Cheryll Andrews (alto) was a founding member of the Attleboro, MA group "Oure Pleasure Ltd" in 1983, a small theatrical, madrigal based group which has recently celebrated is 25th season. After moving to New Hampshire, she sang with Great Waters Music Festival, New Hampshire Music Festival and Amare Cantare. She also spent two years as an alto in the seven person contemporary a cappella group Tuckerman's at 9. She spent three years as the alto section leader and soloist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Concord, and then three more as the soloist at the Christian Scientist Church in Plymouth. Cheryll has several years of formal voice training and has been singing with NHMC since the beginning in 2003. She works in advertising at Citadel Broadcasting, New Hampshire representing WOKQ/WPKQ and The Shark, is married and has an adult daughter. Favorite songs sung with NHMC: "Mid-Winter Songs", M. Lauridsen; ALL of the spirituals; "How Can I Keep from Singing", arr. B. Ellingboe
Charlie Blood (baritone) is a collaborative pianist at Plymouth State University and for the Manchester Choral Society and is Director of Music at the New Castle Congregational Church in New Castle, NH. He was a long time music educator in the Derry Cooperative School District, having previously been a member of the music faculty of Notre Dame College where he founded and served as director of the college’s Community Music School and coordinator of the Summer Concert Series. He has also taught at St. Paul’s School in Concord and in the Manchester public schools. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire where he also earned a Master of Arts degree in music. Charlie's family is also very musical. His wife, Judy, teaches elementary music in Brookline, NH and sings with the Manchester Choral Society. Their daughter, Elizabeth, is a collaborative pianist and performs throughout the region. Their son, Christopher, is a guitarist pursuing a career in massage therapy in New Mexico.
Jenny Cooper (soprano) is the choral music teacher at Gould Academy in Bethel, ME, where she lives. She holds a B.A. from Plymouth State University in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, where she studied with Eva Nagorka, Janice Edwards, and Kathleen Arecchi. At Plymouth she sang with PSU Chamber Singers, University Chorale, and was the student assistant to Dan Perkins. Jenny taught at Phillips Exeter Academy in 2008-2009 and the Putney School Summer Program in 2007, and she was choir director at Church of the Holy Spirit, Plymouth, NH in 2007-2008. Before coming to Plymouth she studied with soprano Jane Cormier, founder of Lakes Region Opera Company, and Carmen Balthrop at the Heifetz International Music Institute. Jenny is a New Hampshire native, originally from Wolfeboro, NH, where she was a member of and regular soloist for Clearlakes Chorale. She treasures her time spent singing and laughing with all members of NHMC and looks forward to a fantastic season!
AJ Coppola (tenor) graduated from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY in 2009 with a degree in music education with a concentration in bassoon. At Ithaca, he was a member of the Ithaca College Chorus, under the direction of Janet Galvan, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, led by Cookie Coogan. AJ is now the K-8 music teacher at Campton Elementary School in Campton, New Hampshire, teaching band, chorus and general music. He is also the adjunct bassoon teacher at Plymouth State University. In addition to the NHMC, AJ sings with the Gilford Community Church Chancel Choir, plays with the Plymouth State University Symphonic Band, is the associate conductor of the Gilford Community Band, and has performed with the Educational Theater Collaborative (ETC). He also leads many after school ensembles at Campton, and directs the annual drama production. AJ has sung with the Master Chorale since January of 2010 and has enjoyed every minute of it!
Lynn Paulsen Cox (soprano) is beginning a second term with the Master Chorale. She holds a B.A. in Music from Plymouth State College of long ago, where she studied voice with Kathleen Arecchi and was the soloist for the Christian Science Church with friend and mentor, organist Dr. Robert Swift. She spent five years with the madrigal group Amare Cantare on the Seacoast. A move to Boston to work in the Tufts University Music Library led to several years of singing with the Tufts Early Music Ensemble, which performed with period instruments from all over Boston. Lynn returned to New Hampshire to earn an M.Ed. in reading from the University of New Hampshire, and to raise a family. Now living in Andover, she works at Proctor Academy as a Learning Specialist. Besides singing, her great loves are sea kayaking, nordic skiing, and time with her family: husband Jim and two young boys, Ben and Will.
Rory Diamond (bass), from South Hadley, MA, is a music major at Plymouth State University. He's also a member of the a cappella group Vocal Order, based at Plymouth State.
Gwen Dunn (alto) sang with NHMC during its inaugural season 2003-04. She has been a member of many different auditioned groups in Ohio, Utah, and most recently Connecticut, where she was a member of the Hartford Chorale, Con Brio, and CONCORA. From 1980 to 2000 she sang with the Dartmouth Handel Society and The Concertato Singers, comprised of Dartmouth students, faculty members and singers from the community at large. Gwen, a retired teacher, lives in New London with her husband Steve, but whenever possible they are on their sailboat on the Penobscot Bay, in Maine.
Favorite songs sung with NHMC: "4 Shakespeare Songs", J. Mäntyjärvi; "Walden Pond", D. Argento; "Sure on this Shining Night", M. Lauridsen. Other favorites: "Dirait-on", "Ave Maria", M. Lauridsen; "Water Night", "Sleep", "She Weeps Over Rahoon", E. Whitacre; "Da Pacem Domine", "Magnificat", "Nunc Dimittis", The Beatitudes, Arvo Pärt; "Agnus Dei"(Elgar/a cappella arrangement), D. Giardiniere
Rob Harrington (tenor) graduated Presser Scholar from the University of New Hampshire in 1987. He is presently Choral Director for the Timberlane Regional High School Music program in Plaistow, NH. His responsibilities include the Concert Choir, and Select Vocal Ensemble as well as assisting the Middle School choirs, and various instrumental and general music programs in grades 6 -12.
Rob spent twelve years in the Londonderry, NH school system, earning the honor of "Teacher of the Year" from the local Chamber of Commerce. He also serves the state for the New Hampshire Music Educators' Association as its Immediate Past President. In the past, he has served the Executive Board as Secretary, Treasurer, and All-State Chorus Chairperson.
Rob maintains membership in MENC (The National Association for Music Education), and ACDA (American Choral Directors' Association). He resides in Goffstown.
Joseph Heise (baritone) is excited to continue with the NHMC this season. Joe also sings bass with the Concord Chorale, the NH Music Festival Chorus and the Philadelphia Singers Chorale (resident chorus of the Philadelphia Orchestra). Past choral groups have included the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia and Princeton Pro-Musica. Joe is organist and choir accompanist for the Moultonborough United Methodist Church and has previously been organist and choir director for the Hillsborough Reformed Church in Millstone, NJ and St. James Roman Catholic Church in Pennington, NJ. He’s also an assistant accompanist and Board of Directors member with the Concord Chorale. He owns a 2-manual, transposing harpsichord (built by Philip Tyre) on which he enjoys playing Renaissance and Baroque repertoire.
When not busy with music, Joe is adjunct professor of mathematics at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, NH. His undergraduate studies were in mathematics and physics at Georgetown University and he was a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Previous professional work included system design & programming, statistical & decision analysis and model building for such diverse firms as Mobil Oil (Environmental, Health, Safety & Toxicology), Lockheed Missiles and Space (Missile Systems Division), Intel Corp. (corporate component planning system), Johnson & Higgins (actuarial, insurance and employee benefits) and Stanford Research International (decision analysis). With 30 years experience as a NAUI/PADI certified scuba diver, Joe and 2 partners formed New England Environmental Diving Services, LLC in 2008. They are very busy removing invasive variable milfoil from New Hampshire’s lakes and rivers. In his spare time (what’s that?), Joe loves to play chess and kayak with his husky/border collie dog, Kramer, on board. Joe and his equally musical wife, Mary Edith, live in Campton
Julie Huss (soprano) lives in Chester and is an arts/entertainment reporter at the Derry News. A Pennsylvania native, she grew up singing and playing the piano and alto saxophone in various choruses and instrumental groups. She earned a degree in English/journalism from Bloomsburg University but spent more time singing; less time writing! She sang with the Bloomsburg Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers and had the opportunity to tour Europe and participate in several choral festivals and competitions. She sings in the church choir at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Derry and is an active church soloist. She also sings with the Manchester Choral Society, and is part of a quartet, Madrigale. Her favorite thing to do, in addition to singing, is to spend time with her children, Jon, 25, and Katie, 19. Favorite songs sung with NHMC: "Sure on this Shining Night", M. Lauridsen; "What if I never Speed?", "Flow My Tears", "Say Love if Ever Thou Didst Find", J. Dowland; "Remember Me", S. Chatman
Blake Leister (tenor) is truly excited to join the NH Master Chorale. Blake holds a M.M. in music education from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and a B.M. in music education from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). Blake is the choral director at West Running Brook Middle School in Derry, NH where he also teaches musical theatre classes and directs a select choir and drama club. He is actively involved in southern New Hampshire’s theatre community, musically directing numerous shows at St. Anselm College, S.P.A.T.S., Majestic Theatre, Actorsingers, MAD Company, and Kids Coop Theatre. He has also performed with the Manchester Choral Society, the Acting Loft, and the Metropolitan Wind Symphony. Blake grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania but has contentedly lived in Manchester, NH for the past 7 years.
Leslie McDonnell (alto) was born into a musical family and was singing harmony with her mother and father at the age of three. When her father showed her how to do some conducting patterns she felt the need to practice these patterns looking into the mirror over the sofa while standing on the piano bench. On this lofty perch she conducted recordings of "The Nutcracker Suite" and every other record her family owned.
Since then singing has occupied a major part of her life. In high school she sang with the Frankford A Cappella Choir under Robert G. Hamilton and the Philadelphia All-City Choir under guest conductor, Howard Hanson. She earned a Music Education degree from West Chester University and a Master of Piano Performance degree from the College of New Jersey. Her post-graduate work at Westminster Choir College included a rare opportunity to sing for five summers under Robert Shaw.
After thirty-four years of teaching choral music in the Pennsbury School District in Bucks County, PA, she retired and moved to New Hampshire in 2007. She was delighted to find many cultural activities here, including wonderful choirs. She now enjoys singing with the Pemigewasset Choral Society, the NH Music Festival Choir, the NH Friendship Chorus, the Mountain Lake Chorale and the NH Master Chorale (a true mountaintop experience).
Meg Forbush Menkov (alto) has a B.A. in math and English from Williams College. She has been at various times a math teacher, a computer programmer/analyst, and a candle decorater, but currently is a stay at home mom with her three kids in Hanover, NH. She sang for a number of years with Manchester Choral Society under the direction of Lisa Wolff, and more recently with Soli Deo Gloria of Alameda, CA.
Favorite songs sung with NHMC: "J'entends le moulin", arr. D. Patriquin; "hope, faith, life, love", E. Whitacre; "Sure on this Shining Night", M. Lauridsen
Jackie Morin (soprano) is honored to be joining the New Hampshire Master Chorale this season. She holds a MM in Piano Pedagogy from West Chester University and a BA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Plymouth State University. She has performed as a member of the Plymouth State University Chorale and Chamber Singers, the Pemigewasset Choral Society, and West Chester University's Cantari Donne. Jacqueline is on the faculty at the Concord Community Music School, is an interim piano faculty member at Plymouth State University, and serves as organist/pianist at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Derry. She is an active member of the Music Teachers' National Association and currently serves on the NH state chapter board.
Beverly Newton (alto) originally from Vermont, has lived in Plymouth, New Hampshire since 1980. Bev holds a Master of Education degree (1979) from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor of Science degree (1974) from Plymouth State College. She is currently Manager at the Innisfree Bookshop in Meredith, NH and from 1981 to 1993 was Director of Women’s Services and lectured in Women’s Studies at Plymouth State College. Bev’s choral experience includes singing with the Plymouth Congregational Church Choir (1985 to present), Manchester Choral Society and Concord Chorale. She has traveled with the New Hampshire Friendship Chorus to Eastern Europe (2000), South Korea and Vietnam (2002) and Brazil (2004). Singing with the New Hampshire Master Chorale is the high point of her many years of making music with friends and colleagues. Favorite songs sung with NHMC: "Sure on this Shining Night", M. Lauridsen; "Peace Like a River", arr. R. Staheli; "Death Shall Not Destroy My Comfort", arr. M. Wilberg. Other favorites: Lux Aeterna and "O Magnum Mysterium", M. Lauridsen
Kathy Sherlock-Green (soprano) is thrilled to be embarking on her seventh season with the New Hampshire Master Chorale. She is a music educator and currently the Choral Music Director at the Norwich Congregational Church in Norwich, VT. She lives in Hanover, NH with her husband Dick and their daughter Eleanor and son Sasha.
Kathy holds a BME degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she was a voice major. As an undergraduate she sang with the University Singers, serving as Choir President in her senior year, and sang roles in the UNL opera program. She has done graduate work at the Dalcroze School of Music (NYC), Longy School of Music (Cambridge, MA), Plymouth State University and Dartmouth College.
Since moving to the Upper Valley over twenty years ago Kathy has performed with Opera North, White River Theatre Festival, The Parish Players and the Thetford Chamber Singers.
Kathy has appreciated the unique opportunities that NHMC has provided her which above all has included the chance to sing interesting and challenging choral music with a group of diverse and wonderful musicians. She was also fortunate enough to be a part of the ensemble which toured Peru in 2007.
John Spring (bass) studied music at the University of NH and Plymouth State University. He has studied voice under Janice Edwards, trumpet under Daniel Nolan, and conducting under Dr. Perkins. He has sung with Amare Cantare, The Seasonal Singers, and the Concord Community Players. He was the past music director at St. Paul’s Church in Concord, NH after being the trumpet/bass soloist for many years prior. In addition to the Master Chorale, John sings with the Granite State Opera, NH Music Festival, Manchester Choral Society, and The Crown’s Delight madrigal group. He is the music director at St. Andrews church in Manchester NH, and he conducts a high school chorus in Pembroke, NH. John has been happily married to his wife, Lisa, for over twenty years. He has two daughters, Jillian and Emily, whom he adores, and who love to sing almost as much as their Dad.
