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About
the Director and Chorus Staff:
Director,
Liz Barrett, put a lot of thought into ways she
could give back to the community while working at something she
enjoys during her retirement years. A community chorus of children
was the answer, and she founded All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis
(ACCA) in 2001. Helping these children strive for excellence in
choral singing, Mrs. Barrett has led them from one exciting venue to the
next. Performing at least twelve times a year, the Chorus has had over 100 performances, including those with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Barenaked Ladies, Annapolis
Opera and Anne Arundel Community College Opera, and for a U.S. Naval Academy chapel service, while also
winning the approval of the County Board of Education. Reviews of
the children’s performances have been outstanding, and ACCA has
been cited by the County Executive for excellence and commitment
to diversity.
Mrs. Barrett is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and
has had a lifelong involvement in music, performance, and volunteer
service in the Annapolis area. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College,
she continues her study of music and singing with choral groups,
women’s ensembles, and church choirs. She has served on the Boards
of Children’s Theater of Annapolis, Annapolis Opera, and Colonial
Players, and has performed on most local stages. She was a founding
director of the Young Voices of Maryland Choral Festival. She has received an Award of Merit for Volunteerism
by the Junior League of Annapolis and for commitment to diversity
from the Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Breakfast Committee. She
is currently President of the Corporation, and serves as Chairman
of the Board and Artistic Director.
Assistant
Director, Julie Thomas,
is in her senior year at the University of Maryland
, majoring in Choral Music Education. She is currently a member
of the University Chorale and the Women’s Chorus, and she studies
voice with Martha Randall. She graduated from Middletown High School
in 2004, where she was involved in both the choral and band programs.
Ms. Thomas has been a part of numerous honor choirs locally, regionally,
and nationally with both ACDA and MENC. Growing up she sang with
the Frederick Children’s Chorus and the Frederick Chamber Singers.
Julie oversees ACCA's Chamber Singers for our choristers who are ages 12 and over.
Accompanist, Dr. Shirley J. Cann is new to ACCA this 2007-08 season, and we couldn't be more pleased. Shirley's music degrees include MM from New England Conservatory and her doctorate from The Catholic University. She served on the faculty of Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania as well as other colleges and universities. Her public school experiences include three states teaching elementary and secondary age groups which performed at Kennedy Center, Washington Cathedral, the White House and other venues.
As a church musician Dr. Cann served 25 years at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Falls Church, Virginia as well as Fort Myer Old Post Chapel and several other churches. She is an organist and choral director, and has performed on many occasions. She has been consultant for the assessment of the Westchester, N.Y. school system and has been accompanist for many workshops, and a member of professional organizations ACDA , MENC, AGO and Advisory Panels.
Voice
Teacher, Suzanne Stearn, has a Bachelor of Music
degree with Distinction in Opera and a Master of Music degree in
Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. She
has won awards for San Francisco Opera Auditions in San Diego (1st
prize) and Sacramento (3rd prize) Districts; Metropolitan Opera
Auditions in San Diego (1st prize) and Nevada (2nd prize) Districts;
and was a Western Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.
She won the Karl Kriz Award for Best Performer in San Francisco
Opera's Merola, and received a Performer's Award in Voice and Opera
from Eastman School. She has had leading roles in Chautauqua Opera
Co (Cosi fan tutte, Falstaff, Philip Marshall, L'Heure Espagnole,
Die Walkurie); Asolo Opera Co. (Cosi fan tutte); San
Francisco Opera's Merola (Carmen, La Finta Giardiniera);
St. Paul Opera Co. (Madama Butterfly, Tales of Hoffman);
Eastman Opera Theatre (Marriage of Figaro, Midsummer's Night
Dream, Die Fledermaus, Falstaff, Katja Kabanova, The Crucible, Don
Giovanni, L'Erismena, L'Heure Espagnole); and Opera Under the
Stars (Aida). For MGM Grand in Las Vegas, she was
the lead singer in "Hallelujah Hollywood", and for the
Broadway Dinner Theatre, starred in "On a Clear Day".
She and husband Jason performed "Suzanne and the Man"
for the Royal Viking Line world cruise.
Mrs. Stearns directed, staged and choreographed The United
States Army Chorale for 20 years, including "An American Holiday
Celebration" in Washington, DC, and shows for Constitution
Hall, Embassies throughout Washington, Congress, and the White House.
Board
of Directors:
Liz Barrett, Chairman
of the Board and Director of Marketing
Lauren Thomas, Director of Fundraising
Christiana Logansmith, Member-at-Large
Parent Volunteers:
Angela Ewell-Madison, Outreach
Committees for 2007-08 still
to be filled:
Hospitality,
Touring, Budget, Auditions, Publicity, Outreach, and Website
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