Jennifer Call, Artistic Director, Touring Choir Director, Primary Choir Director (Oberlin)

Jennifer Call was named the Artistic Director and Touring Choir Director for Oberlin Choristers in July 2011. She has been directing with Oberlin Choristers for the past 10 years. Until recently, Mrs. Call was also Choral Director at Olmsted Fall Middle School, Olmsted Falls, Ohio where she directed choirs for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students as well as the auditioned group "Singers".  These choirs were consistently recognized for excellence in adjudicated events as well as honors choirs and festivals.  Mrs. Call also directs the Children's Choir at Westlake United Methodist Church in Westlake, OH that regularly performs for worship and special events.  Mrs. Call holds a BME from The Ohio State University and Master of Music from the University of Akron.  She is an active member of Choristers Guild, the Ohio Music Education Association, and the American Choral Directors Association where she serves as the state Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children's Choirs.  She has guest conducted for the Northeast Ohio Choristers Guild Children's Choir Festival, as well as served as Children's Choir clinician for the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts (FUMMWA) Jurisdictional Conference.  Mrs. Call has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Akron, Baldwin-Wallace College, and The Ohio State University.

Angela Bak, Intermediate Choir Director (Oberlin)

Angela Bak has recently embarked on a new adventure as a stay-at-home mom after a twelve year career teaching K-4 music in the Avon Lake City Schools. Angela directed the Oberlin Choristers Intermediate Choir at its founding in 1996 and is thrilled to be returning after a six year hiatus. Angela is also Director of Music at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Lorain. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Oberlin College in 1995 and completed a Master of Music Education with a Kodály emphasis at Capital University in 2001.

Mrs. Orr currently teaches general music to grades K-4 at Avon Lake's Redwood and Westview Elementary Schools. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Capital University in 1992. While studying at Capital she had the opportunity to study at the Kodály Institute in Kecskemet, Hungary. In 2001 Mrs. Orr received her Master of Music Education degree with a Kodály Emphasis from Capital. She is a member of the Organization of American Kodály Educators and is a member-at-large of NOCKA.

Mr. Unger currently runs the choral department at Lake Ridge Academy and serves as choir director at United Methodist Church in Berea.  He has Bachelors in Music Education from Baldwin-Wallace and a Masters in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati. He directed the Young Men’s Chorus of the Cincinnati Children’s Choir and co-directed the Kokopelli Choir of Edmonton, Alberta.  He has also directed the Cabaret Chorus and Chamber Singers at the University of Cincinnati and the Time Vocal Jazz Association in Edmonton. 

Lisa Van Scyoc, Concert Choir Director

Lisa Van Scyoc is a graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Music with a Masters in Music in vocal performance. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Bowling Green State University. Lisa currently is a music specialist in the Lakewood City Schools and is the Director of Music at Christ United Methodist Church in Cleveland. Lisa is trained in Kodály, Orff Schulwerk, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. In addition to her public school experience, Lisa taught Music for Elementary Education Majors at Baldwin Wallace College from 1996 - 2002. She also enjoyed singing with the Robert Page/Cleveland Singers from 1990-2003.

Sandra Neiding, Intermediate Choir Oberlin Accompanist

Ms Neiding is a graduate of Kent State University with a B.A. and Masters in Library Science. She retired from the Vermilion Schools after 30 years of being an elementary school librarian. She then worked part-time for WVIZ/PBS for eight years as an area representative. Ms Neiding began accompanying choirs in high school and has been the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermilion.

Jenny Zapfe has taught Kindermusik in Westlake for sixteen years.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Georgia.  Mrs. Zapfe is a licensed Suzuki piano teacher and has taught private piano students for almost twenty years.  She is accompanist for the choirs at Parkside Intermediate School in Westlake and is active in the choral music program at her church.

Joan Van Wormer, Concert Choir Accompanist

A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory with a degree in Music Education, Joan Van Wormer taught for 35 years in the Elyria public schools, kindergarten through sixth grade. This will be her 9th year as accompanist for the Concert Choir. She is also the music director for St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Elyria where she directs an adult and youth choir and plays the organ.

Shelly Rasmussen, Executive Director

Prior to joining the Choristers' staff in July 2011, Ruth worked for Oberlin College as the Assistant Director of Alumni Events where she had responsibility for planning reunions and other on-campus alumni gatherings. She previously worked as the Program Coordinator for Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory Outreach, a community music school with over 1,200 students enrolled in lessons, ensembles, and summer programs. Ruth has lived in Oberlin since 1997 and both of her children are Choristers alumni.