Staff & Board of Directors

Dr. Michael A. Mitchell, DMA began his position as the Artistic Director of the Detroit Concert Choir in June 2019. He is the Director of Choral Activities at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, where he directs the University’s three choral ensembles and supervises the graduate-level choral conducting program.

Christine Rouce has an extensive background in Fine Arts management and not-for-profit organizational administration. She has helped nurture and develop the world-renowned Detroit Concert Choir by serving as the organization’s Executive Director from 1993 to the present.

Sandra Cooper performs numerous administrative office tasks to ensure efficient office operations for the organization and the distribution of music to all choir members. A lifelong love of all types of music brought Sandy to the Detroit Concert Choir as a singer in 1991.

Gerrie Ball, is a talented professional pianist and organist. Since 1988, Gerrie has elevated the Detroit Concert Choir's artistry as our accompanist.

Olivia Donnel, Creative Assistant and Connoisseur Series Project Director is a professional opera singer and budding arts administrator with a love of performing and a passion for making the performing arts accessible to her community.

Madeleine Krick, Project Assistant, is a 2023-24 Gordon Nelson Scholar and first-year member of the Detroit Concert Choir. She is excited to be acting as the Project Assistant for the Connoisseur Series.

Stan Harr (President) served as Detroit Concert Choir’s Interim Director for the 2014-2015 season and continues to serve as Assistant Director. Stan joined the choir as a section leader in 1996.

James Moore, Jr., tenor, is a long-time member and featured soloist of the Detroit Concert Choir.

Bonnie Lawrence (Vice President) joined the Detroit Concert Choir in 2017 in the soprano section. She is an active member of the board of directors focusing on strategic planning.

Rory Bolger., Ph.D., FAICP, has a 33-year career as a Detroit City Planner. This life-long Detroiter’s work as a Peace Corps/Panama volunteer and years with CDCs in Detroit launched him on a trajectory of public service.

Veronica Smith (Treasurer) joined the board of the Detroit Concert Choir. in 2010. She has been very involved with the choir since joining in 2006.

Michelle Metes (Special Events) has organized many special events and Auction Galas. Michele joined the Detroit Concert Choir in 1993 and has traveled with the group to numerous international competitions.

Carol Dowty (Community Engagement) joined the DCC board in January of 2023. She has been a member of the alto section of the choir since 2006 and is thrilled to be singing with many talented people.

Joseph Stevenson joined the board in April 2023. He has been a member of the tenor section since 2016. A 2016 graduate of Kettering University, Joe pursued roles at BorgWarner in Product Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.

Joy Crawford serves as the Recording Secretary for the Detroit Concert Choir. Joy is also a member of the choir and has been the group’s primary Travel Coordinator for international competitions.

Volunteers

Olivia Donnel

Creative Assistant & Coordinator

Olivia assists with many creative aspects of the DCC, including design work, audition scheduling, and promotions. She is developing a DCC young leader council and a 2023-2024 opera artist series. Olivia is a church musician and voice instructor who received her Master of Music in Voice Performance at Oakland University. Olivia was the 2019 Stars of Altgeld Concerto Competition winner and received an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council district auditions in 2020. She would like to go into opera performance and arts administration.

Dawn Surma

Website and Technology Coordinator

Dawn volunteers her expertise with all technology aspects of the choir, providing training, consulting, and design work. She joined DCC in 1999 as a soprano and developed our website, which she still manages today. Dawn is the Information Technology Technician at Harbor Oaks Hospital and an IT/Marketing Manager at Stonescape Supply. Dawn has a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Music from Oakland University.

Bob Weig

Concert Logistics Coordinator

Bob Weig leads the concert set-up team and transports and stores the choir's risers and production equipment. He joins the staff in assessing potential concert venues that accommodate our choir and audience needs. Bob joined DCC in 1988 and sings in the tenor section. Bob is a software engineer. He has many years of experience in DCC concert logistics.

Watch a video from "Grant us Peace: Music to heal the world."

Watch and enjoy "The Parting Glass" sung by the Detroit Concert Choir - March 2022. Directed by Michael A. Mitchell, Artistic Director. Presented In loving memory of Russell Yamazaki (1942-2022).

Thank you to our DCC@ Ford House Annual Auction Gala sponsors!

Thank you to all who made our 2023 Gala such a success! The setting was perfect and fun was had by all. Special thanks to our Event Sponsors.

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