Suzanne Mallare Acton
Director
Suzanne Mallare Acton is Director of the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus. As Detroit Opera’s Assistant Music Director and Chorus Master, she has prepared the adult and children choruses for more than 125 productions. Ms. Acton also serves as resident conductor for Detroit Opera. Main stage conducting credits include West Side Story, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Music Man, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Die Fledermaus and The Daughter of the Regiment. Detroit Opera tour credits include La Boheme, Die Fledermaus, The Tender Land, and La Traviata. Additional conducting credits include My Fair Lady and La Traviata for Dayton Opera, The Merry Widow and Madama Butterfly for Artpark, Tosca for Augusta Opera, and La Traviata, L’Elisir d’Amore, and Gianni Schicchi for Verdi Opera Theatre. As guest conductor, Ms. Acton has worked with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, The Auditorium Theatre and the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. She has also worked for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, San Diego Opera and Opera Pacific and has served on the music faculty at Florida State University and Oakland University. Since 1996, Ms Acton has been Artistic and Music Director for Rackham Symphony Choir.
Director
Suzanne Mallare Acton is Director of the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus. As Detroit Opera’s Assistant Music Director and Chorus Master, she has prepared the adult and children choruses for more than 125 productions. Ms. Acton also serves as resident conductor for Detroit Opera. Main stage conducting credits include West Side Story, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Music Man, The Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, Die Fledermaus and The Daughter of the Regiment. Detroit Opera tour credits include La Boheme, Die Fledermaus, The Tender Land, and La Traviata. Additional conducting credits include My Fair Lady and La Traviata for Dayton Opera, The Merry Widow and Madama Butterfly for Artpark, Tosca for Augusta Opera, and La Traviata, L’Elisir d’Amore, and Gianni Schicchi for Verdi Opera Theatre. As guest conductor, Ms. Acton has worked with the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra, The Auditorium Theatre and the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. She has also worked for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, San Diego Opera and Opera Pacific and has served on the music faculty at Florida State University and Oakland University. Since 1996, Ms Acton has been Artistic and Music Director for Rackham Symphony Choir.
Dianna Hochella
Assistant Director, Principal Chorus Conductor
Dianna Hochella is the Assistant Director and Conductor of the DOYC Principal Chorus. Ms. Hochella serves as Choral Director and World Music Drumming Instructor for Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor, MI. As a member of the Detroit Opera Chorus, Ms. Hochella has performed on the main stage productions in the world premiere of Cyrano and Margaret Garner. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Radford University in Virginia and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Michigan. Her passion is teaching and sharing her love of opera and great singing with young singers.
Assistant Director, Principal Chorus Conductor
Dianna Hochella is the Assistant Director and Conductor of the DOYC Principal Chorus. Ms. Hochella serves as Choral Director and World Music Drumming Instructor for Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor, MI. As a member of the Detroit Opera Chorus, Ms. Hochella has performed on the main stage productions in the world premiere of Cyrano and Margaret Garner. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Radford University in Virginia and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Michigan. Her passion is teaching and sharing her love of opera and great singing with young singers.
Jane Panikkar
Preparatory Chorus Conductor
Jane Arvidson Panikkar is the conductor of the DOYC Preparatory Chorus. Jane is a professional pianist, trumpeter, vocalist, conductor, teacher and composer. For the past four years, Jane has been on the music faculty at Concordia University conducting the chamber choir, while also maintaining a private voice studio, and frequently playing in the Ann Arbor Symphony. Jane is in high demand as a collaborative pianist, and is one of the music directors at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ann Arbor. She also has extensive experience directing and conducting for professional and amateur theater companies. Jane has been a music educator for many years, developing an instrumental music program at one of the largest private high schools in California, and teaching middle school band and orchestra. She holds a Master’s degree in choral conducting from Eastern Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan. Jane resides in Saline, Michigan, with her husband, international opera singer, Sean Panikkar, and their two children, Maria and Mark.
Preparatory Chorus Conductor
Jane Arvidson Panikkar is the conductor of the DOYC Preparatory Chorus. Jane is a professional pianist, trumpeter, vocalist, conductor, teacher and composer. For the past four years, Jane has been on the music faculty at Concordia University conducting the chamber choir, while also maintaining a private voice studio, and frequently playing in the Ann Arbor Symphony. Jane is in high demand as a collaborative pianist, and is one of the music directors at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ann Arbor. She also has extensive experience directing and conducting for professional and amateur theater companies. Jane has been a music educator for many years, developing an instrumental music program at one of the largest private high schools in California, and teaching middle school band and orchestra. She holds a Master’s degree in choral conducting from Eastern Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan. Jane resides in Saline, Michigan, with her husband, international opera singer, Sean Panikkar, and their two children, Maria and Mark.
Joseph Jackson
Principal Chorus Accompanist
Joseph Jackson currently serves as the Organist/Music Associate of the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak. Prior to this position he held positions as Music Director at a number of historical churches such as The First Presbyterian Church of Detroit and a long tenure at The First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. A frequent recitalist and accompanist throughout the country, his broadcast credits include National Public Radio's "The First Art" and "Pipedreams". His solo recording "Philadelphia Gothic" appears on the label DTR and his performance of the Howard Hanson Organ Concerto is available on the Naxos label.
Principal Chorus Accompanist
Joseph Jackson currently serves as the Organist/Music Associate of the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak. Prior to this position he held positions as Music Director at a number of historical churches such as The First Presbyterian Church of Detroit and a long tenure at The First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. A frequent recitalist and accompanist throughout the country, his broadcast credits include National Public Radio's "The First Art" and "Pipedreams". His solo recording "Philadelphia Gothic" appears on the label DTR and his performance of the Howard Hanson Organ Concerto is available on the Naxos label.
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Maria Cimarelli
Preparatory Chorus Accompanist Maria Cimarelli is the accompanist for the Preparatory Chorus. A long time member of the Detroit Opera company, she has acted and sung in hundreds of performances with the Detroit Opera Department of Community Programs. She is currently the director of music at the Franklin Community Church in Franklin, Michigan. Maria also accompanies and serves as assistant director of the Ypsilanti Community Choir. She has taught vocal music at the elementary, high school and college levels. Maria is on the music staff of the highly regarded Creative and Performing Arts program at Churchill High School in Livonia, where she works as collaborative pianist, vocal coach and music theory instructor. |
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Emily Crombez
Theory Teacher Emily Crombez is a proud alumnus of the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus and is excited to return to as a teacher! From 2010 to 2013, she appeared in three children’s operas and four mainstage operas including H.M.S. Pinafore as Little Buttercup and The Magic Flute as a Spirit in 2011. Additionally, she served as Head Chorister during the 2012-13 season. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, both from Madonna University, as well as a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Michigan Technological University. She has taught private and group piano, guitar, and voice to children and teens ages 4-16. Additionally, Emily has directed collegiate choirs and community theatre at Madonna University. Emily currently holds a full time software engineering position at Ford Motor Company and finds time to direct theatre, teach piano, and make music of her own. |
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Twannette Nash
Chorus Administrator Twannette Nash is the administrator for Detroit Opera Youth Chorus. Before coming to Detroit she was the program manager for the Tampa Bay Children’s Chorus. She has a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology Design, both from the University of South Florida. Mrs. Nash was the band and orchestra director at Perkins Elementary Center for the Arts and International Studies in St Petersburg, FL. She has a wide range of teaching experience including private music lessons, elementary general music, Suzuki Flute, marching band drill instruction, and early childhood music. |