Robert René Galván

Conductor

René was born in San Antonio, Texas of Indigenous/Mexican heritage and is the Conductor of the Bronx Concert Singers, Peace of Heart Choir, and Manhattan Sinfonia in New York City. He was also Music Director of Highbridge Voices Youth Chorus, and Professor of Conducting and Choral Studies at the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music where he trained young conductors and directed the conservatory chorale. He was guest conductor of Florilegium Chamber Choir in Manhattan and Cappella Festiva in upstate New York. For four seasons, he was conductor of the Springfield Symphony Chorus in Massachusetts. In Texas, Galván held positions as conductor of the Austin Philharmonic, Associate Conductor of the Austin Choral Union/Austin Choral Artists, and as director of both the University Chorus and the Longhorn Singers at the University of Texas where he was awarded the Texas Excellence in Teaching Award. In addition to conducting, René is a multi-instrumentalist and published poet. He is married to the playwright Holly Hepp-Galván and has a daughter, Gina.

Featured
SHIFEE LOSACCO Steering Committee Co-Chair Shifee has sung with many choirs and has been a featured soloist in the tri-state area since 2003.  When she moved from Connecticut to Jersey City in 2018, Shifee was inspired to join the Peace

SHIFEE LOSACCO

Steering Committee Co-Chair

Shifee has sung with many choirs and has been a featured soloist in the tri-state area since 2003.  When she moved from Connecticut to Jersey City in 2018, Shifee was inspired to join the Peace of Heart Choir to share her joy of singing for those in need. Shifee was an Executive Board member for 12 years with her previous choir, so it’s no surprise that she now serves as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee navigating unchartered territory during the pandemic and steering the choir back to "normal" operations.  Shifee is happy to share her passion both as a singer and as a leader with the Peace of Heart Choir.

VIVIAN CONAN Steering Committee Co-Chair Vivian has enjoyed singing with the Peace of Heart Choir since 2007. As do many other choir members, she also takes voice lessons from the amazing Maestro René Galván. In her other life, Vivian is a lib

VIVIAN CONAN

Steering Committee Co-Chair

Vivian has enjoyed singing with the Peace of Heart Choir since 2007. As do many other choir members, she also takes voice lessons from the amazing Maestro René Galván. In her other life, Vivian is a librarian and author. Her memoir about healing from mental illness is Losing the Atmosphere.

NANCY GROSS Soprano Section Leader Nancy has been with POHC for over a decade. From 1983 to 2005, Nancy, professionally known as Nancy Monroe, sang jazz, and is a recording artist [2 CDs] with MJA Records, and a teacher who thoroughly enjoys t

NANCY GROSS

Soprano Section Leader

Nancy has been with POHC for over a decade. From 1983 to 2005, Nancy, professionally known as Nancy Monroe, sang jazz, and is a recording artist [2 CDs] with MJA Records, and a teacher who thoroughly enjoys teaching music to elementary school children.

GAIL MARINO Alto Section Co-Leader Inspired by its mission, Gail joined Peace of Heart Choir in 2013. She balances her singing and grant writing for the Choir with a career in fundraising, a spouse, a son, and the occasional ultramarathon. Ga

GAIL MARINO

Alto Section Co-Leader

Inspired by its mission, Gail joined Peace of Heart Choir in 2013. She balances her singing and grant writing for the Choir with a career in fundraising, a spouse, a son, and the occasional ultramarathon. Gail relishes the challenge of harmonizing as an Alto 2, and especially enjoys performing for the wide variety of audiences that POHC encounters through its outreach concerts.

FRAN SILVERBERG Alto Section Co-Leader Fran joined the Peace of Heart Choir in 2014. “I think music has the power to transform people, and in doing so, it has the power to transform situations - some large and some small.” - Joan Baez

FRAN SILVERBERG

Alto Section Co-Leader

Fran joined the Peace of Heart Choir in 2014.

“I think music has the power to transform people, and in doing so, it has the power to transform situations - some large and some small.” - Joan Baez

BARRY WEISS Tenor/Baritone/Bass Section Leader Barry has been with the Peace of Heart Choir since 1951, while Truman was in office. He is still waiting for the Choir to perform his favorite Music “3 B’s”: J.S. Bach, P.D.Q. Bach and Jerry Bock.

BARRY WEISS

Tenor/Baritone/Bass Section Leader

Barry has been with the Peace of Heart Choir since 1951, while Truman was in office. He is still waiting for the Choir to perform his favorite Music “3 B’s”: J.S. Bach, P.D.Q. Bach and Jerry Bock.

CARRIE WESOLOWSKI Communications Director A lifelong New Yorker, Carrie treasures the opportunity to sing multicultural music for fellow New Yorkers, relishes chronicling the joy of our audiences in her write-ups, and enjoys hosting our Cabare

CARRIE WESOLOWSKI

Communications Director

A lifelong New Yorker, Carrie treasures the opportunity to sing multicultural music for fellow New Yorkers, relishes chronicling the joy of our audiences in her write-ups, and enjoys hosting our Cabaret Nights. During the Covid pandemic, she produced/hosted two virtual Cabarets and hosted our weekly “New York Sings Along” sing-alongs on WBAI. She maintains and manages the POHC website and social media platforms. An Alto 1, Carrie joined the choir in Spring 2013 and feels so blessed to have found the choir after a period of great loss, most notably, losing her Dad to cancer. Singing with Peace of Heart Choir, especially at outreaches, is the perfect marriage of Carrie’s desire to make a difference in the lives of those who need it and her experience as a performer/her love of singing. She is galvanized by the choir’s mission of bringing joy through music.

ROBERT HORNSBY Chief Fundraising Officer Robert serves as the leader of Fundraising for both the choir’s Steering Committee and the Board of Directors. He manages the benefit concerts twice each year and he supervised the crowdfunding programs

ROBERT HORNSBY

Chief Fundraising Officer

Robert serves as the leader of Fundraising for both the choir’s Steering Committee and the Board of Directors. He manages the benefit concerts twice each year and he supervised the crowdfunding programs behind the choir’s three recorded albums. In addition, he conceived and produced “New York Sings Along,” a weekly public program in the Spring of 2020 to honor frontline workers at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Robert has been a member of the baritone section since Spring 2010.