Bel Canto Singers, Inc.
Celebrates 47 years
Presenting quality performances
of Master Choral Works
for our community.

Reasons to Celebrate!
In 47 years, Bel Canto Singers has performed
400+ works            200+ concerts           60+ venues

“Bel Canto” is Beautiful Singing
 

Beginnings - 1971; A small cadre of church members go caroling with director and
founder, Judson Rogers

Today - An auditioned chorus of 40+ singers, under artistic direction of Dr. David Redman

Musical Leadership
Directors

  • 1971 - 2008 - Judson Rogers, founder and director; now Director Emeritus
  • 2008 - 2014 - Norris Williams, long time member, baritone soloist, educator and church music director
  • 2014 - current - Dr. David Redman

Accompanists

  • 1971 to 1997 - David Matthews, Carol Beck Beldon, Wayne Foster, and Kristine Hearn
  • 1998 to 2017 – Kendra Cochenour, concert mistress of Daytona Beach Community Orchestra and primary violinist of Solisti Chamber Orchestra, church organist and high school chorus accompanist.
  • 2017 - Barbara Larson - Associate Director of Music at Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church where she serves as organist, director of handbell choirs, and administrator of the church’s concert series.  In addition to accompanying the Bel Canto Singers, she is a professional accompanist/collaborator at Stetson University in DeLand.  She also accompanies the choirs at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange. Barbara is a native of Tonawanda, NY.  She holds a Bachelor of Church Music/Organ Performance Degree and a Master of Sacred Music (MSM) Degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH. Barbara is married to Brian who is Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Smyrna Beach.  They have two grown children, Andy and Jana, both professional musicians.

Repertoire - Spans all periods and styles: mass, requiem, oratorio, opera, anthems, motets, madrigals, Broadway and contemporary choral literature.

Select repertoire of major works performed:

  • Bach – B Minor Mass
  • Bernstein – Chichester Psalms
  • Brahms – Requiem
  • Britten – A Ceremony of Carols
  • Handel  - Messiah
  • Honegger – King David
  • Mendelssohn – Elijah
  • Mozart – Grand Mass in C
  • Mozart - Requiem
  • Poulenc – Gloria
  • Rutter - Requiem

Collaborations

  • London Symphony Orchestra
  • Florida Symphony Orchestra
  • Stetson University Symphony Orchestra
  • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
  • Daytona State Community Orchestra
  • Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Solisti Chamber Orchestra
  • Stetson University Concert Choir and Choral Union
  • Bethune-Cookman College Concert Choir
  • Daytona State College Concert Choir

Unique Performances

  • May 1983 - Fully staged Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury”
  • February 1984 - Jester Hairston conducted Bel Canto in a concert of his compositions and arrangements
  • October 1985 - Celebration of Bach’s 300th Birthday – “Jesu, Meine Freude" and "Singet dem Herrn” with Contemporary Dance Ensemble of San Francisco, CA
  • December 2002 – Marion Concert with live painting of Mary by artist Jonathan Marz
  • April 2007 - “Flamenco Requiem for the Earth” with composer Paco Pena, flamenco dancers and musicians

European Tours  

  • Three Bel Canto tours strictly for sight-seeing
  • 2002 - Concert tour in Austria, Germany, Hungary and Czech Republic
  • 2004 - Concert tour in England, Scotland and Wales

Community Enrichment

  • Occasions - Bel Canto has sung for dedications, memorials, anniversaries, church music festivals, professional conventions (ACDA and FMEA)
  • Venues - Bel Canto has performed in churches, temples, universities, palaces, government buildings, monasteries, concert halls, courtyards and street corners
  • Church Music Festivals – for 5 years Bel Canto sponsored concert festivals for area church choirs
  • High School Connections:
  • High school students are admitted to Bel Canto membership upon recommendation of their high school choral teachers.
  • Scholarships are awarded to participating graduating seniors toward university pursuits.
  • Bel Canto sang with All-County Honors Chorus in rehearsal to assist with reading skills and vocal quality.

August 2017