Manda Stretch- Personal Motto since 1984: “if it’s out of reach…

S t r e t c h ! ! ! Manda has been a professional Muse for most of her life. Her personal goals include being an inspiration to herself and others. Growing up in Keene, New Hampshire is where she first learned that she could sing with a Jazz band and front a Gospel choir; play witches, fairies and Hispanic roles in musicals; win choral and classical awards for voice, and more. Her addiction to self-discovery continued as she went on to attend Emerson College in Boston for Theater Production. Here, she happily got the chance to Stage-manage a major production every season- as well as perform, direct; and design/create sets, props, lights and costumes. (Oh, and where she almost met/probably did meet Miss Carrie Wykoff at some point without knowing it) Next stop, New York , for many more adventures in theatrics, spirituality and karaoke contests. Manda came to New York fresh out of college in 1992, and has called it “home” for 13, “life-altering” years. This city is the stage where she managed to create and host several open mics, as well as co-create an alternative rock band as its percussionist and harmony goddess. In 1998, she joined Circle of Soul in its infancy and remains a loyal founding member. She also continues to work events and take numerous trainings at a holistic learning center, helps to coordinate retreats in Italy and much more. Currently, she is in her second year of Seminary to become an Interfaith Minister; she writes, produces and performs her own songs & CD’s; she teaches workshops in energetic performance, voice and artistic expression; entertains for outreach programs, family events and kid’s parties; has her own line of designer hair flowers; and insists on a daily practice of Gratitude, exploration, discovery and Song. Personal Quote since 2005: “Life’s a Long Song… so sing out loud, and sing out strong… love much, laugh often…and don’t forget to dance!” For more information about Manda's solo music please press HERE.

Chanda Rule - Chanda began her professional career as an artist in

musical theater, appearing in a variety of

productions, from Shakespeare in the Park in New Jersey, to Hair, The Musical in Europe . She has sung as a guest artist along side internationally acclaimed musicians Mino Cinelu, Papo Vasquez and John Benitez, recently opened for Regina Belle & The Whispers at Irvington New Jersey ’s Summer Music festival, India.Arie at Chicago ’s Peace Jam, legendary recording artist Angela Bofill at New Jersey 's Summer in the Zone jazz festival, and also opened for Grammy award winning recording artist Amel Larrieux at The Au Bar and Jazz Club in New York . Winner of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Talent Search contest, and guest artist in WBAI’s all day women's programming for International Women's Day, Chanda has performed as a featured vocalist at Birdland, Le-Club in Moscow , Hard Rock Café, and the Jazz Standard. Her love of performing arts led her to compose music for several dance companies and post-modern dance videos that aired on the Manhattan Networks, and she is a regular soloist with Ase Dance Company, a folkloric dance company based in New York . Chanda was also invited to attend and perform at the first Universal Sacred Music conference at Peace Village in New York , co-created a world fusion music project with traditional Gaelic musicians in Ireland , and has toured Germany , Switzerland, and Italy , singing with the Golden Gospel Singers and leading workshops on the African roots of Gospel music. She has also recently performed as a guest artist with Osubi Craig and Prophecy Music

Project at the Bethlehem Musikfest, University of Maryland – College Park , and Widner University . A life seeker and an Interfaith minister, Chanda has led Gospel Kirtan at Be Yoga, The New York Open Center , and One Spirit Learning Alliance . For more information about Chandas solo music please press HERE.

Arie Thompson- Arie Thompson is an artist who works in all media. She currently lives in a state of movement, surrender and ecstasy. She has been performing on stage since her childhood in St. Louis and continued to explore the theatre through her years at the University of Chicago where she received a BA in a personally sculpted major that included Theatre, Literature, and Cultural Studies. After traveling and working overseas (directing, translating and acting in plays in London and Paris), she hung out in Chicago for a while where she became a teacher, a critically acclaimed actress, a playwright and a founding member of the award winning performance collective Black Sphota Cocoon. One day during the intermission of a matinee, Arie went outside, looked at the sky and knew that she needed to move to New York. In New York, Arie has expanded exponentially: She has studied dance intensively (Dunham technique), continued to act on stage (from Fringe to Shakespeare in the Park), taught in New York City Public shools as an Artist in Residence, worked extensively as a hands on healer, developed an exquisite yoga practice that includes teaching, and gone back to school for studio art (painting and sculpture). Finding and being found by Circle of Soul has brought Arie back to her heart’s desire to sing and celebrate the joy she feels in being here. Coming together in creative ritual continuously inspires and renews her. She recently returned from a transformative journey of healing and creativity in Bali and Thailand. Her current projects include a continuing series of site-specific performance art / installation pieces, recording her first album, launching her line of flower essences and natural living products as The Reverend Mistress Hummingbird, and diving deeper into the magic and mystery of love.

Gwen Goldsmith- is an interfaith minister, actor, singer, dancer, musician, director, producer, writer, coach and visual artist (creating photography, collage and jewelry design). An honors graduate from NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of Arts, Gwen has worked in theater Off-Broadway and regionally; in film, television and radio for over twenty years. She is grateful to have studied with some of the greats including E. Katherine Kerr, Elizabeth Swados, Nat Horne and Anna Sokolow. "Thank you, Gene Kelly, I feel you watching over me." A member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, Gwen’s experiences on film sets inspired her to pursue a career behind the camera as well. A member of CineWomen, she produced the Indy film, “Vespertine” for Showtime, which aired in 2003. Her documentary on the artist Amado Pena (shot in Santa Fe , Arizona and Utah ), is in post-production, festival-bound. Gwen works one-on-one, counseling others on issues related to spirituality, sobriety and creativity; utilizing body work, prayer and art in the process. Chanting with Circle of Soul has been a healing experience for Gwen. Her prayer is to be a channel of Goddess energy and to choose love over fear, One Day at a Time.

Ingrid Marcroft- Ingrid spent her childhood in Hamburg, Germany, and moved to Teaneck, NJ, when she was eight years old. She started singing in public soon after. Her mother tells her that when she saw a rock band play for the very first time in her life, she said, “I wanna do THAT when I grow up!” She started “serious” classical vocal studies in high school and college in the 1980's, sang in a few bands, several a capella ensembles, recorded a demo with a crazy band in Paris, sang with another band in all the usual Greenwich Village clubs in 1990, recorded some more songs, sang at Club Med in Guadeloupe back when she was a G.O. in 1990-91, and then… silence. Until 2002, when she surprised everyone at her own wedding and sang a song to her beloved, Stephan Kolbert. The spell was broken, and her dream of singing joyful, playful, experimental and loving songs came true when she was invited to join Circle of Soul in March of 2005. Ingrid is one of those New York multitaskers: she’ll be ordained as an interfaith minister in June 2006 by One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, she’s pursuing a combined Masters/Doctor of Ministry degree from Wisdom University and, among other things, she does energy healing, bodyworking, feng shui consulting, editing, writing, translating and voice-overs and is currently helping to create a holistic learning and living center in Michigan. Whew. She’s so grateful to her beloved helpmate and playmate, Stephan, for being with her for every step of the journey, and to Circle of Soul, for grounding her with music, joy, laughter and the love… What an extraordinary universe it is!

Maiya O- Bio to come

Dina Scalone- Mother, Wife, Songstress, Human! 
Dina finds and shares peace through song, movement and stillness. She is presently the Executive Director of the Lineage Project, a NYC-based organization whose mission is to bring awareness-based practice, such as yoga and meditation, to incarcerated youth. She is also the mother of Maximilian, who has expanded her capacity to love and be loved beyond her wildest dreams.

Rachel Scott- Originally from New Hampshire , Rachel spent a large part of her early childhood running through the woods and getting dirty. As she grew up, she investigated the inside of buildings and was constantly involved in theatre and musical theatre. She started taking voice lessons when she was about nine and continued with varied consistency until about 26. At seventeen she went to Columbia University , which brought her to the big city for the first time. She was a double major in Theatre and English, and had a blast trying to cram every extracurricular event into her schedule. After college, she stayed in New York for four years playing in the off-off Broadway scene as an actor, director, and writer. She received her MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, then came on back to New York to play some more. Only happy when she's learning, she spent the last three years becoming a yoga teacher. However, she stopped taking voice lessons because all the technique was jamming up her connection to her real voice. Other accomplishments include becoming a scuba divemaster, producing Cryptozoological Pen, playing the flute, writing a novel, rollerblading in NYC (which is pretty darn treacherous) and playing Myst. A Neo-Renaissance woman, she strives to get a little taste of everything. She is engaged and planning on taking the next leap in her life by moving with her honey Gabriel to Vancouver this summer. She is deeply grateful to Circle and to Carrie for providing a safe, nurturing, accepting, truth-revealing, goddess-hailing community to be herself and sound the depths. 

Circle of Soul Sisters who are exploring the world:

Shonali Banerjee- Shonali has been singing and dancing since she first wiggled her way out of the womb. From the moment she could reach the keys, she studied classical piano. She enjoyed the spotlight so much that she made her way to Syracuse University, where she received her B.F.A. in Drama. Upon moving to NYC almost five years ago, she joined the Circle of Soul in its infant days, and has been an active member ever since. For Shonali, Circle of Soul has given her the opportunity to connect the powers of musical expression with spirit, performance, and the community around her. Music manifests change, joy, and hope!!! Shonali wants to thank the Circle of Soul for all the love. Shonali is currently living in Paris with her husband Steven and is working as a full time yoga teacher. She is eternally grateful to her husband, family and friends for their endless support.