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Sue Fay Allen, Director
Sue Fay Allen is the conductor and founder of the Amherst Bel Canto Choir. Her choral groups have been chosen to perform at national, state, and regional conventions of various music organizations. She is co-founder and past president of the Erie County Music Coordinators and past president of the New York American Choral Directors Association. In recognition of her work, she has received "Teacher of the Year" awards from the New York Music Educators and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Amherst Central School District and the Erie County Music Educators Association. The Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York presented her with the Helen Hosmer Award, given in recognition of outstanding professional achievement in the teaching of music. Throughout her career, she has been published by state and national music journals and served four years as an editor of the national Music Educators Journal. She is listed in "Who's Who in American Women" and "Who's Who in International Music and Musicians".
In her private life Sue Fay Allen is married to Carl Klingenschmitt, an electrical engineer. They live on a farm, have four children, and five absolutely perfect grandchildren.
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Alison Potts Altre-Kerber, Accompanist, Vivace/Bravo
| ABC has been fortunate to have Alison Altre-Kerber as their accompanist since 2001. Alison, a former student of Sue Fay Allen, holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Studies, with a concentration in accompanying from the Crane School of Music. While at Crane, she was the accompanist for the Crane Concert Choir, under the direction of Cal Gage, and for the Crane Collegiate Singers with Brock McElheren. Following graduation she obtained her teacher certification in elementary and music education from Daemen College. Alison is in constant demand throughout western New York as an accompanist, and has often accompanied high school musicals. |
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Dr. Sara E. Meredith, Accompanist, Presto
| Dr. Sara Meredith is an Associate Professor of Music at Buffalo State College. She was the original accompanist for Amherst Bel Canto and rejoined the group in 2005. |
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Laura Biddle, Assistant Conductor, Vivace / Business Manager
| Laura Biddle received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education at Syracuse University, where she studied with Barbara Tagg, John Laverty, James Tapia and G. Burton Harbison. At SU, she sang with the Women's Choir, the Hendricks Chapel Choir, the Oratorio Society and the University Singers. She was also a member of the Concert Band, Symphony Band and Pride of the Orange Marching Band as a saxophone player. She spent three summers working with and studying under the renowned Gregg Smith as a member of the Gregg Smith Singers. Laura is currently a music teacher at Boston Valley Elementary School, and is thrilled to be in her fourth year as an assistant conductor with ABC, especially considering that she was a student in its inaugural year. |
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Amy Travis, Assistant Conductor, Presto
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Miss Travis is the K-2 Vocal/General Music Teacher at Union Pleasant Elementary School in Hamburg. She previously sub-stituted for a semester at Clarence Middle School, where she taught General Music and 7th Grade Chorus. She has directed choirs of all ages, from a kindergarten chorus to select high school groups. Miss Travis received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice from SUNY Fredonia. While attending Fredonia, she was a Soprano in the select choir The Fredonia Chamber Singers, and went on performance tours of New York State, Seattle, Washington, and Scandinavia. Other groups she sang with include the Women's Choir, Masterworks Chorus, and Vocal Jazz Ensem-ble. Amy currently lives in Kenmore with her two cats, and is very excited to begin working with Presto!
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Musical Assistants
In attendance with Mrs. Allen at all rehearsals are assistant conductors and an accompanist. They will assist in regular rehearsals, sectional rehearsals, and sometimes direct the choirs in performance. A parent volunteer is also on site to take attendance and monitor the choristers.
Board Members
ABC is directed by a volunteer Board that determines policy, sets the budget and provides direction for Amherst Bel Canto Choir. New members are voted into office by the membership of Amherst Bel Canto Choir.
Currently serving:
President: Madeleine Kaufman
Vice President: Margaret Wietig
Treasurers: Jim & Eveline Hartz
Secretary: Steven Bengart
Sue Fay Allen
Pat Weissman
Kathy Weaver
Susan Munford
Maxine Bommer
Joel Altre-Kerber
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