Ralena Bevington
Ralena is a life-long resident of Stark County graduating from East Canton High School in 2006.   She was very active in her high school and remains active in the community. In high school, she was a member of the cheerleading squad, pep band, marching band, concert band, ECHOES Show Choir, Chorale, Rock Ensemble Vocalist, Student Council, Prom committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Academic Achievers Club, Camp Counselor, December Teen of the Month, Yearbook Staff, Akron Idol Representative from East Canton, Character Counts Choir and was the first East Canton student to be accepted into the post-secondary program for Walsh College. Her  high school on-stage musical theater performances include cast member of "Oklahoma" and "Cinderella". Her community activities include Canton Civic Opera ("Ye Ol Madarigal Feast"), Community Arts Partners, Rainbow Repertory ("Celebrate" and "Stone Soup"), and volunteer for Multi-Development Services of Stark County, Community Drop-In Center, Feed The Needy Picnic, Canton Chamber events, Canton BiCentennial, and Downtown NuZone. Nationally she is a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs and Ohio Music Collegiate Educators Association. She is a 10 year member of Stark County 4H raising & showing champion pygmy goats in the Pygmy Spirit Club, a member of the American Quarter Horse Assn, National Paint Horse Assn & National Pygmy Goat Assn. She has been a member and officer for the Just 4 Fun Variety Club and has held the President and V. President positions in the "Horse Whisperers" Horse Club from it's inception. She is also an artist and was Stark County's 4H Representative to the Ohio State Fair in Photography, Creative Writing and Expressive Art. In 2006, Ralena was chosen from performers of 5 states to perform in Cincinnati at the Agricultural Agents Convention as a vocal soloist act. This year, she is performing at the Columbus Convention Center for the Ohio 4H Teen Conference as a vocal soloist.  Ralena is now attending Mt. Union College where she is majoring in music education. In May of this year, she will be going on tour to Ireland as a member of the Mt. Union Choir where they will be performing in the Irish cathedrals. She is also a member of the Mt. Union Concert Band and Marching Band.

  
Diana Daniel
A veteran of music and dance, Diana studied such at both Ohio State and Kent State Universities; graduating with a degree in Fine and Professional Arts, and received her masters degree in business from Ashland University. Her vast theatrical experience includes two seasons with the Porthouse Theatre Company.  Productions included On the Town, Rose Marie, Wanted, and Girl of the Golden West, among others.  She choreographed several productions including Wanted, Rose Marie, and 42nd Street and worked with renowned off-Broadway choreographer Frank Coppola.  Diana’s Canton Player’s Guild experience includes Fiddler On the Roof, Stop the World I Wanna Get Off, Promises Promises, and the campy melodrama, Ten Nights in a Bar Room. Most recently, she performed in A Night on Broadway with the North Canton Playhouse.

Having studied voice under the late Ruth Lindstrom, former renowned mezzo-soprano for the New York Metropolitan Opera, Diana entered a long and varied vocal career. She traveled the United States with show groups like “The Backstreets Band” and “The Manual Ballina Show Band”; opening for such greats as comedian Jackie Mason and the legendary Sly and the Family Stone. Locally, Diana performed with bands like Reunion, Impulse, Brimstone, Trypledare, and Shazam. Of special note was her duo Diana & Dave and her tenure at the Overture Supper Club. Her vocal prowess spans across various styles from Top Forty to Broadway, Jazz and beyond. She has also done radio ads and jingles.  

Diana’s talent has allowed her to contribute to the community singing for the Cancer Society’s “Walk for Life”, chamber of commerce activities, and other volunteer social events. She is also a volunteer for LifeBanc, a bereavement organization.
 
 
Barry DeBois 
Barry is a Vocal Artist from North Canton, Ohio.  He is a GlenOak High School Alumnus, from which he received a Music Specialization and Art Specialization after studying Classical, Pop, Vocal Jazz, Musical Theatre, and various forms of choral music for 4 years, as well as Music Theory.  He went on to be a member of the Kent State Chorale.  Barry has performed in supporting and leading roles in theatres around North East Ohio.  His various credits include AIDA (Radames), GODSPELL (Jesus), THE MUSIC MAN (Jacey Squires), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW LIVE (Brad Majors), FOOTLOOSE (Jeter), GUYS AND DOLLS (Nicely Nicely Johnson), and WEST SIDE STORY (Jet).  He has sung and lead worship regularly at Grace United Methodist Church since he was very young.  From 2004 to 2006, Barry fronted the indie rock band Monophonic Mass.  He has performed with national acts ranging from Veruca Salt to Kenny Rogers.  Singing is Barry's passion, God is his lifeline, and his family is his strength!  Please visit him online at http://www.barrydebois.com
 
 
Joy Lewis-Ellis
Joy Lewis-Ellis born in Akron,Oh has been singing since the young age of four. She started out singing at church where her father was pastor, in the childrens choir and with her siblings. She has gone on to sing background on several national projects, and was a contestant on season four of American Idol. Music has always been the center of Joy's life. She became interested in theater after performing in the play Once on this Island at the Canton Players Guild, when she was twelve years old. Theater and the arts became her passion as she continued throughout High School competing on the speech team under the tutelage of Christopher Gales in drama and humorus interpretation winning state and national competitions. Joy was fourth in the Nation rendering a Humorous interpetation. Joy went on to matriculate at Livingstone College in North Carolina where she studied theater and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Some of the plays Joy has appeared in are: Before It Hits Home, Miss Evers Boys, The Wiz, The Colored Museum  and A Raisin in The Sun.  This young artist gives all glory to God, realizing that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Joy is a proud new mommy to an amazing little boy named Alston Michael.  She also owes a big thank you to her husband and best friend, Michael, for his love and support, and her mom and dad for always going above and beyond and truly making miracles happen.
 
Rose Forrester 
Rose was born and raised in Canton, Ohio and has lived here most of her life. She's a graduate of Canton South High School. Rose knew at a very young age that she wanted to be a singer and an entertainer. She started singing in her church and school choirs and then in local clubs for Karaoke contests.  She has won trips, cars and cash prizes. She was in the very first Canton Idol where she was a finalist, and she has performed in the show "Celebrate".  Her acting debut though, was in a show called "Gershwin by George", a production by Rainbow Repertory Company where she played Ethel Merman. She plans to audition for “Nashville Star”. Her Dream is to be performing on stage in front of tens of thousands of people sharing her gift and creating wonderful memories. She would also like to give thanks to God for the gift of music he has given her, and to give thanks to her family and friends for always believing in her. But especially to her mother, who without her encouragement, she might not have had the courage to stand up on stage for the very first time.

 
 
Me'Na
Me'Na dubs Canton, Ohio her home. An area steeped with tradition. With a host of eclectic entertainers hailing from the area. Walter Williams, James Ingram, Howard Hewett, and Macy Gray. Just to have your name associated with these individuals is an achievement within itself. She temporarily put aside her musical aspirations and focused on raising her family. Me'Na, a power company executive, was stricken with a rare congenital brain condition called A.V.M. She states, "it was a bomb exploding in my head!" Surviving two brain surgeries, and a lengthy recovery. After the storm. She promised the savior, to lift her voice in praise, and give God the glory!

Me'Na was introduced to a Cleveland based musical production team of the late Douglas Green, and Nathaniel Rhodes. The team took on the task of honing her vocal and acting abilities. The collaboration led to her debut at the prestigious Karamu Theater in "NO NIGGERS, NO JEWS, NO DOGS". Her voice drove the productions soundtrack to great musical heights. She also did a stint as Anne Wiggins Brown in the musical "GERSHWIN BY GEORGE". This operatic piece tested her abilities to its fullest. Which garnered critical acclaim!

Then the vocalist channeled all of her energies into the completion of her debut CD. With the aid of visionary Nathaniel Rhodes and the exceptional Bill Ransom as producers. Who decided to go with a live acoustical sound. The journey had begun. "Living My Life" is a collection of songs that convey a wide range of emotions. From the sensual "I Of The Storm". The poignant "Time". Me'Na penned the introspective title track "Living My Life". The inspirational "Journey Begins With You". The melancholy "Stoopid" is about an unintelligent situation. Some well loved standards "Summertime", "Down By The River", and "My Funny Valentine". Whether near a pulpit, or under concert lights. Her dedication is unparalleled. Realizing she is blessed! Angels have certainly set her free. Me'Na is definitely "Living Her Life".
 
 
Patty Hoy
Patty Hoy is a lifelong resident of Stark County. Patty trained with the late, renowned vocal instructor, Ruth Lindstrom, graduate of Julliard and teacher at Mt. Union College.

Patty has a 4-octave vocal range and has been singing for many years in the Northeastern Ohio area performing many styles of music including Contemporary-Top 40, Jazz, Country, Rock and Roll and  Broadway show tunes. She loves to sing many styles from “Think of Me,”  from Phantom of the Opera to “Respect,” an Aretha Franklin song, to a country song, “Blue” or “Crazy,” performed by Lee Ann Rimes and Patsy Cline, respectively.

Patty has sung as lead vocalist with Roland Paolucci, former EJ Thomas/Akron U. Musical Director and former director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Jack Halkides Jazz Group, Class of ’57 Oldies Group, Eddie Paolucci’s Orchestra, The Tim Hunt Trio, and Executive Suite Top-40 Band from Cleveland among many others. She has also performed for several General Tire (GenCorp)  National Conventions. Patty’s singing and speaking voice has been used in many radio ads and jingles.  Along with being a blessed performer, in her "spare" time, Patty writes lyrics for country music songs and is the proud loving mother of 3 great children.

 
Joseph Ledford
Joseph Ledford is a 10-year veteran of the stage, performing in everything from professional theatre to local community shows. He has appeared in such productions as Titanic, Jekyll & Hyde, Arsenic and Old Lace and Gershwin, By George, in which he played the lovable Jimmey Durante. For the past three years, Joe has portrayed the old miser Ebenezer Scrooge in the Akron production of The Gospel According To Scrooge. He has also directed and produced a number of shows and is currently writing his first musical. When not on stage, Joe makes his living as editor of local edition of The Budget newspaper in Sugarcreek. He lives in Millersburg with Mina, the drama cat. 
 
  
Amber Morrison
Amber sang her first solo at church at the tender age of four. Since then she has been in many shows throughout Stark County. Amber's first stage appearance was in the "Littlest Angel" at the North Canton Playhouse. Amber has been a member of the Canton Civic Opera's Childrens Chorus, Girl's Ensemble and VOCI and has had the opportunity to show case her talents with VOCI on several occasions. She was a member of the Blue Notes at Timken High School and the school choir. Amber is a proud new mommy of 10 month old Peter and enjoys spending her time with him.
 
 
 
 
Laurie Sovich
Laurie’s love for singing comes from growing up in a very musical family. She studied voice under Syliva Jensen and also at the Cleveland Institute of Music. After her older brothers and sister left for Las Vegas to pursue their own musical endeavors, it wasn’t long before Laurie decided to join them. She became employed at American Airlines. She began performing with a dance company called Tim Lowery Productions where she danced and was the lead vocalist. They performed at various lounges and conventions in Las Vegas. After residing in Las Vegas for five years, she was transferred back to her hometown of Cleveland, OH. She then became part of a duo group called Two’s Company and performed weekends at the Pomeroy House in Strongsville and Tony’s Nightclub out in Rocky River. She decided to try her hand at musical theater and performed in many musicals including Streets of New York, Brigadoon, Godspell and West Side Story. While performing West Side Story, she met her husband Tom with whom she has had four children. She has since been on a hiatus raising her family; and now has decided to pursue her love for the arts.
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Courtney Vignos
Courtney Vignos was raised in Canton, Ohio.  It was at the young age of 3 that she realized her dream of being a performer. She began her career by singing in local competitions and entering pageants.  Then, as she began school, she participated in many shows.  She also began to study voice with several instructors.  Throughout the years she was a featured soloist in many sch ool productions, including West Side Story, and The Sound of Music.  She also began to perform in community theatre productions, such as Ohio in Revue, School House Rock Live, and the Fantasticks.  It wasn’t until Courtney began working with Perry High School’s director, Louie Mattachione and vocal music director, Al Lucas, that she began to gain confidence in her talents.  It was then that she decided to pursue performing as a profession.  Throughout her high school years, she has performed in Footloose, Where’s Charley, Winnie the Pooh, Wolf Tales, and State Fair.  Courtney feels so blessed that she gets to share her passion and god-given gifts with people and she thanks her parents and beloved sister for the continued support in all she does.  She looks forward to giving back to the community that has given her so much over the years.