‘Messiah’ soloists
11/13/2024
Performances of Handel's "Messiah" will be presented in both Bluffton and Findlay.
Bluffton University has announced the soloists for its 130th and 131st performances of Handel’s “Messiah.” The 130th performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, in Yoder Recital Hall, Bluffton University, and the 131st performance will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Winebrenner Auditorium, University of Findlay. Soloists are Erin Alcorn, soprano; Andrew Lipian, countertenor; Brian Skoog, tenor; and Jeremiah Sanders, baritone.
Soprano Erin Alcorn
Praised for her “beautiful, limpid quality" (Theater Jones), “angelic” (Reading Eagle)
and “expressive singing” (Dallas Morning News), soprano Erin Alcorn is praised for
her versatile performances in recital, concert, opera, musical theater, contemporary,
and early music. Alcorn has held artist residencies with Music Academy of the West
(2017), The Song Continues at Carnegie Hall (2017) and The Dallas Opera Outreach (2014-15).
She has also sung with Opera Philadelphia.
She has completed all but her dissertation for the doctor of musical arts degree in vocal performance and pedagogy at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
She holds a bachelor of music from the Oberlin Conservatory and a master of music from the University of North Texas. A passionate advocate for arts education, Alcorn has served the nonprofit ArtSmart as a vocal mentor since 2018, first to urban students in Philadelphia, Pa., and currently to students in remote areas of the Adirondacks region. She is a part-time vocal instructor for Cleveland State University School of Music.
Countertenor Andrew Lipian
Andrew Lipian was the first countertenor accepted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music
in its long history, a school where he would study voice and philosophy, graduating
in 2012. From there, Lipian directed multiple shows and non-profit theaters. As a
classically trained dancer, he would often choreograph them. He was a Metropolitan
National Council Regional Finalist and garnered first place in the Singers Club of
Cleveland vocal competition, as well as others.
Lipian received a full fellowship from the University of Michigan, graduating with his master in vocal performance in 2019. Lipian played Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream twice, and the title role in Handel’s “Alcina,” and performed Bach in Boston.
Things were looking up. Then, the 2020 pandemic hit. Lipian watched as theaters shuttered and his opera contracts evaporated. To stay productive, he took a job at a local bakery and eventually entered politics. Today, Lipian is serving his second term on Elyria City Council, is village administrator of the village of Grafton — Lipian’s hometown — and, after over a decade in the Ohio Air National Guard and several overseas deployments, will depart soon for Officer Training School to be a public affairs officer with the 179th Cyber Wing in Mansfield, Ohio. With all this excitement, Lipian misses music and is excited for this, his first major musical performance since he went into politics.
Tenor Brian Skoog
Chicago-based tenor Brian Skoog is known for his “rich and strong” voice (San Diego
Story) and “spellbinding tenor” (Take Effect). This season, his operatic performances
include his debut in the role of Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Chicago’s Salt Creek
Chamber Orchestra as well as the role of Harvey Witlow in the world premiere The Higgler,
a new opera by Margi Griebling-Haigh. In recent seasons, Skoog has been a guest soloist
with the Bozeman Symphony, Cleveland Women's Orchestra, Dayton Symphony Greenville
Symphony Orchestra, Heights Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Toledo Symphony
and the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra.
A champion of new music and living composers, Skoog was the tenor soloist for the world premiere of Margaret Brouwer's environmental oratorio Voice of the Lake. His performance of “The Lake” was included on a 2022 album of Brouwer's compositions on the Naxos label.
Baritone Jeremiah Sanders
Described by the Herald Times as “a hulk … with robust voice and a flair for comedy,”
baritone Jeremiah Sanders is quickly rising as one of the most engaging artists in
the field. Sanders grew up singing in church choir with his madea (great grandmother)
and went on to study voice at Manchester University, Butler University and Indiana
University. Now, Sanders consistently finds success on the competition circuit, in
recital and on the operatic stage.
Sanders has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Lima Symphony Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival, Opera Saratoga, Des Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota Opera and Union Avenue Opera. Previously, Sanders won the Kurt Weill Award in the Lotte Lenya Competition, secured district wins with the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in Kansas City and Indianapolis, won first place in the Opera Ebony Voice Competition and first place in the Friends of the Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.
Sanders is currently a visiting assistant professor in voice at the University of Iowa.
Dr. SeaHwa Jung
Dr. SeaHwa Jung, director of choral activities at the University of Findlay, will
conduct the oratorio. The Bluffton Choral Society, University of Findlay Choir, College
First Church of God Choir and Findlay Civic Choir will accompany with an orchestra.
SuJung Shin
SuJung Shin is the accompanist for the choirs and voice studio at University of Findlay
and the Findlay Civic Choir. She also serves as the organist at College First Church
of God in Findlay, Ohio. Before joining College First, SuJung held organist positions
at several churches, including Trinity United Methodist Church in Philipsburg, Pa.,
Montgomery Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Immanuel Methodist Church in
Seoul, South Korea.
An active accompanist, SuJung has performed at numerous festivals and concerts, including the Opera Festival in South Korea in 2000 and 2003. She was also the full-time accompanist for the Suwon Civic Choir, a professional choir in South Korea, performing in concerts and tours across Europe for three years. From 2013 to 2014, she was invited to play organ and harpsichord for the JS Chamber Ensemble, a professional chamber orchestra based in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2018, she was invited to perform a solo organ recital at First Presbyterian Church in Findlay, Ohio. SuJung is a graduate of Yewon Arts Middle School and Seoul Arts High School. She holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in organ performance from Yonsei University in South Korea, where she was recognized as an honor organist for her recital achievements.
While tickets are free, space must be reserved at www.bluffton.edu/tickets.
The Messiah performances are made possible due to generous support from the Krehbiel-Raid-Pankratz endowment.