Bio - Jessica G. (Alto)

*I am the oldest of 4 children, and growing up I lived in Missouri, Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Utah. I married my husband in 1998, and we moved from Minnesota to California to Michigan to Connecticut, where my husband works for Pfizer. I’ve been married for 13 years, am a 34 year-old stay-at-home mother, and have five children – ages 11, 8, 6, 4, and 2. (I always have a picture of them in my choir folder if you’re ever interested in seeing them.) :)
*Singing is a basic need for my soul.
*Since about the age of 10 I have been singing musical numbers in church and school ranging from solos to small group numbers to family numbers to choirs.
*My music history: school and other choirs growing up, several musicals, Spanish Choir in college (since I was not accepted into the choir I auditioned for. We were TERRIBLE! (like – I told my friends NOT to come to our concerts) But I had to sing somehow!!) ;) , I have always sung in choir at church, San Diego Vocal Arts Chorale, Carillon Women’s Chorale, and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus
*At church I am currently the chorister for our children’s music program, and enjoy sharing my love of music with them.
*I lived here for 2 years before I found ECSC through tenor Dave T., who knew my husband from work and passed on the audition information. I joined ECSC in September 2009, and have cherished my experiences singing under Mark’s direction, and with everyone in the chorus!
*Last year I suggested the idea of a blog to the ECSC board, because I had seen some choir blogs and thought it could be a great thing for the chorus. (I was then asked to be the one to do it, and accepted the task of becoming “ECSC’s Blog Lady”! Think HARD before you open your mouth…) I knew nothing about blogs , and just learned by clicking here and there and by asking friends for advice, until I finally created the blog you see before you.
*I LOVE singing with all of you in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus!! Thank you for being a special part of my life!

Bio - Ken Koe (Bass)

My first choral group was the Ledyard Ecumenical Choir led by Connie Dutton. I joined ECSC after she became director of the Chorus. When Connie left, I stopped for a while, and rejoined when Pat Uguccioni was choral director (she prepared us for the Mahler Symphony No. 2 concert by ECSO and combined choruses in Worcester, MA). I stayed with ECSC, under the direction of Peter Bagley, and now Mark Singleton. ECSC trips have been great experiences: performing in Carnegie Hall in New York, doing Carmina Burana with Acadiana Symphony and Chorus in 2002 in Lafayette, LA, singing the Verdi Requiem with China National Symphony and Chorus in 2004 in Beijing, and the 2009 Greek Islands singing cruise. In May 2010, other ECSC singers and I joined Greater Middletown Chorale for its Mendelssohn’s Elijah production. In January 2011, I sang with Mystic River Chorale in its Brahms Requiem concert at Harkness Chapel. I am also a choir member at United Methodist Church of Gales Ferry.

I was born in Astoria, Oregon (western end of Lewis & Clark Trail) and grew up in Portland. I attended college and graduate schools in Oregon, Washington, and California. I joined Pfizer in Brooklyn, NY as a chemist in antibiotics and retired from the Groton site as a neuroscientist in psychotherapeutic drugs. Research on the neurotransmitter serotonin led to the discovery of the antidepressant, sertraline hydrochloride, which was marketed as Zoloft in 1992 (for story, Google Kenneth Koe). My earlier discovery that p-chlorophenylalanine blocks serotonin biosynthesis prompted its use in treating some symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome in patients. Cannabinoids also have been an interest. I go to meetings of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the International Cannabinoid Research Society.

My late wife was a Ledyard school teacher. I have two daughters, one (LICSW) in Massachusetts, one (MD) in California, and between them, five grandchildren. I was elected to the Ledyard Town Council for three terms. Presently, I am a member of the Planning Commission and a justice of the peace in Ledyard. I serve on boards of Thames Valley Music School and Ledyard Inter-Church Emergency Fund.

Bio - Fran Plotnick (Alto)

Not sure of the exact date I joined the Chorus, but it’s at least 15 years or so. I “flunked” the first time we had auditions, but Mark knew I’d work hard and he’d never get rid of me….so…I took some lessons, came back again and hurrah! I passed. Coming from a family of singers (my mother’s side) I knew I was destined to sing with some of the most talented singers and have the privilege of working with 2 wonderful conductors. Peter Bagley who taught me a lot about music and Mark who taught me more about music and compassion. I have not regretted one moment of my time. (Well, that’s not exactly true…but it was small in comparison.)I have traveled wherever the chorus has gone…I love going to different places and the camaraderie of the people you travel with is phenomenal! Some guys even offer to carry my luggage! (Time for another trip, by the way..) About my background: I spent 26 yrs. in Ledyard teaching 5th grade and after I retired got an educator’s job at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and still get to work with kids…going on to my 12th year. Have 2 of my own...all grown up a son and daughter. And my daughter has given me 2 wonderful grandchildren who are attending college. (That’s one of the reasons “G” (that’s what my grandchildren call me) is still working!! My husband , son and daughter run Herb’s Country Restaurant in Montville. Mom fills in on Sun. My husband has been in business in Montville for almost 40 yrs. (Time flies when you’re having fun.)All my friends and family come to all the concerts and even though my parents and grandparents are gone, I know they still come to all our performances and just “kvell.” (Full of pride and joy!)

-Fran

Bio - Sheri M. Pellerin (Alto)

ECSC President
(2008-present)

Singing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I've been singing with church choirs, community choruses, oratorio societies and symphony choruses all my life. In high school I was the Girls Chorus Representative to the newly formed Choral Council. I went on the next year to become Vice President, and in my senior year took on the role of President. We had a great choir that participated in the All-State competition and performed at Jorgensen Auditorium. The choir also performed around the New London area as well as presenting two school concerts. Many of the choristers, myself included, wrote our senior play, An American Musical, which included popular show tunes of that time including selections from Pippin, Kiss Me Kate, and Oklahoma.

My association with the ECSC started in 1975. I was pregnant with my daughter who would be born only 4 days after our concert the following March. Joan Cook prepared the Chorus to perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 under the direction of Victor Norman. Through the years I joined the ECSC whenever possible. A favorite memory is singing at Goodspeed Opera House under the baton of George Baziotopoulos. It was a Christmas concert and the venue was absolutely gorgeous!

I went back to college in the late 90's and spent a semester in France where I joined a community chorus. While I do speak French it was a little disconcerting to be in a room full of native French speakers! Nevertheless, they were very patient with me as I practiced my French, and I enjoyed helping them with their English. Of course, when the Conductor raised his baton for us to sing together we were all struggling with the German! I distinctly remember my ears physically relaxing when we all sang in one, multicultural voice. Great memories.

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peter McCoppin was the next stop in my singing career. My role with the CSO was that of Chorus Manager. There were five choruses – five very active choruses – with over 265 singers in all. My favorite group among them was 'Round Midnight, an all male ensemble of some of Charlotte's finest voices. They crooned their way into the audience's heart… and mine! The CSO choruses performed all throughout the Charlotte area, and in 1999 the Chamber Choir of which I was a part auditioned for and was selected to sing at Charleston, South Carolina's prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Festival. We were thrilled! Again, great memories.

There's no doubt that I have always enjoyed getting involved when I join a chorus. Each experience has been tremendously rewarding, but none so much as that with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus. When I rejoined in 2007 I was impressed by the kid who was directing – I say kid because Mark is four months younger than my daughter! It was interesting to think that the Choral Director wasn't even born when I first sang with the group in 1975, but there are others who can say the same. The longevity of the ECSC is a testament to a love for music from both sides of the stage – performers and audience. After my first year I found there was an opening for the role of President. I thought "Why not?" and threw my hat into the ring for consideration. I was elected in the summer of 2008 and have been working diligently in that role ever since. It is my hope that the ECSC will continue to grow in a way that helps keep choral music alive and well in our community…. forever!

Bio - Anne Ilson (Alto)

2011
A Snowy January Night:

I was born in San Francisco, California. My mother was the daughter Of a Norwegian artist and an Estonian Consul. My father was an electrical Engineer and worked for the war effort during WWII. He had graduated from Cal. Tech. and also attended Stanford Business School. 

The first memory of singing was some songs I learned in Norwegian from my Grandmother. Sadly I don’t remember them very well except possibly the Norwegian national anthem. When I was three I would sit in front of my other grandmother’s Big Victrola in Oakland, California and sing along with Lily Pons, a famous opera singer at the time.

When I was six my family moved to Pittsburgh , Pa. I started singing with the chorus in Junior High School. In High School I sung under the auspices of a wonderful director, Miss Collins, and we competed interscholastically throughout Pennsylvania. We won every contest we entered, due to the skill of our director.

When I graduated I came to New London to Connecticut College to study studio art but in my sophomore year I fell in love with Zoology so my degree was in Zoology. I sang with the chorus there, and also with the chapel choir. We would sing in that lovely Harkness Chapel every Sunday evening for vespers.

How I got into the Eastern Ct. Symphony Chorus was that one year Connecticut College sang the Verdi Requiem with the Yale Glee Club at Woolsey Hall in New Haven.  This was one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had.

After graduation I married a physicist who specialized in submarine sonar. We had two children and I stopped singing for awhile. When they were 14 and 10 I went back to work, updated my skills in my microscope field at Hartford Hospital, and was working for two years at Manchester Memorial Hospital. Then I found a job somewhat closer and at the same time I read in the New London Day that the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus was going to perform the Verdi Requiem, with the Yale Glee Club, at Woolsey Hall in New Haven! I just knew I had to do it again so I called the number in the paper.  I was accepted into the chorus and the rest is history! I’ve been with the ECSC now for 28 years and have enjoyed every minute of it. We have had opportunities to sing other venues such as the recent Haitian Relief Concert and at one time, 8 stage performances of a production of “The Sound of Music” (the ladies were singing nuns). I am grateful for all the wonderful experiences I’ve had with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus and the interesting people I’ve met.

Blog Bio Project

ECSC members,

Earlier in the fall, our soprano section leader (Heather) mentioned that she enjoyed hearing about our choir leadership at the last Town Hall meeting and that she would enjoy knowing more about everyone in the chorus. She thought the blog would be the perfect way to do this, and I agree! :) Sheri suggested that this would be a good project to initiate during our winter break.

Of course, this is an optional project, but hopefully you'll want to participate! Here are the guidelines:

Everything will be done by email - email the following to me at ecsymphonychorus@gmail.com
(it will be forwarded to my personal email address)
1. Type up some information about yourself (400 words or less). Remember - whatever you type will appear on the blog, which can be seen by anyone in the general public who comes across it. You may or may not want to list your last name, specifics on where you live, etc. (or you may not care) It is completely up to you.
(ideas of things to include could be - your history with music, your occupation, your family life, your age (or not), other hobbies, when/why you joined ECSC, etc.)

2. It would be great if you could also find a picture of yourself (or your family) that you like and email that to me as well. I will include that in your bio post. Wouldn't this be a great way to match names to the faces that we know? If you don't have a picture of yourself (or are unable to email it) and would like one taken, let me know and I'll bring my camera to take a picture of you at a rehearsal.

3. Email these things to me.  I will then copy/paste exactly what you email to me into a blog post and then the rest of us can get to know a little more about you!

I think this will be a lot of fun, and hope you will be interested in making this project a success. Email me with any questions you may have, and I hope to hear from you soon.

HERE'S TO GREAT THINGS IN 2011!
Jessica   :)