AWC Members In Memory
The Atlanta Women’s Chorus remembers its members who are no longer with us.
-
Beth Hampshire, Alto 1
December 24, 1974 – April 24, 2019
Beth joined the AWC for our first season in 2013. She loved to sing and was fun-loving and energetic. Beth was also a talented musician and had a music therapy practice working with children. She was a beloved part of our sisterhood. We lost her to ovarian cancer in April 2019 and she is greatly missed.
-
Ann Pinyan, Alto 1
January 8, 1963 – July 17, 2022
Ann Pinyan was a founding member of the AWC, served on the AGMC and Voices of Note Boards of Directors and was the second membership president. In her professional life she worked in corporate America, and in 2014, started her own recruiting business. She was larger than life and gave so much of herself to the chorus. We lost her to ovarian cancer in July 2022. She is deeply missed.
-
Micky O'Leary, Alto 2
September 16, 1948 – January 28, 2026
Micky joined the AWC in 2014 and sang in the first official AWC concert, Finding Her Here.
Micky quickly became a beloved member of the group, offering sage advice and calming words.
She was a beautiful, kind spirit with a quick wit! We lost Micky to pancreatic cancer. Her contributions to the spoken word during shows including Jabberwocky and Tina’s introduction to Proud Mary will always be remembered!
-
Judi Verdin, Alto 1
October 23, 1963 – February 18, 2026
Judi joined the chorus in late 2013 and performed on the AGMC Holiday shows with the AWC. Judi was a constant light and source of fun!
Although she was challenged with health issues, she rarely missed a cycle of shows. Judi loved her friends strongly and she loved the AWC. Judi passed from complications after a stroke. She will always be remembered sitting on a stool at the front of the chorus never missing a dance move!
AWC Fighting Together
Ann Pinyan and Beth Hampshire both sung with the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, and within months of each other, the two realized they had another thing in common: ovarian cancer.
Pinyan became Hampshire’s mentor, helping her through the same journey she had been on herself. The two even ended up in treatment together.
The women of the AWC supported these 2 in any way they could, including bringing meals, going to appointments together and running in the Teal Trot to support ongoing Ovarian cancer treatment studies.
Ann Pinyan Memorial Music Commission Fund
As many of you know, Ann was a board chair for the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus and the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus and was instrumental in the creation of the Atlanta Women’s Chorus. As an active singing member of the AWC, Ann was membership president twice. As an honoring of her immense service to our Voices of Note family, we have started the Music Commission Fund in her name. These funds are being used to support the commissioning of new works for chorus of all voicings (SSAA, TTBB primarily, but also SATB). Ann’s commitment to our organization and her love of music makes this dedication especially meaningful for all who knew and loved her. We hope you will support the Ann Pinyan Memorial Music Commission Fund!
