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.
Dr. Mitchell has conducted masses and full concerts at many of Europe’s leading sacred music venues, including St. Mark’s Basilica and Chiesa San Salvador in Venice, St. Nicholas Church in Prague, Peterskirche in Vienna, St. Matthias Church and St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Bratislava, the Church of St. Jacob in Ljubljana, and St. Catherine’s Church in Zagreb.
On the popular music front, Dr. Mitchell teaches a popular summer course on the history of Rock and Roll and has prepared and conducted choruses for the Rolling Stones and Sarah Brightman. As a composer, Dr. Mitchell’s music is performed throughout the United States, including at several conferences of the American Choral Directors Association.
Before coming to Michigan, he was a choral director and music supervisor in the public schools in Texas and taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Mitchell studied conducting, music education, and voice at the University of Texas at Austin and received his doctorate in conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where he served as assistant to the legendary conductor Eph Ehly for three years. As a doctoral student, he was the winner of the UMKC Chancellor’s Award for Academic Merit and was a finalist in the American Choral Directors Association national conducting competition. Dr. Mitchell is a member of The American Choral Directors Association and recently served as President for the Michigan chapter. He is also a member of the American Music Center, The College Music Society, The Michigan School Vocal Music Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
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.
Christine received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Wayne State University in 1989 when she joined the staff of Detroit Performing Artists, Inc./Detroit Concert Choir as a Project Coordinator. She oversees the development, fundraising, grantsmanship, marketing, and publicity of the organization. This includes managing finances, creating and implementing ongoing marketing efforts, and planning and organizing community outreach events, education activities, special events, and fund-raisers. Christine supervises all administrative tasks and personnel functions and works in conjunction with the artistic director in the development of each concert season.
As a member of Chorus America, Christine was instrumental in the Detroit Concert Choir’s important recognition as winner of the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence. She helped coordinate and has traveled with the group to six international music competitions and participates actively as a Detroit Concert Choir singer.
Christine is the daughter of the founding director, Gordon E. Nelson, and was fortunate to work alongside him for 30 years. Her appreciation and understanding of the choral arts are demonstrated by her strong commitment to bringing the performing arts to the larger community.
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.
She joined the staff in 1994, honored for the opportunity to be a part of such an excellent performance organization that enriches the lives of so many people.
Olivia Donnel is a vocal artist and arts administrator whose work spans opera, concert, and choral performance across the Midwest. Based in Metro Detroit, she balances an active performing career with her leadership in arts marketing and administration, championing accessibility, collaboration, and innovation within the performing arts.
Olivia’s artistry has been recognized through numerous awards and honors. In 2019, she was named a winner of the Stars of Altgeld Concerto Competition, followed by an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2020. She joined the DCC in the fall of 2021 and was selected as a Gordon Nelson Scholar for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 concert seasons. Olivia was a winner of the David Daniels Young Artists Concerto Competition in 2022, and received Outstanding Student in Vocal Performance at the 2023 Oakland University MaTilDa Awards. Olivia has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Cynthia Lawrence, Leah Crocetto, Christine Goerke, Stephanie Weiss, and Dr. Christopher White, Studienleiter (Head of Music) at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Beyond the stage, Olivia is deeply committed to arts advocacy and organizational leadership. She works as a marketing associate with several Metro Detroit organizations through the performing arts consulting company ArtOps, including the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Chamber Music Detroit, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, Cabaret 313, and JazzEd Detroit. She also serves as the creative assistant for the Detroit Concert Choir. In 2023–24, she was awarded the Michigan Arts and Culture Council’s New Leaders Grant, through which she created the Connoisseur Series for the Detroit Concert Choir’s 2023–24 season. The series featured an opera scenes & arias concert and a production of Donizetti’s one-act comic opera Il Campanello.
Olivia’s dedication to service and leadership extends through her long-standing involvement with Sigma Alpha Iota, the international music fraternity. A member since 2016, she has held multiple leadership positions—including Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Music Chair, and President—and was awarded the Sword of Honor in 2021 for outstanding leadership and community service. She currently serves as Vice President of Programs for the Detroit Alumnae Chapter.
Gerrie Ball, is a talented professional pianist and organist. Since 1988, Gerrie has elevated the Detroit Concert Choir's artistry as our accompanist.
Gerrie has a B.M. degree in piano performance from Wayne State University, an M.M. degree in vocal accompanying from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and is certified by the Archdiocese of Detroit as a Minister of Music at the organ. Among his teachers were Ruth Burczyk, Mischa Kottler, and Santos Ojeda for piano; Ray Ferguson, Dr. Gale Kramer, and Bert Lord Jr. for organ; and Dr. Robert K. Evans, John Wustman, and Dalton Baldwin for accompanying. He has served as organist at St. Dorothy Church for 17 years and in his current position as Director of Music Ministries for the last five years. Gerrie has served on staff at Wayne State University since 1976, accompanying choruses, operas, students, and faculty. As a member of the faculty at Wayne, Gerrie has taught piano classes since 1988. Gerrie has also served as an accompanist at the Interlochen National Music Camp and is a member of the professional music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha.
Throughout his professional career, Gerrie has accompanied numerous choruses, and soloists, in concerts and competition, regionally, and internationally. Since 1970, Gerrie has been a part of the rich tradition of the WSU Men's Glee Club as accompanist and singer, participating in their numerous European tours, competitions, and recordings, and he continues to play for the current group and alumni group, performing in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Gerrie has performed in concert with Metropolitan Opera stars, George Shirley, Emilia Cundari, and Gergio Pezzetti, and accompanied the first place soprano winner of the International Young Singer's Competition in Wales at the prestigious LLangollen Eistedfodd. Through the years, Gerrie has rehearsed with DSO conductors Sixten Ehrling, Antol Dorati, and Neeme Jarvi in preparing choruses for concerts. Among the many music groups in the Detroit area, Gerrie has accompanied and performed with Hostia, toured abroad with the Langsford Singers and the Vanguard Voices and Brass, and recorded with the Renaissance Voices.
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.
He holds a master's degree in Choral/Vocal Music from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has sung over the years with Don Neuen, Robert Fountain, Joseph Flummerfeldt, William Weinert, and Robert Shaw. Stan was the choral director at West High School in Madison, Wisconsin, for 25 years. Currently, he is a music director for community theater groups throughout the Detroit area and conducts the Judelaires, a 30-voice chorus specializing in holiday music.
Deborah VanderLinde, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita, Music Education, at Oakland University. After teaching K-12 music in the Port Huron schools, she became a professor of Music Education at Oakland University. Deborah taught coursework and mentored undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers as music teachers. Working with doctoral students at the end of her 20 year OU career has been particularly rewarding. A lifelong chorister and church/school choir director, Deb has sung continuously in both local and international choirs including the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, Berkshire Choral Festival, and since 2019, the Detroit Concert Choir.
James Moore, Jr., tenor, is a long-time member and featured soloist of the Detroit Concert Choir. He was highlighted with the DCC in eight international competitions, impressing adjudicators and audiences alike in performances around the world. James has appeared with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, most notably as a soloist in the Classical Roots series and has performed with both the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Louisville Symphony Orchestra. Born and raised in Detroit, James has served as guest soloist for organizations and churches around the area and was elected to leadership positions in the Detroit and National Associations of African American Musicians.
With a passion to help others less fortunate, James distributes food at the Hartford Food Pantry and volunteers with Project Healthy Community at the Northwest Activity Center’s food pantry program. He has been married to Eunice Moore for 46 years. They have one daughter, two sons, and six grandchildren. In his spare time, you will find James on a tennis court or listening to his favorite jazz musicians.
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. His ability to craft land use regulation and explain the particulars of zoning have helped empower community voices and strike a balance between spirited entrepreneurs and under-resourced neighborhoods. Rory has authored/edited the majority of Detroit’s zoning text amendments since 1986.
Rory is also a musician who has studied organ/piano and voice. He joined the baritone section of the DCC in 1996. In addition to serving on the board, Rory served on the 2019 Director Search Committee and maintains the choir’s performance and recording archives. His affiliations include: American Planning Association; Michigan Association of Planning; Detroit Concert Choir; National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
Rory is the parent three children, all Broadway performers (music theater and drama); His wife, Helene Rottenberg, classical guitarist/musicologist also sings in the DCC. Rory is a long-distance runner and is fluent in Spanish and competent in French, Portuguese and Italian.
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.
Veronica served as the Chair of the Search Committee that led to the Choir hiring Dr. Brandon Johnson as the new Artistic Director. Veronica has loved singing all her life. Singing the Verdi Requiem in college was a peak experience. However, when she moved to the US from Australia she put her energies into completing college, then marrying and raising two children, while working part-time as a computer consultant and bookkeeper. Eventually, she joined her church choir, and then the Grosse Pointe Community Chorus. After singing the Messiah a couple of times with the Fort Street Presbyterian Church and taking some singing lessons, she started to look for a new challenge. She had attended a number of Detroit Concert Choir concerts and was extremely impressed, so she decided to take the plunge and audition. Veronica traveled to Wales with the DCC in 2006, where they won first place and top awards.
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. Michelle is a Vascular/General Ultrasound Technologist. She is affiliated with The Tuesday Musicale of Detroit, Michigan Sonographers Society, and Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.
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. Carol has a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Oakland University. Carol taught elementary school in the Hazel Park Schools for 38 years and, after retirement, worked as a student teacher supervisor for Oakland University. She has been a former member of the Rackham Choir and the Meadowbrook Festival Chorus. Carol has been singing and soloing in church choirs for many years. Carol is excited to work on developing our audience and community relations.
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.
Currently, he is in a Systems Development Engineering role for vehicle all-wheel-drive components and systems. An avid musician, Joe has years of choral experience, starting with singing with the Pasadena Boys Choir in California, the A cappella group at Royal Oak High School, and eight seasons with the DCC, where he had the opportunity to sing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Sarah Brightman. Joe enjoys being a singer, guitarist, and bass player and assuming roles in musicals with Stagecrafters Theatre in Royal Oak. Joe represents our organization’s younger demographic and help with audience development.
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. Joy has a background in music that is primarily instrumental and has performed with a number of recorder and early music ensembles. After several years of singing with various choruses in Detroit, Joy auditioned for the Detroit Concert Choir in 1995 and was later privileged to help win the prestigious Choir of the World title at Llangollen, Wales. She has been thrilled to be a part of the competition choir for their tours to Wales, Spain, Austria, and Italy. In her expanding role with the DCC, Joy has served as the group’s travel manager, competition liaison, and Basque language coach. A primary role for Joy is previewing international competitions for the choir. Currently employed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Joy is simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree in education at Wayne State University.
Dawn Surma, Website and Technology Coordinator, 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 a Senior IT Specialist with HCL Tech on contract at Harbor Oaks Hospital. Dawn has a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Music from Oakland University, and performed with the OU show choir, Oakland Chorale, Oakland Dance Theater, and various theater/musical productions.
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.
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