Judi Russo, soprano, was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ms. Russo was very involved in choir and musical theater in high school and went to the University of Wisconsin to earn a degree in Elementary Education with a music minor. Judi sang with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus before moving to Denver. Ms. Russo sang with the Cherry Creek Chorale and the Colorado Symphony Chorus there.

Judi retired from teaching elementary school in 2007 and moved to La Quinta. Ms. Russo has been singing with the California Desert Chorale since 2008. She has been studying private voice with Tim Bruneau since she joined the chorale. Under his guidance, she has also performed her recitals, cabaret shows, and various solos and duets in Friends in Song and Eisenhower Memory Care fundraisers.

In May 2011, Judi got involved in the College of the Desert’s musical productions. She has been in 10 shows since then. Judi met her husband, Lou Galvan, in her first COD show, Anything Goes. They have been enjoying singing, acting, and traveling together since then. Judi teaches part-time at the College of the Desert in the ESLN department. Judi was honored to join the Coachella Valley Classical Voices in September 2023.