Who We Are & What We Do
OVM is organized and promoted by singing and non-singing members who devote their time, talents, and financial support to do everything it takes on stage and behind the scenes to make the music happen. We are truly a community chorus, committed to spreading harmony and goodwill throughout Milwaukee and beyond.
Values Statement
We value creating a safe atmosphere of compassion and respect where we nurture each other’s development both personally and musically. We encourage our members to express their individuality, and we value their contributions, allowing for growth, creativity and development, both collectively and individually.
We value the important contributions of each member and the time we spend together as a group. We realize that what we are attempting to do cannot be done alone. We depend on each other to create the harmony in our music and in our community that we strive to achieve.
We value the joy of singing and making beautiful music together. We accept the challenge of working to improve our musical skills in order to provide high quality choral performance that is entertaining and honors the traditions of LGBTQ choral music.
We value the important opportunity we can provide to members and friends of the LGBTQ community and the community at-large to join us in song, to hear the harmony we create in our music, and to form working partnerships. We make these efforts in hope to build bridges of compassion, break down barriers of prejudice and ignorance, and build a foundation of equality and respect for future generations. We are aware that we live in a community larger than the LGBTQ community. We believe that our chorus and its membership should be available to participate in community service efforts. We do so to be a part of the larger community.
Diversity Statement
To support our commitment to diversity, Our Voice Milwaukee welcomes all singers regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender presentation as long as they are able to sing within the TTBB vocal range.
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Those unable to sing within the TTBB vocal range are welcome to join the chorus in non-singing membership roles.
OVM Artistic Staff
David Hein
Artistic Director
artisticdirector@ourvoicemke.org
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David Hein is the Artistic Director of Our Voice Milwaukee Chorus. Under his leadership the chorus has grown from around 18 members to over 90 active members, singing and non-singing. He is a traveling music teacher with Milwaukee Public Schools – teaching piano and voice lessons, leading choral and band sectionals, and accompanying choirs, solos, and ensembles. He also teaches at Alverno College where he directs the Alverno College Choir and teaches courses in Alverno’s Music Therapy Program. He is principal organist and sanctuary choir accompanist at The United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay. David’s music teaching spans elementary through collegiate levels; as well as private voice, piano, and organ instruction. He believes in the power of music to unite its participants, and to help audiences see the world in new ways. Says Hein, “I want audiences to see the transformative power of music beyond entertainment.” Prior positions include Artistic Director of the Fond du Lac Children’s Chorale, Assistant Professor of Music at Marian University, as well as full and part-time church music positions in Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Roman Catholic parishes. David has choral music arrangements published with Neil A. Kjos Music Company and Choristers Guild, and he has been a writer for the Choristers Guild curriculum series Of Primary Importance. He is president elect of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra board of directors, and also chairs the SSO Education Committee. He is a member of GALA Choruses (The Gay and Lesbian Choruses of America), the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, and The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. He holds music degrees from St. Olaf College and Michigan State University. David lives in Sheboygan with his husband Sam and their two pitbull rescues, Rusty and Dobson.
Lee Stovall
Assistant Artistic Director
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This season, Lee Stovall (he/him) makes his debut as OVM’s Assistant Director. He currently teaches high school vocal music and music technology at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee Public Schools. A veteran teacher of 15 years, he has taught students from 4K to college in urban, suburban, and rural school districts. His life passions are to use music to spread joy in his students and their communities and using music to break down societal barriers. Stovall is currently on the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) board as an Equity Chair, and locally he has been a part of the music expansion at Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) as the vice president for the Milwaukee Music Educators Association: in the past 5 years the number of students who have had access to music classes in MPS has increased from 19% to 92%. In addition to his duties as Assistant Artistic Director for Our Voice Milwaukee, Stovall sings professionally in the chorus for the Florentine Opera Company and Aperi Animam, and he is a professional vocal arranger, commissioning works for groups from middle school to professional Broadway revues. Outside of his current teaching position, performance schedule, and volunteer work within music education, Stovall enjoys playing volleyball, nerdy board games, and Battlebots.
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