Summit Choral Society

Summit Choral Society began in 1990 with the Masterworks Chorale, a premier adult chorus in NE Ohio. The Children’s Choir Program soon followed in 1991, providing the start of a unique pathway for choral music education and performance. The vision was to develop a musical community for singers of all ages who enjoy learning, growing, creating and sharing the sounds of the expansive world of choral repertoire.

The Children’s Choir Program (CCP) is a unique vocal music education program for children in grades one through twelve. Its teachings are based on the Zoltan Kodály method of attaining music literacy taught by degreed, professional music instructors.  This past season, 180 children from over 75 schools in eight counties participate. Singers are placed in one of four Musicianship Classes and the appropriate choir (Beginning Singing, Intermediate, Advanced or Performance Choirs) matched with their own musical experience and skill. Each student progresses at his/her own speed and ability.  

The Children's Choir Program's flagship ensemble is Performance Choir.  This nationally recognized choir represents the culmination of musical learning and performance in the CCP.  They were selected to represent Ohio at the National Memorial Day Choral Festival on Memorial Day weekend in Washington D.C. 2017, performed by invitation as the featured choir at the National Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City 2018, will perform at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival and as a Grand Ole Opry pre-show performance in 2019.  They are active all over Ohio, were selected to sing at the Ohio state Ohio Choral Director's Association Conference, 2017, and were most recently invited by audition to sing at the National Organization of American Kodaly Educators National Conference in 2019!  Additionally, this choir performs at various community events throughout the greater Akron community each season as well as Summit Choral Society presented concerts. 

The Masterworks Chorale, renamed the Metropolitan Chorus in 2018, has been a staple of NE Ohio's choral community for 31 years!  The Metropolitan Chorus enjoys a unique session based model for singers and consists of impeccably programmed diversity in the choral arts, enjoying multiple renowned conductors and events each season.  

The Akron City Gospel Singers (ACGS) was added to the SCS family of choirs in 2019 by Executive & Artistic Director Shara L. Cocchiola. Under the direction of Professor Jaron M. LeGrair, the ACGS is a grass-roots community gospel choir in downtown Akron.  Singers in this choir are not auditioned and all event sessions are self-contained full musical experiences containing high-quality rehearsal material, a performance and fellowship.