STEPHEN C EDWARDS

Artistic Director / Co-Founder

A highly accomplished, versatile, and multifaceted musician and choral director, Stephen C Edwards has been teaching and working with choirs and vocal ensembles for over 15 years. He is the Director of Music and Worship at Union Church of Hinsdale United Church of Christ, where he conducts 6 ensembles. Stephen is the former Artistic Director of Windy City Performing Arts, where he led the Windy City Gay Chorus and Aria. Among Stephen's numerous accomplishments are tenures with the Chicago Symphony Chorus--where he was the featured tenor soloist with the Chicago Symphony in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and most recently, a second term to the national Board of Directors for GALA Choruses, where he will serve another three-year term supporting and promoting GALA Choruses throughout the United States and abroad.​

KELLI SZYMCZAK

Pianist

Originally from Hawaii, Kelli earned her Bachelor’s degree at Western Washington University and then went on to study vocal accompanying at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. Since moving to Chicago, she has played for both classical and musical theatre voice lessons at Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, and as a faculty member at Loyola University where she also accompanied the Women’s Choir. Kelli has participated in productions for numerous theatres around the city, including Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Bailiwick Theatre, Circle Theatre, and Metropolis Theatre. She is thrilled to now be part of the Allegrezza family!

MICHAEL MERCER

Chorus Administrator

Michael Mercer is thrilled to be taking on the role of Chorus Manager of Allegrezza.  As an alumnus of Percussion and Voice at Illinois State University (1997) he performed with both the ISU Wind Symphony and the Chamber Choir. Since moving to Chicago, Michael has performed with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago (2002-2010; Board Member 2009-2010); Chicago Choral Artists (2007-2013); Peregrine Vocal Ensemble (2014-2015) and Allegrezza (2015-present). Michael has made appearances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the Star Wars Concert Tour, chorus member for the Oprah Finale show, and studio work with Patti LaBelle, Rascal Flats, and Aretha Franklin. ​

ALEX STRIFE

Chorus Librarian

ERICA MASINI

Marketing Chair / Board Member

Erica Masini is a creative storyteller for higher education, health care, and arts organizations in Chicago. She earned her bachelor's degree in journalism at Boston University, and interned as a reporter at a London magazine and at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. After graduation she worked as a writer for Mass General Hospital for Children, where she interviewed pediatric patients and ran the Boston Marathon in 2013. Back in her hometown of Chicago, she pursued higher ed marketing as Director of Communications at Roosevelt University, and joined the Chicago Botanic Garden as a writer. She now freelances for universities and nonprofits, including Northwestern Medicine, Music Inc, North Central College, and University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. No matter the topic, her craft stems from one belief: honest stories can do some pretty powerful things.

NICHOLAS VENTOLA

Chorus Attorney / Board Member

Nicholas graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He then continued his education at the John Marshall Law School where he received his JD. During his time in law school, Nicholas worked as an advocate for United States military veterans, as well as interned with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and studied abroad in the Czech Republic. Nicholas was also the president of his law school’s student government. Licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, Nicholas is an active member in the legal community and sits on the board of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago. When he is not practicing law, Nicholas enjoys traveling, exercising, and volunteering for various charities in the Chicago area.

MELISSA MILLER FURGESON

Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping for Good
​(773) 517-8037