Akron Symphony Chorus - Akron Symphony Orchestra

Akron Symphony Chorus

Auditions for the 2024-25 Season

The Akron Symphony Chorus and Chorus Director Chris Albanese will hold auditions for new members for the 2024-25 season on August 5-7 at Faith Lutheran Church, Fairlawn. Auditions are by appointment only.

The upcoming season for the Akron Symphony Chorus includes (amongst others) performances with the Akron Symphony Orchestra of Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony and Verdi’s Requiem.


VOCAL PLACEMENT

New Member instructions:

  1. Choral excerpt: 
  • Sing your part of the attached excerpt (“And the Glory of the Lord” from Handel’s Messiah)
  • Please use the edition attache. A copy will be available at your audition
  • An accompanist will be provided.
  1. Vocalize:
  • We will conduct a brief range check to determine your section placement.
  1. Pitch recognition:
  • A series of pitch patterns will be played and you will be asked to repeat them.

RETURNING MEMBER INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Vocalize:
  • We will conduct a brief range check to determine your section placement.

Schedule an Audition

To schedule an audition, or for more information, please contact Brenda Justice, Coordinator of Choral Programs, by phone at 330.535.8131 or by email at bjustice@akronsymphony.org.

Akron Symphony Chorus

At nearly 100 members, the Akron Symphony Chorus is dedicated to achieving the highest level of choral singing. Its volunteer singers represent all walks of life from our Akron community and surrounding areas. The Chorus is an indispensable part of the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and along with the Orchestra and the Akron Youth Symphony, functions as part of the Greater Akron Musical Association.

The Akron Symphony Choral Society, as it was first known, began rehearsals in the fall of 1956. The first performance was Brahms’ German Requiem on April 17, 1957, under the direction of Robert Shaw. In the years to follow, the renamed Akron Symphony Chorus performed much of the major choral repertoire of the last six centuries, as well as several regional first performances and world premieres.

Highlights have included Honegger’s Joan of Arc at the Stake featuring world-famous actress and dancer Vera Zorina, and in recent years, Mozart’s Coronation Mass with guest conductor Jeannette Sorrell, Handel’s Messiah directed by James Mismas, and an all Brahms program conducted by Grammy and Emmy award-winning guest conductor Vance George, retired choral director of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. In 2007, the chorus performed Verdi’s La Traviata, conducted by Christopher Wilkins.

Soprano 1

Roma Bandza
Ann Barni
Diane Del Greco
Sarah Gaither
April Held
Susan Holbrook
Miriam Henkel-Moellmann
Alicia Hotes
Brenda Justice
Megan Meyer
Colleen Miller
Rachel O’Connell
Deanna Perdue
Kaitlin Privara
Liesl Semper
Courtney Zimmerman


Soprano 2

Sally Ann Anderson
Majorie Benjamin
Katerina Cole
Gwendolyn Erskine
Michelle Gippin
Lydia Hartman
Karen Hazlett
Ame Held
Dawn Horner
Cheryl Kline
Louisa Kreider
Lisa Lazar
Maryann Nething
Mary Ellen Porcella
Milena Savier
Mary Anne Schmidt
Jane Schweitzer
Roberta Wervey

Alto 1

Kelly Burke
Karen Dick
Natalie Gilbert
Karen Gracy
Joan Houger
Nancy Irby
Sharon Juszli
Jackie Lann
Christine Makosky
Amy Greenberg McCormick
Bonnie Mitchell
Joan Niewieroski
Claudine Robinson
Janet Taylor
Barbara Winberg


Alto 2

Amber Schrock-Andreasen
Martha Banks
Lisa Donatelli
Amanda Egolf
Rosemary Fitzpatrick
Tara Gillespie
Theresia Hartz
Erin Haywood
Peggy Hogan
Beth Illes-Johnson
Juliann Reese
Kathy Schaefer
Cindy Spenoso
Penny Thompson
Sylvia Thompson
Anita Young
Julie Zimmerman

Tenor 1

George Gaiser
Sam Garner
Raph Guenther
Steve Lord
Daniel McCall
Timothy Ondack


Tenor 2

Philip Foster
Sean Gilbow
William Hartz
Ralph Heimberger
Tim Held
Floyd Juszli
Donald Lambo
Ken Linscott


Bass 1

Harry Arble
Robert Balli
Simon Beck
John Burkley
Rick Dailey
Joseph Gardner
Chris Godard
Steve Hogan
Jerry Irby
Joseph Palmiero
Henry Payden Jr.
Patrick Stromberg
Bruce Taylor


Bass 2

Gawaine Banks
Eugene Fubler
John Gruneich
Caleb Helgesen
Richard Lieghley
Bob Peyak
Andy Rambler
Greg Schumacher
Kurt Spenoso