Bios

Jen Blecha

Laura Lentz

Laura has been singing in choral groups since fifth grade. She receivedher B.A. in Music and English at Mount Holyoke College, where she studied voice and sang with several ensembles. She fell in love with Mila when she saw the group in concertin 2008; she is thrilled to learn about Eastern European vocal traditions with such a talented group of women.

Kerri Meyer

Originally a devoted fan of the ensemble, Kerri’s first exposure to Eastern European music was a Mila performance at the church where she works. She joined the group in 2007 and enjoyed a steep learning curve. She’s still surprised that 7 and 21 beats per measure comes naturally to some people. She is grateful for the legacy of cultural authenticity and musical excellence left by past Mila singers and looks forward to living up to the name “Mila” with the new group of singers.

Abby Morrisette

Abby is currently an engineering student at the University of Minnesota, and is also a classically trained singer with a choral and opera background. She is very excited to learn about Eastern European vocal styles and culture as a part
of Mila..

Bernadette Murphy

Bernadette has been singing almost her whole life, participating in groups such as Bel Canto Voices, Hill-Murray's Pioneer Performers, and One Voice Mixed Chorus.. She was brought up with folk music from a very young age, her dad accompanying her on the guitar as she sang American folk tunes. She was drawn to Mila after hearing them perform with Ethnic Dance Theater and is ecstatic to be singing with the group.

Marie Rule

Marie Rule is a musicologist and clarinettist who found her way into singing Eastern European folk music through participation in the University of Illinois "Balkanalia" music group under the direction of Donna Buchanan. Singing with Mila has become an exciting and rewarding part of her life.

Aurore Sibley

Aurore Sibley studied jazz and improvisational music in college. She spent several years playing and singing with various jazz and folk groups in the bay area in CA. Aurore speaks fluent German, as well as some Spanish, French and Russian. She thoroughly enjoys singing with Mila and learning from Mila's ever-expanding repertoire

Phala Tracy

Phala is a classically trained harpist who also loves to sing Eastern European folk music. Before moving to Minnesota, she sang in a six-person Bulgarian women’s choir at the California Institute of the Arts, under the direction of Kate Conklin. She is excited to be a part of Mila!

Lynndelle Wiebenga

Lynndelle joined Mila in early 2009. She has sung music from around the globe with a world music ensemble in the Twin Cities area. Singing with Mila is a new and exciting opportunity!