Bella Voce

What Bella Voce does

Bella Voce is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral arts organization incorporated in Illinois and headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, founded in 1983 under the name His Majestie's Clerkes and renamed in 2001 as its repertoire broadened. It presents historically informed performances of European Renaissance and Baroque choral and chamber works alongside contemporary compositions, anchored by three performing ensembles: the Bella Voce Chorus (the flagship choir), the Bella Voce Sinfonia (a period-instrument orchestra formed in 2018), and the Bella Voce Camerata (a chamber ensemble formed in 2014 that performs one voice per part). Performance activity is accompanied by curated educational programming, notably the annual Polyphony Camp led by Artistic Director Andrew Lewis, and by scholarly-commercial initiatives such as the Expanding the Canon Project, which surfaced underrepresented Renaissance and Baroque composers and was released commercially on Centaur Records (distributed via Presto Music). The ensemble's core operational technology is historically informed performance practice — period instrumentation, scores, and stylistic conventions drawn from Cathedral Choirs of Britain — supported by St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Evanston as its primary concert venue and home of its music director.

The organization's audience is Chicago-area concertgoers with affinity for early music and choral arts, supplemented by choral learners participating in Polyphony Camp and by classical music listeners reached through national radio broadcasts on 98.7 WFMT and through YouTube programming (Listen & Learn: A Musical Journey, launched in 2020-2021). The business and revenue model combines four streams: single ticket sales and season subscriptions offering a 20% discount versus single tickets, tax-deductible charitable donations (recurring and one-time), CD and digital recording sales through Centaur Records and Presto Music, and program grant or partnership support. The production model is largely project-based, with musicians engaged per concert and a small permanent staff of 1-10 employees, led by Artistic Director Andrew Lewis (also assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and faculty at University of Illinois at Chicago), Artistic Director Emerita Anne Heider, and Managing Director Matthew Recio; governance sits with a Board of Directors led by David Lentz.

Commercially and critically, Bella Voce has operated continuously for over 40 years and currently programs its 44th season (2026-2027), marked as Andrew Lewis's 20th season at the helm. It consistently receives favorable critical coverage from Chicago Classical Review, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago On The Aisle, and maintains active partnerships with Centaur Records, Presto Music, 98.7 WFMT, the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which collectively extend its reach beyond ticket-paying live audiences into recorded, broadcast, and educational channels.

Name

Bella Voce

Legal name

Bella Voce

Website

https://bellavoce.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bella Voce is a Chicago-area 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral arts organization founded in 1983 that presents historically informed performances of early and contemporary music through three ensembles — the Chorus, Sinfonia, and Camerata — funded by ticket sales, subscriptions, donations, and recordings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts — Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Choral music performances
• Early music ensemble
• Historically informed performance
• Chamber music concerts
• Period instrument orchestra

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets and season subscriptions to concert performances. Season subscriptions offer 20% discount compared to single ticket purchases.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in Illinois. Accepts donations of any size to support musicians and operations.
3. CD and Recording Sales: Sale of recorded performances including 'Expanding the Canon' CD released on Centaur Records featuring choral works by underrepresented composers.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bella Voce is a nonprofit choral music organization that produces live concert performances of historically informed early music (Renaissance and Baroque) and contemporary works through three ensembles: the Bella Voce Chorus, the period-instrument Bella Voce Sinfonia, and the chamber Bella Voce Camerata. The organization also delivers educational programs such as Polyphony Camp and sells commercial recordings through partners including Centaur Records and Presto Music.

Product overview

Bella Voce is a Chicago-based choral music organization comprising three distinct performing ensembles: the Bella Voce Chorus (the core choir established in 1983), the Bella Voce Sinfonia (a period-instrument orchestra founded in 2018 for historically informed performances), and the Bella Voce Camerata (a chamber ensemble founded in 2014 performing one voice to a part). The organization also offers Polyphony Camp, an educational workshop program, and the Expanding the Canon Project focused on underrepresented early music composers. The ensembles present concerts featuring European Renaissance and Baroque repertoire alongside contemporary works, with recordings distributed through partners like Centaur Records.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bella Voce Sinfonia: Period-instrument orchestra formed in 2018 to advance the organization's mission and artistic vision, performing historically informed performances alongside the Chorus
• Bella Voce Camerata

Products and services

• Bella Voce Chorus The core choral ensemble of Bella Voce, established in 1983, that performs historically informed presentations of European Renaissance and Baroque repertoire alongside contemporary choral works for live audiences in the Chicago area.
• Bella Voce Sinfonia A period-instrument orchestra founded in 2018 that performs alongside the Bella Voce Chorus in historically informed performances of Baroque and Classical repertoire on historically appropriate instruments.
• Bella Voce Camerata A chamber ensemble drawn from the full Bella Voce ensemble that performs vocal works written for smaller forces — both historical and contemporary — singing one voice to a part.
• Polyphony Camp An interactive educational choral workshop led by Artistic Director Andrew Lewis that teaches participants to sing polyphony and culminates in a joint performance with Bella Voce members.
• Expanding the Canon (Recording) A commercial CD recording released on Centaur Records featuring choral works by underrepresented Renaissance and Baroque composers, including lesser-known works by Palestrina; sold through Presto Music.
• 2026-2027 Concert Season (Andy Lewis's 20th Season) Bella Voce's 44th season subscription package, comprising five mainstage programs (How to Fold the Wind, Handel's Messiah, Baltic Solstice, Polyphony Camp, The English Cathedral) available as a full-season subscription at 20% savings over individual tickets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of continuous operation as a leading early music ensemble in Chicago
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Centaur RecordscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Recording label partnership for releasing Bella Voce's choral performances commercially. Bella Voce's 'Expanding the Canon' recording is available through Centaur Records, distributing the ensemble's work to a wider audience through classical music retail channels.
• Presto MusiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline classical music retailer serving as the primary distribution channel for Bella Voce's CD recordings including 'Expanding the Canon' and other releases.
• 98.7 WFMTmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerChicago's classical music radio station. Bella Voce's performances with the Elgin Master Chorale and Elgin Symphony have been broadcast nationally on WFMT, extending reach beyond live audiences.
• Chicago Symphony ChorusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Lewis serves as assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, creating artistic connections between Bella Voce and one of Chicago's premier vocal ensembles.
• Elgin Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Lewis has appeared as guest conductor with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and Bella Voce performances have been broadcast alongside Elgin Master Chorale.
• University of Illinois at ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Lewis serves on the faculty at University of Illinois at Chicago, representing academic partnership and talent pipeline for the ensemble.
• St. Luke's Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBella Voce's home concert venue in Evanston. Andrew Lewis serves as director of music and choirmaster at St. Luke's, and the church hosts the Bella Voce Chorus, Sinfonia, and Camerata performances.
• Period Instrument MusicianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bella Voce Sinfonia comprises area's finest period instrument musicians including Martin Davids (concertmaster), performing on historically appropriate instruments for Baroque and Classical repertoire.
• Chicago Classical ReviewmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading Chicago classical music publication providing regular critical coverage and reviews of Bella Voce performances, enhancing visibility and credibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chanticleer: GRAMMY-winning professional vocal ensemble based in San Francisco, performing a wide repertoire across historical eras. Comparable in operating model as a professional vocal ensemble offering season programming, recordings, and education.
• Anonymous 4: U.S.-based female vocal quartet specializing in medieval and early-modern repertoire with historically informed performance practice. Highly comparable to Bella Voce's small-vocal-ensemble, early-music mission and concert-presentation model.
• Music of the Baroque: Chicago-based period-instrument ensemble performing Baroque and early-classical repertoire. Directly comparable to Bella Voce in mission, era of focus, and Chicago geography, even though its core offering is orchestral rather than choral.
• Apollo's Fire: Cleveland-based baroque orchestra with vocal soloists, grounded in historically informed performance practice and touring productions. Closely comparable as a U.S. period-instrument presenter with chorus-instrument collaboration like Bella Voce's Sinfonia/Chorus model.
• Stile Antico: U.K.-based professional vocal ensemble specializing in Renaissance and early Baroque polyphony with critically acclaimed recordings. Directly comparable to Bella Voce for repertoire, ensemble size, and historically informed performance practice.
• The Newberry Consort: Chicago-based early-music ensemble rooted at the Newberry Library, performing Renaissance and Baroque repertoire with theatrical and scholarly staging. Comparable as a Chicago-based early-music presenter with similar repertoire scope.

Broad incumbents

• The Sixteen: U.K.-based vocal ensemble and period-instrument orchestra founded by Harry Christophers, with a major recording catalog on CORO. Comparable in early-music vocal repertoire, historically informed practice, and a substantial touring and recording operation.
• Handel and Haydn Society: Boston-based period-instrument orchestra and chorus, one of the oldest continuously operating musical organizations in the U.S. Comparable in historically informed performance and Boston-period repertoire, but with a much larger scale, endowment, and subscription base than Bella Voce.

Regional players

• Portland Baroque Orchestra: Pacific Northwest period-instrument orchestra with chorus collaborations, performing Baroque and Classical repertoire. Comparable historically informed performance model and choral-instrument programming, but operating in a different geographic market from Bella Voce.

Emerging players

• Tenebrae: U.K.-based professional choir founded in 2001 with a growing international touring and recording profile in early and contemporary choral repertoire. Comparable to Bella Voce in vocal-ensemble focus and historically informed ethos, though younger and still scaling its recording catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=gbduH3gjlwE&list=PLvrIuMEMRRoTpaMeoxy7Q8hqy4oZ5w-WC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bella-voce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bella Voce