MARIA LAMSON
AltoMaria Weber Lamson, mezzo-soprano, developed a love of choral music in high school (Alden, New York), and college choir (SUNY Geneseo Chamber Singers). Before moving to the Upper Valley she sang with the Norfolk Camerata in Virginia and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in Boston. She performs as a soloist and chorister with numerous groups around Vermont, most recently Counterpoint, Blanche Moyse Chorale, Randolph Singers, Sounding Joy!, North Country Chorus, and Opera North. Maria also enjoys vocal coaching for musical productions in the South Royalton School, and travels to Europe annually with high school students. She is a cantor at St. Denis Church in Hanover, NH. A retired librarian and mother of four, Maria lives in South Royalton with her husband Frank, and can often be found hiking, swimming, and loving four beautiful grandchildren.
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FRANNY EANET
AltoFranny Eanet has been singing in choruses large and small for 40 years. While in high school, she had the good fortune to tour England and Italy with the Phillips Academy Cantata Choir. In college, she toured Northern Europe with the Radcliffe Choral Society, competing at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales and the Koorfest in The Hague, Holland. Later, she sang with the San Francisco Choral Society, the Humboldt Chorale, and the Humboldt State University Madrigal Singers. Since moving to Vermont in 1997, she has sung with the Thetford Chamber Singers, Revels North, and Ensemble Zephyrus. When not singing, she may be found raising her teenage daughters with her partner in their off-grid solar straw bale home in Norwich, Vermont.
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SKIP POTTER
TenorSkip Potter has training and performance in both voice and theater. He often performs as a soloist for many choral groups in the area. Currently, Skip sings with the Mad River Choral, Solaris and Vermont Philharmonic Chorus. Recent vocal works include Vivaldi, Dietrich Buxtehude and Gounod. In the last
three years he has been on stage as Nanki Poo in the Mikado (Unadilla Theatre), Anas in Jesus Christ Super Star (Stowe Theatre Guild), Marco in the Gondoliers (Unadilla Theatre) Skip was on stage for 9 – 5 with (Lyric Theatre) and Cosi Fan Tutte (Echo Valley Community Arts) Skip is a former board member of the Burlington Choral Society and Mad River choral. Currently he is a Tenor section lead with the Unitarian Universalist Church in Burlington and the Mad River Choral. His most recent role was as Archibald Grosvenor in Patience (Unadilla Theatre) Skip resides in Barre, VT and is the IT manager for R.L. Vallee, Inc. |
HAL SHEELER
BassHal Sheeler holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education from the Crane School Of Music, SUNY Potsdam and did post graduate work at Indiana University School Of Music.
For a number of years he was Director of Choral and Instrumental Music in public schools including the Department Of Defense Dependents Schools in Europe and at Lebanon NH High School. Hal has been vocal and orchestral conductor for numerous North Community Theatre productions and was director of Bel Canto Chamber Singers for seven years. He is currently is singing with Thetford Chamber Singers and SSG (Small Singing Group in Lebanon, NH.), and is Musical Director of Upper Valley Open Sings in collaboration with pianist/organist Henry Danaher. Hal recently conducted Durufle's Requiem Mass in collaboration with Henry Danaher at the Mary Keane Chapel in Enfield, NH. The ad hoc 24 member choral group was called Upper Valley Singers. Past singing experiences include Collegiate Chorale in NYC, Handel Society, Concertato Singers, recitals, and Opera North productions. |
PATRICIA NORTON
SopranoPatricia Norton, Middlebury College, B.A.
Patricia is a commissioned composer, conductor, and the founder of Juneberry Music Choral Singing School, now Juneberry at UVMC. She has studied with Alice Parker, Bobby McFerrin, Judi Vinar, Melinda O'Neal, and Jennifer Yocom. When recovering from a serious illness eight years ago, she asked herself, "What makes you come alive?" The answer was making music. |
EMMA AKRAWI
Soprano
Music has been a thread in Emma Akrawi's life since her first quarter-sized cello at the age of 7. She always loved singing, but it wasn't until college that she had the opportunity to perform with multiple ensembles spanning jazz, folk, and choral genres. As a soprano in Yale University's Whim'n Rhythm and Redhot & Blue a cappella groups, she travelled the world from Tokyo to Budapest. In college, she expanded into classical and choral music, performing in a baroque Italian opera and with multiple choirs, including the Yale Camerata. She is delighted to be joining the Vermont Chamber Artists while earning her JD at Vermont Law School. Singing and cooking are her greatest joys.
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HENRY DANAHER
BassHenry Danaher is the Choir Director and Organist at First Congregational Church in Lebanon, and the Choral Accompanist at Hanover High School. He has collaborated as a pianist or keyboardist with many of the Upper Valley's performing arts organizations, assisting with rehearsals, masterclasses, recordings, auditions, choral music and recitals; he performs year-round for weddings, religious services, parties, fundraisers and concerts. While not working as a musician, Henry enjoys drawing and studying foreign languages. He lives in Lebanon, NH with his son Finn.
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KEVIN QUIGLEY
BaritoneFor as long as he can remember, Kevin Quigley has always been making some kind of art. From painting to performing to composing to producing experimental theater and dance, Kevin has been involved in the arts for nearly 40 years. In addition to directing the Thetford Chamber Singers, Kevin sings with Counterpoint (Vermont's stand-alone professional chorus), is an arts teacher at several Upper Valley institutions, and composes for both choral and instrumental ensembles. He also maintains practices as a graphic designer and Tarot counselor and is always looking for new projects and opportunities to collaborate with other artists.
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MEGAN HELM
AltoMegan Brown Helm (The University of Kansas, BME Music Education, BA History)
Megan Brown Helm grew up singing in St. Louis, Missouri, honed her skills in Kansas and now lives in Vermont with her husband and two teen aged sons. A compulsive chorister, she sings with Full Circle in Lyme, NH, Voices 21c in Boston and was recently awarded a week at the Berkshire Choral International Festival in Sheffield, MA this summer. As the K-3 music teacher at Crossroads Academy in NH her interests include integrating music into STEM subjects and using meditation to enhance meta-cognition in early learners. |
TOM NORTON
TenorTom Norton is a retired engineer and active musician, performing on both voice and clarinet. In addition to VCA, he sings with Full Circle and with Juneberry at UVMC. He has studied voice with Jennifer Yocom and Patricia Norton. On clarinet, he is a founding member of both the Sunflower Woodwind Quintet and the Euterpe Trio (violin, clarinet, piano). He has also performed as an instrumental accompanist for singers with Full Circle, Thetford Chamber Singers, North Country Community Theater, and Thetford Academy musical theater productions. Tom holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University. He is also an amateur naturalist, land steward, gardener and astronomer.
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REBECCA WOOD
Soprano"Musician and educator Rebecca Wood studied both voice and classical saxophone for her Bachelor's of Science in Music Education from the University of Vermont, and recently completed her Kodály certification at the Hartt School of Music. Rebecca has traveled and performed around Europe with Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont and Cantiamo in the soprano section. Active in her community, she directs community and church choirs in her hometown of Hartland, Vermont, where she also serves on the board of Hartland Community Arts. In addition to singing with Vermont Chamber Artists, Rebecca sings with Bel Canto, and plays saxophone in the Vermont Wind Ensemble.
Rebecca is currently working in Special Education at Hartland Elementary School in Hartland, Vermont after three years of teaching music. She looks forward to returning to teaching music in the future. When not happily immersed in something musical, Rebecca enjoys coffee, reading, crocheting, and practicing photography." |
AMBER WIDMAYER
AltoAmber has had the opportunity to sing in many memorable choral performances through the years, including performing at the Kennedy Center with the Montgomery County Youth Chorus, singing with Maryland’s All State Chorus in high school, performing in Germany, France and Switzerland with the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Camerata, and performing with Dave Brubeck and his quartet with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. Still, her most treasured musical experience remains the summers she spent learning from and laughing with young musicians as the Intermediate Girls Waterfront Director at Interlochen Arts Camp. After a long hiatus from music while completing her graduate degrees in urban studies and land use planning, environmental law, and most recently, energy law at Vermont Law School, Amber is thrilled to return to performing with such a talented group of musicians.
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REBECCA CSUY
AltoRebecca Norton Csuy grew up singing with the Upper Valley Music Center and various school groups. She was part of the UVM Concert Choir when they performed "Carmina Burana" with David Neiweem and the Burlington Choral Society in 2012. She lives in Burlington with her husband Forrest and rescue cat Nate. For her day job, she writes data analytics software at Dealer.com. She is excited to get back into music and would like to point out to her brother Seth that if he joined VCA, the Norton family would nearly have a majority in the group...
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COLLEEN FLYNN CAMPBELL
SopranoColleen Flynn Campbell discovered her voice at the University of Vermont, where she studied singing with David Neiweem and Beth Thompson while earning her degree in Clinical Laboratory Science. While at UVM she performed with the Concert Choir, Catamount Singers and Opera Workshop. Her roles have included Papagena in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Gretel in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel, and Geraldine in Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge.
Colleen was one of the founding members of Counterpoint, Vermont’s premiere professional vocal ensemble, and continues to perform with them regularly. She currently also sings with the Aurora Chamber Singers, Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont and Cantiamo. She has performed as a soloist with the VSO Chorus, the Burlington Choral Society, the Oriana Singers, Aurora Chamber Singers, Bella Voce, Solaris Vocal Ensemble, and the Vermont Mozart Festival, and has appeared in recital both at UVM and at the Pitten Classics International Music Festival in Austria. Colleen lives in Williston with her three children and one giant, slobbery Saint Bernard. REBECCA VICKERY
AltoRebecca Vickery is a born music lover, heavily involved in band, orchestra and chorus from age 8. She attended college at SUNY Plattsburgh where she was involved with Chorus, Madrigal singers, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo and a number of independent groups. Her instruments include soprano saxophone, guitar, and piano. Presently, she is serving as interim worship leader at North Avenue Alliance Church. She is married and has four beautiful children, all of whom she teaches at home. Although her life is at times stressful and busy, a common theme has always been, “How can I keep from singing?”
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KARL NADEN
BaritoneKarl Naden's earliest memory of being washed away by the joy and beauty of choral music was formed when he sang his first requiem (Fauré's) in high school. Since then he has performed 5 more requiems (by Mozart, Verdi, Brahms, du Caurroy, and Victoria). If only a film had been made out of his performance of Mozart's Requiem with the Pittsburgh Symphony, which included John Lithgow reading letters written by Mozart, Karl would have left computer science graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University with an Erdős/Bacon number. Beyond requiems, Karl has sung a wide range of accompanied and a cappella works with choirs across the country including the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Musica Sacra of Cambridge, MA where he served as bass section leader, and Vermont's Counterpoint Vocal Ensemble. By day, Karl works as a Healthcare IT consultant from his home in Vermont's Mad River Valley.
REBEKAH SCHWEITZER
SopranoRebekah Schweitzer was raised by two avid music-lovers. As a child, her bedtime ritual always culminated in a song sung by her mother. Rebekah began her study of music with the neighborhood piano teacher. She studied cello soon after and also sang in choirs. As an undergrad in Comparative Literature at Oberlin College, Rebekah studied voice at the Conservatory and participated in several ensembles as well. As a lyric soprano, she has participated in many prestigious summer programs, including Oberlin in Italy, SongFest, Opera North ad the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Rebekah is an assistant director for Clamare: The Early Music Singers of Dartmouth College. This is her first year singing with VCA.
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ANDY ROSS
TenorAndy Ross is a singer from Boulder, Colorado who holds a B.A. in Music from Emory University with a focus in Vocal Performance. He currently sings with Counterpoint Chorus and the Vermont Chamber Artists, and works as a software developer in Montpelier, VT.
LEAH ROMANO
AltoLeah Romano also sings with the Thetford Chamber Singers in Vermont. Music has been a part of much of her life and has inspired a love exploring art and all forms of expression. Originally from Philadelphia and now in Norwich, VT, as a young adult she sang in school and community choirs, played the violin, won poetry and spoken word competitions, created soundtracks for films and plays, and danced. As a director, producer, performer, she creates her own work and is an ensemble member of a variety of local theater and performing arts groups.
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