Steven Darsey, Director of Music
Steven Darsey holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and has studied musicology with the late Peter LeHuray at Cambridge and conducting with Helmuth Rilling at Stuttgart. Mr. Darsey’s vocation, experience, and education are principally devoted to planning and leading music for the worship of God. His conducting repertoire and experience range from Gregorian chant to the avant-garde and from small ensembles to choral-orchestral groups. He has prepared choirs for Sir David Willcocks and the late Robert Shaw. He lectures and publishes on the history and practice of church music and his work on Georgia’s famous tunebook, The Sacred Harp, led him to establish a series of worship services with Fred Craddock based on Southern folk hymns. His expertise in planning worship led the Association of Disciple Musicians to invite him to plan and administer their daily worship services for their 2005 national conference. Active as a composer, he has written and arranged over 100 works with publications through Lyra Sacra, Lawson-Gould and World Library music publishers. His choral setting of Sidney Lanier’s “Song of the Chattahoochee” was premiered October 20, 2006 by the choirs of the Paideia School under the direction of Katherine Murray. A performance reading of Mr. Darsey’s new setting of Sidney Lanier’s “The Marshes of Glynn” was presented on March 2, 2008 by the Glenn Chancel Choir under his direction. Mr. Darsey’s conducting, singing and compositions are available on six CDs and three videos. A lifetime church musician, he has since 1986 been Music Director of the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church.
Timothy A. Albrecht, Organist Laureate
Since 1982 Timothy Albrecht serves as Organist Laureate at Glenn Memorial. He is also Emory University Organist, Professor of Music in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Church Music in the Candler School of Theology. At Emory he heads the graduate organ department. Augsburg Fortress Press in Minneapolis publishes 12 volumes of his hymn-based organ compositions, Grace Notes. His solo compact discs include Grace Notes (1997), Bach Live! (1998) and Grace Notes, Too! (2005) and Timothy Albrecht Performs Bach Live! (2006). Organ concert tours span Alaska to the Andes, Chicago to China. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Oberlin and Eastman, he is a life member at Cambridge University in England and is the Washington, D.C. Luther Institute recipient of the Wittenberg Award for his life-long contributions to church music.
Todd Skrabanek, Accompanist
Todd Skrabanek began playing piano at age 4, and received early training from conductor-pianist William Noll. He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied under acclaimed pianist Susan Starr. He went on to become pianist for the Choral Guild of Atlanta, the Atlanta Opera, and the Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. He received jazz training from Ted Howe before receiving his Master of Music degree from Georgia State University under Cary Lewis. Presently he is accompanist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Meridian Chorale and the Glenn Chancel Choir. He lives in Talking Rock, GA with his wife, 5 dogs, and 2 cats.
Wes Griffin, Associate Director of Music
Born and raised in Atlanta, Wes Griffin holds a B.S. degree from Emory University, a M.M. from Florida State University and an MBA from Georgia State University. He has performed with numerous sacred and secular vocal groups and is currently the Director of Youth Music and Associate Music Director of Glenn Memorial Church. He has built a model classically-based youth music program with strong participation. Wes is also an accomplished tenor soloist. At a previous spring concert, he performed Britten’s virtuosic Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Linda Searles, Director of the Covenant Choir
Linda Searles joined the staff of Glenn Memorial in the fall of 2007 as the Director of the Covenant Choir. She has been teaching at The Westminster Schools for the past eight years. She teaches 6th grade general music, 7th and 8th grade chorus as well as 9th and 10th grade chorus. She also is the musical director for the Junior High musical. Linda began her teaching career in Illinois where she conducted high school chorus and jazz choir. She has been involved in many musical theatre productions, as an actor, choreographer and musical director. Linda spent four years teaching in Europe at both the American International School of Lisbon, Portugal and the International School of Lausanne, Switzerland. She is currently a member of the Grammy winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra chorus.
Kristen Gwaltney, Director of the Carol Choir
Kristen Gwaltney enjoys making music with a variety of organizations around Atlanta. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education, she began teaching elementary school music. During the first years of her career, she completed a Master of Arts in Music. Kristen sings with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus and with the Meridian Chorale. She sang Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and with the Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin, Germany. She has traveled with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus to the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and Carnegie Hall in New York. She was a staff soloist for Peachtree Road United Methodist Church Chancel Choir during their residency with Southwark Cathedral in London and has also served as a staff soloist for Peachtree Christian Church. Kristen currently teaches music at Lilburn Elementary School. In addition to being a staff soloist at Glenn Memorial, she became the Director of the Carol Choir in the fall of 2007.
Mary Lindsey Lewis, Director of the Cherub Choir
Mary Lindsey Lewis was born into a musical family and has been involved in musical interests her entire life. She graduated from Furman University with a degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education in 1974. During her years at Furman she sang with the Furman Singers under the direction of Bingham Vick, Jr. Upon returning to Atlanta, she began her teaching career with DeKalb County Schools and earned a Masters Degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. Mary Lindsey has sung with the Collegium Vocale of Emory, the Mercer University Singers – now known as the Michael O’Neal Singers, and the Glenn Memorial Chancel Choir. She is the Director of the Cherub Choir as well as the Music Director for Glenn’s Vacation Bible School. She also works closely with the Children’s Council to help provide Sunday School Music for Glenn’s young children. Mary Lindsey has a wide range of interests – she has held season tickets to the ASO since 1974, the Atlanta Ballet since 1982 and the Atlanta Opera since its inception.
Jonathan Blanchard
Bass Jonathan Blanchard received a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Music and a Master of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University. His stage credits include roles as diverse as the Priest in Your Arms too Short to Box with God, Bernardo in Westside Story, Simeon and Potifer in Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ceasar in Scipio, the Ex-Slave in Do Lord Remember Me, and the Lion in The Wiz. Drawn also to film, he has appeared as an extra in several movie block-busters, done voice-over work for local and national concerns, appeared on Memphis’ WREG – Live at 9 program and most recently been the featured singing artist on the PBS film Underground Railroad – Quilt Code. In conjunction with the Opera Memphis Educational Outreach Program – Black Roots in Opera, Jonathan toured throughout Tennessee’s major metropolitan area to help celebrate the life and artistry of Paul Robeson. His operatic credits include affiliations with the Capital City Opera, Atlanta Opera, Walker Academy of Instrumental and Vocal Excellence and Atlanta Lyric Opera. Oglethorpe College/Americolor Opera Alliance Guild presented him the title role of Solomon, a work written especially for him by critically acclaimed composer Sharon Willis.
Suzannah Carrington
Suzannah Carrington, soprano, has a repertoire that includes Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, Casilda (The Gondoliers), Pitti-Sing (The Mikado), Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Baby Doe (The Ballad of Baby Doe), Violetta (La Traviata), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte) and Nanetta (Falstaff). Her concert work includes performances of Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, and Mozart’s Mass in C minor. Recent engagements have included recitals here in Atlanta, as well as New York City, Connecticut and Tennessee. Suzannah has a BFA in Music from The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College (SUNY) where she was chosen to participate in a Master Class with Marilyn Horne. She has held staff soloist positions with All Soul’s Presbyterian Church of Port Chester, NY and North Avenue Presbyterian in Atlanta.
Jerry Guest
Jerry Guest, bass-baritone, has been singing professionally in the Atlanta area for many years. He sang his first adult operatic roles when he was 14 years old: the roles of the Sacristan and the Jailer in Tosca with the Mobile Opera Company in Mobile, Alabama. Innumerable appearances in opera, oratorio and recital have ensued in the almost 50 years since. Jerry holds the life-time honor, Bass Laureate, at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church.
Laurel Davis Hanna
A native Atlantan, soprano Laurel Davis Hanna began singing in church choirs at a young age. In addition to participating in numerous choirs, Ms. Hanna has also won awards for solo work from the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). An ardent devotee of chamber music and oratorio, she has appeared as soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, and Rutter’s Requiem, among others. She has appeared on the opera stage as Cherubino in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and as a member of the Atlanta Opera Chorus. She studied voice under Dr. Gregory Broughton at the University of Georgia, and attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria in 2002, where she studied with Galina Pisarenko of the Moscow Conservatory and coached with soprano Elizabeth Bice. She currently resides in Atlanta with her husband, Patrick.
Alexis Lundy
A native of Locust Grove, Georgia, soprano Alexis Lundy is a graduate of the prestigious Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she received her Master of Music degree in voice performance. While at Indiana University, her stage credits included Zdenka in Richard Strauss’ Arabella, Micaëla in Carmen, and Pamina in The Magic Flute. Other roles have included Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Angelina in Trial by Jury, and Edith in Pirates of Penzance. Miss Lundy has been a young artist with Des Moines Metro Opera and a studio artist with Central City Opera. She performed the role of Mimi in Portland Opera To Go’s educational outreach tour of La Bohème, where she also sang the role of Mimi in concert with the Oregon East Symphony. She was the soprano soloist for Mahler’s Fourth Symphony performed with the Indiana University Festival Orchestra under the baton of conductor Roberto Abbado. Other oratorio credits include Handel’s Messiah, the Mozart Requiem, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio and Haydn’s Salve Regina. Miss Lundy has twice been named a winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council district auditions. She has received first-place awards at National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions at both state and regional levels. She was the winner of the first annual William Knight Performers’ Competition and placed second nationally in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Voice Competition. She graduated cum laude with honors in music from Shorter College in Rome, GA, where she received bachelor degrees in voice performance and music education.
Wesley Morgan
A native of Sarasota Florida, Wesley Morgan received his B.M. in voice from Florida Southern College in 2002, where he studied with world renowned mezzo-soprano Beverly Wolff. He has studied acting at the Lee Strasberg studio in NYC through NYU. Wesley recently made his Atlanta Opera debut as the Mayor in Cold Sassy Tree. Professional theatrical credits include Tony in Masterclass, Gary in Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All, Sid el Kar in The Desert Song, Touchstone in As You Like It, Balder in the world premiere of the Kennedy Center Award winning play Radiant Boys, Prince Lenyr in the premier of the operetta Elizabeth of Russia, and Kaldi in the American premiere of the children’s opera Arabica. As a part of St. Petersburg Opera’s Emerging Artist Program, Wesley has appeared as Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore. Last fall Wesley sung the role of First Salior in Capital City Opera’s production of Dido and Aeneas. Concert credits include tenor soloist in the Messiah with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra in Lakeland, Florida, Saint’saens Christmas Oratorio, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ. Currently Wesley is pursuing his Masters Degree at Georgia Sate University, where last spring he appeared in Les Contes d’Hoffmann as Spalanzani, Schlemil, and in act III, Hoffmann. He is looking forward to playing the title role in Bernstein’s Candide in an upcoming performance at GSU.
Timothy Miller
A native of Augusta, Georgia, tenor Timothy Miller earned his B.A. degree from Morehouse College in 2003 and M.M. degree from Mannes College of Music in 2005. He made his operatic debut with the Mannes Opera Program performing the roles of Monostatos and First armored man in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote. Timothy has been a participant in both the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy and the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute in San Francisco, California. He has also made appearances with both the Americolor and Capitol City Opera Companies of Atlanta. In February of 2006, he was honored to have been a guest soloist at the funeral services for the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King. In June of 2006 Timothy made his Oakland Opera debut performing the role of Street in Anthony Davis’ X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Timothy has held staff soloist positions at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and Riverside Church in New York. In January 2007 he made his debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing the role of Erster Lakai in a concert version of excerpts from Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier. Winner of the 2007 Capitol City Opera Vocal Competition, Timothy is also on the music faculties of both Morehouse College and Greater Atlanta Christian School.
Stephen Ozcomert
Stephen Ozcomert, Bass-Baritone, is a regular performer in Atlanta area concert halls. He has performed frequently as a soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra including the role of "Figaro" in a performance of the Act II Finale in 2004 from Mozart's Marriage of Figaro under Robert Spano's direction and was the soloist for a 2006 master season performance of Bach's Magnificat also under Maestro Spano . Other ASO peformances include several July 4 Holiday Concerts under the direction of Jere Flynt, an assisting soloist in 2007 under the direction of Donald Runnicles in excerpts from Strauss' Rosenkavalier, the narrator in Copland's Lincoln Portrait under Alexander Mickelthwaite, soloist in The Lord of the Rings Symphony under Howard Shore, an assisting soloist ("Sergeant") for 2007 performances and Telarc Digital recording of Puccini's La Boheme under Robert Spano. Steve performed for ten years in choirs conducted by Robert Shaw and was an assisting soloist under Shaw for the 1996 performances of Bach's St. Matthew Passion both in Atlanta and at Carnegie Hall and has served as soloist in performances of the ASO Chorus and Chamber Chorus on several other occasions under Norman Mackenzie, Yoel Levi, and others. Steve currently serves as a staff soloist at the Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church and frequently appears as soloist with the Meridian Chorale conducted by Steven Darsey. Steve's solo work has been featured several times in radio broadcasts by WABE. Steve sings in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses, and has performed multiple opera and operetta roles including "Etienne" in Naughty Marietta, "Sergeant of the Police" in Pirates of Penzance, "The Mikado" in The Mikado, "Schaunard" in La Boheme, and "Sylvio" in I Pagliacci. Steve has performed in gala performances of opera and operetta with the Roswell Lyric Opera and for the Pro Mozart Society of Atlanta. Steve is in demand as an oratorio soloist having performed as a soloist in the Requiems of Mozart, Faure, Durufle, and Brahms, Handel's Messiah,, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Bach's Magnificat, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, Jesu der du Meine Seele, St. John Passion (Jesus, Aria Soloist) several Cantatas, Handel's Dettingen Te Deum, Orff's Carmina Burana, Haydn's Harmonie Mass, et al. Steve is a student of Elizabeth Colson.
Cynthia Watters
A native of Carrollton, Georgia, soprano Cynthia Watters moved to Atlanta from New York City. Her opera credits include: Countess (cover) in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (New York City Opera, 2004), Tina in Jonathan Dove’s Flight (Opera Theater of St. Louis, 2003), Elisa (cover) in Mozart’s Il Re Pastore (Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, 2003), Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Poppea in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, and Ilia in Mozart’s Idomeneo (Wolf Trap Opera Company, 1999, 2000). Equally in demand for concert engagements, Cynthia has appeared with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. She made her Weill Recital Hall debut in 2002 with The New York Festival of Song and her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Gay Men’s Chorus in 2003. She was a semi-finalist in the 2000 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the recipient of the 2000 Richard F. Gold Career Grant by the Shoshana Foundation, and the winner of the 1996 National Music Teacher’s Association Vocal Competition. Cynthia received her Bachelor of Music degree at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia and her Masters degree in Voice and Opera Performance at Indiana University. She has also studied opera at the Aspen Music Festival (2002) and participated in the art song (2001) and vocal chamber music (2002) programs at the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago.
Carrie Anne Wilson
Peachtree City, Georgia native Carrie Anne Wilson is a regular performer with The Atlanta Opera. She has been a member of chorus since 2004 and has been featured in numerous solos, including the title role in Little Red Riding Hood for the Atlanta Opera Studio. She has also performed leading roles with Portland Opera Repertory Theater, Knoxville Opera Company, and Nashville Opera Association, the Merola Opera Program, Western Opera Theater National Tour, and Opera in the Ozarks. Ms. Wilson’s operatic credits include Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Gretel in Hänsel and Gretel, Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Alexandra in Regina, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Miss Silverpeal in The Impresario, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Abigail Williams in The Crucible, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring. Oratorio credits include Soprano Soloist in the Rutter Requiem, Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D, Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Poulenc’s Gloria. She also appeared as Mary in Thompson’s Nativity According to St. Luke. In May 2001, her oratorio experience took her to London to sing as the Soprano Soloist in the Dvořák Te Deum and the Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem with the Virtuosi of London Orchestra. Ms. Wilson has had the honor of working with world renowned singer/stage director Graziella Sciutti and Metropolitan Opera Conductor Scott Bergeson. She has attended and performed in masterclasses with Anna Moffo, Regine Crespin, Warren Jones, John Fisher, Patrick Summers, and Lotfi Mansouri. She has performed Educational Outreach for The Atlanta Opera, Manhattan School of Music, Nashville Opera, Merola Opera Program, and Knoxville Opera Company. Awards include Finalist in the Jensen Foundation Competition, 2nd Place in the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, Semi-Finalist in the Meistersinger Competition and Best Female Performer in a Leading Role. Ms. Wilson recently completed a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Berry College in Rome, Georgia and her Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she was a member of the Knoxville Opera Studio from 1997-1999. Additionally, she studied at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Her voice teachers include Sharon Stevenson, Walter Huff, Cynthia Hoffmann, Andrew Wentzel and Harry Musselwhite. Ms. Wilson enjoys spending her free time with her husband Jody and 2 year old son Asher. Her entire family is thrilled at the expected arrival of a little girl in June 2010.
Magdalena Wor
Magdalena Wór, mezzo-soprano, is a First Place Winner of the Heinz Rehfuss Vocal Competition, a Metropolitan Opera Competition National Finalist, an alumna of the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Summer Opera Program, Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ Gerdine Young Artist Program and Chautauqua Music Institution’s Marlena Malas Voice Program as well as a winner of the Mozart Society of Atlanta Competition. From 2006-2008 Ms. Wór was a member of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at the Washington National Opera. She has appeared with the Washington National Opera, Atlanta Opera, Washington Concert Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and New Trinity Baroque, among others. The Baltimore Sun praised Ms. Wór’s protrayal of Enrichetta for Washington Concert Opera’s I Puritani: ”with a burnished mezzo, technical ease and drama-inflected phrasing.”
She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University and studies with Magdalena Moulson-Falewicz.
