumni moved everything in one weekend.” Offices went to a storefront on Lorain Avenue in Cleveland and rehearsal space to The Conway Family Gathering Space within Urban Community School. 

“We physically moved in to the new spaces on Jan. 15, and immediately began rehearsals for the spring concert,” Wright said. Singing Angels chose the location and arrangement as part of an effort to have a real presence in the community, which was key to the Angels’ original mission under founder Bill Boehm. 

The leadership team is comprised of Angels alumni Wright, Marianne Liptak Brady and Jim Koenig. Other alumni, as well as experts in music and choreography, will be stepping up to usher the Singing Angels into a new era. 

“Our focus will be on quality and skilled instruction,” Wright said. Four professionally trained music directors are working with the group, including music producer Allan Licht. Years ago, Licht wrote The Reason We Sing for the Angels and worked with the group for a remake of We Are The World. In January, the Angels recorded with Licht and other local singers in studio.

Other professionals helping the Singing Angels rejuvenate include Guest Choreographer Tabitha Miner; Resident Choreographer Katharine Cowan, who is a company member of the Cleveland Ballet; Guest Music Director Cathy Lesser Mansfield, an alumna who is also a composer and artistic director; and alum Ken Kaiser, who has served as artistic and executive director of Washington Contemporary Ballet.

Singing Angels is actively recruiting new members. The Angels “need to get out into the community and sing,” Wright said. 

To the point, the Angels’ spring concert was held at Independence Middle School. The concert included show tunes, barbershop style songs and, because it was Memorial Day Weekend, an armed forces tribute, including a sing-a-long. This summer, performances are planned at the Lakewood Civic Center, The Hooley Irish Street Festival and Lakeside Chautauqua Ohio. “When other kids see them, they think ‘I want to do that too,’” said Wright.

According to Koenig, who teaches and directs the barbershop music in addition to his administrative role, “The goal is to bring the group back to what it was originally founded on: perform at a high level, but also be very active in the community.” 

“The Angels used to be involved in everything Cleveland,” he said. This included singing at the tree lighting ceremony; events at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo; and Cavs, Browns and Guardians’ games. 

It also included local TV appearances and recordings – first LPs and later CDs. The leadership team wants the group to get back into the studio and arranged for the Angels to re-record The Reason We Sing this June.

Another goal “is to get these kids travelling,” said Brady. “That’s where we made our memories.” 

Back in the Bill Boehm days, the Angels performed all over the world. According to Brady, next summer the chorus will perform at Disney World. “Then it’s on to bigger trips,” she said. Brady, Wright and Koenig said they hope the Singing Angels will reassume their role as goodwill ambassadors for Cleveland, Ohio, and the United States. Koenig said the leadership team, alumni and parents are “reaching out all over the place.” It’s a Singing Angels “rebirth and renaissance,” he said. “We’re still here and we want to get back to where we were” in terms of enrollment, scope and impact. 

Photo caption: The Singing Angels new leadership team is (l-r) Marianne Liptak Brady, Joe Koenig and Lisa Wright. Photo submitted.