Akron Symphony Chorus
Auditions for the 2026-27 Season
The Akron Symphony Chorus and Chorus Director Chris Albanese will hold auditions for new members for the 2026-27 season on August 13-14 at Faith Lutheran Church, Fairlawn. Auditions are by appointment only.
The upcoming season for the Akron Symphony Chorus includes Mozart’s Requiem, a selection of holiday favorites, and the season finale of Rachmaninoff’s The Bells as part of the Tchaikovsky IV concert.
VOCAL PLACEMENT
New Member instructions:
- Choral excerpt:
- Sing your part of the attached excerpt (“And the Glory of the Lord” from Handel’s Messiah)
- Please use the edition provided HERE. A copy will be available at your audition
- An accompanist will be provided.
- Vocalize:
- We will conduct a brief range check to determine your section placement.
- Pitch recognition:
- A series of pitch patterns will be played, and you will be asked to repeat them.
RETURNING MEMBER INSTRUCTIONS:
- 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
Ann Barni
Amy Carson
Riley Courtheyn
Karen Hazlett
Ame Held
April Held
Miriam Henkel-Moellmann
Brenda Justice
Louisa Kreider
Linda Norton-Smith
Rachel O’Connell
Kaitlin Privara
Ashley Staten
Emma Williams
Soprano 2
Marjorie Benjamin
Dawn Horner
Cheryl Kline
Lisa A. Lazar
Kyra Meyer
Mary Ann Nething
Mikaila Onyekpe
Mary Ann Schmidt
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 MitchellRoma Bandza
Rachel Cover
Karen Dick
Krista Dulaney
Natalie Gilbert
Karen Gracy
Janet Griffing-Labonne
Joan Houger
Nancy Irby
Sharon Juszli
Jackie Lann
Kassie Lyons
Christine Makosky
Amy Greenberg McCormick
Jennifer Palmieri
Claude Robinson
Jane Schweitzer
Janet Taylor
Wendy Wagner
Alto 2
Martha Banks
Frederica Cohen
Lisa Donatelli
Amanda Egolf
Tara Gillespie
Theresia Hartz
Erin Haywood
Juliann Hlas
Peggy Hogan
Beth Illes-Johnson
Sue Johnson
Polli Parker
Kathy Schaefer
Amber Schrock-Andreasen
Jordanne Semper-Scott
Cindy Spenoso
Sylvia Thompson
Emma Weihe
Anita Young
Julie Zimmerman
Tenor 1
Athena Corbin
Eddie Cuevas
Timothy Culver
Chris Formet
Sam Garner
Steve Lord
Brian Pichola
Tenor 2
Renee Dee
Philip Foster
George Gaiser
Sean Gilbow
Xander Golightley
Floyd Juszli
Timothy Ondack
Bass 1
Robert Balli
Simon Beck
John T. Burkley
Rick Dailey
Richard Dee
Chris Godard
Ralph Heimburger
Tim Held
Steve Hogan
Garrett Maner
Joseph Palmiero
Dennis Reynolds
Bob Sigsworth
Patrick Stromberg
Bass 2
Gawaine Banks
Eugene Fubler
Joseph A. Gardner
John Gruneich
Caleb Helgeson
Gregory Mulkey
Randy Peters
Kurt Spenoso
Bruce Taylor