A Cabbello - is comprised of 16 uniquely talented singers that have auditioned and been selected for their exceptional voices and their performance qualities. Take a few minutes and enjoy getting to know these beautiful men, our BelloGents, who volunteer to share their time and talents with you and our desert oasis community.
As well, meet our dynamic leadership team that serves them. Linda Moran’s path crossed with Rich Cook (our founding Artistic Director) and these phenomenal men in 2019. She began as our staging director and is thrilled and honored to accept the position of Artistic Director in 2022. Partnering with Kurt Kelley, an incredibly brilliant and dynamic music director, who is an accomplished baritone who sang in our group for several seasons before stepping into this new role.
To be a visionary artist, one must be open to the journey and allow oneself to grow, change, adapt, and find inspiration when different influences and life circumstances are presented. A Cabbello strives to creatively challenge our men and take you, our audience on a fun and entertaining journey with every performance each season. Enjoy!
As well, meet our dynamic leadership team that serves them. Linda Moran’s path crossed with Rich Cook (our founding Artistic Director) and these phenomenal men in 2019. She began as our staging director and is thrilled and honored to accept the position of Artistic Director in 2022. Partnering with Kurt Kelley, an incredibly brilliant and dynamic music director, who is an accomplished baritone who sang in our group for several seasons before stepping into this new role.
To be a visionary artist, one must be open to the journey and allow oneself to grow, change, adapt, and find inspiration when different influences and life circumstances are presented. A Cabbello strives to creatively challenge our men and take you, our audience on a fun and entertaining journey with every performance each season. Enjoy!
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Linda Moran (Artistic Director) – Linda’s journey began as a teen, dancing as Mary Poppins in Disneyland parades, can-canning at Knott’s Berry Farm, a regular on American Bandstand and numerous community theatre productions. Linda learned ‘how to work a show’ performing a year - 6 days a week, 2 shows a night, 3 shows on Saturday as a Bluebell Showgirl and swing in Don Arden’s Hallelujah Hollywood at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Then on to C’est Magnifique at the Americana in Miami. ‘Those were the days my friend, and we always think they will never end.’
Unfortunately, a life-changing fall off a set piece during rehearsal, resulted in a spinal fusion and Linda woke up paralyzed. After extensive therapy, she defied the odds and not only began to walk again, but fought to kick up her heels. Auditioning and returning to the stage, in New York, only to find her back would not hold up to the rigors of performing was devastating. Learning to shift the picture of her life’s dream as a professional dancer taught Linda resilience and how to turn her passion for dance into other arts areas. A myriad of exciting directions developed: theatrical stage director, choreographer, Hollywood casting director and university professor, public educator and Director of Business Development. Reflecting, she has been involved in 250+ musical theatre productions from coast to coast. She has had the privilege of coaching Broadway, TV & film actors and dancers, as well as, a co-creator of Arroyo Vista Children’s Theater. Linda also found in the corporate environment, labels may be different from theatrical terms, but foundational concepts were the same. Compelling communication, credibility, overcoming obstacles and establishing relationships were key to achieving results. Founding her own company, Theatrical Tapestry, and creating success with national companies over 25+ years in a variety of industries brings her a wealth of experience as a renowned facilitator, performance coach and a motivating, engaging guest speaker. |
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Kurt Kelley (Music Director/Conductor) – is honored and delighted to be leading this incredible group of men, some of the finest singers in the area. This production marks his debut as Music Director and Producer, collaborating with Artistic Director, Linda Moran. Gratitude to our founder and friend, Rich Cook; and thanks to these incredible men–our musical journey has only begun and I can’t think of better travel companions!
Since arriving in the desert Kurt has sung with A Cabbello, and the Palm Springs Men’s Chorus. Previous professional singing experiences with The St. George Choral Society in New York City, and the Nebraska Choral Arts Society in Omaha. He served as the Vocal and Choral Music instructor at Fordham High School for the Arts in NYC. He was and continues to be in-demand as a professional pianist, conductor, accompanist, church musician, vocal coach and music director. Kurt has an extensive musical theater and musical direction background, working with performers at every level of ability and experience, from Regional and Off-Broadway and Cabarets, to college, community and high school theater. He is most proud of his contributions to the award-winning Drama Club at Nyack High School (NY). Past productions there include the first-ever non-professional pilot production of Phantom of the Opera, as well as Titanic, Cats, Parade, Xanadu, Big River, My Favorite Year and a host of others. Other professional conducting credits include In the Heights, Oliver, The Music Man, Nine, Ragtime, Company, Assassins, Sunday in the Park With George, Violet, Closer Than Ever, Amahl and the Night Visitors and Sweeney Todd. In addition to A Cabbello duties Kurt is the Director of Bands and Choirs at Painted Hills Middle School, in Desert Hot Springs. Kudos to this group of performers and thank you, dear audience, for your continued support |
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Chip Prince (Principal Accompanist) – is happy to return to his Palm Springs home after 22 years “doing the Broadway thing” in New York City and on tour. He served as Associate Conductor on the National Tour of Newsies and played piano for the Broadway HD video. Originally from New Hampshire, Chip attended Brigham Young University in Utah and music-directed such shows as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie, and Damn Yankees in the 1980s at Sundance Summer Theatre. Other New York and National Tour conducting credits include Les Misérables, Ragtime, Mary Poppins, The Fantasticks, Deaf West’s Big River, and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Chip can also be heard playing both piano (well) and trumpet (badly) on the 2006 cast recording of the Weill-Brecht musical Happy End. From 2007 to 2009 Chip was the accompanist for the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. He also dabbles in folk dancing and dance accompaniment, plays the euphonium and French horn for fun, owns four (!) melodicas, and can be seen here and there in the desert playing piano for this and that.
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Rich Cook, Founding Artistic Director (2016-2021) – Rich is an ASCAP/BMI composer of major works, individual songs and hymns with several major publishing companies. His background includes serving as Composer in Residence, musical director, conductor, TV Show host, and producer of concerts and musical productions in arenas and theaters in the US, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. As well as working with Disney in creating “Night of Joy” at Disneyland, he has also served on the Gospel Music Association Board of Directors in producing the Dove Awards. He has conducted and staged concerts with Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein, Bernadette Peters, Pat Boone, Debbie Boone, Art Linkletter, Thurl Ravenscroft, Dino Kartsonikis, Andrae Crouch, Little Richard, Vestal Goodman, and Tammy Faye Bakker. An alumnus of Evangel University, Springfield, MO, Rich has also studied choral conducting with Simon Carrington of Yale University, Cyril McClellen, Paul Cope, Brian O’Connell of Boston Conservatory. Before founding A Cabbello, Rich founded and was Artistic Director of Men Alive, the Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus. In collaboration with Katherine Cash, he composed a 9 movement mass, “Missa Resurrexit”, published by “Edition Ferrimontana” of Ober-Mörlen, Germany, which has been performed at the San Juan Capistrano Basilica in Southern California and in various concert halls and churches in Europe.
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