Chancel Choir, First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, VA
The Master Chorale Of Fargo-Moorhead
Busan Harmony Choir
Coro Polifonico Castelbarco
Chancel Choir, First Presbyterian Church San Pedro
Coro de la Universitat Politècnica de València
Sonoma State University Symphonic Chorus
Vocal Sollýs
Vocal Spotlight
Special Guests
Artist's Name
René Clausen
Participating Group Directors
Choral Society of West Georgia
Elizabeth Biggs
Elizabeth W. Biggs is the founder and artistic director of The Choral Society of West Georgia. She was a music educator with the Troup County School System for 28 years, teaching elementary, middle, and high school choral music. Biggs holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Converse College School of Music and Columbus State University in vocal performance and choral music education. She is the discipline expert for the Alabama Institute for Education for the Arts. Biggs has been a member of Cantus Columbus, a professional vocal ensemble, and is active in the Georgia Music Educators Association and the American Choral Directors Association.
Beau Chant Community Choir
Dione Peterson
Dione Peterson, conductor of Beau Chant of Faribault, Minnesota, is a native of Minnesota who spent 30 years in South Dakota as a choral director and Fine Arts Coordinator for the Sioux Falls Schools. Her choirs have performed on state and national conventions of ACDA and other music professional organizations. Since returning to Minnesota she has worked with the Northfield Youth Choirs, taught at Shattuck-St. Mary's School as well as St. Olaf College. She continues to serve as a clinician and guest conductor while balancing her activities with performances in the instrumental ensemble, Tres Bien and Beau Chant.
Chancel Choir, First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, VA
Larry Jones
The Chancel Choir of the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro has a rich heritage of musical excellence. In addition to the eclectic style of music they share in worship each week, the choir prepares and performs several major concerts each year centered around Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. The choir performed in New York City under the direction of John Rutter in 2004. Their ministry also includes overseas Choral Mission Trips to Slovakia/Czech Republic in 1998 and Italy in 2007. The all volunteer choir is under the direction of Rev. Larry Jones, Minister of Music. Rev. Jones, a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Church Music, brings more than thirty years' experience in conducting.
The Master Chorale Of Fargo-Moorhead
Lynne Penney
Aaron M. Zinter is Director of Music at Oak Grove Lutheran School in Fargo, ND and is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. He received his Master of Music degree in Chorale Conducting from Illinois State University. At Oak Grove, Mr. Zinter conducts the Concert Choir, Chapel Choir, 7th and 8th Grade Choir, 6th Grade General Music, AP Music Theory, Madrigals, Carolers and provides individual voice and guitar lessons. He directs and manages the annual 10-day Oak Grove Concert Choir Tour across the United States and Canada. Mr. Zinter also prepares solo and ensemble members for academic competition, for which Oak Grove has earned 27 Outstanding Performances in the past seven years at the North Dakota State Music Contest. As the former Director of Music Ministries at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, IL, Mr. Zinter conducted twelve K-12 and adult choirs while serving as Department head of seven musicians. He also directed and managed the Chancel Choir United States Mission Tour across 35 states and Canada, and in March 2005 led a 10-day choral mission trip to Northeastern Brazil with eight outstanding youth singers. Mr. Zinter has composed and arranged original music for worship and special occasions. He published choral works with Abingdon Press in Nashville, TN, and received an Outstanding Performance rating at the North Dakota State Music Contest with the Oak Grove Madrigals the past seven years in a row. Mr. Zinter recorded four CDs with Chanson, a professional male a capella ensemble, and performed with Chanson in a Master Class with The King’s Singers. He has also been a volunteer facilitator of leadership training activities at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center in Illinois for youth and adults with disabilities. Aaron Zinter lives in Fargo with his wife, Brittany, and their 2-year old daughter, Lydia.
Busan Harmony Choir
Kangkyu Kim
Principal conductor Kang-Kyu Kim originally majored in engineering at college, but he changed his major to Vocal Music at Seoul National University. After graduating from Seoul National University, he went on to Wupperthal University of Music (Hochschule fur Musik Koeln-Wupperthal) in Germany to study vocal performance and the Choral Music (Diploma), and continued his studies in choral repertoires under Prof. Johannes Hoemberg who was a professor of the Department of Choral Conducting. After graduating the program, he pursued choral studies in Conservatorium Maastricht and Nederland and received a diploma for choral conducting.
Returning to Korea in 1996, he took up the position as a choral instructor for Yeungnam University and a Associate Conductor of Daegu City Chorus. In 2002, he led the Busan Choir Olympics as an Art Director and held position as a judge at Busan International Chorus Competition. He was the president of Busan Chorus Association and National Metropolitan Chorus Association in consecutive terms. Also, he was an adjunct professor of Ulsan University, and a Principal Conductor of Busan City Chorus in the 12 years between 1999 and 2011.
Currently, he is teaching at Busan Dong-A University, and is an Art Director of Busan Choral Competition and Soongin Culture Foundation.
Coro Polifonico Castelbarco
Luigi Azzolini
Luigi Azzolini brilliantly graduated in violin and viola at the Conservatory of Padua. Afterwards, he studied the analysis and composition and choir and orchestra conduction, in particular in the choral and vocal-instrumental repertoire, obtaining a degree in Choral Music and Choral Conducting at the Conservatory of Trento. Since 1985 he prepares and conducts the “Castelbarco Polyphonic Choir.” He is the Director of the Trento Theater Choir and founder and director of the vocal ensemble “Continuum.” He recorded for labels such as Naxos, Tactus, Arst, Harmonia Mundi, Velut Luna, Bongiovanni, and the Italian and Austrian National Radio and Television. He is Professor and Vice-Director of the Conservatory of Bolzano.
Chancel Choir, First Presbyterian Church San Pedro
Allan Petker
The Chancel Choir from the First Presbyterian Church in San Pedro, California is a volunteer ensemble that presents anthems during the regular Sunday morning worship services. They also present at least two major works each year, accompanied by orchestral ensemble. Besides these regular duties, the Chancel Choir often joins with other local churches to present larger choral works and has sung live backup for solo singers at nearby stage shows.
Coro de la Universitat Politècnica de València
José Francisco Sánchez Iborra
Founded in 2001 by members at UPV: researchers, lecturers, technicians, administrative staff and students. Its main aim was to disseminate the excellence of music and choral pieces in our scientific and technological environment. The present Director is Mr. José Francisco Sánchez-Iborra.
The choir has attended a large number of national and international cultural events; has developed exchanges with ensembles from Italy, Austria, Germany and has been active in tours around Spain with other university choirs. Its repertoire includes all periods: Requiem (Mozart, Cherubini, Chilcott), Carmina Burana (Orff), The Songs of the Forests (Shostakovich), Te Deum, The Armed Man (Jenkins), etc.
Sonoma State University Symphonic Chorus
Jenny Bent
The Sonoma State University Symphonic Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Jenny Bent, performs large works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and collaborates with organizations such as the Santa Rosa Symphony. Community and educational outreach are important aspects of the Chorus mission. Through such events as the annual Choir Gala, which benefits the Redwood Empire Food Bank, and regular collaboration with Bay Area high schools, the Chorus expands is reach beyond campus walls. The Symphonic Chorus makes their permanent home in the Joan and Sanford I Weill Hall at Sonoma State University.
Vocal Sollýs
Steven van Kempen
A small but a very special choir originally set up in the Netherlands as a children’s choir. It was very successful from the nineteen sixties up to the early nineties. Its revival ten years ago was amazing. There was that spell again, the magic between singers and audience. When performing it fills both churches and concert halls with spiritual energy. The new conductor, Steven van Kempen, has taken the singers to higher heights with a new repertoire, he has polished the sound to brilliance and merged the different voices into one symphony, powerful and subtle at the same time.
Vocal Spotlight
Donnalynn Laver
A zealous advocate of the performing arts, Donnalynn Holiday Laver serves as Artistic and Musical Director for Vocal Spotlight. Crafting a rich, harmonic sound from the group through her many years of experience in music, she is credited with bringing their vocal music to new distinction.
Classically trained in voice, piano, organ and woodwinds, Donnalynn began her musical endeavors at a young age, receiving her early training from private tutors in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. She credits much of her accomplishment to lifetime musical mentor, Samuel Contino, who still resides in the Pittsburgh area. Her first professional position was as Church Organist for a Pittsburgh area church at age sixteen. As a teenager and young adult, Donnalynn was featured in area churches, high school performances, vocal competitions and recitals, Pittsburgh Symphony Choir, college productions, and local community theatres. During her college years, she continued her training in New York under Julia Smith and Paul Liljestrand and received undergraduate degrees from Nyack College and Southern Adventist University.
Donnalynn performs frequently at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York with Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) and has performed at numerous churches, cathedrals, and concert halls across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland. Her concert travels took her to Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria in June 2013. Career highlights include singing under the direction of Derric Johnson in Walt Disney World Productions, "Voices of Liberty," the world famous eight part harmony a cappella group, performing daily in Epcot Center’s American Adventure. In addition to her work with Vocal Spotlight and other local organizations, Donnalynn is an accomplished studio vocal musician and has served church congregations in numerous capacities including soloist, choir member, orchestra member, Minister of Music, Choir Director and Organist. In community music and theatre, she has filled many roles including Artistic Director, Musical Director, featured soloist, and choral member. She has directed music for Ohio Statehouse celebrations and for multiple television award programs such as The Jefferson Awards. Donnalynn is a soprano in the First Community Church Chancel Choir and is seen on the churches weekly television broadcast First Edition. On retirement from her 25 year career as a Registered Nurse, Donnalynn has returned to The Ohio State University School of Music to pursue an additional music degree in Vocal Music Performance.
Donnalynn also volunteers at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Outreach Programs, Animal Encounters Village, Reptile Keeper Lab, and other animal contact areas. A resident of Columbus for over 20 years, she lives with her husband, Christian, and son, Timothy, in their Upper Arlington home.
In and out of the Director’s role, Donnalynn is a vibrant ambassador for music and an inspiring leader. She draws singers and audiences into music with an approach that is compelling and uniquely her own. Her easy manner in front of audiences and charismatic approach to music, help make her the complete musician.
Celebration & Reflection, Part 2
Acts
Participating Groups
Special Guests
Artist's Name
René ClausenParticipating Group Directors
At Oak Grove, Mr. Zinter conducts the Concert Choir, Chapel Choir, 7th and 8th Grade Choir, 6th Grade General Music, AP Music Theory, Madrigals, Carolers and provides individual voice and guitar lessons. He directs and manages the annual 10-day Oak Grove Concert Choir Tour across the United States and Canada. Mr. Zinter also prepares solo and ensemble members for academic competition, for which Oak Grove has earned 27 Outstanding Performances in the past seven years at the North Dakota State Music Contest.
As the former Director of Music Ministries at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, IL, Mr. Zinter conducted twelve K-12 and adult choirs while serving as Department head of seven musicians. He also directed and managed the Chancel Choir United States Mission Tour across 35 states and Canada, and in March 2005 led a 10-day choral mission trip to Northeastern Brazil with eight outstanding youth singers.
Mr. Zinter has composed and arranged original music for worship and special occasions. He published choral works with Abingdon Press in Nashville, TN, and received an Outstanding Performance rating at the North Dakota State Music Contest with the Oak Grove Madrigals the past seven years in a row. Mr. Zinter recorded four CDs with Chanson, a professional male a capella ensemble, and performed with Chanson in a Master Class with The King’s Singers. He has also been a volunteer facilitator of leadership training activities at Timber Pointe Outdoor Center in Illinois for youth and adults with disabilities.
Aaron Zinter lives in Fargo with his wife, Brittany, and their 2-year old daughter, Lydia.
Principal conductor Kang-Kyu Kim originally majored in engineering at college, but he changed his major to Vocal Music at Seoul National University. After graduating from Seoul National University, he went on to Wupperthal University of Music (Hochschule fur Musik Koeln-Wupperthal) in Germany to study vocal performance and the Choral Music (Diploma), and continued his studies in choral repertoires under Prof. Johannes Hoemberg who was a professor of the Department of Choral Conducting. After graduating the program, he pursued choral studies in Conservatorium Maastricht and Nederland and received a diploma for choral conducting.
Returning to Korea in 1996, he took up the position as a choral instructor for Yeungnam University and a Associate Conductor of Daegu City Chorus. In 2002, he led the Busan Choir Olympics as an Art Director and held position as a judge at Busan International Chorus Competition. He was the president of Busan Chorus Association and National Metropolitan Chorus Association in consecutive terms. Also, he was an adjunct professor of Ulsan University, and a Principal Conductor of Busan City Chorus in the 12 years between 1999 and 2011.
Currently, he is teaching at Busan Dong-A University, and is an Art Director of Busan Choral Competition and Soongin Culture Foundation.
Classically trained in voice, piano, organ and woodwinds, Donnalynn began her musical endeavors at a young age, receiving her early training from private tutors in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. She credits much of her accomplishment to lifetime musical mentor, Samuel Contino, who still resides in the Pittsburgh area. Her first professional position was as Church Organist for a Pittsburgh area church at age sixteen. As a teenager and young adult, Donnalynn was featured in area churches, high school performances, vocal competitions and recitals, Pittsburgh Symphony Choir, college productions, and local community theatres. During her college years, she continued her training in New York under Julia Smith and Paul Liljestrand and received undergraduate degrees from Nyack College and Southern Adventist University.
Donnalynn performs frequently at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York with Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) and has performed at numerous churches, cathedrals, and concert halls across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland. Her concert travels took her to Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria in June 2013. Career highlights include singing under the direction of Derric Johnson in Walt Disney World Productions, "Voices of Liberty," the world famous eight part harmony a cappella group, performing daily in Epcot Center’s American Adventure. In addition to her work with Vocal Spotlight and other local organizations, Donnalynn is an accomplished studio vocal musician and has served church congregations in numerous capacities including soloist, choir member, orchestra member, Minister of Music, Choir Director and Organist. In community music and theatre, she has filled many roles including Artistic Director, Musical Director, featured soloist, and choral member. She has directed music for Ohio Statehouse celebrations and for multiple television award programs such as The Jefferson Awards. Donnalynn is a soprano in the First Community Church Chancel Choir and is seen on the churches weekly television broadcast First Edition. On retirement from her 25 year career as a Registered Nurse, Donnalynn has returned to The Ohio State University School of Music to pursue an additional music degree in Vocal Music Performance.
Donnalynn also volunteers at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Outreach Programs, Animal Encounters Village, Reptile Keeper Lab, and other animal contact areas. A resident of Columbus for over 20 years, she lives with her husband, Christian, and son, Timothy, in their Upper Arlington home.
In and out of the Director’s role, Donnalynn is a vibrant ambassador for music and an inspiring leader. She draws singers and audiences into music with an approach that is compelling and uniquely her own. Her easy manner in front of audiences and charismatic approach to music, help make her the complete musician.