​Artistic Director & Conductor
Gary P. Garletts

Gary was honored at our April 28 concert in recognition of his 20 years as Artistic Director of CCCS. This year he was presented with a handsome plaque, a beautiful painting by member Cosimo Daiello, a gift certificate to the Kimmel Center, and a certificate from State Representative Christine Howard. Please join us in honoring Gary.

​Gary brings to the Choral Society over three decades of experience as a conductor, organist, accompanist and administrator.  Now in his 20th year as Artistic Director and Conductor, Gary has led the Society through transformative growth in membership, musicianship and repertoire.  Under his direction CCCS has given exceptional  performances of major  works  such as Messiah, Elijah, Brahms' Requiem,  Coronation Mass, Ode  to Joy, The  Star of Bethlehem, Carmina Burana,  Dona Nobis  Pacem, and The Testament  of Freedom.  Additionally, he has broadened the Society's collaborative efforts with professional soloists and ensembles, including the Kennett  Symphony of Chester County,  Immaculata Symphony, Prana Winds,  Westminster Brass, and West  Chester University Brass.  Gary is also Director of Music/Organist at Ardmore Presbyterian Church, on Philadelphia's Main Line.  There he  leads a  six-choir program and administered a complete rebuilding of the  church's 3,500-pipe sanctuary organ.  To mark the church’s centennial year (2007), he led its Chancel Choir (augmented by Choral Society  members) on a tour of Scotland and northern England. 

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Gary dedicated the early portion of his career to his native Fayette County, in Pennsylvania's scenic Laurel Highlands.  There he directed innovative programs for Trinity Presbyterian Church and the Greater Uniontown Chorale, and taught piano and organ extensively.  During the 1990's he led a comprehensive music ministry at First Presbyterian Church in historic downtown Lancaster, PA.  From 2005 to 2010 he also served as vocal accompanist for the School of Music at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Gary earned music degrees at Oberlin College and Duquesne University.  Among his mentors are conductors Sandra Willetts and the late Daniel Moe, organists Haskell Thomson and Ann Labounsky, and pianists Frances Walker and the late Katherine Keighley.  A member of the Amercian Choral Directors' Association, and an Associate of the American Guild of Organists, he has served the AGO in various offices and capacities.  Gary offers organ recitals in church and university venues, and is in demand as a freelance accompanist.  He lives in Havertown, PA with his wife, Twila.  Their son Nathan, a graduate of Alfred University, is a process engineer with Owens Corning, at its Wabash, IN facility.

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GARYism:
Things Said in Choir Rehearsal by Gary Garletts

1.  “Now that sound was worth paying $20 to hear!”
2. “God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason.”
3. “L’s are little troublemakers.”
4. “Whole notes get four beats, even on Tuesdays.”
5. “No scooping! We’re not making coffee.”
6. “Always go out dressed in your best vowels.”
7. “No vacuuming!” (inhaling loudly) 
8. “Repeated notes are like little children – if left unattended, they get into trouble.”
9. “It’s the Goldilocks dynamic – just right, not too loud or too soft.”
10. “That was one giant leap for Altokind!”
11. “Don’t go out for coffee on the rest!”
12. “Ih is not a pretty vowel. You have to put some make-up on it.”
13. “Don’t annoy the conductor.”
14. “The best never rest.”

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Highlights of Gary's Tenure from 1999-2019

​1999
A Ceremony of Carols (Britten)

2000
Messiah, Part I (Handel)
Sang at the invitation of Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, VA
 
2001
The Testament of Freedom (Thompson)
A Christmas Oratorio (Saint-Saëns)
 
2002
A New Creation (Clausen) with the Delaware Chamber Orchestra
Magnificat (Bach)
 
2003
Liebeslieder Walzer, Opus 52 (Brahms)
The First Nowell (Williams), ’Twas the Night Before Christmas (Darby/Simeone) with the Kennett Symphony & Children’s Chorus
Requiem (Rutter)
 
2004
Mass No. 2 in G Major (Schubert)
The Star of Bethlehem (Rheinberger)
 
2005
Gloria from Mass in D (Dvorák) with the Chesapeake Brass Band
Selected as visiting choir at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Prelude to the Eucharist and Gloria from Mass in G (Schubert)
 
2006
Coronation Mass (Mozart) with Haverford High Chamber Singers and Orchestra
Welcome All Wonders (Dirksen), Lux Aurumque (Whitacre), with the Westminster Brass
         
2007
Messiah (Handel)
 
2008 
By the Brandywine (Thomas), World Premiere commissioned for CCCS, with the Rustin High Concert Choir
Gloria in D (Vivaldi)
Frostiana (Thompson)
 
2009
Elijah (Mendelssohn)
Requiem (Rutter) with the West Chester Ecumenical Choir and Alfred University Chamber Singers
Selections from Amahl and the Night Visitors (Menotti), Christmas Is Coming: A Festive Cantata (Siegmeister) with Kennett Symphony and Children's Chorus
 
2010
Mass of Peace, World Premiere (Crescenz)
Magnificat (Bach), Ninth Symphony (Beethoven) with Immaculata   Symphony
 
2011
Testament of Freedom (Thompson)
Carols and Lullabies (Susa)
 
2012
Cinemagic Medley, Classic Cole Porter (arr. Huff)
Cantate Hodie (Jenkins) with the West Chester Brass Quintet
 
2013
A German Requiem (Brahms)
Many Moods of Christmas (Shaw) with Prana Winds Woodwind Quintet
 
2014
Carmina Burana (Orff) with the Kennett Middle School Treble Choir
Magnificat (Schubert)
Midnight Mass for Christmas (Charpentier)
 
2015
The Gettysburg Address (Montgomery) with Beck’s Brigade Band
St. Nicholas Mass (Haydn) with the Prana Winds Woodwind Quintet
 
2016
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Selections from Mass in B Minor (Bach), Schicksalslied, Liebeslieder Walzer (Brahms), Choral Fantasy (Beethoven) with Donna Beech, Barbara Browne, and Members of the Newark Symphony Orchestra
The Star of Bethlehem (Rheinberger)
 
2017
A Broadway Spectacular (various)
Magnificat (Pergolesi)
 
2018
Requiem (Fauré) with the Kennett Middle School Treble Choir, Richard Zuch, Elaine Sonnenberg
Christmas Oratorio (Saint-Saëns)
 
2019
Favorite Opera Choruses (Verdi, Bizet, Purcell, Mozart, Delibes)
Messiah, Part I (Handel)

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