ABOUT US
Voices of the Desert was conceived March 2008 by Ron Casola, a Phoenix resident with significant musical interests and training. Mr. Casola felt that, given the size and diversity of America’s fifth largest city, Phoenix should have a mixed voice chorus that not only represents the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Community, but also its straight allies in all aspects of the community. He observed that no one organization included all of these components and offered an opportunity to sing music scored for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
Thus the mission of Voices of the Desert is to serve as goodwill ambassadors for the GLBT Community through music. The mission will be accomplished by developing the artistic excellence of the organization and its representatives, serving as a positive influence to and for the GLBT Community, and promoting awareness, tolerance, acceptance, and respect among the citizens of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Voices of the Desert is proudly supported by Church of the Beatitudes who serves as their fiscal agent., a 501(c)3 organization (Tax ID #80-0282830)
Voices of the Desert Board of Directors
2010 - 2011
Alan Hatch - Board President
Paula McFadin - Vice President
Beth Giacalone- Secretary
Michael White- Treasurer
Ron Casola - Executive Director/Marketing
Staff
Haley Ritter - Interpreter
Jennifer Bindel - Principle Accompanist
Members at Large
Ron Casola
David Rowand
Carly Guzman
Keith Clark (Artistic Director)
Keith joins Voices of the Desert with a strong portfolio of experience that includes both direction and performance. As an Artistic Director, he has overseen numerous productions in a variety of places. From the high seas, including the Cruise Industry, National tours of Theater for Young Audiences, Light Opera in New York City as well as Worship Music in Phoenix at Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church, he has a wide range of experience with a variety of musical genres. In addition, Keith is also an accomplished performer and is a member of Actor’s Equity and the Screen Actors Guild having earned his stripes in New York and through National and International touring. Keith has a Bachelor of Science degree in Music and Business from Indiana University where he was a member of the Grammy Award winning Singing Hoosiers. He has a genuine passion to entertain audiences with a creative and professional flare that gives meaning and enjoyment to the arts.
Ron Casola (Founder)
Ron was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois and a 1971 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with a Minor in Conducting. Ron studied under Dr. Margaret Hillis (assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony), Dr. David Knott (Illinois Wesleyan University), and Robert Shaw (The Robert Shaw Chorale). He has soloed with the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, and with the Boston Pops under the direction of Doc Severinsen at Carnegie Hall. He also directed vocal workshops in Southern California for eight years. While in Southern California he soloed under the direction of Fred Boch (Hollywood Presbyterian Church) and Fred Swan (St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church). Ron has been active in the Phoenix music community for thirty-five years. He has directed choirs at Valley Presbyterian under the tutelage of Dr. Harvey Smith and at Mountain View Presbyterian Church both in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is also the founder and former artistic director the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus (formerly The Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale). He was also the artistic director of Soul Survivors (a women’s chorus comprised of breast cancer survivors). He is currently teaching and coaching voice and enjoying singing in the Church of the Beatitude’s choir under the direction of Joel Rinsema.
Jennifer Bindel (Pianist)
Jennifer Bindel is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano at Arizona State University where she serves as a teaching assistant. She received her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Kent State University in 2006 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Music from Baldwin-Wallace College in 2002. Ms. Bindel hails from Cleveland, OH and has performed in numerous shows throughout the Cleveland area. Most recently, she played with Oregon Repertory Singers in Portland, OR and the Boulder Chorale in Boulder, CO. In addition to teaching piano, Ms. Bindel is also interested in musicians’ wellness and hopes to be licensed to offer the course What Every Musician Needs to Know about the Body by the end of the year.
Haley Ritter (Interpreter)
A NIC certified interpreter originally from Oak Park, IL who moved to Phoenix in 1995. She has been an Educational and Community Interpreter in the Valley for the past 7 years since graduating with Phi Theta Kappa honors from the Phoenix College Interpreter Training Program with an AAS degree in 2002. She has a tremendous passion for music, dance and American Sign Language (ASL). “Even if someone is Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, this doesn’t mean that they can’t feel the music. My goal is to visually inspire the viewer with the powerful sensation(s) that a given song is set to convey, while painting a colorful picture of the meaning or story behind it!”
