Marianne Shenouda

I have been in choir for 3 years and it taught me the beauty of praising God. It is touching to see how you can spread God's word through such simple means and still have a glorious impact on people.

Monica Azer

I have been with the Orlando choir for about three years and have greatly enjoyed every minute of it. I hope to continue singing with the choir and working with my amazing friends for one common purpose: To praise God.

Sarah Menias

I've been in choir for 4 years. I actually really enjoy it, I feel like it has brought me closer to God mentally and spiritually. I enjoy connecting with God through singing.

Christine Fikry

I have been with the choir for about four years. I really have enjoyed every second of it. Not only have I formed stronger friendships with the other girls in the choir, but also I feel like I've found my own way to praise God. To me, singing is one of the strongest forms of prayers and I find peace in meditating on the words of all the songs we sing. With Tim's help I have learned to have patience and always strive to do my best, because that is what we should give to God.

Maryam mishrigi

I joined choir around middle school, when it started getting serious and we were doing performances and practicing weekly. I have been in the church choir ever since I can remember, when we did plays for holidays, and when we sang to audiences.  

I learned how to praise God with a full heart and soul, and how to accept others' criticisms the most. Being with a group of people can be very helpful, and when we are all praising the lord, he blesses us and our message so much and our songs get carried out very meaningfully. 

Ive benefitted so much because when I'm stressed or nervous or too tired to pray, song is my way of winding down and singing my heart out. It has built up a confidence to show the world the goodness of the lord, and teach them how to praise with their hearts lifted up. Overall, it has been an amazing experience.

Monica Kalleeny

My name is Monica Kalleeny and I've been a part of Voices of Joy Choir for umm....forever? (wow possibly close to 11 years) You think it would get old to us by now but it has not, because like the rest of the group has said, we sing for one unifying purpose alone and that is to PRAISE. We may lose track of our purpose sometimes, but we always come back realizing our success and talent is a blessing GIVEN to us from God and can be used in many beautiful ways. Many may overlook it as being a service, but all the while it can be the most impacting, because praise is one of the most captivating and powerful forms of worship. We were always taught "If you truly feel what you sing, then others will feel what you sing". 

O and thanks to all those long choir practices, when we make it to Heaven (ensha allah), we will be used to singing all day =) 

Tim Hanna

My name is Tim Hanna. First, I want to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for allowing me to use a talent that He bestowed upon me to the glory of His name. It has been 10 years since I joined our church choir and for that, I thank tant Ivoone Mansour. She's the one that encouraged me to join the choir and whenever I would slack she would make sure I got back on track. I was 22 years old at the time facing many distractions.

However, I realized how much joy and peace I experienced when I immersed myself in worshipping God in song. When I sing to the Lord, I feel the Holy Spirit moving me at the core that sometimes I breakdown in tears. The feeling is so heavenly that I want everyone in the world to experience the same thing. I believe if you do, you would never want to stop that feeling which comes from praising God.

I never had any formal training of any kind regarding music, singing, or song writing. However, I was willing to let the Lord use me and guide my service so that I would continue to experience those moments of closeness to Him. The more I worked in the choir, the more I felt the Holy Spirit's presence around me and in me. Over the last 10 years, choir performances were put together, music was arranged, songs were written, and musicals were performed by a group of young people who know nothing about the subject at hand. O yes and two CDs were recorded. The hand of God is undeniably present.

I am blessed to have such a talented group to work with. All the credit really goes to them. They whole heartedly want to praise God and I believe they experience the same joy and peace I mentioned earlier. I want to thank our priests, Fr. Shenouda Kalleeny and Fr. Dauood Tawadros who have nurtured this choir and continue to value and support its service. To all the parents that encourage their kids to this day to take part and contribute in this choir; may God bless you.

To all the Coptic churches and Coptic congregations around the world who have supported us through financial donations, CD purchases, prayers, and very encouraging words; may God bless you and grant that you may draw closer and closer to Him. Last but certainly not least, a special thanks to our beloved bishop, Anba Youssef. He has been and continues to be instrumental to our service. Even though he is not with us all the time, his prayers, guidance, advice, and continuous encouragement are always there at the right time. I'd like to close by quoting him from the words he prepared as the introduction track to our first CD “Glory.”

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.

Our father David the profit says in psalm 147; praise the Lord for it is good to sing praises to our God, for it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.” 

Praising God is the highest form of prayer. It is the natural response of the soul before the glory of God. Praising God is a spiritual expression of joy and it fills the heart with peace and gladness. Praising God is a fellowship with the seraphim who are standing before the throne of God glorifying Him without ceasing and saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts. Praising God is going to be our service and worship in the eternal life.

It is my pleasure to introduce to you the first CD Glory presented by “voices of joy choir” of St. Mary and Archangel Michael church Orlando, Florida.

May the Lord use this CD to the Glory of His holy name and fill our hearts with His praises always. Through the intercessions of St. Mary the mother of God and through the prayers of Archangel Michael and the prayers of our beloved father His Holiness Pope Shenouda the third and Glory be to God forever. Amen.”

Mary-Ellen Girgis

I have had a lot of fun being a part of the choir. I took great pleasure in working with Tim as our director. He knew which songs to pick, helped us all to give our best, and was as fair as possible.

Marina Tawadrous

I joined Voices of Joy choir about 5 years ago under the guidance of Tim and Taunt Yvonne, our coordinators. I grew in many different ways, spiritually; from long practices with those who are more than family, to performances in front of hundreds of people, to introducing our choir to the world through 2 CD's, and back again to long (occasionally last minute) practices, more advanced enjoyable performances, and God willing to our 3rd Voices of Joy production.

The choir has definitely been a great part of our lives. We sometimes tend to push Tim's buttons, but not as much as he does nag us day after day to come to practice (which works Tim, don't get me wrong!). Thanks to our servants for all your hard work and effort into making us the best choir all around. We love you and we love all our brothers and sisters in the choir and through God's grace, we can't wait to grow and expand and further combine our ideas to continue impacting each other's lives as well as those who experience God's love through us.  

SHOUT OUT TO ALL MA GIRLSSS- MONICA M, MARYAM, TINA, MONICA A, MONICA K, MONICA M, MARYANNE, SARAH Z, SARA M, SANDY, MARYELLEN, MARINA H, ANGIE, MERNA, RINA AKA PINKY, MOORA, MARY............MATT! love you guys=)

Eriny Abraham

I've been in choir for as long as I can remember lol. (probably somewhere around 9 years or so). I love choir because it brings all our youth together as a unit no matter where school has taken us. :) It's been a part of my childhood as well as a steady uniting factor throughout life's changes. Tim's awesome, and I've learned patience, patience, patience, and teamwork. I love love love all my girls in choir (and the few guys), and I miss you all!

Merna Abraham

I have been a part of the Voices of Joy for about 8 years. I began as a freshman in high school and I am currently a senior in college. My involvement with the choir has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We not only learn different vocal techniques to improve on individual levels, but we also learn how  
to manipulate our voices to work in a group. Tim's amazing teaching and creativity with the Voices of Joy has kept our involvement exciting and enriching. Through the Voices of Joy, the choir has become a family of close friends.

Marina Hakim

In my years of choir I have learned a lot. It really had me grow spiritually and mentally. Spiritually it made me get closer to God as well as praise him. Mentally it gave me patience and how to get along with many and be as one. Those years have been a very enjoyable experience and I hope to keep going with it.

Mina Tawadros

Kirollos Mikhael

Raoof Ibrahim

Moora Ibrahim

Barbara Hanna

Karen Fikry

Sally Zakhary

Sara Zakhary

Amanda Morgan

Miranda Azer

Yvonne Mansour