by Richard Young
The Voices of Broadway Show Choir has been entertaining London area audiences since 2013. The Beat Magazine conducted the following Q&A Session with Artistic/Musical Director Julie Pietrangelo in advance of the choir’s Show Stoppers concert on January 17 at the Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre at King’s College. The Interview has been edited for clarity.
(Pictured: The Voices of Broadway Show Choir Artistic/Musical Director Julie Pietrangelo.)
Q. When was the choir founded? By whom, and why? How did the name The Voices of Broadway Show Choir come about?
We were founded in 2013. I wanted to start a show choir and talked to several people whom I led as singers before, and they were with me. So, we got together and figured out how to make it work. We brainstormed names, put them on a board, and voted. By process of elimination, we decided upon the name The Voices of Broadway Show Choir.
Q. What sets your group apart from the other London area choirs?
I think the fact that we’re a show choir. I don’t think there’s any other show choir in London, per se. We don’t just stand on risers and sing holding music. Our shows include acting and dancing. It’s just bigger.
Q. Who are the facilitators/administrators of the choir? Backgrounds? Does the choir have a Board of Directors?
We do not have a board of directors. We have what we call the lead team of four people who are elected by the membership. They look after all the administration and running of the choir and so on. I’m heavily involved and sit on the lead team as well.
Q. Does the choir have a Mission or Statement of Purpose?
We are a non-professional show choir with high standards and high entertainment value. Our mission is to present a well-balanced program of traditional choral singing, along with choreography, staging, costumes, special effects, and props.
Q. How many members does the choir have at this time? Can you give me some details about the range of experience, backgrounds, and ages of choir members?
Right now, we have twenty-four members, but we have had as many as forty. We take people from all walks of life. We have people who have music degrees and have taken voice lessons. We also have people who have never sung in a choir before. Choir members must be eighteen years of age. We have had members in their eighties.
Q. How does one become a member of The Voices of Broadway Show Choir?
We have an audition process. Candidates are asked to bring a prepared song and do a vocal audition. I test the range and their sight-reading ability and decide from that. They also go through an interview process. We do a dance assessment, although candidates aren’t rejected if they have zero dance experience or limited abilities.
Q. Could you give me an idea of the choir’s repertoire?
Our repertoire is all drawn from Broadway musicals.
Q. Does the choir perform in one venue or move around?
We do two shows a year. In January, we perform at the Joanna and Peter Kennedy Theatre at Western’s King’s College. And in the spring, in either May or June, depending on available dates, we hold our year-end show at Wolf Performance Hall.
Q. Can you give our readers an idea of what to expect if they attend your January 17th Show Stoppers concert?
Show Stoppers presents many of Broadway’s most famous songs. Audience members will know a lot of the music and the shows that they come from. The concert is highly entertaining, and it just has that whole element of familiarity.
Q. Is there anything else you think readers should know about The Voices of Broadway Show Choir?
We’re always looking for new members. In fact, we have auditions on January 21st. People can register for those at any time now. And, of course, we’re always available for hire. We have a public website where people can find out more information about the choir and look at some of our past performances. We’re always looking for sponsors, too. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, we offer several benefits. Information about how to become a sponsor can be found on our website.
For more information about The Voices of Broadway Show Choir, visit https://thevoicesofbroadway.com/
Follow the choir on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/voicesofbroadway and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/voicesofbroadway/
IF YOU GO:
What: The Voices of Broadway Show Choir presents Show Stoppers.
When: Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 and 7:30 pm.
Where: Joanne and Peter Kenny Theatre, King’s University College, 266 Epworth Avenue, London, ON
Tickets: https://thevoicesofbroadway.com/showstoppers
Interview conducted by Richard Young
The Beat Magazine 2025 