Singers' Bios

A native of Baku, Azerbaijan Naila Aziz was born into a musical family. From the age seven she took music lessons. She graduated music college and then later received honors in Musical Theatre from the State University of Culture and Art. In 1986, Naila recorded the Duet "Bayati" which became a lasting classic hit. In 1987, she was a prizewinner of the Moscow TV show, "Tovarish Pyesna" (Comrade Song). In 1995, her talents again won her a prize as composer of the best song in Baku. In New York Naila has performed with Danzas Españolas in Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Dicapo Opera Theatre, Donnell Library Center, Washington Square United Methodist Church, Saint Peter’s Church, Brooklyn Lyceum, Music for Montauk and Green-Wood Cemetery Chapel. She also performed with Anacrusis, Chamber Vocal Ensemble in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Raquel Burbano is a first year Melodian. She got hooked on choral music when she learned solfege at the age of 8 and has sung in several choirs since grade school. She has studied classical singing and music, written several short pieces for the piano, and is currently learning how to pluck a note or two on the guitar. Raquel hopes to always remain active in music, choirs, and the arts, and looks to pass this enthusiasm on to others.

Mariana Cavalieri has been singing since she joined choir at age 8 at PS107. She continued singing at East Middle School, Brentwood High School, and most recently, Marist College. Mariana has sung with chamber choirs since middle school. This is her first season with Melodia.

Dana Cavooris is thrilled to be performing in her second concert with Melodia. She is a recent graduate of the Crane School of Music where she studied Music Business Administration with a concentration in voice. Dana's non-musical interests include traveling, going to the beach, cooking, and skiing.

Colleen Christi, a Melodian Alto 1, has been singing ever since she learned to talk, and really hasn't stopped doing either since! She has a BFA of Acting from Marymount Manhattan College and can sing the entire score of "Oklahoma!" in her sleep. Colleen, who inherited her love of choral singing from her dad, also adores torch and jazz singers of the early and mid-20th century, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Etta James. She's an avid reader, social butterfly, dedicated runner and admitted coffee addict.

Kellie Jo Ciofalo graduated from Colgate University in 2003 with a degree in Spanish and Philosophy. Afterwards, she spent a year in Northern Ireland as a volunteer, then moved to Brooklyn, and currently works at Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. Kellie has been involved with several choirs and orchestras since she was nine, including the Princeton Girlchoir and the Princeton High School Choir. She has been fortunate enough to tour with her various musical groups to England, Scotland, Italy, Germany, and Austria and is delighted to be singing with Melodia.

Jessica Davenport has been singing Soprano II with Melodia on and off since the group's inception. Formally part of a musical duo, she is now in the process of recording her first solo album under the Monvercomp label. It will be released in December.

Stephanie Davis is thrilled to join Melodia and explore this fantastic body of music. She is a well traveled performer and has performed with choirs all over the world, most memorably in the Grand Hall of the 'Regentenbgau' in Bad Kissingen, Germany, and Carnegie Hall. She is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Monika Dockendorffwas born in Santiago de Chile, where she lived and studied until 2004 when she decided to come to NYC. She comes from a very musical family and has sung in several choirs and vocal groups. She graduated in 2002 from Business School and currently works for an Art Foundation. While in College, she created and conducted for 2 years the business school students choir, participating in school performances and graduations, among others. Besides classical music she enjoys singing tango, bossa nova and Latin American folklore.

Rebecca Economos is excited to be singing in her second concert with Melodia! Originally from the Hudson Valley, Rebecca has lived in New York, London, Jamaica, Tokyo, and Maine and has been influenced by musicians and chorale experiences from each of these places. Rebecca has sung since childhood in musical theatre, small chamber ensembles, and large choirs. Most recently she had the privilege of singing with the Oratorio Chorale in Topsham, Maine. When not singing with the talented women of Melodia, Rebecca can be found at the

the Park Slope Food Co-op, farmers’ markets, in tiny cafes writing letters, or in her kitchen in Brooklyn cooking feasts with her friends. Annette Lapcevic is a classically trained singer with over 10 years of choral experience born into a musical family. She is so grateful to have found Melodia, loves the repertoire and is humbled by the talent and musicality of her fellow Melodians! She dabbled in musical theater, was in her first professional opera at age 12 and had various solo gigs throughout adolescence and college, including solo/ensemble festivals where she won highest honors. She resides in Staten Island with her artist husband. She loves her job at a little ma and pa health food store, is passionate about alternative medicine and enjoys writing, tinkering (badly) on the piano, novice vegetable gardening, spirituality and cuisine from other countries. Vivien Lau joined Melodia in the fall of 2004. She has sung in various choirs, madrigal groups, and musical productions over the years, including the Yip's Children's Choir of Hong Kong, the University Singers and the Early Music Ensemble at the University of Virginia. Besides singing, Vivien also plays the piano and the flute. Vivien holds a M.S. in Accounting from the University of Virginia, and is currently a tax consultant at a public accounting firm. Attorney by day, second soprano by night, Jennifer Laurin was a committed musical dabbler through her youth in the Chicago suburbs and four years at Earlham College in Indiana, playing guitar, piano, and french horn, and singing a show tune from time to time. Since her move out East, she has jumped into the choral scene to nourish that musical spot in her heart and soul, singing with the City Bar Choir, the New Haven Chorale, the Brooklyn Philharmonic Chorus, and, now for three seasons with Melodia. Jennifer lives in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, with her spouse, David and their two cats, Brandeis and Agatha. During business hours, Steff Lyon works at saving the world as an environmental outreach educator, but every other moment of the day she is a singer. She's been performing with choirs, bands and as a soloist since childhood and hopes that someday someone will pay her to do so. If that doesn't work out, her long term future plans include making millions on the game show circuit and traveling the world with her winnings. Rosemary Palladino sang in choruses in high school and toured with a women's a capella group in college. She has more recently enjoyed performing in community theatre and cabaret, where she puts into practice what her family always told her: "if you can't sing good, sing loud." She thanks Jenny and Cynthia for the opportunity to re-energize her musical roots, and to work with some truly inspiring musicians. Molly Parker-Myers is happy to be performing with Melodia for her second season. When not singing with the Alto IIs, Molly can be found teaching preschoolers in Brooklyn, acting in experimental theater, and spending time with her four-year-old daughter Hazel. Gina Patterson started out singing show tunes in her fourth grade chorus and is thrilled to be in her second season with Melodia. Her favorite musical experience was touring through Italy with the San Francisco Girls Chorus and now she loves singing in a women’s choir again. An almost-law school graduate, she enjoys practicing music with her very vocal dog. Morgan Russell sings soprano I with Melodia. A nonprofit administrator by day, Morgan is also a flutist and the piano accompanist of children's choirs at First Presbyterian Church in NYC. In the fall, she will be going to NYU for a master's degree in music education. She lives in the East Village with her husband John and their cat Casey. Serra Schlanger graduated from Vassar College in 2005 with a BA in Science, Technology, and Society and a minor in Music and Culture. She has sung many different vocal settings, including a cappella, musical theater, and opera. Serra's choral highlights include performances at Carnegie Hall and the National Academy of the Arts in Philadelphia, and on tours of Puerto Rico, Boston, and Chicago. Favorite roles include Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and Olympia in Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann. Serra currently works at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Breast Center. Jackie Sunderland made her vocal debut at age 4, singing "Tomorrow" from Annie to a captive group of airline passengers over a loud speaker on a flight from Boston to Chicago. Since then, she has sung with various vocal groups, performeing with jazz choirs, chamber groups, and musical theater troupes. Originally from the Boston area, Jackie holds a BA in journalism from Boston University and currently works in digital media and advertising. Faye Timmer has sung in various choral groups prior to Melodia. She is an early childhood music educator currently working with children and families at Columbia University’s Early Head Start program. She also teaches WeBop! classes at Jazz at Lincoln Center and is Director of Children’s and Youth Music at First Presbyterian Church in NYC. Faye holds a degree in Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Music Education at Columbia University Teachers College . Deb Victoroff has sung in choirs, choruses, groups, gangs, quintets, quartets and at home in the shower for many years. She can finally sight read. She works as a video editor on the original reality TV show, "The People's Court" for the health insurance, and writes plays and humor essays for her soul. Maria Wong was born in Hong Kong and grew up in New York City. Besides being one of the original Melodians, she has sung with various vocal groups, including an a cappella group in high school and the Columbia University Glee Club, where she had the honor of being a soloist on several occasions. Memorable moments include solos in Mozart's Requiem and a choir festival at Carnegie Hall. Maria is also passionate about travel, learning, and new experiences. She holds a degree in Art History and Computer Science from Columbia University, and is the finance manager at an up-and-coming architecture firm in lower Manhattan. Ashley E. Wright has been singing Alto I with Melodia since Spring of 2006. Highlights of her singing career include tours of Germany and Italy with the Princeton High School Choir and the Boston College Chorale, respectively. She currently lives in Brooklyn and works as an advocate for victims of crime.