Artistic Staff
Jennifer Call,
Artistic Director, Touring Choir Director, Primary Choir Director (Oberlin)
Jennifer Call has been directing an Oberlin Choristers choir for the past 11 years. She directed Intermediate Choir from 2001 - 2008, Concert Choir from 2008 – 2010, Touring Choir 2010-present and became Artistic Director in 2011. She is a staff member of the World Music Festival where she conducts the Festival Choir and teaches Folk Dance. Mrs. Call holds a BME from The Ohio State University and a Master of Music from The University of Akron. Mrs. Call has been a guest lecturer at The University of Akron, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, and The Ohio State University as well as guest conductor and clinician throughout the state. She is an active member of Chorus America and the American Choral Directors Association where she serves as the state Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children's Choirs.
Angela Bak,
Intermediate Choir Director (Oberlin)
Angela Bak led the Intermediate Choir from its founding in 1996 until 2002. She returned in 2008 and is enjoying directing with the Choristers even more this second time. Angela is 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 Kodaly emphasis at Capital University in 2001. She and her husband reside in a circa 1892 farmhouse in Amherst, where she may be found playing with her daughters, experimenting in the kitchen, and working in the garden.
Cynthia Orr,
Primary Choir Director (Westlake)
Mrs. Orr 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 of the American Choral Director's Association.
Tim Unger,
Youth Chorale Director
Tim Unger is the Choral Director, Department Chair, and Coordinator of the School of Fine Arts at Lake Ridge Academy. His choral responsibilities include running the Middle and Upper School choral programs, including curricular and extra-curricular ensembles, and acting as musical director for the stage productions put on by the Fine Arts Department. He also serves as director of the Chancel Choir at the United Methodist Church of Berea, participating in regular Sunday morning services throughout the year. Tim has worked extensively in the Edmonton, Alberta choral community, working with several community choirs and music programs there as well as with numerous groups in Cincinnati including the Cincinnati Children’s Choir and the University of Cincinnati Choruses. He holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin-Wallace College. Tim is on the board of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, serving as the Chair of Youth and Student initiatives..
Michelle Swislocki,
Intermediate Choir Director (Westlake)
Michelle Swislocki teaches vocal music to grades Kindergarten – 4 at Avon Lake’s Eastview and Erieview Elementary Schools. Mrs. Swislocki had taught at the Choristers’ World Music Festival since its inception eight years ago, and is also a cantor at St Bernadette church in Westlake. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in 2000. Mrs. Swislocki earned a Master of Music Education degree with a Kodály emphasis from Capital University in 2002. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Organization of Kodály Educators, and is treasurer of N.O.C.K.A., the Cleveland area Kodály chapter. Mrs. Swislocki and her husband, Jim, live in Rocky River with their three children.
Lisa Van Scyoc,
Concert Choir Director
Lisa Van Scyoc is a graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Music with a Master of 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 was the Director of Music at Christ United Methodist Church in Cleveland for twenty four years, 1988-2012. She also was the Touring Choir accompanist in 2008-2010. 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. Lisa is member of the American Choral Directors Association, Ohio Music Educators Association, and the Cleveland Kodaly and Orff Chapters.
Administrative Staff
Amanda Anderson
Operations Manager
Since 2013 Amanda has been managing our daily administrative business, producing and promoting our concerts and fundraisers. After managing multiple financial firms, she was excited to get back to a music based career with Choristers.
Krystal Fox
Marketing Coordinator
Krystal Fox is a marketing professional with 15 years of experience in her industry and is passionate about her craft. She takes pleasure in designing and implementing successful marketing campaigns and cultivating excellence. She graduated from the University of Phoenix with a BS in Communications, Specialty in Sales and Marketing.
Emily Capece
Artistic Director
Emily Capece enjoys a varied career as a conductor, singer, and teacher. Emily has taught music at all levels, including schools in Okinawa, Japan, Fairfax County, Virginia, New York City, and Charleston.
Jamie Reis
Accountant
Jamie is a financial efficiency expert and audit specialist. A former college professor who serves on several community boards, Jamie holds an A.A.B. from Washington State Community College and a B.B.A. from Ohio University.
Cheryl Carter
Development Director
Cheryl Carter comes to Oberlin Choristers with a twenty-eight year career in the non-profit field. With an undergraduate degree in Studio Art and a Master of Arts in Disciplinary Studies from Hiram College, she has worked with both arts and health organizations in the Northeast Ohio area including ChamberFest Cleveland, Cleveland Ballet, Waterloo Arts, the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to name a few. She has served on the Board of Trustees for Art House Inc., the Cleveland Print Room, and currently, Choral Arts Cleveland.
Student Assistant
Office assistance
Each season Choristers hosts a Community Based Work Study student. This year we are pleased to work with Travis!
Conductors
Jubilate Musica Conductor
Angela Bak
Angela Bak led the Intermediate Choir from its founding in 1996 until 2002. She returned in 2008 and dearly loves working with Jubilate Musica. Angela is 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. She and her husband reside with two Chorister daughters in a circa 1892 farmhouse in Amherst, where she may be found experimenting in the kitchen and working in the garden.
Cantate Musica Conductor
Marie Cox
Marie Cronje-Cox was born in Cape Town, South Africa, a country famous for its extremely rich choral culture. Marie has sung in multiple world-renowned choral groups, competing on national and international stages. She holds a BMusic Degree in Orchestral Studies and a MM Degree in Solo performance from the University of Stellenbosch, SA.
Marie was Principal Percussionist/Associate Timpanist and alternate keyboardist of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. After moving to the US in Dec 1998 Marie served on the music faculty of the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood from 1999-2009 and during that time furthered her percussion studies at CSU with Tom Freer of the Cleveland Orchestra. Marie currently serves as Traditional Music Director of Avon United Methodist Church (organist and choir director) and teaches private music lessons at her home studio.
Marie lives in Avon with her trombonist husband, two busy teenagers, seven cats, multiple fish and a variety of amphibians.
Dulcis Musica Conductor
Rebekah Dovci
Rebekah Dovci loves teaching music to students of all ages and enjoys working with the littlest ones of the Oberlin Choristers family in Dulcis Musica. Rebekah currently directs Choir and Music classes for 3 years old through 10th grade at Heritage Classical Academy in Bainbridge, Ohio. She earned her Bachelors of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in 2018 and has taken courses in Music Learning Theory in addition to her certification in Orff-Schulwerk. Rebekah enjoys singing Hymns each Monday with dear friends and singing with her vocal A Cappella group, Zero to Sixty. She now resides in Parma, but is from Avon Lake and is glad she had the opportunity to sing with the Oberlin Choristers while growing up.
una voce musica Conductor
Tim Unger
Tim Unger is in his 10th season directing una voce musica. He is also the Middle School Director at Lake Ridge Academy. Previously, he served as the Choral Director, Department Chair, and Director of the School of Fine Arts at Lake Ridge. Tim has worked extensively in the choral communities of Edmonton, Alberta, Cincinnati, and Northeast Ohio. Tim holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University.
Board of Directors
Oberlin Choristers is provided support and oversight by our Board of Directors. This group of individuals understand and embrace the mission of the organization, and serve as advocates for the organization by promoting Oberlin Choristers to the community and attending all performances and special events. Directors actively share with others the importance of philanthropic support, and regularly offer their skills and resources to the organization
If you are interested in learning more about our Board of Directors, please contact Amanda at info@ochoristers.org.
Board of Directors:
Marty Barnard, President
Kylene Roberts, Vice President
Dr. Barb Lamont, Treasurer
Erin Schmieder, Secretary
Michelle Pratt
Staff Photography Thanks to: