Music Ministry

Elizabeth Russo, Mezzo-Soprano 

Elizabeth Russo, mezzo-soprano resides in Danbury Connecticut and has enjoyed being a part of the music ministry as soloist and cantor at Saint Paul Parish for several years. Ms. Russo is an award winning singer who has been heard throughout Connecticut, New York City, Ohio and Florida in dramatic opera roles such as Verdi’s Amneris and Acucena; Wagner’s Waltraute, Fricka and Ortrude and Bizet’s famous Carmen. “Elizabeth Russo with a dark and voluminous mezzo, gave a sensuous account of Carmen’s Habanera” (Classical Singer Magazine 2000)As a recitalist, Elizabeth performs the great song cycles of Berlioz, Brahms, Elgar, Mahler and Schumann. In a review of her October 2004 recital the press stated: “It was in Elgar’s “Sabbath Morning at Sea” that we were first treated to the full power of Russo’s impressive voice”. 

Elizabeth won top prizes in 1998 and 1999 with Classical Productions vocal competition at the famed Weill Hall at Carnegie; was a finalist with Operafest of New Hampshire vocal competition and the Rising Star Opera Competitions of NYC.  Ms. Russo has been recognized for excellence in voice and music with three consecutive Albert P. Victor foundation Scholarship awards, and in 2003 received a James Humphreville Vocal award from Danbury Opera. 

Elizabeth is also a professional voice teacher in New York City at the Singer’s Forum Foundation and in Danbury Connecticut where she works with students of all ages and levels.

Billy Craane, Bass-Baritone

Born in New York City, Billy grew up in Long Island and Westchester, NY. A graduate of Wagner College, Billy’s experiences took him from Musical Theatre to Classical, Operatic and Oratorio roles. Billy has performed as a featured soloist as well as in large choir groups like the Riverside Choral Society, to small sextets and quartets. Billy has been a Cantor at St. Paul Parish since 1997 and has sung sacred pieces in English, Italian, German and of course Latin. When in the context of a Mass, Religious Service, Wedding or Funeral, Billy understands that the purpose of the music ministry is to help others worship and feel the presence of God. In addition to the Catholic Ministry Billy has sung for Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran and Methodist churches. Billy is Married to Jeanmarie Torres-Craane, a middle school music teacher.

Molly Davey, Soprano

Praised by The New York Times for her “brilliant technique and otherworldly shimmer…”, soprano Molly Davey has garnered acclaim for her crystalline voice and thoughtful interpretations of a remarkably varied repertoire. Ms. Davey can be heard singing the roles of Ariel in Lee Hoiby’s The Tempest and Anna Viola in Raphael Lucas’ Confession in recordings released commercially by Albany Records. She is the recipient of awards and honors from The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the New York Oratorio Society Competition, the Liederkranz Competition, and the Jenny Lind Competition. She has an M.M in Opera Performance from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College.