|
History
The Symphonia Chorale was organized in 1993 by singers in Macomb, Oakland, Lapeer, and St. Clair counties who hoped to offer the gift of music to their respective counties. Their concerts presented many genres of music, from classical to classics, from spirituals to Broadway musicals, composers of contemporary music and area composers. As they continued with great directors through the years, the Chorale venues included offering concerts at local churches, banquet centers, combining with other choral groups and singing at the world renowned Carnegie Hall. |
Our Mission
The Symphonia Chorale is committed to furthering the appreciation of fine choral and instrumental music through promotion of concerts and to the development of members through continuing music education. The Chorale strives to achieve excellence in performance and repertoire through careful selection of singers based solely on musical competence and without regard to national origin, age, sex, race, or religion. |
William Sean Harrison - Director
William Sean Harrison, a native of Detroit, MI has served as a music minister for more than 25 years. William has an active career as a pianist, vocalist, and conductor. Dr. Harrison’s most notable music directorships have been as music director at the Catholic Church of the Madonna in Detroit, Historic Ebenezer A.M.E., St. Patrick’s in Bryan, OH, and a return to St. Moses the Black (formerly Church of the Madonna). Harrison is no stranger to the concert stage. Having hundreds of conducting credits on his dossier, he has proven time and again that creative programming and the use of local resources can provide new explorations in both sacred and secular music. His conducting teachers include Maestro Neeme Jarvi, Maestra Emily Freeman Brown, and Maestro Douglas Bianchi. Known for his eclectic and unique concert programming and diverse repertoire, he has delighted audiences for two decades. He believes music is an important part of Christian worship, thanksgiving, and celebration showing how worshippers feel toward and respond to God. Music in corporate and private worship unites the congregation so that God is worshipped with one voice. His years in music ministry, mentoring young musicians, serving the people of God, and teaching people to be open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit through music have been the most rewarding moments of his career.
William is a proud honors graduate of Cody High School (Detroit Public Schools) and returned in 2021 to the community to rebuild the music program at his alma mater as the Director of Fine Arts and music teacher. He is a graduate of Indiana University (B.Mus., M.M.) and Liberty University (M.A., D.W.S., Ph.D.) He has served as a guest lecturer at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, NYU, and frequently at the Chautauqua Institute. His research areas are Applied Ethnomusicology and Ethnodoxology.
William Harrison is the founder and artistic director of the Fr. William T. Cunningham Memorial Choir, a choir that placed first in the NANM International Spiritual Competition in 2005, 2007, and 2013. In February 2007, members of the chorus took a pilgrimage to present concerts in Rome, Italy. In 2013, the choir had the honor of performing at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. In 2017, William founded his own professional choral ensembles: The William S. Harrison Chorale and Rooted, both ensembles are committed to the preservation and performance of the works of African American composers. In July 2022, William presented a solo concert of spirituals at the Chiesa di San Paolo entro le Mura in Rome. William’s concert stage highlights include Max Fisher Center (formerly Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall), Carnegie Hall, and Kennedy Center. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Jujuana, and their four children: Jade, Jennifer, William Sean, Jr., and William Jacob Pierce. William’s pastime activities include cooking, fishing, and reading. He enjoys the works of Toni Morrison, Henri Nouwen, and Stephen King.
William Sean Harrison, a native of Detroit, MI has served as a music minister for more than 25 years. William has an active career as a pianist, vocalist, and conductor. Dr. Harrison’s most notable music directorships have been as music director at the Catholic Church of the Madonna in Detroit, Historic Ebenezer A.M.E., St. Patrick’s in Bryan, OH, and a return to St. Moses the Black (formerly Church of the Madonna). Harrison is no stranger to the concert stage. Having hundreds of conducting credits on his dossier, he has proven time and again that creative programming and the use of local resources can provide new explorations in both sacred and secular music. His conducting teachers include Maestro Neeme Jarvi, Maestra Emily Freeman Brown, and Maestro Douglas Bianchi. Known for his eclectic and unique concert programming and diverse repertoire, he has delighted audiences for two decades. He believes music is an important part of Christian worship, thanksgiving, and celebration showing how worshippers feel toward and respond to God. Music in corporate and private worship unites the congregation so that God is worshipped with one voice. His years in music ministry, mentoring young musicians, serving the people of God, and teaching people to be open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit through music have been the most rewarding moments of his career.
William is a proud honors graduate of Cody High School (Detroit Public Schools) and returned in 2021 to the community to rebuild the music program at his alma mater as the Director of Fine Arts and music teacher. He is a graduate of Indiana University (B.Mus., M.M.) and Liberty University (M.A., D.W.S., Ph.D.) He has served as a guest lecturer at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, NYU, and frequently at the Chautauqua Institute. His research areas are Applied Ethnomusicology and Ethnodoxology.
William Harrison is the founder and artistic director of the Fr. William T. Cunningham Memorial Choir, a choir that placed first in the NANM International Spiritual Competition in 2005, 2007, and 2013. In February 2007, members of the chorus took a pilgrimage to present concerts in Rome, Italy. In 2013, the choir had the honor of performing at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. In 2017, William founded his own professional choral ensembles: The William S. Harrison Chorale and Rooted, both ensembles are committed to the preservation and performance of the works of African American composers. In July 2022, William presented a solo concert of spirituals at the Chiesa di San Paolo entro le Mura in Rome. William’s concert stage highlights include Max Fisher Center (formerly Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall), Carnegie Hall, and Kennedy Center. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Jujuana, and their four children: Jade, Jennifer, William Sean, Jr., and William Jacob Pierce. William’s pastime activities include cooking, fishing, and reading. He enjoys the works of Toni Morrison, Henri Nouwen, and Stephen King.
Ted McDonald - Accompanist
Ted has been Symphonia Chorale's accompanist since 2014. Ted holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Wayne State University and Masters in Music Education from the University of Michigan.
Ted is the orchestra teacher at Reuther Middle School in Rochester Community Schools and is an active member of the Michigan American String Teacher's Association and the Michigan Band and Orchestra Association. His orchestras have performed at MSBOA Orchestra Festival, MSBOA Jazz Festival, Disney World, Austria, the Czech Republic, England and Scotland. Ted is an accomplished singer, cellist, and pianist, and has held music positions in many church ministries.
Ted has been married to the beautiful Genevieve since 2012. They have two sons, Bennett and Finley.
Ted has been Symphonia Chorale's accompanist since 2014. Ted holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Wayne State University and Masters in Music Education from the University of Michigan.
Ted is the orchestra teacher at Reuther Middle School in Rochester Community Schools and is an active member of the Michigan American String Teacher's Association and the Michigan Band and Orchestra Association. His orchestras have performed at MSBOA Orchestra Festival, MSBOA Jazz Festival, Disney World, Austria, the Czech Republic, England and Scotland. Ted is an accomplished singer, cellist, and pianist, and has held music positions in many church ministries.
Ted has been married to the beautiful Genevieve since 2012. They have two sons, Bennett and Finley.