Church Sing by DC Chamber Singers in mid-April

April 11, 2016 

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College Chamber Singers will attend seven area church services sharing their musical talents with each congregation on Sunday, April 17.

The 2016 Spring Church Sing includes stops at Evansport United Methodist 8:30 a.m. service, First Church of God 9:00 a.m. service, Trinity United Methodist 9:30 a.m. service, First Baptist Church 10:30 a.m. service, St. Paul’s Lutheran 10:15 a.m. service, St. John United Church of Christ 10:30 a.m. service, and St. Paul’s United Methodist 11:00 a.m. service.

The Defiance College Chamber Singers is an auditioned, mixed choral ensemble of approximately 35 DC students. Re-established in the spring of 2010 with conductor Andrew Schultz, the ensemble has continued to perform on campus and in the surrounding community since. Repertoire contains music from all stylistic periods, including contemporary music, and consists of small-form choral music performed a cappella and/or with chamber instruments.

Recent tours for the Chamber Singers include a 10 day trip out west with stops in St. Louis, Kansas City, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Des Moines. In the fall of 2015, the choir spent five days traveling to Nashville with performances in Indianapolis, Evansville, and Urbana. The trip also included a recording session at the RCA Studio B, made famous by Elvis Presley, and an impromptu performance on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

“The Church Sing is a community outreach opportunity that includes our DC students sharing their musical talents and also experiencing several contrasting worship services in the process,” said Andrew Schultz, the Chamber Singers director. “It is an event we look forward to every year. We thank the area churches for allowing us be part of their Sunday morning worship.”

Andrew Schultz is in his seventh year as Director of Music Programs at Defiance College. While overseeing the academic and performance goals of the department, he leads the DC Chamber Singers, Choral Union, and music for DC Players productions, in addition to teaching conducting, music theory, and voice. He serves the Defiance community working for the Defiance Community Cultural Council as Artistic and Performance Series Director.

Schultz coordinates the three DCCC performance series including Sunday at the Stroede, Bands, Bands, Bands!; Young Audience Series, and Music in Your Parks. He also maintains a private voice studio and is in his ninth year as director of music at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Defiance.

DC Chamber Singers student members include: Kelsea Burns, Antwerp, OH; David Brown, Gabrielle Justice, Malcolm Solack, Columbus, OH; Jakob Adkins, Aerica Firman, Amanda Heil, Megan Puehler, George Roth, Danielle Vance, Alexis Weidenhamer, Defiance, OH; Jordan Osborne, Delaware, OH; Tim Feasel, Fort Jennings, OH; Samantha Butler, Hamilton, OH; Claire Turner, Medina, OH; Lucas Parsell, Napoleon, OH; Megan Pleskovic, Strongsville, OH; Keira Grandey, Stryker, OH; Paige Rains, Swanton, OH; Erin Conner, Sycamore, OH; Kayla Richer, Sylvania, OH; Jennifer Repka, Toledo, OH; Joseph Kudela, Vermilion, OH; Jorian Beery, Wadsworth, OH; Nicky Winland, Wauseon, OH;

Xavier Blyden, Bridgeport, CT; Taylor Haydinger, Wilmington, DE; Nathaniel Hicks, Atlanta, GA; Nicole Baseley, Greenwood, IN; Javone Hilliard, Noblesville, IN; Rolando Martinez, Detroit, MI; Jalin Nealy, Pontiac, MI;  and Cormack Lazarus, St. Mary, Jamaica.

More information about Defiance College Music Programs can be found at www.defiance.edu/music.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.