Wilmington Voices, a 24-member professional choir performing classical, renaissance, sacred, secular, Broadway and popular music. We are the premiere vocal ensemble in New Hanover County. Each member was hand-selected by the Artistic Director, for their musical prowess. Our approach is one of collaboration and oneness with minimal conducting and maximum communication through interpretation and body language. We pride ourselves on leaning on each other because without one another we are but one voice. Our group represents a new, fresh approach to masterful choral music. We are Wilmington Voices.

BIOS

ANGELA BURNS, Artistic Director and Founder

Angela Burns, Mezzo Soprano, has performed as a soloist and conductor worldwide before Presidents Bush, Carter, Clinton, and Obama and in the presence of one billion listeners on TV, broadcasts, and live recordings. She has worked with well-known conductors such as Craig Hella Johnson, John Rutter, Craig Jessop, Mack Wilberg, Anton Armstrong and Eric Whitacre to name a few. Until recent, she was the leader, conductor, a Mezzo-Soprano soloist, and choral member of the official chorus of the United States Air Force, The Singing Sergeants. Throughout her career she has soloed and conducted choirs before Presidents, Vice-Presidents, numerous Heads of State and in the company of thousands at the National and Regional American Choral Director Association conventions.

Ms. Burns’ diverse musical background has afforded her opportunity to solo and work with vocal masters such as Renee and Rachelle Fleming on classical and Broadway techniques for professional singers and up and coming students. Her conducting experience includes the Singing Sergeants, children’s choirs, middle school choirs, leading church music ministries, chamber and symphony orchestras, and choral and Broadway music within the Washington DC/New York area and currently in Wilmington NC. Having recently moved from Washington DC, she now resides in Wilmington NC, of which she is a native. Angela continues to perform with the Grammy award winning professional choir, Conspirare, in Austin, Texas as a choral member and Mezzo Soprano soloist.

Angela is thrilled to begin a new musical journey with these amazing musicians in her hometown of Wilmington. Singing has taken her everywhere in her career and now that she's back home she's excited to highlight talent right here. In her downtime you might find her hiking, traveling, working in her yard and garden, or at the beach with her husband Cory and their dog Linden.

"If music be the food of love, sing on til' I am filled with joy!"

JAMES TAYLOR, Tenor I

James Taylor is a North Carolina native who resides in the Port City of Wilmington. James attended East Carolina University in pursuit of a Liberal Arts degree, and has continued his education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he studies voice with Dr. Nancy King.

While at East Carolina University, James sang with the critically acclaimed ECU Chamber Singers, performed with the ECU Opera Theater, and studied voice with Grammy®-nominated tenor Dr. Daniel Shirley. James now sings with the University of North Carolina Wilmington Chamber Choir and currently serves as a Choral Scholar at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington.

James is a well-known soloist and collaborative artist in Eastern North Carolina. He is also an active and enthusiastic choral musician, having performed with The Raleigh Bach Soloists, Carolina Choral Artists, and The Rocky Mount Chamber Singers. As a choral musician, James has competed internationally in the 13th International Maribor Choral Competition Gallus (Maribor, Slovenia) as well as the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (Varna, Bulgaria). In addition to his choral experience, he performs regionally in a variety of solo & oratorio performances, and has also been professionally contracted by the North Carolina Opera and Opera Wilmington.

When not performing, James can be found in the Cultural Arts Department at UNCW, where he serves as the Business Services Coordinator for the Office of the Arts.

ELIJAH COLE, Tenor II

Elijah Cole, Tenor, was classically trained at East Carolina University and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2019. During his time at ECU, “Eli” was an avid member of the internationally awarded ECU Chamber Singers, sang as a soloist in the New Music Initiative, and performed many lead roles with ECU Opera Theater, including Emperor Nero in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Henrik Egerman in A Little Night Music, Chaplain of the Monastery in Dialogues des Carmélites, Strephon in Iolanthe, and Little Bat in Susannah.

A versatile singer, Eli now travels the state as a professional vocalist. You can find him singing acoustic performances in a local coffee shop or on stage as the Tenor soloist of Handel’s Messiah. Eli is thrilled to debut as a member of Wilmington Voices.

AARON PEISNER, Baritone

Aaron Peisner is Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at UNCW. He is excited to begin his new role as Artistic Director of the Cape Fear Chorale beginning in Fall 2022. Peisner has prepared choirs for performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop, and the National Symphony Orchestras under the direction of conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Donald Runnicles, and Jeannette Sorrell.

A Bass-Baritone, Peisner has sung professionally with the choir at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, DC, hexaCollective in Baltimore, and Yale Schola Cantorum.

Peisner holds degrees from the University of Maryland, Yale University, and Wesleyan University. He lives in Wilmington with his partner, Ashik, and their handsome cat, Shochi.

BENJAMIN HORRELL, Bass

Benjamin Horrell, Bass, is a proud native of Wilmington, NC and a graduate of East Carolina University where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Education. While obtaining his degree he was a member of the internationally acclaimed ECU Chamber Singers and Opera Theater. He currently directs the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian, and he's the Choral Director at John T. Hoggard High School.

As a baritone soloist, Benjamin has performed locally with numerous church choirs, community ensembles, to include The Cape Fear Chorale, Wilmington Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.

Benjamin enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors and is an avid golfer. He has been married to his wife, Amy since 2000. They live in Wilmington along with their dog, Mollie.