(UPDATE)

South Hadley, MA

Director: Catherine Melhorn

“The Tailor and the Mouse” by Dave & Jean Perry

About Director Catharine Melhorn
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Catharine Melhorn, retired in 2006 as long-time Choral Director at Mount Holyoke College, presently serves as President of the American Choral Directors Association, Massachusetts chapter. A graduate of Smith College with advanced degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Illinois, she has led Mount Holyoke choirs on tours to China, South America, Eastern and central Europe, England, Wales, Costa Rica and throughout the US and Canada. Between 1987 and 1992, Ms. Melhorn was founder and director of the highly successful Mount Holyoke Children’s Choir. 2012-13 is her seventh season directing the South Hadley Children’s Chorus.

Amherst, MA

Director: Anita Cooper

“Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” by Nina Gilbert

About Director Anita Cooper
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Anita Anderson Cooper received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Westminster College and her Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance at Boston University. She taught Music Theory at Manhattan School of Music in New York City for twelve years and also worked as a professional musician and conductor. She made her Carnegie Hall solo debut in 1995 and has sung with several orchestras throughout the United States. She has performed leading roles with various opera, Broadway and regional theater companies. She is a frequent soloist for Smith College and the Hampshire Choral Society as well as being a guest conductor for district festivals, most recently for the Green Mountain District in Vermont. She has premiered many new compositions including local composer, Willis Bridegam’s Robert Frost cycle and six Emily Dickinson settings which she performed for the 2004 re-dedication of the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst. In 2006, she was a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and studied Mozart’s music in Vienna, Austria. At Amherst Regional High School, she currently teaches three choral ensembles (Chorale, Concert Choir, and the Hurricane Singers) and AP Music Theory. This April, her women’s ensemble (Hurricane Singers) won the WGBY “Together In Song” competition in Springfield MA. Both judges and audience voters chose them as the best of all the groups that competed. The rest of her time is spent with her 10-year old son, Patrik, and a new puppy named Joey.

Longmeadow, MA

Director: Kayla Werlin

“If Ye Love Me” by Thomas Tallis

About Director Kayla Werlin
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Kayla Werlin grew up in Lexington, and it was in the music program of the Lexington Public Schools that she found her passion for music. She holds music degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Massachusetts. She has taught music at all levels, from pre-K through college, but it is in working with high school students that she finds the greatest joy. Kayla joined the Longmeadow music faculty in 1995, and has been at Longmeadow High School since 1999. At LHS, Kayla directs Women’s Chorus, La Cappella and The Accidentals, and has previously taught AP Music Theory, Music Technology and Dramatic Arts. She is the founding director of Mak’hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts. This 60-voice community chorus performs sacred and secular music representing all facets of Jewish culture. Kayla has served as President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors’ Association and choral coordinator of MMEA Western District. She has conducted district festival choruses throughout Massachusetts, Vermont and New York. Kayla sings in the Renaissance vocal sextet Cantabile. She lives in Hadley with her husband E. Wayne Abercrombie.

Hadley, MA

Director: Irina Yakub

“Cantar” by Jay Althouse

About Director Irina Yakub
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Irina Yakub received her Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she studied with Dr. Wayne Abercrombie. She also holds her Master’s Degree in Music Education from Moscow Pedagogical University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theory from Lviv State Music College. Irina Yakub was a singer and an assistant conductor for the Harmony Gospel Choir in Amherst and Choral Director of the UMass Women’s Choir. She also was a guest conductor for the Voronezh Youth Theater Choir (Russia), the UMass Chorale and the Modern Music Festival in L’viv, Ukraine. Irina Yakub has been a Chorus Director in the Hartsbrook School, Hadley since 1995.

Springfield, MA

Director: Catherine Schane-Lydon

“Signed Sealed Delivered” by Stevie Wonder

About Director Catherine Schane-Lydon
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Catherine Schane-Lydon is a music performer, teacher, and arranger, as well as a music director for Strike A Chord. Her book The Complete Classical Pianist has just been released by Alfred Music Publishing, and her most recent project is a music teaching toy called Toccata Blocks, which was featured at the NY Toy Fair earlier this year. She lives in Canaan, NY, with her wonderful husband and renowned thespian, Monk Schane-Lydon.

(UPDATE)

Hampshire Region, MA

Director: Rebecca Phelps

“Prayer of the Children” by Kurt Bestor

About Director Rebecca Phelps
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Rebecca Phelps has been teaching music in both public and private schools and colleges in the valley for over 25 years. She went to Smith College as an undergraduate piano major, and graduated from Hartt School of Music with a master’s in Choral Conducting. She has been the musical director for many musicals working with area community theater groups and schools and she founded the tradition of annual spring musical productions at Hampshire. Rebecca loves teaching and has taught piano and directed choirs at every level from kindergarten through adult. Currently she sings soprano with the Pioneer Valley Cappella ensemble.

Westminster, VT

Director: Lisa Bianconi

“Oh Happy Day” composed by Lisa Bianconi
“Lean On Me” by Bill Withers

About Director Lisa Bianconi
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Lisa Bianconi has served as Kurn Hattin’s Music Director since 1985. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Notre Dame and a Master’s in Education from Keene State College. She teaches general music, jazz and concert band, and all choirs including the Select Choir. Lisa is a member of the Vermont Music Educators. She teaches piano. Lisa lives in Rockingham, Vermont with her husband Jeff and their 5 children and 3 dogs.

Longmeadow, MA

Director: Kayla Werlin

“Bachuri le’an tisa” by Gideon Klein

About Director Kayla Werlin
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Kayla Werlin grew up in Lexington, and it was in the music program of the Lexington Public Schools that she found her passion for music. She holds music degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Massachusetts. She has taught music at all levels, from pre-K through college, but it is in working with high school students that she finds the greatest joy. Kayla joined the Longmeadow music faculty in 1995, and has been at Longmeadow High School since 1999. At LHS, Kayla directs Women’s Chorus, La Cappella and The Accidentals, and has previously taught AP Music Theory, Music Technology and Dramatic Arts. She is the founding director of Mak’hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts. This 60-voice community chorus performs sacred and secular music representing all facets of Jewish culture. Kayla has served as President of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors’ Association and choral coordinator of MMEA Western District. She has conducted district festival choruses throughout Massachusetts, Vermont and New York. Kayla sings in the Renaissance vocal sextet Cantabile. She lives in Hadley with her husband E. Wayne Abercrombie.

(UPDATE)

West Springfield, MA

Director: Malita Brown

“Play For Me A Simple Melody” by Irving Berlin

About Director Malita Brown
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Malita Brown is a retired music teacher from Springfield Public Schools. She is current director/accompanist for the Blue Ribbon Singers since 2005. She is also a cellist with the Old Post Road Orchestra which she founded in 1986. She is organist/music director at the Unitarian Church of Monson since 1986. The Gemtones is a four person blue grass type fiddle band with which Malita plays fiddle. There are also various musical ensembles that come up from time to time such as a Claude Bolling presentation Nov 10 in Monson.

Amherst, MA

Director: Morning Star Chenven

“N’Kosi Sikelel’i Afrika” by E.M. Sontonga

About Director Morning Star Chenven
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Morning Star Chenven is a choral director, singer/songwriter, poet and educator. She has directed Wings! since its inception, approx. 10 years ago and she also directs a small community chorus in Wendell. She performs with the musical group “”Moonlight and Morning Star”" bringing multicultural music and spoken word to all ages of people.

She believes in the power of song to inspire and bring joy to people. Her choruses are non-auditioned, providing the inexperienced and experienced singer an opportunity to lift their voice in song.

Morning Star attended the High School of Music and Art, Oberlin College and Antioch New England Graduate School. She has taught music courses at Western New England College and offers creativity workshops to people of all ages.