Ensemble
Beginnings...
Meistersingers was formed in Orange County, California, in 2000 as a response to the growing demand for quality choral music performance. Created to be a chamber ensemble specializing in the most demanding classical choral works, Meistersingers maintains high standards in literature and chooses outstanding performance venues with beauty and elegance equal to the music. Believing that choral music is one of the most profound resources for the elevation of the human spirit and committed to enriching community life, Meistersingers has always offered inspiring and educational performances of the highest quality at no cost to the public. The group is made entirely of volunteers who make a commitment of time and effort rivaling that of the best ensembles in the country. They are consistently rewarded with high praise from audiences and a growing anticipation for future projects. With two highly successful recordings to their credit as well as invitations to perform all over the world they are quickly becoming recognized as a major ensemble in the choral world.
Brian Dehn - Conductor
Brian Dehn, founder and conductor, has worked with choirs throughout California and the Western United States. He has conducted while in college throughout Italy and Eastern Europe in some of the world's most remarkable venues including the Sistine Chapel, St. Mark's in Venice, St. Peter's and St. Ignatius in Rome, the Berliner Dom, St. Mathias in Budapest, St. Tomaskircke in Vienna, and the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Florence.
He is currently teaching at Cornelia Connelly High School as well as conducting at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. He also formed the 130-voice Orange County Catholic Chorale which sings annually in its Lenten Season Concert. Mr. Dehn also serves on the faculty of the summer program of the Idyllwild School
As an accomplished tenor soloist, Mr. Dehn has performed in Chicago Symphony Hall for Chapman University at a National ACDA Convention, the William Hall Chorale, The New Century Singers, The California Women's Chorus, as well as soloist for many professional music ensembles, colleges, and churches throughout Southern California. He is an accomplished ensemble singer in his own right currently performing with Zephyr: Voices Unbound and the Los Angeles Master Chorale under the direction of Grant Gershon.
Mr. Dehn is a member of many music organizations including the American Choral Directors Association, International Federation of Choral Music, Music Educators National Conference, California Music Educator's Association, Chorus America, and the National Association of Church Music where he served as board member for Church Literature. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Chelsea and their two sons, Ethan Michael and Caleb Lawrence.
Meet the Ensemble...
Simply click on any name below to expand a brief biography of the members of the Meistersingers.
Jeremy Alfaro - Tenor
No bio available, yet. Mary Jo Beck - Soprano
Mary Jo Beck has been singing since childhood, whether entertaining at family gatherings or participating in church and school choirs. She is classically trained in piano and voice and holds both a B.A. and M.A. in English with a minor in Music. While her "day job" is corporate employee benefits administration, music is her joy.Mary Jo has sung in several church choirs and regional ensembles including the Orange County Master Chorale (under Maurice Allard), Sacramento Master Singers, William Hall Master Chorale, and Cypress College Chamber Singers. In concerts she has performed arias from Handel’s Messiah, Charpentier's Midnight Mass for Christmas, Vivaldi's Gloria and other sacred works. She has served as cantor and accompanist at several parishes in the Diocese of Orange and is currently a cantor at St. Hedwig Church in Los Alamitos.
Shane Dahl - Bass
Shane Dahl began singing at a young age with his family, but it wasn't until he was "forced" to take choir in high school that he learned to love singing, especially choral music. Shane sang under Ted Reid, in the Concert Choir, and Troubadours at Fountain Valley High School. During high school he was selected to sing in the elite Orange County Youth Choir, under the direction of Bruce Bales who would later become Shane's first voice teacher. Shane began to compete in ACDA Solo competitions, and competed in many local choral festivals. That's where he came into contact with Dr. William Hall from Chapman University, where as a Senior in High School Shane was invited to join Chapman University's Choir singing in the movie Sister Act 2 with Whoopi Goldberg.Shane later went on to sing with the Golden West College Chorale & Singers before joining the Chapman University Choir and Singers where he traveled extensively throughout the West Coast, Chicago, Italy, and China including highlights at the National ACDA Choral Convention in Chicago, in Vatican City for Pope John Paul and later with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra in the Forbidden City in China. While at Chapman Shane had the honor to study voice with Louis Lebherz, and Robin Buck.
Upon graduating from Chapman, Shane continued singing with Dr Hall in the William Hall Master Chorale. Later he sang a season with DeAngelis under the direction of Matt Gray, and numerous other choirs including the recent inaugural concert in December of the Orange County Mormon Choral Organization at Segerstrom Hall under the direction of Brett Stewart.
Shane feels extremely blessed to be singing with such great musicians and is thrilled to be reunited with the Meistersingers again for another season.
Chelsea Dehn - Soprano
Soprano, Chelsea Dehn, began studying voice at age fifteen and immediately fell in love with the art of singing and performing. After high school, she acquired her Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance from the University California, Irvine and soon after started her own vocal studio. Ms. Dehn has been a soloist in many ensembles such as Meistersingers, Orange County Catholic Chorale, William Hall Master Chorale and the Crystal Cathedral Hour of Power Choir performing the soprano solos in works including Beethovan's Mass in C, Mozart's Mass in C, Mozart's Requiem, Vaughn William's Dona Nobis Pacem and Haydn's Elijah. Currently, Ms. Dehn is teaching choral music at Foothill High School and Hewes Middle School, where her choirs receive marks no less than superior at state and national festivals. In addition to performing and teaching, Ms. Dehn is the Director of Music at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Orange, California. Lucetta Dunn - Alto
Lucetta Dunn has enjoyed performing with Meistersingers since 2001. She has sung with many of the Southland’s top choral ensembles and was a featured soloist locally as well as at several world venues including Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, St. Peter’s Basilica and most of the great cathedrals of Europe. She now serves as a cantor for Sunday mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Irvine and San Francisco de Solano in Rancho Santa Margarita. In her "other" life, she is President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council and serves as Governor Schwarzenegger’s appointee to the California Transportation Commission. Lee Ditkowsky - Bass
No bio available, yet. Julie Edelberg - Soprano
Julie Edelberg's love of music began with the violin in elementary school, junior high school orchestra, and singing with her sisters in the Singer Sisters Trio. It progressed through high school, church, and community college choral groups. She sang soprano in the California Master Chorale conducted by Dr. Larry Ball from 1993-1997 as well as The William Hall Master Chorale from 1997-2002, where she traveled with the group to perform at various cathedrals and other venues across Europe. She was also a member of the Chapman Symphony Orchestra from 1983-1989. Julie has been a member of the Meistersingers since the fall of 2000. She works as an independent medical transcriptionist. Maurice Freleaux - Bass
Maurice Freleaux is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Music (Choral/Vocal concentration) and a K-12 California Teaching Credential in Music. He just achieved Level 1 in Orff Schulwerk, and is currently the 5th – 7th grade music teacher at Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic School.Maurice is also one of the cantors at Sts. Simon & Jude Church, but has sung in many church and other choirs since 7th grade, sang and danced in high school musicals, studied choral conducting with Frank Pooler, and directed the Adult Choir at St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Lakewood for five years.
Additional musical experiences include: Singing in the chorus of “Star Wars: In Concert”; “A Royal Remembrance” (a 30's/40's vocal trio as part of the Queen Mary Tours in Long Beach); Subbing in the Dapper Dans of Disneyland barbershop quartet; Singing & dancing in "Guys & Dolls" with the Long Beach Civic Light Opera; Leading roles in "1776" & "The Fantasticks" with the Disneyland Employee Drama Workshop.
He has previously sung with the seven-time International Champion Barbershop Chorus "Masters of Harmony," having three of the earlier gold medals ('93, '96, and '99) to call his own.
He has appeared on TV in the "Carpenter's Christmas Special", in a barbershop quartet on an episode of "Fernwood 2 Nite", and won a few bucks on the game shows "Scrabble" and "Wheel of Fortune."
Having beaten the odds, Maurice lives with Sue, his wife of 26 years, and three kids, who inexplicably have so far found sports (soccer, football, baseball, water polo, softball, basketball, volleyball, track, et al) more interesting than singing.
Aaron Gonzalez - Tenor
Aaron Gonzalez' career began at the age of 5, when he started singing in television commercials in the Bakersfield area for a popular local business, Jethro's Used Cars, where he became a local celebrity with his memorable rendition of "That Used to be My F-150". For several years after, he was much in demand from Bakersfield to Porterville. His big break came when he was 10, when he was asked to do a solo concert in Oildale for a big petroleum company. His version of "Is That an Oil Slick, Or Are You Just Happy to See Me?" is still talked about today. He fell onto hard times however, when it was discovered that he was hiding his income from the IRS and became the youngest person in the country to be thrown into jail for tax evasion. After his release, Mr. Dehn found him on the side of Highway 99, singing theme songs from popular commercials, and took him in.Today, Mr. Gonzalez has made a full comeback, including the repayment of all the money he owed the federal government and has recently achieved his lifelong dream of acquiring Jethro's and is selling used cars on weekends.
Melissa Govea - Soprano
No bio available, yet. Marqis Griffith - Bass
No bio available, yet. Dave Guido - Bass
Dave Guido began choral singing in 7th grade at St. Mary's Church in Whittier where he later became a cantor. For six years he sang in the Chamber Singers at Rio Hondo College, directed by Al Jessup. He toured throughout Alaska, Canada, New England, England, Wales and Scotland. He sang in Westminster Abbey and St. Giles Cathedral where he was bass soloist in the Mass in G Minor by Ralph Vaughn Williams. He has also sung in the choir and was a cantor at St. Columban Church in Garden Grove.and at Sts. Simon and Jude Church in Huntington Beach. He has played the role of Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors in Huntington. Teresa Guido - Alto
Teresa Rankin Guido first year Meistersinger, began her musical experience in the fourth grade playing the clarinet for her school band. Continuing her musical education thru college, she studied under Dr. Willametta Spencer and sang with Rio Hondo Chamber Singers under the direction of Al Jessup touring Alaska and Great Britain - Definitely the most rewarding musical experience of her life thus far. Meistersingers looks to be a great new adventure. Katrina Herrera - Alto
No bio available, yet. John Hirsch - Tenor
John was born in New York City, grew up in a family who loved all kinds of music, and attended the High School of Music and Art in Manhattan, where he studied classical clarinet. After moving to the left coast, he switched from playing to singing, performing over the years with the Early Music Ensemble of Los Angeles and the Cambridge Singers of Pasadena, before discovering the Meistersingers. John believes this chorale offers him the opportunity to learn not only exciting new pieces, but also more about evolving vocal music in general... and it does! Dave Klasing - Tenor
Dave Klasing started singing in 7th grade. He sang continually through junior high and high school. In high school, he was a member of a select ensemble specializing in jazz called the Pioneer High School Titan Tones. In college, he sang with the Rio Hondo Chamber Singers under Al Jessup for seven years and was a featured soloist and has performed arias, recitatives and quartet work with the Rio Hondo Symphony Orchestra. Dave recounts that the highlight of his musical experience is when he had the opportunity to sing barbershop to then ex-President Gerald Ford. Mr. Jessup dared him to jump in the president's lap and sing to him after first asking permission of the Secret Service. Dave took the dare and looks back on the experience most fondly. Dave has recently returned to music after taking nearly 20 years off to establish his career. He first became a Certified Public Accountant, then earned a Master's Degree in Taxation and has recently earned a Juris Doctor and passed the California Bar Exam. Sally Knapp - Soprano
Sally Knapp has loved singing and especially choral singing since she was a child She sang in the Stanford University Chorus during her college years and has sung in several church choirs, a women's ensemble, and the William Hall Master Chorale. She is a graduate of Stanford, where she studied nursing She enjoyed her nursing career very much and now enjoys time to travel, spend time with family and friends, volunteer, and study voice Sally and her husband, Jim, live in Newport Coast and are blessed to have their three grown children and their families all living close by. Sally is very happy to have this opportunity to be singing with Brian and the Meistersingers. Hope G. Luedeke - Alto
From the age of three when she discovered the xylophone, followed by years of piano and organ playing, and joining every choir in the neighborhood, music has held a large corner in Hope's life. After graduating from Oberlin College with a minor in piano, her career at Time, Inc. with LIFE and Sports Illustrated in New York didn't keep her away from singing. For several years she sang with the Village Light Opera Group performing Gilbert and Sullivan. When she moved to California with her husband and two daughters, she began a 33 years stint with the William Hall Chorale. She also studied organ with Robert Volbrecht. Hope says, "The opportunity to perform with and be associated with many talented musicians continues with my privilege to be a part of the Meistersingers." Jeff Morris - Tenor
Jeff Morris is an Enterprise Software Architect by profession who has always had a passion for music and choral singing. Jeff has a Voice minor from UC Irvine, and has sung all over the world with various Orange County based choirs from the Orange County Master Chorale, the UCI Concert and Chamber choirs, and the Men in Blaque, an 18 voice male a cappella ensemble. The UCI Choir won 1st place in the famous Eistedffod Choral Festival in Langollen, Wales, in 1992. Also, the UCI Concert and Chamber divisions placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, at the Bela Bartok festival in Debrecen, Hungary in 1994. In 2001, he performed the Verdi Requiem with an 800-voice choir at St. Paul's cathedral in Rome with the William Hall Master Chorale, which also performed at a Papal Mass in Vatican square. Also that year, the Men in Blaque were special guests at the 20th annual International Choral Festival at Alava, in the Basque region of Spain. They were actually performing in a small Basque town on 9/11. Jeff has performed most of the great choral masterworks including the Beethoven Missa Solemnis under the direction of the late Robert Shaw. Additionally, he has been a tenor soloist for various church and regional choirs in southern California, with whom he has performed the tenor arias from Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Bach's b-minor Mass, among others, as well as other operatic arias. Yesenia Navarro - Soprano
No bio available, yet. Victor Pluznick - Tenor
Victor Pluznick has always been mechanically and musically inclined -- wearing two hats for most of his life. The mechanical engineering career put bread on the table and the musical activities prevented him from turning into a wrench.Born into a Russian family with a distinct musical heritage, he remembers as a child going to church for mandolin practice so that he could play in the Russian Church Orchestra, complete with other stringed instruments including balalaikas. He studied violin for 8 years until he discovered the guitar and began studying jazz guitar techniques. Serving in the U.S. Army, he was assigned to Special Services where he was the director of the 25th Infantry Soldiers Chorus stationed in Hawaii (how tuff was that?).
After being awarded a music scholarship in college, he continued studying towards a Sacred Music Masters Degree at Union Theological Seminary. He then served as Minister of Music at a Methodist church for 9 years in Stamford, Connecticut. Over the years he's directed several choirs in Southern California, sang with the Pacific Chorale and participated in their European Concert Tour.
He then discovered the Meistersingers and began attending their concerts for 3 years with the opinion that it was among the finest intimate choral groups he'd ever heard. He claims it very fortunate that an opening occurred and he was asked to fill the coveted position. He views it an honor and gift to be part of such an expressively creative, challenging and artistic organization.
Gina Quiniano - Soprano
No bio available, yet. David Roman - Bass
No bio available, yet. Tom Short - Bass
Tom Short is enjoying his first season with the Meistersingers. He is a native of Orange County having attended Troy High School in Fullerton where he played the trumpet. "My early days of singing started at church when at 12 I asked my mom, who is a concert pianist and organist, to 'teach me to sing in parts!'" He graduated from U.S.C. (Go Trojans!!) and within a couple of years was singing with the Orange County Master Chorale with Maurice Allard and then from 1989 to 2002 with the William Hall Master Chorale. Tom also sang with the Californians, the vocal madrigal/jazz ensemble of the Master Chorale. Currently, he is baritone soloist for the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana and also performs in musical theater productions around the county. Tom enjoys playing the piano, reading, raquetball, laughing with friends, and especially, spending time with his son, Kyle. Marge Steinbrinck - Alto
Marge Steinbrinck has sung in choral groups in school, church and community all her life. She performed in a musical comedy summer stock company for two summers. She and her husband, Bob, have three grown children. They are all teachers and one of them, Susan Lord, is a mezzo-soprano in Meistersingers. Marge is a retired elementary school principal and lives in Riverside. Brenda von Gremp - Soprano
Brenda von Gremp is a proud member of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians. She is an 8th generation native of San Juan Capistrano. Brenda has a Bachelors of Music degree with an emphasis on vocal performance from Chapman University in Orange, California. She currently resides in San Clemente, California, with her son Ian and she is the proud parent of daughter, Meghan, living in Los Angeles. She has a private teaching studio, teaching voice, piano and flute. Brenda has performed with Saddleback Master Chorale, Master Chorale of Orange County, William Hall Chorale and was a founding member of a small a capella group in Orange County called Echos. She was the choir director for 9 years and cantor for 21 years at the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, a National Shrine. She is currently Director of Music at San Francisco Solano Catholic Church in Rancho Santa Margarita. She has performed recitals in the Nixon Library Series, the Newport Library Series, Pasadena Presbyterian Noontime Concert Series, Saddleback College Concert Hour and Irvine Valley College Concert Hour. She made her award-winning television debut on KOCT public television station in San Diego for a benefit concert for Hoag Hospital and Mission San Luis Rey. This is her 7th season with the Meistersingers. John White - Tenor
John White in a recent interview, was asked to reflect on his earlier biography and impressions of Meistersingers: "I must say," he said, " I seriously missed the mark when I implied that singing with Meistersingers would be anything but challenging. As it turns out, it is simply difficult." When asked whether he intends to remain with the group, this was his uncharacteristically serious response: "Whether I am allowed to continue singing or am promoted to chief baggage handler, I have no intentions of staying. Staying away, that is. Having been a part of this group and continuing to be associated with these people in any capacity whatsoever is, in the most pure sense of the word, an honor." We hope to speak again to the reclusive Mr. White in another few years. Barbara Worsley - Accompanist and Alto
What is she up to now? That question is typically asked of Barbara Worsley, the unofficial accompanist and sometimes second alto for The Meistersingers. Her enthusiasm and passion for excellence in music-making is evident in her choral activities, her music ministry work at Sts. Simon and Jude Church in Huntington Beach, as well as in her free lance accompanying work with high school, college and professional musicians throughout Southern California. Barbara's love of French song literature drew her like a magnet to The Meistersinger's director whose name should more accurately read Brian "Poulenc" Dehn. When not involved in music pursuits, Barbara is a risk manager for a professional liability insurance company. Eclectic interests pursued in her "spare" time include needlepoint, reading, sports (only as a spectator) and travel. She dabbles in bridge and is an enthusiastic slot player at any casino she comes across. Yes, "what is she up to now" can always be asked about Barbara!Auditions - 2010-2011 Season
Meistersingers announces auditions for experienced singers in all voice parts.
Meistersingers, founded in 2000, is a SATB choir of 32 elite voices drawn from throughout Southern California. Their repertoire spans over five centuries and encompasses every conceivable genre of classical choral music. They perform throughout Southern California to a wide range of audiences. The group is proud to announce this annual call for auditions; all voice parts are being considered.
Auditions will be held Sunday, September 12th, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
Rehearsals are held on Sundays from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Orange.
First rehearsal for the 2010-2011 season will be Sunday, October 3rd.
- Concert dates are:
- 2010-- December: 11, 12, 18
- 2011-- March: 26, 27
- 2011-- June: 11, 12
Audition Times
(By Appointment Only - call or email to schedule – First contact/First served)
Contact information:
Maggie Worsley
mworsley@meistersingers.org / (734) 272-5926
- The audition will consist of:
- Warm-ups (evaluating range and tone quality)
- Sight reading
- Performance of prepared piece of applicant’s choice
- Please remember to bring to the audition:
- Three (3) copies of chosen prepared piece
- Resume or description of choral experience (optional)
AUDITION AND REHEARSAL LOCATION:
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
800 N. Cambridge Street
Orange, CA 92867