Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM Stone Castle Abbey
The performance is free to the public,
however a free-will offering will be collected to help defray production expences.
Stone Castle Abbey 801 E Washington St New Castle Pennsylvania 16101 626-422-5820
Time remaining until our next performance
This year's selections
And the Glory of The Lord
Chorus
For Unto Us a Child is Born
Chorus
Glory to God
Chorus
Behold The Lamb of God
Chorus
Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Chorus
He Trusted in God that He Would Deliver Him
Chorus
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
Chorus
The Lord Gave the Word
Chorus
Hallelujah!
Chorus
Worthy is The Lamb
Chorus
Amen
Chorus
Soprano
Joanne McFarland
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This marks the twenty-first appearance by Joanne McFarland as soprano soloist for the New Castle Music Club Chorus presentation of Handel’s MESSIAH. In her words – “It’s always a pleasure to sing with this group of individuals. They are like family to me.” Joanne has a diverse performing career, having performed in opera, oratorio, and other musical productions. Among her roles have been Adele in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Monica in THE MEDIUM, and Despina in COSI FAN TUTTE. Her resume also includes solo performances in such works as Poulenc’s GLORIA, John Rutter’s MAGNIFICAT and REQUIEM, and Schubert’s MASS NO. 2 in G MAJOR. Joanne has also lent her solo voice to the Westminster College Celebrity Series, both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pirates, the Mercer Community Band Summer Series, to name a few, and has traveled throughout the tri-state area and beyond performing recitals and other vocal programs for various functions and organizations. One of her travels took her to Bolivia, South America to work on a recording project for a mission, and she often sings for many church services in the area. Recently retired from Grove City College where she served as a vocal instructor in the music department, Joanne still maintains a private voice studio. She and her husband, JR, reside in New Wilmington, PA.
Alto
Karen Campman Emmett
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Karen has been singing and studying voice for the greater portion of her life, and an active soloist and recitalist in the tri-state area for many years. Among her many accomplishments as a singer are performing the mezzo-soprano roles in Handel's MESSIAH, The MOZART REQUIEM, Bernstein's CHISCHESTER PSALMS, Renee Clausen's A NEW CREATION, Vivaldi's GLORIA and various other roles including Mrs. Noah in Benjamin Britten's opera NOYE'S FLUDDE, Lola in Pietro Mascagni's CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, Aunt Zita in Giacomo Puccini's GIANNI SCHICCHI and more. She has also performed the NATIONAL ANTHEM for many organizations including the Pittsburgh Pirates and World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
Karen has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Voice as well as a Pennsylvania Certificate in Elementary and Secondary School Administration and Curriculum from Westminster College. She also has a Masters Degree in Student Personnel and Counseling Services and an Elementary Education teaching certificate from Slippery Rock University. In the years after Westminster she studied voice with the eminent Joseph J. Klein of the Klein Vocal Studio in Glendale, CA, James Uselman of Pasadena CA and St. Louis, MO, and locally with Diana Walters of Grove City and now Sarasota, FL.
In 2008 Karen retired from the West Middlesex Area School District as the junior/senior high school vocal music teacher and gifted student coordinator. In her years there she directed the various vocal ensembles, both curricular and extracurricular, as well as the musicals and plays. For many years she gave private voice lessons in her home studio. Karen now enjoys a second but equally serious career as a busy retiree volunteering for many organizations in and around the Shenango Valley as well as singing with her church and Shenango Valley Chorale. Karen is also past president of the Westminster College Alumni Association and currently chairperson of the Alumni Council's Philanthropy and Stewardship Committee.
Karen, her husband Paul, reside in West Middlesex, PA.
Tenor
Bruce Montgomery
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Bruce Montgomery has been singing for most of his adult life, starting with church music in teenage years, rock and roll bands, school choirs and soloist, and community theater productions. He is also a bass guitarist and violinist. At the age of 15 he started singing with the New Castle Music Club Chorus in 1966, and began singing the tenor solos for director Betty Gibson in 1975.
He has now sung the solos for the “Messiah” in New Castle 14 times, the most recent in 2009. He, his wife Cheryl, and 2 children relocated to Harrisburg, PA in 1990, where he continued to participate in theater and the Music Club’s “Messiah” (when available) until the present.
He has also sung the lead part in the gospel quartet “The Baptones” from 2004 until recently, having recorded 4 CD projects with the group. A Christian rock and roll group, “Second Chance Band,” operated in Harrisburg as a ministry from 2008 until 2015. He is now a bass player in his church Praise Band in Camp Hill, PA.
Music has been a blessing in Montgomery’s entire life, and continues to serve as a bridge to the community around him as he seeks to take the Gospel to his sphere of influence, whether at work, within his neighborhood, or traveling with various outreach venues.
Bass
Anthony J. Massetto
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Anthony J. Massetto is an operatic baritone from Latrobe, PA who was graduated from the Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA with a Master of Music degree in vocal performance and opera studies. He was graduated from St. Vincent College in Latrobe in 2019.
Anthony has appeared in many performances of varying musical styles ranging from musical theater to opera. In April of 2021, he played the title role in Gianni Schicchi at the Shenandoah Conservatory and played the roles of Germont in La Traviata and Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with La Musica Lirica and the Saluzzo Opera Academy [Italy] the following summer. He was blessed to return to Saluzzo in 2022 to perform the title role in Don Giovanni before returning to the U.S. to perform the roles of Billy Crocker in Anything Goes and Enoch Snow in Carousel—both with Stage Right!
He has performed in several oratorios as well—including the bass role in George Handel’s The Messiah at the Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, the baritone role in William Payn’s LOVE, and in Robert Cohen’s Alzheimer Stories with the Westmoreland Choral Society in Greensburg. Anthony was a resident artist with Opera North in Lebanon, NH where he sang in a variety of productions throughout the summer of 2023. Most recently, he sang in the role of Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys [Stage Right!] and appeared in the Saint Vincent Summer Theater’s production of Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood. He sang the bass solos in the New Castle Music Club Chorus’s 2022 and 2023 Messiah performances and will return for this season’s December 1st presentation.
Anthony has been a voice teacher throughout his studies—initially [in 2016] at the Bentley & Romito Professional Music Lessons studio. After leaving for his graduate work in 2019, he continued as a private voice instructor; in 2023 he was declared an adjunct voice professor at St. Vincent College.
Trumpeter
Andy Erb
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Andrew S. Erb is the Director of Bands and a Professor of Music at Thiel College. Mr. Erb directs the Thiel College Concert Band, the 'Tomcat' Marching Pride, Jazz Ensemble, and Thiel College Pep Band. Additionally, he teaches private brass lessons and instructs first and second semester music theory classes. Andrew also serves adjunctly as the studio trumpet teacher at Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA. Mr. Erb is an active Guest Conductor, Adjudicator, and Clinician throughout the area Western Pennsylvania area and remains active within PMEA. He has presented lectures and workshops on various topics including teaching jazz improvisation, use of 'smart music' technology in elementary through college level instrumental lessons, and “things about teaching music that they didn't teach you in college. Prior to his appointment at Thiel College, Mr. Erb directed bands and taught music in public schools in Allegheny and Mercer counties for 14 years. As an active performer, Mr. Erb played trumpet with acts such as Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton, Bobby Vinton, Lena Prima, and Ben Vereen. In addition, he served as the lead trumpeter for Sugarfuzz Orchestra and currently with 2nd Avenue Project, two regional horn-rock bands covering the music of such bands as Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, and Tower of Power. Mr. Erb has performed with opening acts for Foreigner, Kansas, the Commodores, Bobby Blue Band, and Average White Band. He has also performed with the Youngstown Playhouse Pit Orchestra, Warren Packard Concert Band and Big Band, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Butler Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Savoyard Pit Orchestra, and the Youngstown Fine Arts Brass Quintet. Mr. Erb holds a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Westminster College, a Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance from Youngstown State University, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Music from Boston University. He has studied conducting with Dr. R. Tad Greig and Dr. Stephen Gage, and his trumpet teachers include Dr. Stephen Hawk, Susan Sexton, Dr. Christopher Krummel, and Anthony Pasquarelli. Mr. Erb is a member of PMEA, MENC, ITG, and the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association. Mr. Erb resides in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, along with his wife Diana and three children, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Madison
Organist
Kathy Miller
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Kathryn received her Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from The Ohio State University. She earned her Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music in organ performance. While attending CCM she was on a full accompanying scholarship working in the studios of Andrew White and Patricia Berlin. While serving on Adjunct Faculty at Youngstown State University in the early 1980s Kathryn received her Bachelor of Engineering degree majoring in Industrial Engineering Kathryn is currently College Organist at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania teaching organ, piano, accompanying class and sacred music courses. She is on the adjunct faculty of Youngstown State University working in the choral department. At Westminster Presbyterian Church in Boardman, Kathryn serves as Director of Music/Organist directing the adult choir, children’s bell choir, and adult bell choir. She also serves as Organist/Director at Congregation Rodef Sholom in Youngstown. She has over thirty years of accompanying experience in the tri-county area of Ohio and throughout Western Pennsylvania.
Pianist
Larry Baumgartner
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Larry Baumgartner is a proud native son of the Shenango Valley, being born and raised in Hickory (Hermitage). He started piano lessons at age seven, learning a new hymn every week. He began his musical career playing for Junior Church at Pentecostal Holiness Church of Sharon, PA. His first job was at the now defunct Sharon Methodist Church on Elm Street. Next, he played at St Paul's United Church of Christ for three years. Larry attended Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music as a voice major.
Larry successfully married his church organist/pianist career with a 30-year career as an over the road driver for PI&I (PA, IN, IL) Motor Express. Larry played piano at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sharon for 30 years, and also served as organist for five years. To continue to utilize his talents in a traditional worship service, he then moved to Sharon First United Methodist Church where he served as organist for five years, retiring on 31 Dec 2017. He continues to substitute at various churches in the area, as well as Eagle River Presbyterian Church, Eagle River, Alaska in the Summers.
Flutist
Laura Bowden
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Laura Bowden is a sophomore at Youngstown State University, Dana School of Music as a flute performance major. Laura participates in the YSU wind ensemble, chamber orchestra, flute ensemble, woodwind quintet, marching band, and has performed as a guest flutist for the jazz ensemble. She is a member of both the flute studio and piano studio. Laura was selected as a participant in the 2023 Renova Music Festival in New Castle, Pennsylvania. While in high school, she was the principal flutist of the Youngstown State University Youth Orchestra and the Stambaugh Youth Concert Band. Laura was selected as the Senior Concerto Soloist for the YSUYO. She also participated in numerous festivals for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. These included Honors, District, District Jazz, Region bands, and the All-State Wind Ensemble. Currently, Laura is a freelance flutist. She plays flute at many local music events, including Mercer Community Band and the Boar’s Head Festival. She is also the flutist at her church.
Director
Edward X. Petrus
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Edward X. Petrus is the current president of The Music Club. He was the Director's Assistant for the Music Club Chorus from 1996 until 2023, and sang with the chorus since 1991. Ed was the adult choir director at St. Camillus Catholic Church in Neshannock Township for 36 years, and has previously been the choirmaster at St. John Neumann's Church in Lancaster, PA, and St. Joseph's Church in Oil City, PA. Ed has sung with many groups, including the Hoyt Singers and the Penn State Glee Club. He was a trumpeter in the Penn State Blue Band and performed in the Cotton Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the Gator Bowl. When he lived in Venango County, he was a member of the renowned Franklin Silver Cornet Band. Some years ago, Ed was part of a group that sang in the background for numerous television commercials for a Pittsburgh station. Ed is a former president of the board of the Lawrence County Historical Society, and is currently the secretary for the Lawrence County Partners for Preservation. He likes restoring things large and small, from his 3 1957 DeSotos to the Oak Park Manor residence at Oak Park Cemetery where his son lives. He writes a monthly article, “Ideas from Ed” which give homeowners how-to advice on many around-the-house projects. He and his wife Lorraine have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
