Acadia Choral Society is a community choir comprised of members from near and far, from Addison to Bucksport and from MDI to Bangor and beyond. In 1957 Madame Tsuin Hwa Hsu founded a men’s double quartet in Ellsworth named Acadia Choral Society and performed with the Bangor Symphony as well as with Erich Kunzel and Pierre Monteux. The group disbanded at some point in the early 1970s. In 1979 George Emlen founded a second Acadia Choral Society in the form of a community chorus and served as director until 1984. Shirley Smith served as the director between 1984 and 2007 follow by Dr Jamie Hagedorn from 2007 to 2017. The choir had a series of guest directors in 2017 and 2018 at which point Dr. Daniel Pyle stepped in to lead the group. Dr. Rebecca DeWan took up the baton in the Fall of 2024 and is the current director. The group will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2029.
Acadia Choral Society rehearses on Tuesday evenings from September to early December, and from mid-January to early May, with performances at the end of each term. We also perform in collaborative concerts with other choral and instrumental groups. If you are interested in reducing stress in your life, learning or sharpening musical skills, tuning up your voice, and making new friends, fill out our New Singer Form! No auditions are required, and practice files are posted for each part on this website as a study aid.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: REBECCA DeWAN
Rebecca DeWan is the Libra Assistant Professor of Choral/General Music Education at the University of Maine where she teaches undergraduate music education courses and conducts Collegiate Chorale. Rebecca’s 14 years in the K–12 classroom inform her research on trauma-informed, equity-centered teaching and learning. She recently earned a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University. She is committed to building community through music and actively works to create low-barrier opportunities for music making.
ACCOMPANIST: JULIA MORRIS-MYERS
Julia Morris-Myers spent her formative years on the high plains of Texas and graduated from Baylor University with degrees in music. She holds dual interests in both piano and organ and has served churches in Maine, Texas and Maryland as Director of Music. She was organist and choirmaster at St. Saviour’s in Bar Harbor from 2005-2015.
One of Julia’s greatest pleasures has been traveling the world as a choral accompanist. She has played in England, Ireland, Wales, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Ecuador and the Canadian Maritimes and strongly believes in the power of music to bridge divides. She is also a Spiritual Director and leads day-long contemplative retreats.
Julia and her husband Bill recently moved to Cherryfield from Maryland, where she was Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Centreville and accompanist for the Queen Anne’s Chorale. When not sitting at a keyboard Julia enjoys reading, travel, writing and entertaining.
ACS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Chorus is governed by a Board, selected by the members of the chorus annually.
Nancy Roberts — President
David Cuthbertson — Vice President
Kristen Mello — Treasurer
Amy Jane Gertner — Secretary
Howard Evans
Debbie Kiley
Rose Chong-Toothaker
Shari Putnam Willis
Michael Marion
About
Acadia Choral Society is a community choir comprised of members from near and far, from Addison to Bucksport and from MDI to Bangor and beyond. In 1957 Madame Tsuin Hwa Hsu founded a men’s double quartet in Ellsworth named Acadia Choral Society and performed with the Bangor Symphony as well as with Erich Kunzel and Pierre Monteux. The group disbanded at some point in the early 1970s. In 1979 George Emlen founded a second Acadia Choral Society in the form of a community chorus and served as director until 1984. Shirley Smith served as the director between 1984 and 2007 follow by Dr Jamie Hagedorn from 2007 to 2017. The choir had a series of guest directors in 2017 and 2018 at which point Dr. Daniel Pyle stepped in to lead the group. Dr. Rebecca DeWan took up the baton in the Fall of 2024 and is the current director. The group will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2029.
Acadia Choral Society rehearses on Tuesday evenings from September to early December, and from mid-January to early May, with performances at the end of each term. We also perform in collaborative concerts with other choral and instrumental groups. If you are interested in reducing stress in your life, learning or sharpening musical skills, tuning up your voice, and making new friends, fill out our New Singer Form! No auditions are required, and practice files are posted for each part on this website as a study aid.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: REBECCA DeWAN
Rebecca DeWan is the Libra Assistant Professor of Choral/General Music Education at the University of Maine where she teaches undergraduate music education courses and conducts Collegiate Chorale. Rebecca’s 14 years in the K–12 classroom inform her research on trauma-informed, equity-centered teaching and learning. She recently earned a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University. She is committed to building community through music and actively works to create low-barrier opportunities for music making.
ACCOMPANIST: JULIA MORRIS-MYERS
Julia Morris-Myers spent her formative years on the high plains of Texas and graduated from Baylor University with degrees in music. She holds dual interests in both piano and organ and has served churches in Maine, Texas and Maryland as Director of Music. She was organist and choirmaster at St. Saviour’s in Bar Harbor from 2005-2015.
One of Julia’s greatest pleasures has been traveling the world as a choral accompanist. She has played in England, Ireland, Wales, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Ecuador and the Canadian Maritimes and strongly believes in the power of music to bridge divides. She is also a Spiritual Director and leads day-long contemplative retreats.
Julia and her husband Bill recently moved to Cherryfield from Maryland, where she was Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Centreville and accompanist for the Queen Anne’s Chorale. When not sitting at a keyboard Julia enjoys reading, travel, writing and entertaining.
ACS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Chorus is governed by a Board, selected by the members of the chorus annually.
Nancy Roberts — President
David Cuthbertson — Vice President
Kristen Mello — Treasurer
Amy Jane Gertner — Secretary
Howard Evans
Debbie Kiley
Rose Chong-Toothaker
Shari Putnam Willis
Michael Marion