Voorhees (Women's) Choir
From 2006-2013, I had the honor and privilege of conducting the Voorhees Choir on the Douglass campus of Rutgers University. For 7 years, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I would leave Ridge High School as Retz and arrive at Voorhees Chapel as Professor Retzko! Colleague and treasured friend, Dr, Pat Gardner, asked if I would come onboard and help re-establish the RU women's choir. I was hesitant at first as SSA(A) repertoire was not my strong suite and I was even more nervous about teaching college! Little did I realize that college was pretty similar to high school without giving detention!
I loved my time at Rutgers. I had a hugely supportive administrative team and a seemingly open-ended budget where I was able to hire first rate musicians to complement anything I desired. Once I proved myself a bit, I developed a reputation which encouraged retention in the group. As I was not on campus full-time, I was limited in my ability to recruit for the group and unlike a 4-year high school, my singers were not always able to place the ensemble rehearsals on their schedule from semester to semester.
Eventually, there was a negotiation. You could remain in the group if you committed to the Tuesday rehearsal from 7-9:30p. The Thursday 5:35 – 6:55p rehearsal became negotiable. It worked for us.
Douglass College is rife with traditions in which the Voorhees Choir was an integral part. The Douglass Society Induction. Yule Log in December. Sacred Path in June. The Douglass Reunion. Each requiring school songs as additions to our concert repertoire. I really loved all those talented women!
If you conduct a Women's Choir, you may find the winter and spring programs below of interest. Program notes are available as well. Enjoy!
Winter Concert Programs 2006 - 2012

Spring Concert Programs 2007 - 2013



Sample Fall & Spring
Syllabus and Conflict Form
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YouTube Concert Clips

AIN'T NO GRAVE CAN HOLD MY BODY DOWN Traditional Spiritual - Paul Caldwell & Sean Ivory
Accompaniment by Carol Dory.
SPRING CHORAL CONCERTApril 22, 2010
Piano - Carol DoryTrumpet I - Joe ChristiansonTrumpet II - Felipe RodriguezTrombone - Steven BalalisTuba - Zachary VanPeltFrench Horn - Evan YoungPercussion - Andrew Rubano
SPRING CHORAL CONCERTApril 2010
Violin I - Shannon MerlinoViolin II - James Keene
Accompaniment by Justine Langman.
WINTER CANDLELIGHT CONCERTDecember 2010
IN DULCI JUBILO - Robert Lucas Pearsall
Accompaniment by Justine Langman.
WINTER CANDLELIGHT CONCERTDecember 2011
WHAT SWEETER MUSIC - Eleanor Daley
Accompaniment by Justine Langman.
WINTER CANDLELIGHT CONCERTDecember 2011
SHALOM ALEIKHEM - Traditional Hebrew Prayer - Kurt Knecht
Accompaniment by Justine LangmanClarinet - Christie Scott
WINTER CANDLELIGHT CONCERTDecember 2010
Tone Chimes!
RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER - arr. Douglas WagnerWINTER CANDLELIGHT CONCERTDecember 2011