Cumberland Oratorio Singers
People
Artistic Director and Conductor
Michael D. Martin hails from the great state of Maine. In 2007, he completed his doctoral studies and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Music Education with an emphasis in Choral Education through Kent State University, Kent, OH. He is the Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, and was appointed artistic director and conductor of Cumberland Oratorio Singers in 2008.
He has taught in grades 4-12, in the capacity of orchestral, choral, and instrumental education positions throughout New England. He has received recognition as a teacher and conductor, having been the recipient of several teaching awards, and serving as a guest conductor, vocal clinician, and judge for New England and Midwestern festivals. Mr. Martin has also conducted a semi-professional community choral group in New Hampshire and an award-winning barbershop chorus in Maine.
Both returning and prospective singers should attend a voice placement session.
New singers should come between 6:00 and 6:45 to one of the first three rehearsals of the semester for a voice placement audition. (COS membership is non-competitive.) New singers are accepted through the first three rehearsals for the fall or spring concerts. Returning singers who have missed a complete season need to audition again. Singers pay dues of $35 each season, or $65 for the full year. Dues include the cost of music, which is yours to keep. Rehearsals are held every Monday night from 7-9 p.m. in the chorus room (basement of Reeves Auditorium) on the Methodist University campus. Singers without a Methodist University parking sticker can just let the welcome center personnel know where you are going and they can direct you.
Michael Martin, Artistic Director
Mary Potter, President
Kathy Dickson, Vice-President
Jean Hermann, Secretary
Dick Jarvies, Treasurer
Gert Eyman, Newsletter Editor
Kathy Dixon, Grant Writer
Doug Fox, Data Recorder
Mary Ann Coffield, Historian
Maureen Yearby, Publicity/Advertising
Members at large:
John Campbell, Mary Ann Coffield, Vera Malcolm, Robert Williams
Cynthia Billings, Honorary Member