About – Great River Voices

EMPOWER | ENGAGE | INSPIRE

OUR VISION:

To be a community leader of inclusion and vocal excellence in Kentuckiana.

OUR MISSION:

To bring together a diverse group of people who share the love of vocal music, and to create a comfortable and encouraging space where they can feel empowered to take risks, to learn, and to grow together in harmony.

To be welcoming to all members of the community, including those who have been marginalized and underrepresented, which is reflected in the ways we speak, interact, and perform. To engage with and enrich our local communities through performances and service.

To put on performances that are entertaining and emotional, while always striving to reach higher levels of emotional and musical proficiency and excellence.

Barbershop Harmony Society Chorus Contest, Cleveland, OH, July 6, 2024 | Great River Voices placed 16th in the world overall.

ABOUT GREAT RIVER VOICES:

Great River Voices (GRV) is an all-voices chorus led by Drew Wheaton in the Louisville metro area. GRV began in the Spring of 2023 with the goal of empowering, engaging with, and inspiring people; especially those historically underrepresented or marginalized. Through music, education, service, allyship, and other means, we support our communities and chorus members because we believe that is the pathway to equity for all people. GRV also believes in having diversity in its music selection, singing music from various styles including barbershop harmony, contemporary a cappella, traditional choral music, and more.

In October of 2023, Great River Voices competed in their first Cardinal District (Kentucky and Indiana) competition and became the first all-voices chorus to win the Cardinal District Chorus Championship and qualified to compete at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Chorus competition in Cleveland, Ohio in July of 2024—GRV placed 16th out of 35 choruses overall.

While the members of GRV pride themselves in not using competition success on its own to gauge the success of the chorus, we intend to use these opportunities to spread our message of inclusivity, musical excellence, and emotional vulnerability.

Drew Wheaton

GREAT RIVER VOICES, ARTISTIC AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Learn More About Drew

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Hannah Nitzken
Secretary: Bailey Krause
Treasurer: Michelle Cobin
VP Chapter Engagement: Amanda Kendall

VP Development: Sarah Lee
VP Marketing & PR: Nico Botones
VP Community Involvement: Stephen Burke
Board Members-at-Large: Dee Elliott, Jeremy O’Brien

Josh O’Brien

Chorus Manager

MUSIC TEAM

Tenor Section Leader: Lisa Pigman
Lead Section Leader: Dan Delaney
Bass Section Leader: Nico Botones
Baritone Section Leader: Josh O’Brien
JEDI Council Member: Ben Vivona

JEDI Council

(Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)

The JEDI Council champions Justice, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion as a core part of Great River Voices. This committee exists to help foster a culture where every singer feels seen, heard, and valued. The council creates a space where people of all backgrounds can learn, grow, and make music together in true harmony. At its heart, the Council is about listening, learning, and lifting up voices from across our community.

The JEDI Council brings this mission to life through ongoing engagement and conversation, including:

Sharing resources and insights that deepen understanding

Leading discussions or short presentations

Hosting themed events, spirit days, and community-building activities

Creating and sharing educational content

Ensuring a wide range of perspectives are present in conversations that shape our chorus