Oberlin Choristers - Oberlin, OH (440-774-4079)-- <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <table width="55%" border="0" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" align="center"> <tr> <td width="48%"><img src="logo.jpg" width="216" height="300" align="right"></td> <td width="52%"> <p> <div class="container"> <div id="header"> <h3>Celebrating 20 Years of Singing<h3><span id="phone"> <div id="header-shade"> </div> <div id="body"> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <div id="contact"> <div id="toggle" name="toggle" onMouseOver="this.style.backgroundColor = '#ff9';" onMouseOut="this.style.backgroundColor = 'white';">Contact Us</div> <div id="contact-body"> <p><i>Katherine Plank, Artistic Director</i><br/> New Union Center for the Arts<br/> <a target="_blank" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=oberlin+choristers&sll=41.293431,-82.215736&sspn=0.007045,0.01442&ie=UTF8&ll=41.293076,-82.216036&spn=0.007045,0.01442&z=16&iwloc=A&om=1" title="Google Map for Oberlin Choristers">39 S. Main Street - Suite 242</a><br/> Oberlin, OH 44074<br/> Telephone: 440-774-4079<br/> FAX: 440-774-6160</p> <p>Email: <a style="color: #0000EE" href="mailto:ochoristers@oberlin.net">ochoristers@oberlin.net</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </span></div> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <p> </p> <p><br/> <div id="contact"> <div id="contact-us-shade"></div> </div><div id="body_container"> <h2>About the Oberlin Choristers</h2> <img src="/images_new/site/MM05.jpg" align="right"/> <p style="width: 550px;">Choristers is a community-based choral program for children pre-school through twelfth grades. Based in Oberlin, Ohio,Choristers draws most of its singers from northern Ohio, particularly Lorain County. Choristers trains children in choral music and vocal performance, provides them with an opportunity to improve their vocal and social skills in a variety of choir settings, and gives children an opportunity to perform in concerts both close to home and in some of the world's greatest musical venues. It is the Choristers mission both to provide an intense and enjoyable musical training program and to create in its singers an appreciation for the arts and the importance of vibrant arts programs in the community. </p> <br/> <hr /> <div class="choristers-staff"> <h2>ARTISTIC STAFF</h2> <h3>DIRECTORS</h3> <div class="profile"> <img src="images_new/site/kathy.jpg" width="108" height="169"> <p class="staff-name">Katherine Plank, Artistic Director and Touring Choir Director</p> <p>Ms. Plank is the founder and music director of the Oberlin Choristers. A graduate of the University of Louisville, she brought over 20 years of experience as a director of school, church, and community choirs to the Choristers. Ms Plank is trained in <a href="http://www.kodaly-inst.hu/">Kodaly</a>, Orff Schulwerk, and Dalcroze Eurythmics. Besides Ohio, she has taught and performed in Kentucky and Missouri, and is a frequent clinician at conferences and workshops, drawing on her experience as a choral director and classroom music specialist.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/angi.jpg" alt="Angela Bak"/> <p class="staff-name">Angela Bak, Intermediate Choir Director</p> <p>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.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/jennifercall02.jpg" alt="Jennifer Call"/> <p class="staff-name">Jennifer Call, Concert Choir Director</p> <p>Jennifer Call is the Choral Director at Olmsted Falls Middle School in Olmsted Falls, OH, where she directs both training and performing choirs for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. She also directs the Children's Choir at <a href="http://fm2.forministry.com/church/home.asp?siteid=44145wumc2">Westlake United Methodist Church</a> that regularly performs for worship and special events. A frequently requested guest conductor, Jennifer served as Children's Choir clinician for North Central Jurisdictiional Conference of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Jennifer holds a BME from the Ohio State University and is a Master degree candidate at the University of Akron. She is an active member of Choristers Guild, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Ohio Music Education Association. </p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/Cathy.jpg" alt="Cathy Nicholson"/> <p class="staff-name">Cathy Nicholson, Kindermusik™ Teacher</p> <p>Ms. Nicholson is an Ohio native and has studied voice and music for over 17 years. She holds her Masters of Fine Arts from Ohio University. As an actress, she has performed at many of the area theatres such as the Great Lakes Theatre and the Cleveland Playhouse. Her experience with children involves teaching Kindermusik™ since 2000 and teaching theatre to children at the Cleveland Playhouse, Karamu Theatre, and the Weathervane Theatre in Akron. In addition to teaching with Choristers she has established a private Kindermusik™ studio.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/Cyndi.jpg" alt="Cynthia Orr"/> <p class="staff-name">Cynthia Orr, Primary Choir Director</p> <p>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.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/skladan.jpg" alt="Mark Skladan"/> <p class="staff-name">Mark Skladan, Youth Chorale Director</p> <p>Mr. Skladan graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1986 with a Bachelors of Music Education. He is the current Director of Choral Activities at Amherst Steele High School and Nord Middle School and is adjunct voice instructor at LCCC. He has served on the Oberlin Choristers Board of Directors and substituted as Touring Choir director during Katherine Plank's sabbatical in 2001. He a member of the American Choral Directors Association and Ohio Music Educators Association. The Northeastern Ohio PTA has honored him as Teacher of the Year</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <hr /> <h2>ACCOMPANISTS</h2> <p><img src="images_new/site/Katie%20Cross.JPG" width="105" height="148"></p> <div class="profile"> <p class="staff-name">Katie Cross, Youth Chorale Accompanist</p> <p>Ms Cross graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in Piano performance and then went on to receive a Masters in Piano performance and pedagogy from Ithaca College. She serves as organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Oberlin and teaches piano at the Oberlin Community Music School and at Baldwin-Wallace College.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/Sandra.jpg" alt="Sandra Neiding"/> <p class="staff-name">Sandra Neiding, Intermediate Choir Accompanist</p> <p>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 for 40 years.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/joan02.jpg" alt="Joan Van Wormer"/> <p class="staff-name">Joan Van Wormer, Concert Choir Accompanist</p> <p>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.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <div class="profile"> <img src="/images_new/site/lisaVpic08.jpg" alt="Lisa Van Scyoc"/> <p class="staff-name">Lisa Van Scyoc, Touring Choir Accompanist</p> <p>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.</p> <br class="clear" /> </div> <hr /> <h2>ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF</h2> <p>Sue Simonson, Executive Director</p> <p>Shelly Rasmussen, Development Director</p> <p>Brenda Glasure, Office Manager</p> <h3>Board of Directors </h3> <ul class="bullets"> <li>Ginny O'Dell- President</li> <li>Mitzi Jump-Vice President</li> <li>Deb Luczkowski - Secretary</li> <li>Jamie Reis - Treasurer</li> <li>Ted Chmura</li> <li>David Frank</li> <li>Casey Gilfether</li> <li>Richard Kunath</li> <li>Matthew Maker</li> <li>Wendy Rudnik</li> </ul> </div>  </div>