SERAPHIM

 

SERAPHIM was established in fall, 2000, following a memorial service for Frances Kerpsack.  That day was formed the beginning of a bond, a shared social and artistic purpose.  With Jon Simsic as music director, a group of twenty-some dedicated themselves to passionate vocal performance serving the Youngstown area.

SINGING.  The use of the vocal mechanism to produce musical tone.  The urge to sing, which characterizes all peoples and cultures, has been developed, in Western music, through specialized techniques to extend the range of the voice, to create extremes of dynamics, and to produce great variations in tone-color.          The Oxford Companion to Music.  Oxford U. Press, 2002.

FOR  probably the last 100K years or so, words and music have gone together like a horse and carriage, like a wedding and Dad's arm (and Mom's everything), like Punch and Judy.  In times long sunk below the horizen, we laughable little humans have, haltingly, put words and tones together to amplify, focus, direct, bend and shape our message -- and our FEELINGS -- to our fellows.  I'll have more to reflect on about the distinctively human awareness, and need to communicate and empathize, in coming weeks and months.     

We are dedicated to the proposition that singing is as natural as speaking, and often more of a...lift.  These days we program a diversity of good music.

From the start the chorus has featured guest soloists; in the performance of major works (Rutter; Britten) our ensemble has often been accompanied by a chamber orchestra.  Since Kris Harper became Music Director in 2005, membership and the volume and variety of performances have grown.  Our audience expands along with us.

Kris Harper, Music Director

Kris Harper holds a bachelor of music degree, with emphasis in voice, from Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA (1981), and a Master of Music, again with emphasis in voice, from The Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University (1995).  Kris maintains active membership in major professional associations.

From a determined core group in 2005, Kris has developed Seraphim into an organization that serves our Mahoning Valley practically year round, with the classics, with traditional and less formal sacred music, and with popular favorites.  He is Director of Music Ministries at Mary, Mother of Hope Roman Catholic Church in New Castle, PA.  On the faculty at Westminster College, our dedicated director teaches private voice and is conductor of the Women's Chorus and the Women's Chamber Ensemble.  He maintains a private voice studio both in New Castle and at his home in Poland, Ohio.

Kathryn Davison Miller, Organist, Accompanist

Our keyboard artist Kathryn received her Bachelor of Music in organ performance from The Ohio State University and her Master of Music in organ performance from the University of Cincinnati,  College- Conservatory of Music.  Westminster College and Temple Rodef Sholom organist, Westminster Presbyterian Church (Boardman) music director, organ and piano instructor, vocal coach, and accompanist to Seraphim and to our whole region, Kathy is an indispensable member of Seraphim.

Mary Lou Weibel, President Emerita

Talk about indispensable.  Week in, year out, this lady has served us, devoted herself to us, kept us together, kept us pointed ahead.

Kept us headed for practice in the right place at the right time with the right attitude, with the right music, for the right reason of love of the spirit of the sharing of music.  With the support of her board, she has for many years been a leader in furthering choral singing in this Mahoning valley.  Mary Lou we salute you and all you've done to make this enterprise what it has been and can be into the future!!  Mary Lou, Thank you  Thank you.

** New Officers, 2009-2011

  President:          Margie DiRienzo

   Vice President:  Georgia Dungen

   Secretary:         Pat Vidis

   Treasurer:        Bruce Cofelt

 

NOW, OUR PERSONNEL, BY SECTION:

 

           OUR  SOPRANOS

 

            OUR  ALTOS

            OUR  TENORS

             OUR  BASSES

 

 

 

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