Artists & Personnel

Shara Cocchiola
Executive & Artistic Director

Mrs. Shara L. Cocchiola holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and pursued her Masters in Music Performance at the University of South Florida. She has had extensive training music education emphasizing the Kodály Method and Orff Schulwerk as well as choral and instrumental performing and directing. Mrs. Cocchiola began her vocal training in early childhood, has been a choral conductor and music director in public, private and community programs since 1994. She has served as a clinician, guest artist, vocalist and instrumentalist in many professional, community and educational works having studied conducting under Dr. Mallory Thompson and Dr. William Weidrich. She has performed on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York as well as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C. In addition to being a trained vocalist, educator and conductor. Shara is a professional flutist having studied with Dr. Kim McCormick, Martha Rearick, Marilyn Froelich, and Mark Castellano and served as principal flutist with the Tampa Bay Symphony under Dr. Jack Heller. Mrs. Cocchiola is passionate and dedicated to providing quality music education and performance experiences for all ages evidenced by the exceptional quality of programs she continues to create and administrate. Shara implemented a “no child turned away” policy upon her revamping of the Children’s Choir Program in 2015 in an effort to provide services to students who otherwise would not be able to participate in SCS’s musical programs. She is also engaged throughout the community, having served on the Academy Advisory Board for the Vocal Pathway at Firestone High School and subsequently becoming a partner with the College and Career Academies Program with Akron Public Schools / United Way. Shara proudly represents Summit Choral Society as part of the Akron Leadership Signature Program, Class 37! Personally, she is active in genealogical research and historical societies, a member of the Mayflower Society of Descendants and the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as Vice-President of the Children of the American Revolution. She resides in Ohio with her husband of over 20 years.
Email: scocchiola@summitchoralsociety.org

Heather Cooper
Principal Conductor, Performance Choir Director

Heather Cooper is a multi-faceted musician who enjoys making music in a variety of settings. In addition to directing Performance Choir, she serves as organist to the congregation of Faith United Methodist Church in North Canton and has extensive teaching experience. She has previously served as accompanist and as a featured organist for the Canton Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Mrs. Cooper has conducted choral ensembles on some of the most famous stages in the country including Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She currently serves as president of the North Coast Kodaly Association. Heather holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Choral Music Education from the University of South Carolina. Her Masters degree is in Music Education with an emphasis on the Kodaly teaching philosophy from Capital University. Heather is married to Britt Cooper, director of the Canton Symphony Chorus and Walsh University choirs. They are the proud parents of two children, Megan and Mark.
Email: hcooper@summitchoralsociety.org

2020-2021 Featured Conductors

Dr. Britt Cooper

Dr. Britt Cooper is the Chair of Fine and Performing Arts and Director of Choral Activities at Walsh University. He directs two university choral ensembles: the Walsh University Chorale and the Walsh Chamber Singers, an auditioned touring ensemble. He holds a Master's degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Alabama and a Doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina.
Under his direction, the Chamber Singers have toured extensively throughout Ohio and have traveled to Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, and Ontario, Canada. In May of 2018, the ensemble will travel to Italy for the third time, performing previously at two papal audiences and at major basilicas throughout Rome, the Vatican, Assisi, and Florence. Through his career, Dr. Cooper has also directed collegiate choirs in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and won Second Place in their National Graduate Conducting Competition in 2003. Dr. Cooper also serves regularly as a clinician for honor choirs throughout the region.
As a singer, Dr. Cooper has given recitals and concertized as a soloist throughout his professional career. He has sung with and studied under some of the most important conductors in American choral music, including Robert Shaw and Joseph Flummerfelt. In the Fall of 2012, Dr. Cooper began the appointment as Director of the Canton Symphony Chorus. In that role, he has prepared several major works including Mahler's Resurrection Symphony, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, and the Brahms Requiem. In April of 2016, Dr. Cooper directed his Masterworks debut with the orchestra, conducting the Lux Aeterna of Morten Lauridsen and the Polovestian Dances of Alexander Borodin.
He is proud to be a Featured Conductor this season at Summit Choral Society.

James Mismas

James Mismas is an energetic, multi-talented musician who is a staple in choral conducting, opera and organ works in the NE Ohio community. Having earned performance degrees in organ and voice from Oberlin Conservatory, The University of Illinois and The University of Akron, Mr. Mismas’ musical inﬂuence is far reaching as a vocalist, performer, teacher and conductor. Mr. Mismas served as the Director of the Akron Symphony Chorus for 10 years, conductor of the Hudson Community Chorus for 10 years and as guest conductor for Akron Symphony’s production of Handel’s Messiah performance in 2006. Mr. Mismas served as the Director of Opera at Kent State University and the University of Akron. Praised for his “polished, passionate singing”, he is a versatile and accomplished vocalist having sung with Cleveland Opera, Ohio Light Opera, Akron Lyric Opera Theatre, the Akron Symphony, the Canton Symphony, the Ohio Chamber Orchestra as well as abroad, performing concerts in Germany and Greece. He has a prestigious pedigree in organ performance, often selected as ﬁnalist and winner of multiple national and semi-national organ competitions, including the Boston Harvard AGO (American Guild of Organists) and the prestigious Fort Wayne Competition. Mr. Mismas is also a passionate educator with 35+ years of teaching including voice at Kent State University, Hiram College, The College of Wooster, University of Akron and the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. His students often compete and win local and national competitions, including Metropolitan Opera Auditions and many of his protégé go on to have active careers as professional singers, performers and educators throughout the United States and Europe. As Director of Music/Organist at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Akron, OH, James oversaw musical activities for services, played the organ and conducted the Adult Choir. He was the inspiration, creative vision and administrator of the church’s highly successful concert series, Five at Five – annual season concerts of universal inspiration on Sunday afternoons at 5 o’clock. James is excited to be a Featured Conductor for Summit Choral Society’s Metropolitan Chorus this season.