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Shara L. Cocchiola
Executive Artistic Director Shara L. Cocchiola holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and pursued a Master’s degree in Music Performance at the University of South Florida. She has received extensive training in music education, with emphasis on the Kodály Method and Orff Schulwerk, as well as choral and instrumental conducting and performance. Mrs. Cocchiola began vocal training in early childhood and has worked as 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 across numerous professional, educational, and community platforms. Her conducting mentors include Dr. Mallory Thompson and Dr. William Weidrich. In addition to her work as a vocalist, conductor and educator, Shara is a professional flutist. She studied under Dr. Kim McCormick, Martha Rearick, Marilyn Froelich and Mark Castellano and played principal flute with the Tampa Bay Symphony under Dr. Jack Heller. Mrs. Cocchiola is deeply passionate about providing high-quality music education and performance experiences to people of all ages. This commitment is reflected in the exceptional programs she designs and implements. In 2015, she established the “no child turned away” policy for the Children’s Choir Program at Summit Choral Society, an initiative that continues to ensure access for students who may otherwise be unable to participate in music education opportunities. Prior to relocating to Ohio, Shara served as the technology lead for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida, where she launched innovative music education initiatives that engaged thousands of inner-city children in the arts. She also served as music director at one of the county’s specialized schools for students on the autism spectrum. Shara is actively engaged in the greater Akron community. She is a graduate of Leadership Akron’s Signature Program (Class 37) and serves on the Kent State University Academy Advisory Board for the Vocal Pathway at Firestone High School. She is a partner in the Akron Public Schools / United Way College & Career Academies program and serves on the University of Akron Arts Advancement Council as well as the Fairlawn Chamber of Commerce. Her civic involvement includes membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mayflower Society of Descendants. She also proudly serves as a precinct election official in Portage County, where she resides with her husband, Steven, of almost 30 years. Email: [email protected] |
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Heather J. Cooper
Principal Conductor, Performance Choir Director Heather Cooper is Principal Conductor of Summit Choral Society, where she directs Performance Choir, the flagship children’s ensemble of the Children's Choir Program. Under her direction, the choir has performed across the country, including Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Grand Ole Opry. The choir was invited to perform at the 2019 national conference of the Organization of American Kodaly Educators, as well as singing at the Ohio Choral Directors Conference in 2017. Performance Choir has appeared in concert with both the Canton Symphony and Akron Symphony Heather serves as Director of Music & Organist at Christ Presbyterian Church in downtown Canton, where she delights in providing music for worship, directing the handbell and children’s choirs, and organizing the robust annual concert series. The Canton Symphony has twice featured her as organ soloist, including works by Saint-Saëns, Guilmant, Bach, Daugherty and Widor. She currently serves as the Dean of the Canton Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and holds the Associateship (AAGO) Certification. Heather holds the Master of Music degree in Music Education with an emphasis on the Kodaly teaching philosophy from Capital University; she also holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Choral Music Education from the University of South Carolina. Heather is an experienced teacher of learners of all ages, from preschool music to collegiate students. Along with her husband, Britt, they are the proud parents of two children, both singers in Summit Choral Society. Email: [email protected] |
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Dr. Britt Cooper
Director of metropolitan Chorus Dr. Britt Cooper is the 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. Over the last ten years, the choir has performed 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. 2012-2022, Dr. Cooper served as Director of the Canton Symphony Chorus. In that role, he 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. Dr. Cooper has been a regular featured conductor for Summit Choral Society since 2016 and named permanent director of the metropolitan chorus in 2023. Under his direction, SCS's Metropolitan Chorus looks forward to performing Elaine Hagenberg's Illuminare at Christmas Candlelights in december 2023 andFranz Schubert's Mass in G major, D.167 in April 2024 for the Akron community and again in June representing Akron with Metropolitan Chorus at Carnegie Hall in New York! Email: [email protected] |
