Excellence in Vocal Performance Competition 2025

For more than 20 years, the Chester County Choral Society has hosted the Excellence in Vocal Performance Competition to recognize and encourage talented high school seniors who reside, attend high school or study music in Chester County, PA.  

For more than 25 years, the Chester County Choral Society has hosted the Vocal Competition to recognize and encourage talented high school seniors who reside, attend high school or study music in Chester County, PA.  The Competition exists to reward vocal excellence.  Contestants compete for the following awards:

• First place, $800 cash, Certificate of Achievement, and trophy plaque
• Second place $600 and Third place $400, with Certificates of Merit

 
All winners are required to perform an audition piece at a CCCS concert to be announced.

More details coming soon!

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ANNOUNCING:
Three winners of the 30th Annual Vocal Competition

Shane Roche, a tenor and a senior at Radnor High School earned First Place.  He is a voice student of Kim Kronenberg Russell of West Chester. In school, Shane participates in Meistersingers, as well as the male a capella group, B Sharps.  Additionally, he was selected for the District and Regional Choral Festivals in 2023 and 2024, ranking 1st in Tenor 1 this January. Shane has also performed in various shows throughout his high school career, including school musicals and community theatre.  Following college graduation, Shane plans to pursue his love for singing, dancing and acting through musical theater on a professional level.

Soprano Molly Hopton, won the 2nd Place Award.  A senior at B. Reed Henderson High School, Molly studies voice with Kim Kronenberg Russell. Molly is a member of the concert and chamber choirs under the direction of Jonathan Kreamer.  She is a member of the Tri-M Honor Society and also serves as the President of the Choir and Musical Boards.  She has participated in school musicals for the past three year, with 2 leading roles, is active in community theatre at SALT Performing Arts and studies acting with Lisbeth Bartlett.  Molly has participated in the PMEA Choir festivals at the District, Region and State levels.  She has recently been accepted to the American Choral Directors Association’s Honors Chorus and will be performing at the Eastern Regional Conference in RI. Molly plans to go to college to pursue a career in Musical Theatre and Voice Performance.

The 3rd Place Award was won by Anne Mesiarik, a mezzo-soprano who attends the Center for Performing and Fine Arts in West Chester. Anne studies voice with Mary Jo Springer in Phoenixville.  She has attended PMEA District, Region and All-State Choral Festivals.  She is a member of her school’s Treble and Mixed Choral ensembles and is a cantor and choir member at St. Elizabeth’s Parish.  Anne is excited to continue pursuing choral music in college.

The Vocal Competition recognizes, promotes and rewards the achievement of young singers.  Since 2010, the late Honorable Charles B. Smith has sponsored the competition and this year it is funded by Scott and Choral Society member, Kara Bourdreau of West Chester. The competition was adjudicated by Teresa Moyer, Tom Sitzler and Kaitlyn Waterson.

 $800, $600, and $400 cash awards will be presented at Chester County Choral Society’s Spring Concert, featuring Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living. Each finalist will have the opportunity to perform a selection from the classical repertoire or musical theater.  The concert will be held on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Church of the Good Samaritan, 212 West Lancaster Ave, Paoli.

Shane Roche, Tenor
Radnor High School
1st Place

Molly Hopton, Soprano
B. Reed Henderson HS
2nd Place

Anne Mesiarik, Mezzo-Soprano
CPFA of West Chester
3rd Place

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ANNOUNCING:
Three winners of the 29th Annual Vocal Competition

Macy Danenhower​, a Mezzo-soprano and a senior at Conestoga High School earned First Place.  She is a voice student of Kim Kronenberg Russell of West Chester.  Macy has attended PMEA District, Region and All-State Choral Festivals with #1 & #2 rankings. Recently, Macy was selected for the United States All- National Honor Choir. In addition to singing, she is an accomplished dancer and plans to continue her studies as a musical theatre major in college.

Tenor Ryan Hughes, won the 2nd Place Award.  A senior at B. Reed Henderson High School, Ryan studies voice with Kim Kronenberg Russell.   In high school, Ryan serves as president of the choral program and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He has participated in the PMEA District, Regional and All- State Choral Festivals, placing 1st in District 12 this past year.  Ryan has been selected to sing in the ACDA Eastern Division High School Honor Choir, and the All-Eastern and
All-National Honor Choirs.  He plans to double major in music and psychology at the collegiate level in the fall.
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The 3rd Place Award was won by Rachel Lewiski, a soprano who attends the Center for Performing and Fine Arts in West Chester. Rachel studies voice in the studio of Julie Eurillo of Douglassville.  She sings in her school’s Choir and select Mixed/Treble Chorales. Musical theater and French art songs are her favorite genre. Rachel has participated in the PMEA District Choir, Regional and All-State Choral festivals. She is eager to continue her music education at college by earning a BFA in musical theatre.

The Vocal Competition recognizes, promotes and rewards the achievement of young singers.  Since 2010, the late Honorable Charles B. Smith has sponsored the competition and this year it is funded by Scott and Choral Society member, Kara Bourdreau of West Chester. The competition was adjudicated by, Josh Hunnex, Tom Sitzler and Kaitlyn Waterson.

$800, $600, and $400 cash awards will be presented at Chester County Choral Society’s 50th Anniversary Concert, featuring Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D. Each finalist will have the opportunity to perform selections from the classical repertoire, as well as from musical theater.  The concert will be held on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Church of the Good Samaritan, 212 West Lancaster Ave, Paoli.

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ANNOUNCING:
​2022 Vocal Competition Winners

Three local high school seniors won Chester County Choral Society’s 28th Annual Vocal Competition held on March 19, 2022, at the Exton Baptist Church, Exton. 

First place went to Bryce Kelly, a tenor who is a senior at Bayard Rustin High School and studies voice with Kim Kronenberg Russell of West Chester.  In high school he sings in two choirs under the direction of Mrs. Ann Ellis and also serves as a soloist and member of Youth Choir at Westminister Presbyterian Church.  Recently, Bryce was selected as a Tenor I for the 2022 PMEA All-State Choral Festival, having moved up from 3rd place at the District level to 2nd place at Regionals.  Bryce plans to attend Penn State University, Berks next fall to study Kinesiology and play baseball on their Division III team.  He plans to continue singing with a local semi-professional choir.
 
Bass, David Youn, won the 2nd Place Award.  A senior at Bayard Rustin High School, David studies voice with Kim Kronenberg Russell.   In high school, David is a member of the concert and chamber choirs, and is co-president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.  In addition to singing, David studies AP Music Theory and piano. As a choral singer, he has participated in the 2022 PMEA District and Regional Choral Festivals, placing 1st in District 12.  In 2019, David joined the Bass section of the Chester County Choir Society as the youngest member. He plans to continue his studies in college with a double major in engineering and music.
 
The 3rd Place Award was won by Elizabeth Clark, a soprano who attends B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester. Elizabeth studies voice in the studio of Kim Kronenberg Russell.  She sings in her school’s Concert and Chamber Choirs and serves as the treasurer of her Tri-M music honor society’s chapter. For the past three years, Elizabeth has participated in PMEA District Choir and this year placed second at the Regional level in the Soprano II section.  She has been a cast member for four high school musicals and is a worship leader at Mission Community Church. Elizabeth is eager to continue her education at college where she will continue her active role in the music department.
 
The Vocal Competition recognizes, promotes and rewards the achievement of young singers.  Since 2010, the late Honorable Charles B. Smith has sponsored the competition and this year it is funded by Scott and Choral Society member, Kara Bourdreau of West Chester. The competition was adjudicated by, Teresa Moyer, Josh Hunnex and Kaitlyn Waterson.
 
 $800, $600, and $400 cash awards will be presented at Chester County Choral Society’s Spring Concert entitled, “We Sing to Spring”.  Each finalist will have the opportunity to perform selections from the classical repertoire, as well as from musical theater.  The concert will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 7:30 PM at Bayard Rustin High School, 1100 Shiloh Road, West Chester. 

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