TESTIMONIALS

“Maggie Wheeler taught a brilliant workshop for me and she changed lives. Seriously. Her energy, talent and generosity are beyond compare.” – Anna Deveare Smith – Actress, playwrite, recipient of Macarthur Fellowship

“Maggie Wheeler has taught workshops and led choral singing at the Omega Institute for many years. Her work is nothing short of miraculous. She can take a group of people at all levels of singing ability and through the force of her infectious enthusiasm – turn them into a harmonious choir. I don’t know who benefits the most-those of us who get to listen, or those in the choir who experience the creative joy of making music together.” – Elizabeth Lesser, Co-founder of Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY

“My name is Rafael Lopez Barrantes. I am the Associate Director of Performance at the School of Theatre at California School of the Arts where I teach Roy Hart Theatre based extended vocal range techniques, both to the graduate and undergraduate programs. I have had the pleasure of knowing Maggie Wheeler since 2009. Ever since that time I have been fortunate to have found many ways to collaborate with her. Maggie Wheeler is an exceptional master teacher, artist and community gatherer.

Maggie’s generosity in sharing her teaching, her patience and the absolute non judgmental approach she takes, makes every single participant feel at ease.

Her unquestionable love for singing and people, her knowledge and dynamic professionalism have been exceptional for my students at CalArts . Their voices and listening abilities have grown as a result of her classes. It is always a very profound and rich experience for each one of them both as individuals and as a group.

Maggie has performed several times at the opening celebration that beginning our school year, with more than 300 hundred students. It has been an honor to host Maggie Wheeler & Arnaé Batson together as collaborative teaching artists in our yearly symposium at CalArts “House of Voices.” – Rafael Lopez-Barrantes, California Institute of the Arts Theater School Voice Faculty: “Barrantes Voice System”

“Maggie Wheeler and Arnaé Batson took us on a musical journey from African to Gospel to Folk to Heart songs. We experienced flavors for each palette and we were deeply nourished in both heart and our soul. I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to gather with such a large community of like-minded fellow-singers and to experience the richness and depth of sound available when 90+ voices join together to create music and rhythms in harmony as one.” – N. Self

“Pure bliss. Maggie and Arnaé were so inspiring and the room was filled with joy and tears as our hearts were lifted in song, again and again.” – J. Greenfield

“Sometimes in one’s day-to-day life, it can be easy to lose awareness of magic. Routines and stresses can become the focus all too easily. Singing with Maggie and the Golden Bridge Choir brings back the magic. On Sunday when its time to sing, I can’t think of anything BUT magic and I become filled with a high that only communing in song can give. I’d never been a singer or part of a choir before, but the moment I felt the music move through my body, I was hooked. It is clear that Maggie has a strong intention with this choir. And that intention attracts like-minded people who celebrate life, love and connection. It is truly special and I am deeply grateful to be a part of it.” – S. Young

“I have had the pleasure of working with Arnae Batson and Maggie Wheeler throughout the pandemic, working with them as song leaders, hosts and collaborators for different virtual events. They are both amazing people who have given the gift of their voices, compositions and presence to so many communities, offering much-needed healing and connection throughout these past tough months. In every context, they blend professionalism, joy and music to create spaces in which all-ages people from around the globe can come together to revel in the importance of shared musical community.” – Jo Rasi, Daily Antidote of Song