Richard Rotz

Artistic Director

Richard Rotz has directed the Chorus since 1976. Until his retirement in 2020, he was the Director of Music at the Mercersburg Academy where he conducted the Concert Band, Octet, and Percussion Ensemble. He holds a B.S. in music from Lebanon Valley College, and an M.M. from the University of Michigan. Richard is a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association.

Locally, Richard is a member of the McConnellsburg United Presbyterian Church where he serves as choir director. Past civic responsibilities include positions on the Mercersburg Town Council and the Fulton County Medical Center board of directors.

Elisabeth Turchi

Conductor

Elisabeth Turchi holds music degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Shenandoah University and currently serves as Contributing Faculty in Music at Dickinson College where she has directed the choir, conducted the musical, and continues to teach group and individual voice classes. Ms. Turchi has also conducted the Mercersburg Academy musical, directed and conducted the Central Pennsylvania Youth Opera Chorus, and the Wilson College choir. She also maintains a private voice studio in Chambersburg.

As a soloist, Ms. Turchi has performed locally and abroad, most recently with the Mercersburg Community Chorus and on the stage at Totem Pole Playhouse. Career highlights include a European tour of Haydn’s Creation with two-time Grammy winner Robert Page and performing Dave Brubeck’s Canticles of Mary with the Grammy-winning composer and his famous quartet.

Board of Directors

Kayla Statler - President

Milan Shepherd - Vice-President and Secretary

Roger Eshleman

Paul Clemmer

Stephanie Byers

Rachel Kerns

Section Leaders

Jayne Metcalf - Soprano

Seleen Shives - Alto

Milan Shepherd - Tenor

Roger Eshleman - Bass

Chorus Manager - Michael Pedersen

Treasurer - Linden Showalter

Rehearsal Accompanist - Carolyn Kerlin