The Chester River Chorale’s third annual Ann Turpin Young Chorister Scholarships have been awarded to Amanda Varvar and Victoria Zisser, both freshmen at Washington College.
Named in honor of the CRC’s recently retired Artistic Director, Ann Turpin, whose work with young choristers, as well as adults, is well known in the area, these $500 annual scholarships are aimed at encouraging talented young singers in the development of their musical skills and to provide experience singing with a large choral group.
Douglas Cox, the Artistic Director of the CRC, auditioned Varvar and Zisser for the scholarship. “What a pleasure it is to have Amanda and Victoria singing with the Chorale this year. They are talented performers who contribute much to our program, and they’re wonderful young people to have in our soprano ranks.” said Cox. “I am especially impressed by their capacity to balance college studies with this particular service to the community. By their example they serve as a model for other students who may be thinking about community involvement beyond the boundaries of Washington College.”
Varvar comes to Washington College from Washington, New Jersey. She began singing in her school choir when she was eleven and went on to be accepted in New Jersey All-State Honor Choir and the National Honor Choir. She is majoring in Drama and Secondary Education.
Hailing from Bethel, Connecticut, Zisser is an Environmental Science major and Photography minor. She sang in her church choir from age eleven to fifteen. Since then, she says she sings in the shower—“very loudly”—and is excited about being part of the Chester River Chorale.
“I love this group,” she said. “For me, it’s the best group ever. Everyone should join.”
As part of their scholarship requirement, Varvar and Zisser, both sopranos, are members of the Chester Chamber Singers, a smaller group from within the Chorale that meets for extra rehearsals to develop more challenging music. They will make their debut with the CRC in the group’s upcoming concert, “A Chester River Holiday,” Dec. 2 and 4 at Presbyterian Church of Chestertown.
The Chester River Chorale is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded in part by the Kent County Arts Council and by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. The CRC’s Mission is to provide opportunity and inspiration for amateur singers to strive for artistic excellence. CRC performances entertain diverse audiences and enrich the cultural life of the community. For more information visit www.chesterriverchorale.org or call 410–810–1438.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.