 |
Dorothy Barnhart - Artistic Director, Conductor and Founder |
 |
|
A native of Kansas, Dorothy Barnhart received her degree in music education from Kansas University and a Master’s Degree in music education from Wichita State University. She moved to New Haven, Connecticut in 1979 where she established Barnhart Voice Studio while studying conducting under Maestro Otto Werner Mueller during his tenure at Yale University. At the same time she was director of music at the First United Methodist Church in Meriden, working with the adult choir, the children’s choir, a brass ensemble and the hand bell choir. She directed Wallingford Chorus from 1990 through 1996 and taught voice in the music department of Choate Rosemary Hall for a number of years. Ms. Barnhart studied voice with master teachers Madam Marga Mueller in New Haven and Madam Eva Likova in New York City.
Ms. Barnhart was fortunate to sing under Robert Shaw’s direction during her college years in Kansas. Later in her career she attended one-week Robert Shaw Choral Workshops held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has participated as a conductor at the Keene Choral Festival under Dennis Keene, Master Conductor, held at the Kent School in Kent, CT. Each year she attends the Connecticut American Choral Directors Association conference.
|
|
In 2004 she attended the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)conference, “And all the Jazz”, in New Orleans.
In the summer of 2007 she participated in “Tools for Singing” workshop in Newport, RI, also presented by NATS. These musical experiences have been exciting and beneficial to her professional development.
In addition to directing Chorale Connecticut, Ms. Barnhart teaches voice in her Southington studio and is director of the hand bell choir at the First United Methodist Church in Meriden. From 2006 through 2009 she was the director of Travelers Choral Club, a non-profit organization under the umbrella (no pun intended!) of Travelers Insurance of Hartford. She currently studies singing with professional soloist and master teacher, Beverly Myers, in New York City and Robert Edwin, master teacher specializing in Broadway technique, Cinnaminson, New Jersey.
Yes, Dorothy is from Kansas. However, after living in Connecticut for 30 years, New England has become her second home. She shares her full, rich life with Hannah Blue, a delightful and energetic five-year-old standard poodle. |
|
Sandy Antonelli - Accompanist |
|
|
|
Sandra Antonelli has been associated with music in central Connecticut since she arrived as a young musician to teach in the East Haven school system. In addition to Chorale Connecticut, she accompanies the Hopkins Concert Choir and the Wallingford Chorus and is the accompanist at the Church of the Resurrection in Wallingford.
Mrs. Antonelli received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Music Education from Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. She has accompanied high school and college choruses as well as solo vocalists and instrumentalists.
She teaches piano in her Wallingford home. For 15 years, she was a music teacher and accompanist for Kidsong, a summer music camp in Woodbridge, Connecticut. She has been the accompanist for the Lyman Hall High School Chorus, and is the accompanist for the Hopkins Concert Choir from New Haven, joining them on four recent European tours.
|
|
Board of Directors |
|
|
Dorothy A. Barnhart |
Artistic Director, ex officio |
| Jim Conklin |
President |
| Terry L. Doyle |
Vice President |
| Joan S. Kilby |
Secretary |
| Florence Thibodeau |
Treasurer |
| Sandra L. Antonelli |
Accompanist, ex officio |
| Christine B. Balanda |
Financial Secretary/Tickets |
Holly Wishart
|
Member at Large |
Ted Stasiuk
|
Member at Large |
| Penny Cabata |
Member at Large |
| Flora Sittnick |
Publicity Chairman |
|
Our Mission Statement |
|
Music transforms life. As such, Chorale Connecticut strives to uplift the spirit by fostering the enjoyment and appreciation of choral music while promoting community involvement in the arts.
|
Our Identity |
|
Chorale Connecticut is a chamber ensemble of mixed voices. We are dedicated to providing high quality performances of diverse choral music. We present these works in the style originally intended by the composer.
|
Our Goals |
|
• Continually expand our repertoire through the performance of substantial works
by composers from the Renaissance through the 21st century
• Increase the Chorale membership to fifty singers and maintain this size with a balance of vocal parts
• Develop a strong base of business and community supporters to assist in the achievement of our mission
• Collaborate with other musical organizations through combined performances
• Promote choral singing among young people by encouraging qualified high school
and college students to sing with the Chorale
• Expand the reach of Chorale Connecticut by performing concerts regionally, nationally, and internationally
|
