"We are so thankful and eternally grateful to the many people who work hard to make Allegrezza do what it does. Our mission relies on the continuous support, constant care, and boundless energy of every member, every volunteer, and, of course, our staff. Allegrezza is our people, and they are why we enjoy the success we have today!"

Jonathan E Pugh / President & Founder
​Allegrezza Inc NFP

STEPHEN C EDWARDS

Artistic & Operational 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.​

BRIAN LOCKE

Pianist

Brian Locke is an American pianist, organist, conductor, coach, and répétiteur whose career spans throughout academia, opera, concertizing, and church music.

Having been called "a stand out" (The Whole Note, Toronto), he has appeared before discerning audiences in cities and venues in North America and Europe. Brian was soloist with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, the President’s Own Marine Corps chamber orchestra.

He has collaborated with artists from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and with companies including Opera Birmingham and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, who invited him to be Music Director of their Artists-in-Residence.

Since 2008, Brian has been active in church music, presently serving as Director of Music and Parish Organist at St. Mary's Episcopal, Park Ridge, IL since March 2018, and is a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians.

​In various capacities,he previously served the Cathedral parishes of St. James, Chicago and St. Philip, Atlanta. Moreover, Mr. Locke’s specialty lies in chamber music and repertoire for the voice, increasingly in demand by instrumentalists and singers to coach and perform with him in this specialized niche.

Gretchen Upholt

Chorus Manager

Thank you Gretchen!

NICHOLAS VENTOLA

Chorus Attorney

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