The Whimsey Ball

Conductor, organist, and collaborative artist — Lorraine is a classically trained musician whose artistry spans many genres and musical styles. Her work includes conducting and producing movements of The Little Match Girl Passion by David Lang for Opera Notre Dame in collaboration with the Notre Dame Music Department and Four/Ten Media (WINNER: Opera America Awards for Digital Excellence, November 2022). During her tenure as Music Director at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, CT, Lorraine established the church’s first children’s choir, welcoming nearly 30 young musicians of the parish in one year, as well as created the first choral music education program at the Catholic Academy of Waterbury for all 200 students. From 2020-2022, Lorraine served as Chorus Master for The Passion Project, an original composition and semi-staged performance by J.J. Wright with the Notre Dame Folk Choir (recording release in February 2023). 

Vivienne was last seen on the Avon Mountain Drama Group (AMDG) stage as the ‘1920’s Starlet,’ performing classic, solo ballads as the opening act for CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.  In July, she made her debut on the ‘Musicals at Richter’ stage in BEAUTY & THE BEAST.  In June, she sang and danced her heart out in ANASTASIA (Countess Ipolitov).  Previous AMDG credits include, PRIDE & PREJUDICE (Caroline Bingley) and OKLAHOMA! (Virginia).  She danced ballet in The Danbury NUTCRACKER.  Film credits include, the villainous Armanda in ZITA and the benevolent Aunt Marguerite in CATHERINE, both movies about the saints viewable on the "Terra Bona Family" YouTube channel.  Vivienne is a soloist with her church choir and has danced and played classical guitar for several years.  Vivienne plays on the nationals team for her club volleyball and loves to do accents and impressions. She hopes you enjoy The Whimsey Ball!

John Mihaliak has been immersed in music and dance since he was 6 years old. He trained under the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory and danced professionally under the Woodbury Ballet. John has also been involved in theater under the Hartt School Community Division and has performed theatrically in New York, Connecticut, and Texas. He currently teaches dance at Irving Fine Arts Academy. He is enrolled at the University of Dallas and plans to get a B.A. in Business Administration with a minor in Art. He started Dancing Through Life to bring his love for dance to the general public, even those with no experience.