Annabelle Marie
With a Masters Degree in Music Education, Annabelle is a music specialist who focuses on “physical singing,” incorporating the body-voice connection into her teaching. Her diverse expertise comes from years of dedicated study. She holds a Bachelors in Music, violin performance; a Masters in Music Education with Kodaly emphasis; a full certification from legendary vocal coach Judy Davis, earned through a dedicated 4+ years of study; and grounding in choreography earned through the San Francisco School of Circus Arts.
Her pedagogy is based on the methods of Hungarian educator Zoltan Kodály who believed that song is the foundation of musical learning. This approach leverages folk music from around the world and physical movement to build music skills. Driven by a passion for generating access to quality music education, she founded the VOENA children’s choir in 1994 with a handful of eager participants. An accomplished singer, violinist, pianist, composer, arranger, and educator, Annabelle received the 2008 Jefferson Award for Community Service and has built such a sterling reputation for excellence that even Grammy Award-winning composers and conductors such as Eric Whitacre contact her directly when they need to recruit young singers for projects. Since 1994, she has led VOENA to prestigious heights, building performances that have been admired at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and abroad. She is the driver behind all VOENA programs, supported in this work by the Board and VOENA contractors.
Jeff Campitelli
Jeff Campitelli, Drummer and Percussionist, joined his first band at the age of 11, performing at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in front of 15,000 people. As a senior in high school, Jeff met and formed a band with legendary guitarist Joe Satriani, becoming world famous with 7 live concert DVDs, playing 15 Grammy nominated songs, and making 21 albums (including 3 gold and 1 platinum).
Campitelli has been selected by Rolling Stone magazine as the 50th greatest drummer of all time. He has traveled over 1 million miles and has played thousands of shows in over 40 countries.
Jeff came to VOENA years ago when his daughter Gabby Campitelli joined. For eight years, he taught VOENA BEATS until his daughter went to college. The special connection with the members and the desire to create drumming performances has brought Jeff back to be the head instructor once again!
Macayla Sedeno
Macayla Sedeno, brings twelve years of VOENA performance experience to VOENA, studying drums privately with Mike Bond who studied with studio great Matt Laug (AC/DC, Alanis Morssette, Christia Aguilera, Alice Cooper) and is currently drummer/manager of the up and coming indie-rock band Westerly. During her years with VOENA she was a member of both the Creavo ensemble and the VOENA BEATS (formerly Voices of Rhythm) drumming and percussion group under the leadership of Jeff Campitelli. She has gone on to now become assistant instructor to Campitelli. She teaches in Benicia as well as teaching the Redwood City site location.
Macayla was fortunate to travel the world with VOENA performing at Carnegie Hall (2018 and 2022), Abu Dhabi for the Crown Prince, and the Grand Ole Opry.
Macayla is passionate about motivating her students to fully embody the VOENA "Big Three". Instilling leadership and mentorship skills that translate beyond VOENA. With her ability to connect with children and anticipate each of their unique needs, she creates a fun, hard-working, and respectful learning environment, also teaching as a private tutor for members.
Gabby Campitelli
Gabby Campitelli was in VOENA for eight years. She was section leader in the choir’s Creavo ensemble, consisting of only the best singers in VOENA, and leader in the top percussion group, Voices of Rhythm II. She attends Pacific University as she works towards her degree in Music Therapy. Her father is a professional drummer and she has grown up around music her whole life. Performing in small groups, and as a solo musician playing percussion, singing, piano, and guitar, she has become an amazing artist and teacher.
Gabby has performed with the choir around the globe including the 2012 London Olympics, the Amalfi coast, Sicily, 2018 Carnegie Hall, Abu Dhabi for the Crown Prince, and featured soloist for the Split International Music Festival in Croatia. Being in VOENA has helped her with public speaking and realizing the importance of music and the arts for children.
Maximilian Burgess-Shannon
Maximilian started singing in the VOENA choir in 2011. He loves to sing and has a passion for drumming. In the choir, he studied drumming under Jeff Campitelli and Gabby Campitelli.
An accomplished percussionist with a specialty in African djembe and Irish Bodhran, Max is a private drumming tutor. He is currently section leader for our young male singers as they move through their vocal register changes and he teaches in VOENA's Music in the Schools program.
Max is known for his special way of encouraging and connecting with young audiences, making singing and drumming fun while encouraging learning vocal technique, rhythm and beat rudiments, multilingual songs, as well as harmony.
