Versatile mezzo-soprano Wendy Gilles grew up in a musical household in the southeastern corner of Washington state, spending her formative years in a dance studio, performing and competing in tap, jazz, and ballet. Dancing to everything from classical masterworks to big band and swing, while singing in every kind of choir she could, made a lasting impression, as Wendy has spent the last twenty years in New York, carving out a niche for herself in multiple corners of its music scene. 

Wendy enjoys fine ensemble and choral singing with the Clarion Choir, the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Voices of Ascension, Ensemble Altera, American Classical Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic Chorus, among others. She was fortunate to join Clarion in touring two Handel oratorios internationally with Harry Bicket and The English Concert, in 2023 and 2026. 

As the vocalist of the Jazz Journalist Award-winning Gil Evans Project, Wendy’s “sweet, declarative voice” (eJazzNews) and “infectious performances” (AllMusic) on their two GRAMMY-nominated albums, Centennial and Lines of Color, have been roundly praised by critics. Of her performance on the Project’s latest release, Shades of Sound, Downbeat Magazine wrote, “In the [Billie] Holiday manner, Gilles transmutes dross into diamonds . . .”

Wendy has performed as a featured vocalist in NYC at Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club, and The Pocket — and beloved but now shuttered clubs, Jazz Standard, Cornelia Street Cafe, and 55 Bar.

Wendy has lent her voice to several film scores, and can be seen as a praise band member in an episode of HBO’s “Crashing,” and in three episodes of Showtime’s “City on a Hill,” as a church choir member, with a wordless cameo as a bossy soprano, shushing a featured actor.

Weekends find Wendy singing in the professional choirs of St. Bartholomew’s Church and Temple Emanu-El.