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Ohio Valley Chorale to perform May 5

GETTING READY — The Ohio Valley Chorale, shown after a recent practice session, will open its third concert season with a performance set for 3 p.m. on May 5 at First Westminster Presbyterian Church, 235 N. Fourth St. The centerpiece is John Rutter’s setting of the “Requiem” Mass. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Ohio Valley Chorale will open its third concert season, with a performance set for 3 p.m. on May 5 at First Westminster Presbyterian Church, 235 N. Fourth St. under the baton of conductor Erik R. Waugh.

The centerpiece for this concert is John Rutter’s setting of the “Requiem” Mass. Waugh also will lead the chorale in other shorter works by Rutter and F. Melius Christiansen.

“This program will feature the singers of the Ohio Valley Chorale, which we expect to be around 70 in number, from all over the Tri-State Area,” explained Amanda Abrams, a co-founder of the Ohio Valley Chorale.

The concert also will feature accompaniment by a paid professional orchestra, comprised of musicians from the Wheeling Symphony; students of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians, including students of Carnegie Mellon University; and musicians with ties to West Liberty University. Orchestra members will be traveling from all over Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to perform.

For the first time since the organization was founded in 2017 by Waugh, Abrams and Robb Townsend, the chorale will welcome to the stage a guest soloist. LaKedria Johnson-Lozano, a native of the Ohio Valley, will perform as soprano soloist for the Requiem.

She is a 2009 graduate of West Liberty University and a 2011 graduate of Marshall University where she earned a master’s degree in vocal performance. She resides in the Toledo area with her husband and three children.

Johnson-Lozano has worked extensively as a classroom educator, private voice instructor, clinician, and solo performer.

“Joining us for the concert will be six students from God’s Lighthouse Academy in Lambertville, Mich., where Mrs. Lozano currently teaches,” Abrams noted. “In addition to Mrs. Lozano performing as the soloist for the Requiem, she also will provide a few special solo selections,” Abrams added. “This performance is Mrs. Lozano’s debut with the Ohio Valley Chorale. Mrs. Lozano is a dear friend of Erik Waugh, and they are thrilled to be performing together again for the first time since their music studies at West Liberty University.”

As with all of the Ohio Valley Chorale concerts, the program is free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected. “This program is graciously sponsored in part by Apollo Pro-Cleaning and Restoration and Tony Mougianis as well as many other generous donors from our community,” Abrams said.

“The chorale wishes to thank the community from the bottom of our hearts, as every needed cost that has arisen for each concert over the past two years has been fully covered by these donations,” she said.

Anyone interested in donation to this concert and future programming can make checks payable to Ohio Valley Chorale and mailed to 631 Canton Road, Wintersville, OH 43953.

“Our spring concert is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and chorale member, Deborah “Debbie” Kalinowski,” Abrams explained. “Debbie joined the Ohio Valley Chorale in September of 2018 and unfortunately only had the chance to perform with us one time. She was a dedicated member of the tenor section and never missed a rehearsal. Debbie was called home to be with the Lord in heaven on Feb. 16, 2019. She was an active member of First Westminster Presbyterian Church where she also sang with the church choir. Debbie will always hold a place in our hearts,” Abrams said.

For the third consecutive year, the chorale has been invited to perform the national anthem for the opening ceremony for the Jefferson County Relay for Life this year. They will perform when the fundraiser for the American Cancer Society kicks off at 6 p.m. on June 21 at the Clarke Hinkle Stadium in Toronto.

The chorale also is planning a Christmas concert for early December. Rehearsals for that program will begin in early September.

“The chorale remains open to anyone to join, with a note that an ability to read music is encouraged,” Abrams said. The only cost to join remains the cost to purchase music for the member, which is normally approximately $25. Details will be posted on the chorale’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ovchorale.

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