2023 Senior Spotlight

Alyssa Cocchiola

9 year SCS singer
​Summit Choral Society has been an integral part of my life for the past nine years. Every Monday, SCS provided me with a unique experience that brought light and joy to an otherwise static week.  Through SCS, I have been able to participate in so many unique, one-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as singing at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., being a part of the 2017 Memorial Day Parade, singing at Carnegie Hall as a featured choir, touring in Tennessee, participating in workshops and gaining feedback from accredited choral composers, and working alongside other choirs.

Lydia Koehrson

7 year SCS singer
SCS has given me the opportunity to be in a choir considering I am unable to in high school. I love being in Summit Choral because I get to be apart of creating beautiful music with amazing people.

My favorite memory from SCS is when we were coming back from the Tennessee tour and we were singing Up On The Mountain Shouting pulling into the parking lot. I plan on attending Kent State University majoring in Biochemistry, then continuing my education at NEOMED to obtain a Pharm.D.

Olivia Opritza

6 year SCS singer
Summit Choral Society has given me the ability to practice music in a safe space and has provided me with lots of experience with music. I have also met lots of cool people that I wouldn’t have otherwise met. Overall, SCS has been a great way for me to stay involved in an activity that I love and meet new people with the same interest in music. My favorite SCS memory is from our retreats. I always enjoyed getting to spend time with other
singers and talking to them more . After graduation I plan to go to college to study forensic biology. My hope is to work in a crime lab and analyze crime scene evidence.

Lynsie Grissom

2 year SCS singer
​SCS has allowed me to rediscover myself through music and make some amazing new friends along the way while helping me reconnect with an old one. For some time, I closed this part of myself off from the rest of the world, and on the inside, it felt like I was missing a big part of myself. With the help of my family, friends, and this choir, I have regained this part of myself and finally feel complete. In the future, I plan to explore my options at colleges while pursuing my passion for music.

Mari Lozano

4 year SCS Singer
​Summit Choral has made me a better singer and listener. It gives me the option to keep singing, since my new school doesn’t have a choir. I plan to go to Calahan Community and Alabama University (hopefully) [and pursuing a] Degree in Early Childhood Education. 

Meet the Singers

Amber C.

11 Year SCS Singer!
Children's Choir Alumni & Metropolitan Chorus
Children's Choir Program Alumnus
Pursuing a bachelors of science in digital sciences at Kent state university

Loretta S.

​Akron City Gospel Singers
Got to sing twice with ACGS, looking forward to doing it again.

Bonnie M.

5 Year SCS Singer!
Metropolitan Chorus &
​Akron City Gospel Singers
Currently doing the card ministry at my church. Enjoy crocheting and my cats.

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Megan C.

5 Year SCS Singer!
Children's Choir Program
​This girl loves to sing! Other fun activities include dancing, playing the piano, and learning about animals. Her favorite animal is the cheetah!

Jamie T. 

9 Year SCS Singer!
Children's Choir Program
Jamie enjoys drawing, and has three pet fish. She is part of the academic challenge team at her school and has reached national levels in multiple categories. She is looking forward to joining her school’s soccer team in years to come.

Alyssa C.

9 Year SCS Singer!
​Children's Choir Program
​I am a senior at Bio-med Science Academy in Rootstown, Ohio. This year will be my ninth and final year in the Children's Choir Program! This program has provided me with many wonderful opportunities, such as singing at Carnegie hall and the 2017 memorial day parade in Washington, D.C. Outside of choir I enjoy drawing, painting, photography, and travelling.

​Tim L.

17 Year SCS Singer!
​Metropolitan Chorus
A child of the '60s, my path to Beethoven, Brahms and Bach was via the Beach Boys, Beatles and Byrds. Time spent in Borromeo Seminary and as a counselor at Camp Christopher deepened my appreciation of joining voices in song whether it was in chapel or around a campfire. Married to the most patient Patti Longville for 45 years, retired from the Summit County Board of MR/DD, I have relished my time participating in the programs of the Summit Choral Society with such gifted singers. Can't wait to point my young grandsons in that direction in a few short years. Personal goal as a singer? To someday make it through an entire concert without my bow tie becoming crooked.

MaryAnn B.N.

7 Year SCS Singer!
​Metropolitan Chorus
"My life is always happiest when I am part of a musical group. I grew up in SEOhio, making music in church and school. This includes my 4 years at Ohio University. After college sang with a Sweet Adeline choir ( ladies singing barbershop style harmony), which also sang at my wedding. When I married and moved to our NEOhio family farm, I did 8 years with Ravenna Community Choir. When I retired from teaching in 2016 I was delighted to have time to begin singing with Summit Choral Society. Am also part of the Akron Symphony Chorus and the annual concert of Gospel Meets Symphony. For me, one of life's greatest pleasures is having an excellent piece of music, a skilled leader, and a choir of terrific voices around me, making the magic that only live music can do."

Angelina C. 

​9 Year Singer!
Children's Choir Alumni & Metropolitan Chorus
"I absolutely love SCS!  It has provided me with so many opportunities I would not have had anywhere else, and I have made lifelong friends!"
Angelina has been singing with SCS since she was in 6th grade! She is currently a member of the metropolitan chorus and enrolled in Raphael's school of beauty.

Laralie S.

Year 4 Singer!
​Children's Choir Program
I loved my first year in SCS! I can't wait to learn more about music and make more friends.

Emily A.

Year 5 Singer
Children's Choir Program
​My name is Emily Anderson and I will be a 6th grader this year! This is my [sixth] year with SCS. My favorite part of being in SCS is our combined numbers. I love my family, my friends, and my new puppy Milo. My favorite book is Artemis Fowl, and I am obsessed with Pentatonix. I am very excited about the upcoming singing season!

Jane M.

4 Year SCS Singer!
Metropolitan Chorus
I've always been involved in music - playing piano solo and as an accompanist, playing percussion in band, singing in church, school, and community choirs, participating in musical theater. I'm excited to have found a musical family in our "new" home of Akron since we moved here a few years ago.

CCP ALUMNI

Baleigh B.

Class of 2022
11 Years with SCS
Baleigh graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. She was a majorette with the high school’s Marching Band, Lacrosse Team and School Ambassador. During summer drama camps, she sharpened her skills performing short plays and is a cast member of the theater program at school. With Summit Choral Society’s Performance Choir, Baleigh was thrilled to travel to New York City to perform on stage at Carnegie Hall. During Easter Break last year, she performed at The Grand Ole Opry. When she is not singing or acting, Baleigh enjoys drawing, hiking and Netflix.

Ellie O.

Class of 2022
6 years with SCS
Ellie graduated from Copley High School. She loves musicals, singing, drawing, painting, and being with her family and friends. Being in this group has made Ellie very happy over the few years she as attended. Lastly, she hopes that everyone will stay healthy and safe out there! 😊

Eden D.

Class of 2022​
5 years with SCS
Eden D is inspired by Social Justice and uses music as an outlet of creativity and empowerment. She is a graduate of Portage Lakes Career Center in the Cosmetology and Early College High School programs where she has earned her cosmetology license and Associates degree.

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Meredith S.

Class of 2022
9 years with SCS
"My younger sister, Avery, joined me in the group last year too. Outside of choir, I participate in marching band, speech and debate, Revere Players, and mock trial. On the few days I’m not busy with school and extracurriculars, you’ll likely find me brunching with friends or reading a book (I am an avid fan of 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne and just about any poem written by Emily Dickinson)."

Angelina C. 

​​Class of 2021
9 years with SCS
"Children's Choir Alumni & Metropolitan Chorus
I absolutely love SCS!  It has provided me with so many opportunities I would not have had anywhere else, and I have made lifelong friends!"
Angelina has been singing with SCS since she was in 6th grade! She is currently a member of the metropolitan chorus and enrolled in Raphael's school of beauty.

Amber C.

​​Class of 2018
11 years with SCS
Graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelors of Science in digital Sciences in 2022. During college, Amber was a choral scholar for the Metropolitan chorus and still sings with the choir. ​