The 66th Annual Performance of the Messiah was on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 starting at 7pm in the Performance Hall at Central Christian High School, 3970 Kidron Road, Kidron, Ohio.  It was a memorable performance with a chorus of over 90 singers from surrounding counties.

Director: Laurel Manning Labbe is in her twelfth year as conductor of the Orrville Community Chorus.  A teacher in the Orrville City School District’s choral program for thirteen years, Mrs. Labbe received her undergraduate training at Duke University and has a Master’s in Choral Conducting from the University of Massachusetts.  She has also taken graduate courses in music education from the University of Akron and has received Kodaly Level 1 certification from Cleveland State University.  Professional affiliations include MENC, OMEA, ACDA, and OCDA.  She lives in Copley with her husband and three children.

Pianist: Karen Shank has been the pianist for the Orrville Community Chorus presentation of the “Messiah” for twenty-one years.  She has a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Akron. Ms. Shank has served as a church organist and had a piano studio in the Orrville/Kidron area for many years prior to moving to Massillon, where she continues to teach. She has been the accompanist for several choral organizations and has accompanied soloists, ensembles, and choirs in local schools and at the College of Wooster.

Soloists

Susan Wallin, soprano, Susan soprano, is an Akron native whose calling card is a sparkling coloratura.  Her career includes notable performances as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte with New York City Opera, Oper Der Stadt Köln, Central City Opera and Opera Carolina. She has also performed with Arizona Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kentucky Opera, and Cleveland Opera.  Ms. Wallin has appeared as soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Akron Symphony, Canton Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Ashland Symphony, and Wooster Symphony.  Ms. Wallin made her Carnegie Hall debut singing The Messiah with The Masterworks Chorus.  She is currently Professor of Voice at the College of Wooster and West Side Vocal Academy in Akron.

Denise Milner Howell, mezzo-soprano, is equally at home on the opera, musical theatre or concert stage.  Her solo engagements include performances with Opera Cleveland, Chautauqua Opera, Akron Lyric Opera Theatre, Tanglewood Festival, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Carousel Dinner Theatre, Sounds of Sousa Band, and the Buffalo Philharmonic.  Recent roles include Mercedes in Carmen, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Celia in Iolanthe.  She can be heard in a CD release on the North/South recording label singing “Sappho Songs”, composed by Ira-Paul Schwarz.

Ms. Howell has served on the voice faculties of the University of Akron School of Music, Hochstein School of Music in Rochester, NY, and the State University of New York College at Fredonia.  Ms. Howell earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music education from Long Island University/CW Post College, and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.  She lives in Sharon Township, Ohio with her husband, Gregg, and their two sons, Miles and Wesley.

William Hamilton, tenor, is a third year student and member of the Honors College at the University of Akron, with a double major in Piano Accompaniment and Spanish. Mr. Hamilton studies voice with James Mismas, and has a special passion for learning foreign languages and opera.  Additional activities include singing in the Westminster Presbyterian Church choir, organist at St. Francis de Sales Church, and performing at senior centers throughout Akron. Mr. Hamilton enjoys spending time with friends, and has a part time job singing and hosting at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in Montrose.

Brian Keith Johnson, baritone, has performed many opera roles from Figaro in il barbiere di Siviglia to Ford in Falstaff.  As a member of Actors’ Equity Association, he has also performed musical theatre roles ranging from Jim in Big River and Joe in Show Boat to Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar and Father/God in Children of Eden.

Mr. Johnson’s concert repertoire includes excerpts from Die Zauberflöte and La Cenerentola, Carmina Burana, The Five Mystical Songs, The Bach Magnificat, The Messiah, Brahms Requiem, Fauré Requiem, Adam in The Creation, Schlendrian in The Coffee Cantata, the Bonze, Yamadori and the Imperial Commissioner in Madame Butterfly, and Porgy and Crown in Porgy and Bess.

Mr. Johnson has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, San Jose Ballet, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Orchestra

Violin 1 - Amy Glick performs extensively as an orchestral player, chamber musician, and soloist in Northeast Ohio.  She holds degrees from the Manhattan and Eastman Schools of Music and has taught at Louisiana State University and Central Christian High School.  Amy currently is a member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Summit Choral Society Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestra, and first violinist of the Secrest String Quartet.  She and her husband and three children live in Orrville.

Violin 2 - Lindsey Gray is the instrumental director at Kingsway Christian School, teaches private violin and piano lessons, and has played with the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra. She graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with degrees in music education and violin performance.  Lindsey resides in Dalton with her two miniature dachshunds, Sophie and Doyle.

Viola - Julie Carpenter has held various positions including concertmaster of the Akron Youth Symphony, the Kent Honors Orchestra, and the Ohio Regional Orchestra in Cleveland. She has been a soloist with the Akron Youth Symphony and the Youngstown Youth Symphony, is a substitute with the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and has played locally with such notable artists as Olivia Newton-John, Josh Groban, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Julie attended the Meadowmount School of Music, a prestigious summer school for strings in New York. In addition to performing with local ensembles and orchestras, Julie and her sister, Christina Babich Rosser, have a private music studio called Camerata Musical Arts. Julie lives in West Akron with her husband and two daughters.

Cello - Christina Babich Rosser has degrees from the University of Akron, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Case Western Reserve University. She was a winner in the University of Akron Concerto Competition, the Tuesday Musical Club Competition, and the Cleveland Cello Society competition. Christina currently teaches cello at Hiram College and at Case Western Reserve University. She is a member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and Akron Baroque. Christina has also performed with Apollo’s Fire, New Trinity Baroque (Atlanta), Seattle Baroque, CityMusic Cleveland, and the Canton Symphony Orchestra. She also plays with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and has played in concert with Olivia Newton-John, Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Tommy Lee, and Josh Groban.

String Bass - Daniel Conwell attended Capital University and has been a member of the Wooster Symphony Orchestra since 1991. He works for the J.M. Smucker Co. and is active in Wayne County's jazz scene.

Oboe - Patricia Grutzmacher is Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of the Kent State University Stark Campus Music Department.  She directs the Kent Stark Concert Band and teaches applied oboe, world music courses, and music education courses.  She holds a bachelor degree from Akron University, a master’s degree from Ohio State University, and a doctorate from Kent State University.  Patricia performed for many years with the Akron and Canton symphonies, and with the Blossom Festival Concert Band. She currently plays oboe in the Sounds of Sousa Band.

Oboe - Susan Bair is a graduate of Kent State University and Vandercook College of Music.  She is a retired music teacher from Perry Local Schools and is a member of the Canton Concert Band, the Stark County Fair Band, and the KSU-Stark Band.  Susan lives in Canton and enjoys working on home improvement projects with her husband.

Bassoon - Patricia Kroft holds two degrees from Kent State University.  She teaches applied bassoon and Woodwind Methods at Mt. Union College and Malone University, teaches bassoon at Kent State University-Stark Campus, is a sectional woodwind teacher at Lake Middle School and has a private woodwind studio. Patricia performs with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic, the Kent/Stark Band, is player/manager of the Canton Concert Band and the Stark Co. Fair Band, and is a member of the MacDowell Music Club Chorale.

Trumpet - Chris Hall has degrees from Ohio State University and Vandercook College of Music.  Chris is retired after teaching 35 years in the Tuslaw Local, Rittman City, and Perry Local School Districts.  He has served on the Applied Music Faculty for Malone College, Mount Union College, and Kent State University-Stark Campus.  An avid Civil War Reenactor, Chris is bugler for the Great Lakes Brigade and the Army of the Ohio.

Trumpet - Sean Monigold is a graduate of Tuslaw High School, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Kent State University.  He has performed throughout Ohio with various ensembles, including the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, Canton Player’s Guild, Carousel Dinner Theater, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Opera, Stan Sterner Orchestra, and the John Trapani Big Band.

Timpani - Dave Baldwin recently retired after 27 years of teaching, but still maintains a private studio.  He continues to assist with the percussion section of the Orrville High School Marching Band, is a member of the pit band for Orrville High School musicals, and plays with the band Different Directions.

2009 Chorus

Soprano

Lorene Bontrager

Sheila Byler

Debbie Eberly

Rebecka Hackett

Kathleen Hershberger

Jennifer Holderman

Janae Hoover

Judith Hoover

Leona Horst

Mel Landis

Rosie Landis

Phyllis A. Lehman

Christina Linder

Caroline Miller

Ruby I. Miller

Sharon Miller

Monica Miyashita

Jana Nolt

Sara Roberts

Cheryl Rodriguez

Richelle Romanchik

Kay Shue

Joanna Sommers

Kaitlyn Sommers

Kristen Sommers

Erika Stafford

Malinda Stinson

Barbara Wyant

Alto

Jeanne Altland

Emily Barlow

Rosemary Barlow

Faith Beachy

Marietta Bontrager

Nora Brenner

Sheri Byler

Linda Ditzler

Joellen Eades

Meredith Eades

Sarah Eades

Leora Gregory

Dorcas Hoover

Geneva Horst

Alice Keen

Judy Kolakowski

Beth Landis

Esther Landis

Emma Lehman

Lindsey Lorson

Lynette Marr

Margaret Maupin

Clarita Miller

Freida Miller

Hannah Miller

Jane Miller

Pat Pringle

Sarah Sommers

Bonnie Steffee

Barbara Steiner

Ruth Steiner

Tenor

Ken Amstutz

John Calame III

Beth Ciha

Jeff Hamsher

Jerry Hostetler

Titus Landis

Freeman Lehman

Gale Metsker

Franklin Miller

Josh Miller

David Painting

Lowell Schrock

Melody Snure

Chad Sommers

Jim Sommers

Jonathan Sommers

Ken Suchan

Shannon Yoder

Bass

Rich Corfman

Jim Ditzler

Matt Eberly

Dan Holderman

Bob Kapper

Jeffrey Knopp

Ross Landis

Kyle Likens

Mel McKeachie

Charles Merkle

Nathanael Sommers

Bruce Steiner

Joseph Swartzentruber,

Clinton Weaver

Glenn Wenger