Music Director: Dr. Julia Davids
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Dr. Julia Davids is in her thirteenth season as Music Director of the North Shore Choral Society! She enjoys a thriving career as a versatile musician. She is Professor and the Stephen J. Hendrickson Chair of Choral Activities at North Park University, Chicago, where she directs the choirs and teaches conducting and music education. Julia also serves as Director of Music Ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette. Julia has been the Artistic Director of the Canadian Chamber Choir, Canada’s national professional chamber choir, since 2004. She has led the CCC on concert and workshop tours from coast to coast and conducted their Juno-nominated recording, Sacred Reflections of Canada — A Canadian Mass. The CCC has recently releasedtheir latest recording, Seasons of Life and Landscape.
Julia is co-author with Stephen LaTour of the book Vocal Technique — A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers published by Waveland Press and winner of Choral Canada’s award for Best Choral Publication, now in its second edition. She is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. Julia holds degrees in Education, Conducting, and Voice Performance from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario), the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan), and a D.M. from Northwestern University. Julia resides in Skokie with her husband, baroque violinist Martin Davids, and their two children. |
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Accompanist: Sharon Rich Peterson
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Sharon R. Peterson has been pianist for the Chicago Symphony Chorus since 1978 and has accompanied the North Shore Choral Society since 1979. She serves as North Park University’s Theological Seminary Organist (Chicago) and holds a Staff Accompanist position at Northwestern University (Evanston). At Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sharon has worked as Chorus Accompanist, Music Director of their “Opera in the Neighborhood”, Ballet Accompanist, and Swedish Language Coach for the Ryan Opera Center.
During seven years in Sweden and Norway, Sharon developed a specialty in Scandinavian Piano and Organ Repertoire and worked as Staff Accompanist at the Royal Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway. Having studied at Northwestern University and North Park College, Sharon has pursued a career as Collaborative Pianist with singers and instrumentalists, (especially classical saxophone). She coaches Swedish and Norwegian languages as well and is currently teaching a Master Class in Nordic Art Songs at North Park University. Sharon performs organ concerts, serves on the North Shore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (formerly Sub-Dean), is former Organist of North Park Covenant Church, and Guest Organist at St. James Cathedral and The Chicago Temple, (Chicago), as well as Trinity United Methodist, (Wilmette), and The Village Presbyterian Church, (Northbrook). |
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Assistant Conductor: Tierra Whetstone-Christian
Chicago native and member of Chicago’s Henry Hendricks Weddington School for the Performing Arts Vocal Arts Ensemble since 2006, opera singer Tierra Whetstone-Christian has apprenticed and performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Roderick Dixon, Jared Dixon, Catherine O’Connell, and Kathleen Battle. Tierra was privileged to have won 2nd place at the North Park University's performance and 1st place in service. She enjoys the state of excitement that comes upon others when a song is involved. Tierra recently completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music at North Park University, where she studied conducting and voice.
Tierra began her training at Gallery 37, where she appeared in numerous productions. She has collaborated with the Chicago Opera Theater for teens, the Chicago Fringe Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus, and has sung the national anthem at U.S. Cellular Field. Tierra also enjoys the theater, and in 2013 she was nominated for the Black Theater Alliance award for best supporting actress in a play. In May 2019, she appeared as a soloist in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with NSCS and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.
Tierra was grateful and humbled to perform in an art song festival in Orvieto, Italy, in 2019. Her future dream is to become an orchestral and choral conductor and she believes that with God and her passion she can achieve that goal.
Tierra began her training at Gallery 37, where she appeared in numerous productions. She has collaborated with the Chicago Opera Theater for teens, the Chicago Fringe Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus, and has sung the national anthem at U.S. Cellular Field. Tierra also enjoys the theater, and in 2013 she was nominated for the Black Theater Alliance award for best supporting actress in a play. In May 2019, she appeared as a soloist in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with NSCS and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.
Tierra was grateful and humbled to perform in an art song festival in Orvieto, Italy, in 2019. Her future dream is to become an orchestral and choral conductor and she believes that with God and her passion she can achieve that goal.
Board of Directors
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