Bella Sorella

LOS ANGELES MUSIC AWARDS VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR Hollywood F.A.M.E. INDEPENDANT VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEARBella Sorella – Nova and Susanna Jiménez (sopranos) and Shinobu Kameyama (piano) – is a soprano ensemble that combines classical and contemporary styles in melodic and powerful duets. Bella Sorella’s unique music, magnetic stage presence, and remarkable personal story has earned them acclaim and recognition throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and abroad. Bella Sorella officially formed in the fall of 2005 but has been years in the making. What they’ve accomplished since releasing their debut CD, “Popera” is nothing less than remarkable. With music that spans more than 300 years and includes six languages, “Popera” has sold nearly 1,000 copies and is available in Tower Records stores throughout California and Oregon. Bella Sorella has also dazzled audiences in live performances at venues that include The Empire Plush Room, The San José Italian Festa, Saint Joseph Cathedral’s Season of Hope Concert Series, The Little Fox Theater, Villa Montalvo, and AT&T Park. In June of 2006, Bella Sorella traveled to Nagoya, Japan where they were featured musicians at the Italian Villaggio. Bay Area television and radio audiences have also enjoyed Bella Sorella’s music. They have given live performances on The Bruce Latimer Show, the longest-running television variety show in the U.S., KPIG radio’s “Please Stand By,” KKUP’s “Friday Folk Off” and “Human Voice Show,” and they appeared on KZSU’s “Mixed-Up Class” show. These radio stations also give Bella Sorella’s music regular air play. Bella Sorella has a friendship that is unique as their music. Fate brought Nova and Susanna together as roommates during their freshman year at University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California. As vocal performance majors, they shared the same class schedule, were roommates, and their common love of music made Nova and Susanna best friends. They began spontaneously singing songs with two part harmony during breaks from long hours of study. Nova and Susanna were excited by their unique sound. They began to search the library for opera and art song duet repertoire and first performed together during a recital, at which they sang the famous Lakmé duet. After college, Nova and Susanna went on to pursue separate music careers, but planned to attend graduate school. Two years later, fate brought them together again, this time at the renowned New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. During their graduate studies, as in college, Nova and Susanna were roommates and best friends. While carrying a full load of classes, taking voice lessons, and rehearsing for opera productions, they made ends meet by working the 6:00am shift at a local café in Boston’s Back Bay. They often sang during their shifts, and customers began requesting songs. These occasional, impromptu performances soon turned into regular one-hour salon concerts for audiences that packed the store on Sunday afternoons. Not long after, Nova and Susanna debuted at Boston’s famous Hatch Shell theater as part of Classical WCRB’s Summer Concert Series. Shortly after this concert, Susanna moved back to California while Nova remained on the East Coast. They pursued singing careers independent of one another, but nothing provided the joy that they found in singing together. Nova came back to the West Coast to join Susanna in forming Bella Sorella. The marriage of Nova’s and Susanna’s voices mirrors their personal life. Nova and Susanna married brothers, hence the name, Bella Sorella, or, “Beautiful Sister.” It was also fate that brought Shinobu Kameyama, an accomplished pianist from Japan, to Bella Sorella. Shinobu worked with Susanna during a production of the opera, Cosi fan tutte and soon after began rehearsing with Bella Sorella. After collaborating on “Popera,” Nova, Susanna, and Shinobu grew to be dear friends. It became clear that Shinobu’s relentless pursuit of technical perfection live up to her name’s English translation – “great will.” In the winter of 2006, Shinobu completed Bella Sorella by officially joining the ensemble. While fate brought Nova, Susanna, and Shinobu together, their friendship and love of music keeps them together. From their time in college, to their 6am work shifts, and to Japan and back, Nova, Susanna, and Shinobu have been constant companions – “Campagna tua, compagna m’avrai”. This Italian phrase comes from the opera, Norma and means, “Truly I’ll prove to you a companion”. Bella Sorella’s music reflects the special companionship, love, and friendship Nova, Susanna, and Shinobu share.