MaryBeth Egan contributed to the accumulated school-loan burden of the members of Voce by studying music history at SUNY New Paltz, where she earned a bachelor of science degree, then by attending and graduating from City College where she received a master’s degree in education. In addition to “working it” with her musical talents and skills as a member of Voce, MaryBeth brings these gifts to her kindergarten students, using music to integrate math and literature into her classroom. She is the proud mother of three really interesting children and a frantic but cute teacup Chihuahua named GrayC. She is also the life partner of Nick and his many Italian relatives. Among her other treasured possessions are a pink Fender guitar and a remarkable number of shoes.
Stephani Moorman began her music career in 1977 as a lead singer in road bands traveling the hotel and nightclub circuits of Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. While alternating between road bands and a nursing career, Stephani married and started a family in 1984 in Alaska, soon thereafter abandoning her colorful night life. Stephani and her family left Alaska so she could study music therapy at SUNY New Paltz and live the entire 12 months of the year enjoying daylight during daytime hours. After receiving a bachelor of science degree in music therapy, Stephani worked as a music therapist/music educator for 10 years, was an adjunct professor of music therapy at SUNY, and, with Voce member Marie Lysandrou, co-created Shake, Rattle and Sing, a music education program for infants and toddlers. Stephani earned a master’s degree in education in 2001 and teaches high school biology. Her two children are now away at college and she and husband John share their empty nest. Stephani is an avid and accomplished quilter, yet she still finds time to socialize, accumulate more factual tidbits than a top Jeopardy! contestant, and use power tools to fix and build stuff.
Marie Lysandrou began her music career singing in church choirs during her teenage years and throughout high school. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from the State University of New York at New Paltz and went on to provide music therapy services for agencies such as REHAB Programs, Inc., and United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Having sworn she would never teach because she “just didn’t understand kids,” she co-created a music school for young children and promptly fell in love with children and education. She has been an educator since 1997 and, after a successful 10-year run with Shake, Rattle and Sing, Marie went back to school and earned a masters degree in education from Long Island University. In addition to her work in music and education, she continues to facilitate training for administrators and other teachers who want to integrate music therapy principles into their curriculums. She currently teaches first grade while singing (not a misplaced modifier—she incorporates music in the classroom to facilitate learning). Her background and experience also have allowed her to successfully teach her black Labrador Retriever, Riley, to stop jumping on people and eating their shoes. He is now a good boy. A favorite pastime is sailing her boat, Imagine, with life partner Reisa.
email: voicesofvoce@yahoo.com
Iris Goliger was born to a life of music. As the daughter of musician Joseph Goliger—also known as Joe Gardner in the Catskills music circuit where he performed with his orchestra—Iris was immersed during childhood in the performances of popular crooners such as Tony Martin and Jerry Vale. So great was the influence of these gifted singers that Iris emulated their vocal ranges—baritones and tenors—and can now hit notes way to left of middle C. This earned her the coveted role of female bass with Voce. In addition to her exposure to popular standards of the 1940s and ’50s, her music education included the study of classical piano and voice. Over the past several years, having grown weary of the hard work and study of music, Iris took a break and earned a doctorate in clinical child psychology and a postdoctoral degree in adolescent and family psychology. During that same break, she spent time raising two award-winning children and top show dogs. She still has the children, the German Shorthaired Pointers, and husband Irwin, as well as a nice day job as a school administrator.
Joanne Still has been performing since she learned “Doggie in the Window” at age 2. Buoyed by the enthusiastic responses of audiences in five states (most of whose names started with “Aunt”), Joanne has never stopped singing. At age 10, she began to play the ukulele she received for Christmas instead of the drum set she had asked for. A few years later, she picked up the guitar and developed a large repertoire of tortured folk songs and war protest music. She is an exceptional parodist and has written scores of new lyrics to popular songs that people once enjoyed but now just laugh at. In addition to singing with Voce, Joanne’s myriad other activities include entertaining at “Campfire Nights” at the Mohonk Mountain House and working as a freelance writer/editor specializing in clinical medicine and home decorating (she is proud that her name can be Googled because of the two decorating books she authored). She has spent the last quarter-century with life partner Mary, and together they have spent their last five years spoiling their Labrador Retriever, Truman Capote.