What a wonderful event on November 10th! Our Cultural Event Series, which featured mezzo-soprano, Amy Yovanovich, accompanied on piano by Donna Burkholder, was outstanding. Couldn’t make it to the recital? Take a quick look at some highlights here:
Amy presented a program of sacred music and spirituals such as Amazing Grace and Yes, My Jesus Loves Me, to show tunes from The King and I, the Music Man, and Jekyll & Hyde.
Acclaimed for her velvety tone quality, power and range, Ms. Yovanovich studied under Mr. John Darrenkamp, a well-known veteran of the Metropolitan Opera Company. She has performed with the Pennsylvania Academy of Music Opera Theatre Workshop, Lancaster and Harrisburg Opera Companies and studied in Germany. She is well-known for her solo and oratorio work, as well, and has a CD, “Great Day,” of show tunes and spirituals available at online retailers. Amy is currently the Executive Director and vocal instructor for the State Street Academy of Music, Director of Music for Westgate Baptist Church in Lancaster and vocal instructor for the Lancaster Conservatory of Music.
Donna Burkholder grew up in Blair County, PA and moved to the Lancaster area in 1967, after earning her BS in Music Education with a performance major in organ at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove. She has held teaching positions in the Lower Dauphin, Ephrata and Conestoga Valley School systems. Her love of liturgical music placed her in three Lutheran congregations over the 48 years – St. Paul’s in Lititz, Bergstrasse in Ephrata and St. Peter’s in Neffsville/Lancaster. Donna retired from teaching in 2009 and from her final Director of Music position in 2015. Over the years she has served in various offices of Ephrata Area Pennsylvania State Education Association, Ephrata Parent Teacher Association, Ephrata Area School Board and local and district area Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Since her official “retirement” in 2015, she has greatly enjoyed substituting in area churches. She has two grown children: daughter Dara Burkholder Morales, violinist in the Philadelphia Orchestra, and son John, manager in Professional Offices Services, living in Glenside. She is delighted to spend lots of time with her six grandchildren in the Philadelphia area.
We thank all who visit us and support these wonderful events, part of The Reverend Canon Stephen C. Casey Cultural Events Series at St. Edward’s showcasing the church’s fellowship outreach. To get on the church’s email list for events’ notifications, readers should email: [email protected] with “Subscribe Events” in the subject line.
St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is a community of faith, giving to God, giving to each other, giving to the world. On the web at: www.Sainteds.org. For more information, call the church at 717.898.6276.