The Reporter: Benicia’s acclaimed VOENA choir returns to Croatia for immersive tour

The VOENA children’s choir is embracing the familiar and the foreign in an upcoming tour to Croatia.

The internationally acclaimed choir has historically traveled all over the world to perform its multicultural, multilingual songs — including annual visits to Carnegie Hall. But rarely do these trips abroad feel like a return home. (Read More)

KTVU FOX2 News: Bay Area Children's Choir Heading Overseas on Tour.

The VOENA Children's Choir is embarking on a cultural immersion tour to Croatia next month. The multi-cultural choir consists of members across the Bay Area who are between the ages of 5 and 18, singing in 23 languages and dialects.

Watch here.

Benicia Herald: VOENA embarks on a Two-Week Cultural Tour of Croatia

BENICIA HERALD: Eleven hand-picked vocalists from VOENA Children’s Choir are headed to Croatia to perform in the Jelsa Klappa Festival, singing alongside local Klappa groups of all ages. (Read More)

Fox News: More than just Singing

"The movement gives a full body feeling to the music. It's not just head, it's full body relationship and feeling to the music," Marie said. "When the kids have this full body capability and full body expression, they really digest it, almost like they digest food." (Read More)

Times-Herald: Brit band backs VOENA kids in fundraiser

“For most of these kids, it’s the first time they’ll have an actual band behind them,” Annabelle said. “And it’s going to be all songs people know and a lot they’ll like to dance to.”

Annabelle Marie said it’ll be refreshing to perform in front of an audience. (Read More)

KALW: 'Beautiful, Unexpected': Children's Choir Builds Confidence Despite Virtual Rehearsals

Eliza Partika, VOENA member for 9 years and now alumni, attending UC Berkeley graduate school of Journalism.

“In March 2020, VOENA Children's Choir director Annabelle Marie was forced to cancel all upcoming concerts and move rehearsals online. Marie, VOENA member Max Shannon Burgess, and his parents Tony and Gretchen describe how they adapted to the challenges of making music and maintaining their mental health when the pandemic hit.” (Read More)

Times-Herald: Annabelle's Happy Neighbors not Anti-Violins

“For the residents of 10 homes along the Benicia waterfront, the sound is a welcome respite since the mid-March pandemic protocols.

Annabelle Marie, music director for children’s choir VOENA, stepping out from her home to stand by the rocks along the Carquinez Strait. Raising her violin, she waits for the programmed music to play and she jumps in.

It’s about 40 minutes of near nightly escape for Annabelle Marie and the neighbors, who graciously applaud, photograph, video and…" (Read More)

Carquinez Magazine: The Carquinez Community Rallies Together

"It is 6 p.m. when Annabelle Marie steps into her backyard on the Benicia waterfront. As she sets up her amp and tunes her violin, neighbors raise wineglasses in greeting while others gather along the rocky crevices of the shoreline." (Read More)

Benicia Magazine: For Choral Groups, Community Is Core

“VOENA singers are missing the ensemble, that irreplaceable in-person musical experience of singing together.“ (Read more)

Benicia Magazine: Non-profit Superheroes in the time of the Pandemic

“More than ever with school closures music is especially important to bridge that emotional connection kids so desperately need right now,” says VOENA’s founder Annabelle Marie. (Read more)

Benicia Magazine: World-class Drummer Jeff Campitelli Shares a Love of Music with Daughter Gabby

Jeff and Gabby Campitelli are a father and daughter duo who share a musical calling. As the long-time drummer for Joe Satriani, Jeff is considered one of the best percussionists in the country. He’s performed in London’s Hyde Park with Aerosmith and toured the Netherlands alongside Iron Maiden, Motörhead and B.B. King. Meanwhile, Gabby has sung with VOENA children’s choir since she was ten, touring the globe to festivals on the Amalfi Coast and performing for the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. But none of this has gone to their heads because the pair are the salt of the earth. (Read more)

Times Herald: VOENA returns from ‘amazing’ visit to Abu Dhabi

Imagine traveling 8,127 miles to perform one song. Yes. One song.

VOENA did it. And, said the youth choir’s effusive artistic director, the Solano County-based group would do it again in a camel’s heartbeat.

“Beyond amazing,” said Annabelle Marie, still feeling the effects of jet lag Tuesday after she and 25 young vocalists returned from the “Interfaith Alliance for Safe Communities: Child Dignity Online,” launched by the United Arab Emirates...  (Read More)

Benicia Herald: VOENA enrolling new students in September

Being a member of the local children’s choir Voices of Eve ’N’ Angels (VOENA) is a journey in a lot of ways. It can be a musical journey for youth who want to refine their singing talents, and ti can be a physical journey as members travel the globe to perform. Those who wish to embark on this journey can sign up in September.  (Read More)

Benicia Herald: VOENA Shines at Carnegie Hall...

Not everyone can say “I got to perform at Carnegie Hall,” but then again, not everyone is a current member of Voices of Eve ’N’ Angels (VOENA). Seventeen members of the Benicia-based youth choral group received the experience of a lifetime Sunday when they got to perform at the iconic New York City concert hall alongside other...  (Read More)

Times-Herald: Sending 17 Vocalists to Carnegie Hall...

VOENA received the invitation “because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exception quality of their audition recording,” said Dr. Jonathan Griffith, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Distinguished Concerts International New York.  (Read More)

Napa Valley Register: Sending Voena to Carnegie Hall...

For the second time in its history, VOENA, the North Bay’s extraordinary children’s choir, is headed to Carnegie Hall. A benefit concert on Jan. 21 at the Napa Valley Opera House will raise money in support of the April trip. Performers at the benefit will include VOENA, Jeff Campitelli, Peppino D’Agostino, Carlos Reyes, ...  (Read More)

Benicia Magazine: A Dream Comes True for Voena to Perform at Carnegie Hall

It’s been said that every singer’s dream is to perform at Carnegie Hall. Seventeen young singers in VOENA Children’s Choir will have that dream come true when they take to the stage of the celebrated New York City music hall this spring. Choir director Annabelle Marie often ended performance seasons with the words...  (Read More)

Benicia Herald: VOENA to Head to Carnegie Hall...

There is a famous joke involving a pedestrian on 57th Street in New York City who sees a musician exiting a cab. He asks the artist “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” The musician’s response? “Practice, practice, practice.”

For as much as this joke has been told, there is truth to it...  (Read More)

Napa Valley Register: Ladysmith Black Mambazo and VOENA

Later that evening, the local vocal group VOENA, led by director Annabelle Marie, performed several numbers from their repertoire of African songs to open the Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert.  VOENA has previously performed with the group, and appeared at South Africa’s Soweto Festival ...  (Read More)