Melinda Kirigin-Voss

Melinda Kirigin-Voss began her musical career at an early age. At age 5, she was a featured soloist on the children’s album, Small Songs for Small Fry. She later began studying piano and organ at age 7. By the time she was only 11 years old, she took over as the principal accompanist for St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and went on to become the Director of Music.

Melinda has performed with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Utah Symphony, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Marvin Hamlisch, and as a background vocalist for Broadway and London theater star Elaine Paige. Her musical theater roles include Anna in The King and I, Millie in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and she was a member of the chorus in Brigadoon. She was a featured soloist and choir member of the Utah Chamber Artists for nearly 10 years, sang with the St. Charles Singers for four years, and was a founding member of the a cappella group Two-Four-Six. Melinda also sang with the University of Utah a cappella choir throughout college.

An accomplished soloist, composer, arranger, and instrumentalist, Melinda has recorded three solo CDs and has also performed on numerous ensemble albums. Melinda is currently the Director of Music at SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Lemont, IL, and also works as a professional vocalist, pianist, and organist throughout the Chicago area. Melinda currently resides in Woodridge, IL with her husband, Michael, and son, Matthew.

Melinda is also part of An Octave Above. An Octave Above is a group of eight professional vocalists who blend years of experience and a love of a cappella harmony to every style of music they sing. From doo-wop to jazz, standards to pop, Bacharach to The Beatles, An Octave Above creates a new standard for excellence on the Chicago music scene.
Three of An Octave Above’s members also sing with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and one sings with both the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the St. Charles Singers. An Octave Above members have earned degrees in music and vocal performance from Elmhurst College, Northern Illinois University, and Bradley University.

An Octave Above has quickly established themselves as one of the hottest a cappella vocal groups in Chicago. They have competed in the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival Chicago Regionals, where they were awarded 2nd place in 2008 and 2005, and 3rd place in 2006. They sang the National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, a Chicago White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field, and a Chicago Bulls game at the United Center. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, they were the featured guest artists for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Holiday Joys” concert. In 2003, they opened for award winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival. In addition, they have been featured at performance venues including FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, Townhouse Books Café in St. Charles, and have also held private performances at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub and Skelly & Skelly’s in Forest Park, The Galleria Marchetti in Chicago, and Orchestra Hall.

Links

• An Octave Above