Soprano Bethany Gallegos, born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, began singing with The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus for their 2021–2022 season. She attended The University of New Mexico and completed her 4-year Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication & Journalism.

I am a life-long singer; I discovered my musical passion singing in the kindergarten Christmas pageant and have been singing ever since. While still in college, I began singing with the newly formed Saint Louis Symphony Chorus under the direction of Thomas Peck. After five years, my teaching duties and a new family forced me to scale back my commitment. For a few years, I sang with various community groups.

I was thrilled to eventually be invited to join the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus—a professional a cappella chorus based in Saint Louis, Missouri. I was honored to sing with them for more than two decades. Concurrently, I performed with the Ellenwood Consort, an early music ensemble under the direction of lutanist, Jeffrey Noonan.

When a cross-country move landed my husband and I in Pennsylvania for two years, I sang with the Pittsburgh Camarata. Our next move brought us to Santa Fe where I’m delighted to be singing with The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus!

When not singing, I love to travel; most trips these days are to visit far-flung family members, including our three adult children. Our youngest is carrying on the family musical tradition as a pianist and composer in the Bay Area. When not singing or traveling, I am usually “playing with fabric” and enjoying the company of other fiber artists.

LaVelle Martin grew up in a musical family. Her dad had a country western band and played engagements all over the Panhandle of Texas. He couldn’t read music, but played many instruments by ear—his specialty was the fiddle. Music has been an important and satisfying part of LaVelle’s life. She took voice lessons in high school and has participated in singing groups throughout her life. LaVelle is a retired teacher from the NM Public Schools. In 1974 she moved to Santa Fe and began singing with the Chorus of Santa Fe in 1979. When The Santa Fe Symphony decided to add a chorus she immediately joined. She has sung with us every season since.

Alto Cathy Lewis joined The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus for the 2018-2019 Season, having just moved to Santa Fe from the Bay Area with her husband Jon and their two cats. Her choral singing experience began in Portland, Maine, with her temple’s youth choir. After moving to California, Cathy joined the San Francisco Lyric Chorus, and sang with the choirs of Trinity Episcopal Church in San Francisco and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Belvedere. In 2010, she joined the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Her eight seasons there included dozens of performances, led by Michael Tilson Thomas and guest conductors such as Charles Dutoit, James Conlon, Ton Koopman, and Andras Schiff. Cathy has also sung with the San Francisco Festival Chorus at the Grand Teton Music Festival and participated in the Berkshire Choral Festival in Canterbury, U.K. Choral singing is a source of great joy for Cathy, and she is delighted to be a part of The Santa Fe Symphony Chorus.