This a cappella choir is a non-profit making concern that has been performing in the St. Louis area since 1956, the year it was founded by the Englishman, Ronald Arnatt. It is made up of around 40 singers who are heard in at least six concerts ever year and cover over 50 original language works in their entirety, and led by Philip Barnes who joined them over 18 years ago.
Their repertoire covers all forms of music from the Renaissance until modern day and they can be heard on several recordings that include A Spanish Christmas, Rejoicing in His Birth, Songs of the Soul, Singing St. Louis and Rome’s Golden Poets.
Some past and present members
Sopranos
Mary Ongjoco Chapman
Debbie Banashek Cole
Kate Glass
Suzanne Ramsey-Haubein
Emily Heslop
Celeste Hobbs
Erin Kickasola
Caroline Kraft
Ann Logan
Kathleen Mead
Luanne Murphy
Kate Talbert
Mary Tetlow
Megan Thomas
Jill (Vandegriff) Clayton
Karey Wieberg
Altos
Nancy Bristol
Susan Greene
Roberta Hmiel
Amanda Meinen
Phyllis Pasley
Stephanie (Scherrer) Ruggles
Laura (Hogan) Swearingen
Tenors
John Baggs
Mike Brown
Dave Carpenter
Derek Dahlke
Jon Garrett
David Goldmann
Matt Kickasola
Lorenz Wahlers
Bass
Jonathan Brader
Matthew Chapman
Charles Grames
John Hubert
Orin Johnson
Mark Poe
Nathan Ruggles
Mark Schober
Jason Taff
Recordings
The Angel Gabriel (Traditional Basque/Sabine-Baring Gould)
SLCC 04 (CD: St Louis Chamber Orchestra: A Spanish Christmas)
Arranger: Edgar Pettman
Conductor – Philip Barnes
Soprano – Mary Tetlow
Tenor – Mike Brown
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