WENDY KOULOURIS
There is undeniable brightness and humanity in the vocals that Koulouris delivers as she reaches straight from her heart and shares directly with every person in earshot. Soaring notes swirl from the core of her being and endear growing audiences to her. Her ease of presence makes one feel as if they know her well. Though humility precedes her, Wendy’s formidable vocal range and clear-as-a-bell-tone are a evidenced in the capable gifts with which she shares as though each song were a solitary gift to each individual listener to make them glad they came.
Wendy & Larry Beli performing outdoors on a beautiful August evening at the Hotel Saxonburg, 2015.
Wendy’s passion for music has been lovingly cultivated since early childhood, having seized every opportunity presented to share music and grow within its varied forms. She participated in Alle-Kiski Area’s local musical theater programs including The New Kensington Civic Theater and Sherwood Forest Theater. At the early age of 12, an audition won her with the opportunity to sing the National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Penguins and continued for 3 seasons running.
Her studies include four years of private study and acceptance and participation to The Summer Sessions at the Benedum Center’s Civic Light Opera in Pittsburgh. She is a self-taught accompanist on the acoustic guitar and also plays piano. Having performed her first professional gig at the age of 17, Koulouris honed her art of delivering lead and harmonizing vocals with the Variety band “Celebrate”. Wendy also lent her vocals to a classic rock band, “The Repeat Offenders”, from 1998-2001.
Koulouris’ musical path has led her through fifteen years of singing and playing Bluegrass/Folk/Americana. Regular gatherings with a group of musical colleagues flowered into one of her current projects, “Wendy and the Lost Boys” with whom she performs regularly in the Alle Kiski area.
Blues is a newer love that found Koulouris just four years ago. Encouraged and accompanied by renowned Pittsburgh guitarist, Larry Belli, she is flourishing within her current journey into Blues and Soul music, and is featured regularly around Pittsburgh’s outlying areas with “Larry Belli & The Mercs.” It is hard to miss Wendy’s apparent gratitude for her involvement in the live music community in and around Pittsburgh. The experience of making music with others remains one of her greatest joys……and that joy is obvious as she gives it back within every heart-felt note.