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Description
A Dickinson Christmas Starring:
Lance Luce
Mary Ellen Schauber
Dr. Michael Marinelli
Joel and Justin DeMartino
Alexander Weir
The Moonstriker Band
The Choir of St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine Church
Directed by Mary Eleen Schauber
Recording by Jim Stemke, DSP
Recording/Lighting by Michael Clark and Brad Supinski
Sound by Jon Buchanan
Stage Manager Eric Robbins
A Bill Church Production
May not be reproduced without permission
Lance Luce is an internationally acclaimed theatre organist. He has played hundreds of concerts all over the United States, Canada, England and Australia. His concerts are praised for appealing to audiences of all ages containing a wide variety of musical styles. At age 18, Lance won 1st place honors in the Yamaha National Electone organ competition in California. The next year he was appointed the Head Staff Organist at Radio City Music Hall in New York. on the largest Wurlitzer ever built. For many years, Lance was the “Featured Entertainment” at the console of a theatre organ at several “‘Pizza Parlor” style restaurants: two in Michigan, and the highly successful “Organ Grinder Restaurant” in Toronto Canada, where he played for 8 years. Lance began playing the theatre pipe organ at age 10 at the Royal Oak Theatre near his Michigan home. By age 13 he was playing at that same theatre for intermissions. During his teenage years he began playing the organ at a local church on Sundays. and 3 nights a week at a local skating rink. and performed countless times for are organ clubs and societies. Lance has been a church organ consultant in Michigan since 1991. He is currently the church organ consultant for Allen Organs and Reuter Pipe Organs for Evola Music. Lance has designed and installed over 200 organs in churches, homes, and institutions. His background includes pipe organ repair and building, as well as electronic organ design. installation, voicing. and pipe interfacing. Lance is currently on the staff at the Fox Theatre, and is once of the organists at the Redford Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. He continues to be a church organist and recording artist with a busy concert schedule. We welcome Lance back to the Dickinson console.
Mary Ellen Schauber is a critically acclaimed soprano, teacher of singing. and choral conductor. She has enjoyed a regional opera and concert career, with thirty leading operatic roles to her credit in appearances with, Virginia Opera, Gold Coast Opera, The Pennsylvania Opera Theater, Queens Opera, Amato Opera, East Coast Opera, Mozart and Friends Opera Festival. and Goliard Music Festival. The Washington Post describing her as “the voice of Brunnhilde and the looks of a princess whom men would be willing to die for.” As a concert artist, The New York Times reported that Ms. Schauber “sang with distinction” in her New York City debut as Isolde in Frank Martin’ s oratorio “Le Vin Herbe” at Merkin Hall. Among her oratorio credits are many oft performed Oratorios. She has received awards from he National Association of Teachers of Singing. The National Federation of Music Clubs, The Austrian American Society of Wilmington, and the Delaware Jewish Community Center. Students in Schauber’s private studio have won numerous awards and scholarships and have launched successful careers.
Michael Marinelli has been the Headmaster of Archmere Academy in Claymont since 2010. He has spoken at national conferences and teaches a course at the University of Delaware. “When he was 15, Dr. Marinelli began playing church organ- an avocation he continues as the Director of Liturgy and Music at Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Church in Greenville, Delaware.
Tenor, Justin DeMartino from Hershey, PA performed from 2008-2013 at Sight and Sound Theaters as many characters, including Joseph in their show “Joseph.” Justin and his wife Jamie have been accepted as House Parents at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA, along with their daughters Bella and Avery. Justin is pursuing his studies in the art of “Bel Canto.”
Tenor and Artist, Joel DeMartino from Philadelphia has been producing music for over a decade. His writing has ranged over a variety of styles of music – Rock & Roll to R&B, Country to Punk Rock. Currently his main focus is with the Philadelphia based Progressive Rock Act, Moonstriker.
Moonstriker is a progressive rock band based of out South ‘Philadelphia. Since 2012, they have released two EP’s, a Full Length Album, several music videos and multiple North Eastern tours. They are currently in the pre-production stages of their next release. They’ll return to Syracuse, ‘N’Y to record with Steve Sopchak from Square Studios. Until then Moonstriker plans to play shows, produce videos, play video games, eat sushi, and have a great time doing it. So make sureto follow them online to stay in the loop!
Alexander Weir began studying classical violin in a Suzuki program at age 3, and an interest in Irish dance led him to Irish music. By the time he was 9, he was playing music for his Irish dance school, and it was at that time that he began studying Irish music seriously, under the tutelage of All-Ireland Champion fiddler Brian Conway in New York. In 2014, Alex medaled himself in the All Ireland (the World Championships of Irish Music) placing both in fiddle slow airs, and with his band, the Converse Trio. Alex is currently a junior at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware, where he participates in the string ensemble program led by the Serafin String Quartet. He studies privately with All-Ireland Fiddler Winifred Horan of the Irish group Solas. He began piano study at age 6, and has played for a number of theatrical groups and musical ensembles over the years, including several student musical productions at Archmere Academy.
The Choir of St. Joseph on the Brandywine has performed at many other venues around the local area as well as abroad under the leadership and direction of Mary Ellen Schauber and accompanied by Dr. Michael Marinelli. They are a popular musical attraction in this area. St. Joseph’s on the Brandywine is a historic Roman Catholic Church located in Greenville, Delaware. The original church was built in 1841 by the DuPont Family for Irish and Italian Catholic workers at the ‘Du’Pont works. It was enlarged over the years. The building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1976.
The Dickinson Kimball is a 3 manual 66 rank theater/symphonic organ with many ranks of pipes not ordinarily found in regular theatre installations. The instrument is widely acclaimed as one of the finest in the world and has been played in concert by many of the top organists from around the world.
