HOPEWELL VALLEY CHORUS
Our Professionals
DIRECTOR MARJORIE K. HERMAN, D.MUS.
Director Marjorie K. Herman, D.M. received her Doctor of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, Bloomington and has taught at the university and community levels for many years. Currently an associate professor of music at Mercer County Community College and conductor of the College Chorus, Dr. Herman has been a guest conductor of the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs and the Lawrenceville Community Orchestra.
A composer and private studio teacher, Dr. Herman also presents workshops on the interface between music and well-being. This past March she facilitated an afternoon workshop for Harmonium Choral Society called "Voices of Well-being," focusing on the voice as a tool for healing and beneficial aspects of communal singing. Twice a guest lecturer at the New Jersey Piano Teachers’ Forum, she spoke about how engaging in music study can empower students and their teachers.
A member of the graduate faculty of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey, Dr. Herman has taught "The Healing Arts." Marjorie also serves as director of music at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton. Her voice can be heard weekly on WWFM 89.1 Classical Music Radio in "Sounds Choral."
Previous directors of the Hopewell Valley Chorus include Jeanne McConnell, Jack Hitchcock, J. Beau Lackey, Jerry Nowak, Jeffery Corelli, Carol Ann Little, Robin DeKleine, Lynne Ransom, George Hahn, Ronald Melrose, Peter Lauffer, Aurora Micu-Penna, and Patrick Freer.
PIANIST/ACCOMPANIST DREW C. NIELSEN
Drew Nielsen joins the Hopewell Valley Chorus as pianist/accompanist in September 2008.
This summer he is serviing as both accompanist and musical director for Leader of the Pack at the Off-Broad Street Theatre, in Hopewell. Last year, Mr. Nielsen toured southern France with Princeton Pro Musica, as tenor soloist, organist and piano accompanist, performing under the direction of Frances Slade. In addition, he has twice served as tenor soloist and accompanist for Trinityfest, at Trinity Cathedral, in Trenton, under the direction of Deborah Ford.
A resident of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, he is the professional accompanist for DeSales University and for the Bucks County Motet Singers and serves as organist-music director for St. John's U.C.C. in Fogelsville. In 1989, as pianist/accompanist, he was named Artist of the Year by the Friends of Music of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Nielsen graduated from University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and a Master of Arts in Teaching in music education. He also holds certification in Orff teaching from West Chester University and will return to the music classroom this fall as an Orff elementary music specialist.
Hopewell Valley Chorus
Hopewell Valley Chorus
PO Box 93
Pennington NJ 08534
609-737-2468(membership)
609-737-3177(information)
