Shelly Winemiller

Review: "A Bella Christmas: Angels are Singing" is an aptly-named, live, gorgeous Christmas collection from the pride of Rochester, Minnesota. Most of the songs are accompanied by piano, a brass ensemble, organ, oboe and congas. But the highlight of the album is the high, soaring voices of the 51 singers, in perfect solos and together in glorious harmony. Some of our favorites among the 15 cuts are Z. Randall Stroope's "Magnificat" and "There Is No Rose;" Chris Dedrick's "The Angel Choir and The Trumpeter," Mozart's "Alleluia," John Rutter's lovely "Candlelight Carol" and a cappella "Deck The Hall;" Tchaikovsky's "Dans des Mirlitons" (Dance of the Reed Flutes," Pietro A. Yon's sublime "Gesu Bambino," the traditional song "Cantemos a Maria" (Let Us Sing to Mary); Egil Hovland's "Stay With Us" and the traditional carol "Silent Night." Every cut here is perfect, and guaranteed to bring joyous music to your Christmas celebrations for years to come!

Songlist: Magnificat, The Angel Choir and the Trumpeter, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Ding Dong! Merrily On High, Alleluia, Candlelight Carol, Danse des Mirlitons (Dance of the Reed Flutes), Deck the Hall, Away in a Manger, Gesu Bambino, In the Bleak Midwinter, There Is No Rose, Cantemos a Maria (Let Us Sing To Mary), Stay With Us (from Captive and Free), Silent Night

Review: Bella Voce is a not-for-profit 51-voice-strong Rochester, Minnesota-based young women's choir, directed by founder directed by founder Shelly Winemiller, who is celeerating her 4th season as Bella Voce's Artistic Director. The group is committed to providing access to all their concerts to all members of the community regardless of their ability to pay, and channels donated money to a number of community and humanitarian causes. "Best of Bella" is a rich, live-in-concert collection of 21 wonderful cuts, most of them accompanied by drums, piano or various instruments. Some favorites are "Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal," arranged by Alice Parker, Morten Lauridsens "Dirait-on," John Rutter's "Angels' Carol," Max Reger's "Mary's Cradle Song," Pablo Casals' "Nigra Sum," Carl Schalk's "Before the Marvel of This Night," Benjamin Britten's three "Selections from A Ceremony of Carols, James Mulholland's "Life has Loveliness to Sell," the Moses Hogan-arranged "Music Down In My Soul," Jeffery Ames' "Holy is the Land" and Katie Bart's "The Blessing." This spirited, altruistic ensemble has a beautiful, angelic sound with rich harmonies and strong leads. "Best of Bella" is a lovely winner from one of Minnesota's finest, most talented young women's choirs. Don't miss this one!

Songlist: Hark I Hear The Harps Eternal, Psalm 100, Dirait-on, Lift Thine Eyes, Angel's Carol, Mary's Cradle Song, Les Nymphes Des Bois, On The Beautiful Blue Danube, Nigra Sum, Psalm 23, A La Puerta del Cielo, Before the Marvel of this Night, Selections from A Ceremony of Carols, Can You Hear, Life Has Loveliness To Sell, Music Down In My Soul, If Music Be the Food of Love, Holy Is the Lord, The Blessing