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Jon C. PetersonDirectorJon C. Peterson, D.M.A. is now in his sixth year as Director of the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. Dr. Peterson also serves as assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at Malone University, were he conducts the University Chorale and the Chamber Choir. At Malone he teaches courses in choral music (including literature, methods and conducting) as well as coursework in music ministry. He received doctoral and master degrees in choral conducting with a doctoral minor in historical musicology from The University of Arizona and Southern Methodist University, respectively. He graduated from Austin College with an undergraduate degree in vocal performance. Previously, he served on the music faculty at Bluffton University and as artistic director of The Magpie Consort, a Columbus-based chamber chorus. His vast experiences in choral conducting, performance and music ministry have provided him the opportunity to work with such ensembles as the Canton Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, and Dallas Symphony Chorus among others. Away from music, Dr. Peterson enjoys cycling, cooking and spending time with his wife and two sons.
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Edward P. GallagherDirector of operationsEdward P. Gallagher is in his 4th year on the staff serving as Director of Operations for both the AOSFYC and All-Ohio State Fair Band. Mr. Gallagher has been on the Band staff for 32 years having served in a number of roles. He received his degree in music therapy from Cleveland State University and his Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is Director of Education at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Citizens for the Arts, is Past President of the Cleveland Arts Education Consortium, and has been appointed to serve as a review panelist for three of the Ohio Arts Council’s grants programs. He received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the AOSFYC, 2007 Service Award from the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association and was inducted into The Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame in 2007. He and his wife Lisa are parents of Megan, an Arts Management Major at Baldwin Wallace University.
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Music Staff
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Cynthia Snyder RamsdellAssistant Music Director / Collaborative PianistCynthia Snyder Ramsdell returns for a 5th year on the staff serving as Assistant Music Director and Collaborative Pianist. She is Staff Accompanist at Heidelberg University and an adjunct professor of voice and piano at Tiffin University. Mrs. Ramsdell is also a collaborative pianist at Tiffin Columbian High School and Seneca East High School. In addition, she maintains a large private studio of piano and voice students. She received her Bachelor and Master degrees in music education from Bowling Green State University. With her husband, Dr. Greg Ramsdell, she sings and plays on the praise team at The Journey Church in Tiffin, and is mother to four children.
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Charles BattagliaPercussionCharles Battaglia returns for a 4th year on the staff and will be serving, once again, as a member of the music staff in charge of percussion. Mr. Battaglia is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Music at Youngstown State University and plans to graduate in May of this year!
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Parker J. MaasCollaborative PianistParker J. Maas joins the staff as a Collaborative Pianist. He is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Music Education and is currently s Music Director for St. Mary of the Assumption Parrish in Decatur, IN where he serves as the choir director and organist. Additionally, he is the director of the Putnam County Community Band and is also a piano technician. He is a 3-year alum of the AOSFB where he played Bassoon and served on the Band staff for 5 years (’14-’18) on the equipment staff.
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Darius McBrideConducting staffDarius McBride is a 5th year member of the AOSFYC team serving on the Conducting Staff and leading the tenors. Mr. McBride, who hails from Rochester, NY, is a graduate of Malone University in Canton where he majored in Music Education. He now serves as the 7-12 Choir Director at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School. During his time at Malone, he has participated in the school’s Opera Theatre Program and was part of the Chorale and Chamber Choir where he served as student conductor, tenor section leader and president. Darius also served as the Director of the One Voice Gospel Choir. He currently directs the Men's Glee Club and co-directs the Malone University Alumni Choir. Outside of the education world, he sings in the chancel choir and directs the Children Youth Choirs at Rocky River United Methodist Church.
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Savannah OverlyCollaborative PianistSavannah Overly (Soprano, '15-'16) returns to the staff for a 3rd year as a Collaborative Pianist. She is a junior at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she majors in International Studies and minors in Scientific Computing. Ms. Overly enjoys accompanying soloists and ensembles in her area, playing for musicals, and arranging solos for herself. In her spare time, she is a frozen custard barista and political science research assistant. Ms. Overly has been accompanying choirs since her sophomore year at Centerburg High School.
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Dr. Greg Ramsdellconducting staffGreg Ramsdell, D.M.A joins the AOSFYC staff as a member of the Conducting Staff leading the Basses. Dr. Ramsdell serves as the director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music Education at Heidelberg University where he conducts the Concert Choir, the Chamber Singers and the University-Community Chorus, as well as teaching courses in conducting and secondary choral methods. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from Bowling Green State University and, in 2006, he earned his doctorate in choral conducting performance with honors from the University of Kansas. An active music educator, he taught junior high and high school choral programs in Greenville, Pa. as well as at the collegiate level at Westminster College and the University of Central Arkansas. His research has been presented at state and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. In 2011, Dr. Ramsdell received Terra Community College’s Distinguished Choral Leadership Award, and in 2018 he was selected to receive Heidelberg's Ream-Paradiso Distinguished Teaching Award.
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Audrey SChusslerconducting staffAudrey Schussler is back for a 2nd year on AOSFYC staff. In her first year she served as a Collaborative Pianist, and this year, she is pleased to join the Conducting Staff. Ms. Schussler graduated from Kent State University in 2016 with a degree in Music Education. Currently, she directs five choirs in the Willard City Schools for grades 7-12. Her students have consistently participated in Honors Choirs, Solo and Ensemble, Contest, and OMEA All-State Choir. Additionally, Ms. Schussler directs the pit orchestra for the musical and sings in the Heidelberg Community Choir.
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Operations Staff
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Gabrielle BentonOperations staffGabrielle Benton (Soprano, -13-‘14) is joining the staff as a member of the Operations Staff. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications and a second Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages, with a focalization in French. She recently finished her first year of teaching English in central France.
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Colton ConleyOperations staffColton Conley (Bass II, ‘15) is now in his 4th year as a member of the Operations Staff. He is a graduate of River Valley High School in Marion, Ohio. He is attending The Ohio State University Marion campus majoring in Early Childhood Education. Outside of school Mr. Conley works at AttaBoys in Marion.
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Cody KemperOperations StaffCody Kemper (Baritone, '14-'17) is excited to join the Youth Choir Operations Staff. During his four years as a singer in the AOSFYC, he was active in leadership positions, including serving in the Honor Guard and as a Choral Assistant, Opus Assistant, Dorm Assistant, and a member of Scarlet Singers. He is entering his third year in the College of Nursing at The University of Cincinnati. He is passionate about his Patient Care Assistant career at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. He actively seeks opportunities for quality improvement on the Care Innovation and Transformation (C.I.T.) Team at his place of employment. He has stayed active in music after high school by making music with The University of Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Cincinnati's Young Professionals Choral Collective, and various theatre productions.
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Christopher NethersHealth & Safety DirectorChristopher Nethers is the Choir’s Director of Health & Safety and returns for his 28th year with the AOSFYC. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Muskingum University and has been teaching music in the Licking Valley Local Schools for 21 years. Mr. Nethers is a general music teacher for grades K-5 at Licking Valley Elementary School and previously taught vocal and general music for grades 7-12. His work in public safety has him serving Madison Twp. as an Emergency Medical Technician / Firefighter with the title of Captain of EMS; a lifeguard and Instructor of CPR, First-Aid, Lifeguard and Water Safety, for the City of Heath, and American Red Cross with Aquatics safety committee. He serves as a NOAA severe weather spotter and is a member of the Ohio Crisis Response Team. Mr. Nethers was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame in 2011 and was awarded the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir’s Distinguished Service Award in 2005. He and his wife reside in Newark, with their three daughters - including Ellie and Alex who have been members of the Choir.
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Karen R. PetersonOperations StaffKaren Peterson is in her 6th year as a member of the Operations Staff, supporting the work of the Choir in Canton during the offseason and assisting the Operations Staff at the Fair as needed on the weekends. She has been an acute care physical therapist for 15 years and currently serves on the therapy staff at Aultman Hospital in Canton. She received the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Shenandoah University and the Bachelor of Science in Biology from Eastern Mennonite University. She enjoys her family and having fun with her two sons. Karen now serves as a Deacon at Christ Presbyterian Church of Canton.
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Brian SkidmoreAdministrative AssistantBrian Skidmore (Baritone, ‘78) is in his 19th year on the staff, serving as Administrative Assistant. He served on the staff from 1979-1992 (under Glenville Thomas and Charles Snyder) and returned with Dr. Peterson in 2014. Mr. Skidmore is in his 34th year as a teacher, currently serving as Coordinator for Digital Learning in the Alliance City School District. He received his Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from Mount Union, a Master’s in Education from Marygrove College and was ordained a Stephen’s Minister through Cal State. He performed with the Youth Choir on the 1979 European Tour, in the 1980 Rose Bowl Parade and received the AOSFYC Alumni Presidential Award in 2013. He and his wife Joan, also an AOSFYC staff member, are proud parents of Choir alumnus and former staff member, Nicholas (Bass, ‘12-’13 / Jr. Staff '14-'15) and Bryce who passed away in 2013.
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Joan SkidmoreOperations StaffJoan Skidmore is in her 5th year as a member of the Operations Staff. She received her undergraduate degree from Muskingum College and Master’s in Education from Marygrove College. She has been a teacher for 38 years and currently teaches 3rd grade in the Alliance City School District. She and her husband Brian have two sons - Nicholas (Bass, '12-'13 / Jr. Staff '14-'15) who graduated from Oklahoma State, was happily married to Meredith by Brian on June 4, 2018, and is a GA at Tulane University in the Sports Department and their son, Bryce, who passed away, at the age of 9, in October of 2013 in an accident. She has come to love the AOSFYC through her family and their excitement of being part of the organization.
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Equipment Staff
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Jamie Dulingequipment ManagerJaime Duling (Baritone, '97-'00) enters his 19th year on the Choir staff as Equipment Manager, previously serving as Sound Manager for numerous years. He is a Physical Education teacher for grades K-6 in the Coshocton City Schools. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Health Education from Muskingum University and Master's in Education, with a focus on Pre-K to 12th grade Adaptive Physical Education, from Ashland University. Mr. Duling is an avid runner, an active soccer referee. He continues to share his vocal talents as a member the Coshocton Community Choir of which he has been a member since 1998. He received the Alumni of the Year Award from the AOSFYC and, as a member of the Choir, he sang with the Cardinal Chorale for 2 years, 1999-2000.
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Ralen ClevelandEquipment StaffRalen Cleveland (Bass II, ’15-‘17) is back for a 2nd year as a member of the Equipment Staff. He is pursuing a degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Military Science at Bowling Green State University. Mr. Cleveland is an Army Cadet at BGSU and is entering his MS2 year. He is also a Pershing Rifleman 2nd lieutenant where the mission is Drill and Ceremony. During his years in the AOSFYC he was a choral assistant and a part of the Honor Guard.
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Danielle FergusonEquipment StaffDanielle Ferguson (Soprano, ’12-’16) is joining the AOSFYC team as a member of the Equipment staff. She attended the Aveda Fredric’s Institute in West Chester and now holds an advanced esthiology license and is employed at the Eden Salon and Day Spa in Cincinnati. She is a graduate of King’s High School where she performed in the Chamber, Show and Women’s Choirs. Over the years she also spent her summers working at Kings Island.
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Cora FerrellEquipment StaffCora Ferrell (Alto, ‘14-‘17) is new to the AOSFYC Staff. She has completed one year of General Studies at Hyles-Anderson College and is a graduate of Ohio Connections Academy Cora is actively involved in her church choir and teaching Sunday school. During her four years with the AOSFYC she served on the Riser Crew. Currently, Cora works at Bath and Body Works as a part of their sales team.
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Zane lowieSound ManagerZane Lowie joins the AOSFYC as Sound Manager, part of the Equipment Staff. Originally from Norwich, New York, Mr. Lowie moved to Canton, Ohio, to attend Malone University. Since attending Malone, Zane has been involved with operating audio and video equipment for multiple live events that include concerts, professional conferences, recording studio sessions, and live worship at his university. He will be graduating this spring from Malone with his Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in production.
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Shelby O'DonnellEquipment StaffShelby O’Donnell (Soprano, ’16-‘17) is a first-year member of the AOSFYC team where she is part of the Equipment Staff. She currently attends the University of Toledo pursuing a degree in Nursing. Over the last two years she has performed with the university’s Women’s Chorus. A graduate of Centerburg High School, she participated in the school’s choir and marching band programs, was a member of the OMEA District 10 Honors Choir and received superior ratings at OMEA Solo and Ensemble contests. Away from the classroom she serves as an Assistant Teacher at a KinderCare Learning Center.
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