The Capital Singers of Trenton

Meet the Capital Singers

David J. Abers (Tenor) David Abers is a resident of Trenton and is the Office Manager for Bristol Riverside Theatre. In addition to the Capital Singers, he has been a member of the Schola Cantorum, the Lawrence Chorale, and currently sings with the NJGMC. He is also a professional actor and has choreographed the musicals at George School in Newtown, PA since 1998 and has collaborated extensively with director Maureen West.

Cathy Amico (alto)

Cathy Amico has performed as a soloist in various areas of New Jersey and Maine. She has appeared locally with the Westminster Community Chorus, the Greater Trenton Choral Society, the Westminster Chamber Choir, and Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Cathy currently is a member of the Boheme Opera New Jersey Chorus and the Westminster Community Chorus. She also cantors at Incarnation-St. James Parish and at Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Church and has sung with their church choirs.

Jan Baldwin (Soprano)

Jan Baldwin is the chair of the Fine Arts Department at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton. She is an Actor's Equity Association member and has performed in many professional area theatres, including Bristol Riverside Theatre. At Bristol, Jan has performed in over twenty-five productions. She is the jazz vocalist with the Vince Lopez Orchestra. Jan has also sung professionally with several opera companies, including Berks Grand Opera and Lake George Opera. She sits on the Board for the Trenton Community Music School, belongs to the Junior League, and is a vocal teacher at Da Capo Studio in Trenton.

Brent Baker (Bass)

Brent Baker lives in Lawrenceville, NJ and has performed in a number of mixed and all male choruses now including the Capital Singers of Trenton. He studied piano for 12 years including 7 years with Alma Steedman of Princeton, four years of oboe and 2 years of harpsichord with Gavin Black of Westminster Conservatory. He has built two harpsichords including his current instrument which is a reproduction of a 17th century Flemish double manual instrument. He enjoys sailing and playing bridge in his spare time. He works for the State of New Jersey, Motor Vehicles in Information Technology.

Gianine Teti Campbell (Soprano) A 1998 graduate of Lawrence High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Gianine began studying vocal performance at the age of sixteen with Richard Loatman. From there, she pursued her Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities with a minor in Music from Providence College, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2002. That same year, Gianine earned the title of Miss Rhode Island 2002, and the opportunity to compete at the Miss America Pageant, where she performed on the great stage of Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For the past several years, Gianine has had the great privilege of singing the National Anthem with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops at their annual concert at the Trenton War Memorial. She has performed in many musical theatre productions and opera workshops both locally and in college. She also loves singing cabaret music whenever she gets the chance. Gianine lives in Lawrenceville with her husband Tim and is the Merchandise Manager of Triangle Art Center on Route 1 at Darrah Lane. The Capital Singers of Trenton were happy to have Gianine as guest soloist with us for our Inaugural Concert, Friday, October 27, 2006 at St. James Church, 29 East Paul Avenue, Trenton, NJ. We are happy to announce that Gianine is now a regular member in the Capital Singers of Trenton.

Del Camden (Bass) Del Camden is the owner of Broadway Ballroom in Lawrenceville, where he teaches Ballroom, Latin and Swing dance. He has appeared in National Touring Companies of A Chorus Line and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Del has a B.F.A from the Boston Conservatory of Music and enjoys appearing in local theatrical productions. Some of his most recent roles include the Leading Player in Pippin, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Jesus in Godspell and Fagin in Oliver!. He is happily married to Elizabeth Camden who is a member of the Trenton Community Signers.

Ellen Dondero (alto)

Ellen J. Dondero was raised by two musician parents. Music has been a constant throughout her life, and continues as a driving force for her entire family. Ellen lives on Long Beach Island and is married to John P. Dondero (trumpeter and music educator). Together they have three children: Johnny, Chloe, and Noah. Ellen is the Minister of Music at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Beach Haven, and owns “How to Live, Too,” a unique stationary company with a thankful philosophy.

Mary Johnson Fuller (Alto)

Mary Fuller is a resident of Mercerville and LBI and a graduate of Westminster Choir College. While at Westminster, she sang with Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, Pierre Boulez, and Seiji Ozawa. She spent twenty-two years as Assistant Director of Music at Morrisville Presbyterian Church. She has been very active in community theater, most recently as Golda in Fiddler on the Roof. She is married with two teenagers. She is currently the volunteer children’s chime/bell choir director at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Hamilton Square and a freelance church organist.

Christine Giglio Nanni (Soprano) Christine Giglio Nanni is originally from New York and has been singing since she could talk. She has sung with symphonic chorales at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Tanglewood. She sang in the Boheme Opera Chorus for 5 seasons in addition to various New Jersey chorales, including the Trenton Community Singers, and has appeared off Broadway with a cabaret ensemble and in The Mikado with the Ocean City Pops. Christine currently serves on The Capital Singers of Trenton's Board. Christine met her husband at singing camp in the Berkshire Mountains. She loves making beautiful music with him in their cabaret show Rhapsody in 2.

Denise Hochschild (Alto)

Denise Hochschild is a cantor at St. Basil’s Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church in Trenton, NJ. She and her husband Fred reside in Columbus with their three children, Sage, Morgan and Zachary, all accomplished musicians. With a family bitten by the music bug, it is no wonder she devotes her time to being a mom. Denise serves on the board of directors of the Community Concert Series of Bordentown, NJ. She studied voice at Trenton State College, now the College of New Jersey, way back when.

Kenneth P. Howard (Bass) Kenneth Howard received two degrees from Westminster Choir College, where his studies focused on piano, voice, choral conducting and accompanying. As a free lance vocal coach, accompanist, and conductor for almost 20 years, he has musical directed several community theater and college productions throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. By day, he is employed by the Office of Legislative Services in Trenton.

Suzanne Kazi (alto)

Suzanne Kazi lives in West Windsor with her husband Gordon, where they raised two children, Allison and Christopher, both of whom are accomplished musicians. She is Head of Lower School at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Princeton, NJ. In addition to her work with CST, Suzanne currently serves as Treasurer for the Trenton Chapter of the Association of National Pastoral Musicians. She has been a cantor and has sung with church choirs throughout the Trenton Diocese and has appeared as soloist at Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro. She has been a member of Voices Chorale, Schola Cantorum and the Lawrence Chorale.

Kristin Keenan (Alto) Kristin has been a choral and church choir singer as well as soloist for over 30 years. In 1999 she toured Germany and in 2007 toured Italy with Voices Chorale. She has been active in Community Musical Theater at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College and the Open Air Theater for the past 7 years, perfoming in 16 shows including supporting roles. Kristin is an underwriter at NJM Insurance company and lives in Ewing with her husband Jim and sons Jimmy and Brian.

Andrea Marcinowski (Soprano)

Andrea Marcinowski resides in Columbus, NJ with her husband and daughter. She has attended Westminster Choir College, and has performed the parts of Lili in Carnival, Aldonza in Man of la Mancha, and Maria in West Side Story. Andrea has also taken part in various concerts and cabaret style shows. Her daughter Jessica is also a soprano who sings with various choirs in NJ.

Ronald E. Pae (Tenor)

Ronald Pae is from the Trenton area and went to school at Northern Burlington Junior Senior High School in Columbus New Jersey. Growing up he sang in a Gospel choir called Inner Peace. While getting his Accounting degree at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi West Virginia, he sang with their concert choir and then spent three years in their group called the West Virginians. They were ambassadors for the State and traveled to many high schools and Baptist churches around the United States. Once he returned to New Jersey, he started singing with a gospel choir called New Beginning from Columbus, New Jersey. He later found the New Jersey Gay Men's Chorus (NJGMC) which he has been singing with for the past fourteen years and has served twelve of those years working on their board of directors.

Nancy Paolini (Alto) Nancy Paolini has been active in Catholic church music for over 25 years during which time she has held the following positions: Guitarist/Song Leader, St. Augustine Church, Franklin Park; Director of Music, St. David the King Church, Princeton Junction; Cantor/Instrumentalist, St. Magdalen de Pazzi Church, Flemington; and, presently, Director of Music, Incarnation-St. James Parish, Trenton. Nancy is a charter member and past Chapter Director of the Trenton Diocesan Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. She studies voice with Richard Loatman of Da Capo Studios, Trenton. Beyond her involvement in church music, Nancy has played guitar for musicals at Rider University, Mercer County Community College, and other local community theaters. She is also a charter member of the Capital Singers of Trenton and serves on their board of directors. Nancy is also a charter member of the Caritas Chamber Chorale, a twenty member a cappella group, specializing in benefit performances of spiritual and classical music. A resident of Ewing, Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Science from Cook College of Rutgers University. She works full-time as a Resource Conservationist for the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Among her responsibilities are computer software training and database maintenance in nine offices throughout the state. She is also Webmaster for NRCS in New Jersey.

Peter A. Scarpato (Bass) Peter lives in Yardley, PA with his wife Paula Weiss, daughter Rachel and son Aaron. Peter has been singing and performing music since the 4th grade; in addition to playing saxophone and guitar in bands for many years. Peter has sung with the chorus of The Boheme Opera Company, The Greater Trenton Choral Society, The Bucks County Motet Singers and recently in a 14 member a cappella men's chorus called Cordis Mundi. He is a professional arbitrator and mediator through his company, Conflict Resolved, LCC.

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Carroll Ann Scully (Soprano) Carroll Ann Scully is married with two children. She works as a licensed practical nurse in a geriatric facility in the Trenton area. She took piano lessons as a child, and studied voice with Richard Loatman. She sang in the St. Mary's Cathedral Choir and the Diocesan Festival Choir. She has been an occasional guest performer at Plainsboro Presbyterian Church and is currently a cantor and choir member at Incarnation-St. James Parish in Trenton. She loves spending time with her hound dogs, oil painting, amateur song writing and playing the autoharp.

Bonnie Shapiro (Alto)

Bonnie Shapiro began singing in her high school glee club but gave it up in order to pursue a professional career and raise a family. Fifteen years ago she joined her church choir and singing became a passion once again. She made singing a priority in her life and began studying voice with several teachers and coaches. Over the years she has sung with several church choirs and community choruses including The Medford Community Chorus and The Greater South Jersey Chorus. Bonnie is a retired physician living in Mt. Laurel, NJ.

Stan Szalewicz (Tenor)

Stan Szalewicz has sung with the Capital Singers of Trenton since the group’s inception and has served as Chair of the Board of Directors since the board was established in July 2006.

An associate professor-librarian at Talbott Library of Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, Stan earned an M.A. in organ performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Library Science with specialization in music librarianship from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Stan is a charter member of and repertoire consultant to the Caritas Chamber Chorale, a 20-voiced mixed ensemble specializing in a cappella repertoire from the Renaissance to the present. He is active in the Trenton Diocesan Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and is an independent member of the American Guild of Organists from which he earned the Colleague certificate (C.A.G.O.). Since 2001, he has held the position of organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Plainsboro.

Among Stan’s most memorable choral experiences is a performance of A Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter during afternoon tea with Great Britain’s Queen Mother Elizabeth at the Royal School of Church Music at Addington Palace, Croydon, England, in July 1982.

Caryl Tipton (Alto)

Caryl Tipton is thrilled to be with the Capital Singers after taking too long of a hiatus from choral singing. She is also thrilled to be working again with Richard Loatman, with whom she student taught while attending Westminster Choir College! Early in her career, she sang professionally and taught voice in New York and the metropolitan area. She toured and was a soloist with the Norman Luboff Choir. Simultaneously, she developed a career in orchestra management working for the NY Philharmonic, the Congress of Strings and as Executive Director of Musica Sacra in NY. Later, she was the Executive Director of the Voice Institute at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Caryl moved back to this area to have a second chance with her college sweetheart. She has had the privilege of being the Director of Music Ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing for the past 16 years and is also the Concert Manager for the Princeton University Summer Concerts. Caryl is grateful to her husband, Robert Joe Lee and their daughter, Hannah Faith for encouraging and supporting her return to singing in a choir again!

William R. Ulmer (Bass)

William Ulmer sings with the Greater Trenton Choral Society and Our Lady of Good Counsel choir. He has studied with Clyde J. Holt, Harriet McCleary, the late Margaret Smith, Michael Sherrin, Richard Avere and Barry Ellison. He is employed by the Mercer County Board of Social Services as a Human Services Specialist III.

Marita Sciarrotta Watson (Alto)

Marita Watson is a lifelong Trenton-area resident. She began singing with Richard Loatman while a student at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, was a member of the Trenton State College Chorale (now The College of New Jersey) and has continued to perform in many churches and programs throughout the area. Beyond serving on the Board of Directors for the Capital Singers of Trenton, she is an Off-Ice Official for the ECHL (Trenton Devils).

Last modified: September 20, 2009

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