Honegger's Une Cantate de Noel is the last work from the pen of the French composer. It begins with a sound picture, containing the Latin De profundis, of the world awaiting the birth of the Savior and moves through many well-known carols, including "Silent Night", "Il est ne" and "Vom Himmel Hoch". These carols are presented in a quodlibet, which means that they are sung simultaneously. The result is a completely new way of listening to these beloved tunes. The piece ends with a triumphant chorus of praise and a stunning Amen.
"Singing
Angels"
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this season, The Steiner Chorale
consists of thirty to forty
auditioned singers from many walks of life. The chorale was organized
in 1968 by East Lansing
High School Choral Director William Steiner. This semi-professional
choir has attracted
many gifted conductors and has developed a reputation for quality
performances of
familiar as well as non-traditional works.
In 2007, the Chorale named Kevin Simons as Artistic Director and
Conductor. We enjoy his
skillful and dynamic leadership as we strive for excellence in choral
music.
The Steiner Chorale is committed to excellence in choral
performance, with a vision to
be a premier choral organization in the mid-Michigan area. If you would
like to be
contacted when auditions are open, please write to: The Steiner
Chorale, P.O. Box 22183,
Lansing, Michigan, 48909; or use the data given in this web page to
contact the director or
president.
Click here for some history of the Steiner
Chorale.
A native of Pinckney, Michigan,
Kevin Simons holds a degree in Vocal Performance from the University of
Oklahoma and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Central
Michigan University. While at Oklahoma, he studied with Sean Daniel as
well as with Gary Arvin and Marilyn Horne. His choral conducting
studies have been with Susan Boggs, Steven Curtis and Nina
Nash-Robertson. He has also studied organ with Donald Williams, Carol
Muehlig and Steven Egler.
He was the founder of the acclaimed Canterbury Festival Singers in Norman, Oklahoma, where he was also Organist/Choirmaster at St. Anselm of Canterbury. In addition, he was Director of Music and Organist at First Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City. Choirs under his direction have sung at national and state level denominational functions. Well-known as a builder of church choral programs, he is frequently called upon to lead workshops in choir development and literature for the beginning choir. He regularly serves as a vocal and choral adjudicator. Recently, he has also conducted workshops for several Michigan high school choirs.
He is active in several professional organizations, including the American Guild of Organists, the American Choral Director's Association, Chorus America and the Royal School of Church Music in America. He has also been elected to membership in the Association of Anglican Musicians and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He regularly attends professional conferences, and is an annual participant in the Sewanee Church Music Conference, the oldest music conference in the Episcopal Church. He has sung under the batons of some of the nation's finest conductors, including Neeme Järvi, Joseph Flummerfelt, Dennis Schrock and Jerry Blackstone.
Mr. Simons is currently the Director of Music and Organist at St. John's Episcopal Church in Saginaw, Michigan. At St. John's, he developed the "Sundays at St. John's" program, a series of choral services and events which features the musicians of the church as well as the Saginaw community. Under his leadership, the repertoire of the inter-generational St. John's Choir has grown to include major works with orchestra, such as Luigi Boccherini's Gloria, and the Missa Brevis in D Major of Mozart as well as newer a cappella works such as the Missa Brevis No. 4 of Eleanor Daley and regular services of Choral Evensong. He also serves as an Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Saginaw Valley State University, and as the Artistic Director and Conductor of The Steiner Chorale, a semi-professional choir based in Lansing.
Mr Pizanis received his Bachelor of Fine Arts, cum laude, from Florida
Atlantic University, and his Master of Music from Michigan State
University.
He has been a music teacher and Director of the Concert Choir and
Chorale at Lansing Christian Middle and High Schools for over 10 years.
Mr. Pizanis has served as vocal coach and musical director for numerous
local and Lansing Community College Musical Theater productions, and he
has been been assistant conductor for a number of opera productions by
the Lansing Lyric Opera Company. As a prize-winning pianist, Mr.
Pizanis performs as a soloist, staff accompanist for clinics and
conferences, and as personal
accompanist for instrumental and vocal soloists. He has been the piano
accompanist for the Waverly School District since 1996, and the Steiner
Chorale since 1995.
Chorale members agree that Takis is a rare find: a gifted musician and a genuine gentle-person. Much of our success as a chorale is attributable to his extraordinary skill in playing, his feeling for accompanying, his amazing sight-reading, his dedication to thorough preparation, his warmly supportive personality, and his sense of humor. We are fortunate, indeed.
| Sopranos | Altos | Tenors | Basses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carol Adams | Lexa Bell | Luke Capizzo | Glen Anderson |
| Judy Connelly | Kris Burow | Robert Clarke | Chuck Berger |
| Rachael Drenovsky | Sandra Davis | Darren Elin | Gary Cloud |
| Dottie Hoopingarner | Judy Davisson | Steve Parker | Tim Costigan |
| Louise Lantz | Claudia Hamlin | Don Slanina | Joe Gilson |
| Beth McWhorter | Lori Kriebel | Douglas Wilcox | David Havrilla |
| Lisa Perry | Barbara Payne | |
Don Hoopingarner |
| Holly Plaga | G. Sue Thomas | |
Robert Meeker |
| Jennifer Richard | |
|
Timothy Nelson |
| Diane Shockey | |
|
Leo Sell |
| Jennifer Worth | |
|
Richard Smith |
| |
|
|
|
The Steiner Chorale Board of Directors has created the Annual Fund to build and sustain financial support for today as well as for the future. We invite you to become an Annual Fund contributor and partner with the Chorale to help advance the cause of quality choral music.
In 1992, the Steiner Chorale was granted 501(c)3 non-profit status. Contributions to the group qualify for both federal and state income tax deductions. These tax benefits are the same as you receive for gifts to religious organizations or other charitable causes.
Also note that your donations to Community Charitible Campaigns may be directed in whole or in part to the Steiner Chorale. Simply specify so on the donation form.
To become an Annual Fund contributor, contact The Steiner Chorale, Box 22183, Lansing MI 48909 or email Chorale President Rachael Drenovsky.
There are four Annual Fund contribution levels:
