Chorus Hires New Development Manager

Nondi Orazi

We are thrilled to announce the hiring of our new Development Manager, Nondi Orazi.

Nondi is a long time supporter of the Chorus and brings to the Development Manager position 10 years of professional experience working with non-profits in Michigan, including two years as the Executive Director of The Information Center serving senior citizens. Nondi holds a BSW from the University of Georgia and a MSW in administration from the University of Michigan. Since moving to Illinois, Nondi has worked part time for several local non-profits, including as Program Coordinator for the Youth Services Coalition of the YMCA, where she advocated with state legislators for youth programs and then planned fundraising initiatives to support the programs.

Nondi has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for a number of community organizations. At the GECC alone, she has served on the board, chaired the enrollment committee, chaperoned choristers both nationally and internationally and been an advocate wherever she goes.

Nondi resides in Lombard with her husband Terry Walsh, son Zeke 17 and daughter (and GECC chorister) Lena 15.

Please join the board and staff in welcoming Nondi Orazi as our new Development Manager.

Laura Winans circa 1976

Laura Winans Lee is a longtime resident of Glen Ellyn and a former GECC Chorister who sang under the direction of Doreen Rao during the early to mid 1970's. Laura is one of the beautiful voices singing on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Mahler 3rd Symphony recording with James Levine conducting and Marilyn Horne as soloist.  Laura's love of singing carried into her teenage years singing with the Glenbard West Choir and in her young adult years when she sang with the St. Clement's Choir in Chicago, that toured Europe twice.  She experienced singing masses in the Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, the Basilica di San Marco in Venice, the Baptistery of the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence, and a Papal beatification mass at the Vatican. She and her husband Nik have two children: Madeline, a GECC touring chorister and high school freshman, and Nate, a 7th grader and former chorister.  Laura is currently a full-time teacher in Glen Ellyn District 41 at Forest Glen Elementary School where she is always looking for new choristers.  Laura has a master's degree in education along with 45 hours of additional graduate level coursework in specialized fields of gifted education, math and language arts. Her long list of community volunteerism includes being a current GECC Board member, Glen Ellyn Infant Welfare Society, and a term as President of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn among many other community committees and organizations. 

Laura recalled some GECC memories including practicing in the gym of the old civic center, "I think we practiced once a week on Wednesdays right after school.  There was only one chorus and it was a pretty big group.  Chorister's ages ranged from 7 or 8 years old, up to 14 or 15.  We wore robes for fancy concerts or a navy blue skirt and a white shirt for other things (not the boys of course).  Our big tour was a trip to St. Louis where we got to go in the arch!  WOW!" 

Our 42nd season is fully launched, with all five ensembles digging into new music and anticipating the terrific season ahead.  This month brings our first ever collaboration with Music of the Baroque downtown - a fantastic professional chorus and orchestra - in Handel's Judas Maccabeus at the Harris Theater.  Plus parent orientation with a performance by our three oldest groups (Treble, Concert and Touring Ensembles), a concert with Rain Pryor (daughter of Richard Pryor) benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, and retreat at Camp Reynoldswood in Dixon, IL.  And that's just September!

I'd like to offer a special word of welcome to the families who are new to us this year.  The GECC is a unique and special organization which has served as a model of excellence for children's choirs throughout North America for many years.  As I travel around the country, people are always saying to me, "I wish GECC were located HERE!"  For those of you in the suburbs of Chicago, it's right in your backyard, and you're to be congratulated for giving your child this opportunity.  We take the responsibility seriously, and our fabulous staff will ensure a great singing and learning experience for him or her.
Welcome aboard!

The Chorus is now part of two organizations who support non-profit corporations, just by using their websites.

Shopping Online-iGive.com donates money to the Chorus each time you purchase something through their site. Simply sign up (it is free) and choose the GECC is your charity and everytime you use their site to shop on line the Chorus will benefit

Searching Online-goodsearch.com is a search engine much like google, but again, each time you use this vehicle to search for something else the Chorus will receive a donation. Simply go onto the site and choose the GECC as your charity. If everyone who receives this newsletter switched to this search engine the dollars would add up fast!