Religion
A classically young singer; area woman has sung with the best
SHARON — There are not many careers where a 57-year-old could be considered young, but classical music singing can be one of them.
Susan Toth Shafer has sung around the world in operas, in solo concerts and with symphonies and smaller ensembles for 30 years, with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Yet, her best days may still lie ahead.
“My voice teacher keeps saying to me, ‘Susan, you haven’t reached your peak, yet.’ That amazes me,” said Ms. Shafer, who will open the Lenten series of concerts Tuesday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon.
The human voice is an amazing instrument, and can change over time. Ms. Shafer is a contralto, the lowest of women’s voices, and low voices tend to stay strong longer. She still is considered a “young singer.”
“I’m planning on singing forever,” she said. “It’s the only way I’m going to make up for lost time.”
Ms. Shafer was discovered by Robert Page, who has directed the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, at 25, an advanced age for serious classical music study.
Switching careers from elementary education, Ms. Shafer had the backing of her husband, Richard, and son, Chuck, a college senior.
“I’ve been really, really lucky,” she said. “When you have a family that is very supportive ... It takes a whole family to be able to do this.”
Although Ms. Shafer has been at it a long time and worked with some of the top talent in classical music, it’s a tough career path to tread, she said. She still has to audition for parts, competition can be fierce, and commitments can take her away from her family for a month or more.
“Our industry has been impacted the same way every industry has been,” she said, referring to the national economic downturn.
Opera companies have struggled, cutting back programs, and some have folded.
And yet, Ms. Shafer has managed to keep busy concentrating on gigs within driving distance of her home in New Wilmington. Despite the area’s reputation as a cultural backwater, Ms. Shafer said the local arts are alive and well, and it often does not cost much, if anything, to partake in them.
The Greenville and Youngstown symphonies — her husband is a Youngstown board member — are fabulous orchestras, and there are always opportunities, such as the St. John’s series, just around the corner, she said.
She also praised those involved in the visual arts, singling out the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Trumbull Art Gallery in Warren, Ohio, and Westminster College art professor Kathy Koop’s retrospective now showing in the college’s Patterson Hall.
“You don’t have to go to New York,” she said. “There are so many things right here.”
For Tuesday’s concert, Ms. Shafer and Paula Kubik, who will accompany her on organ, have selected five pieces from four oratories, Antonin Dvorak’s “Stabat Mater,” J.S. Bach’s Cantata 106 and Mass in B minor, and G.F. Handel’s “Israel in Egypt.”
While the pieces deal with judgment day, sitting at the right hand of the Father and the Lamb of God, the Handel piece is more upbeat and offers a bit of a break.
“When you’re singing a Lenten recital, you don’t want it all so contemplative and slow,” she said.
Ms. Shafer said she had never performed with Ms. Kubik or at St. John’s before, but is looking forward to both.
Ms. Kubik has a “stellar” reputation as a performer and director, she said.
“When she called and asked me to do this, I was really delighted,” Ms. Shafer said.
“That church is just so beautiful,” she said of St. John’s. “It’s a perfect setting for this type of thing. It’s small enough, but large enough, and has a great organ.”
A short service will be held at noon, followed by the concert at about 12:10 p.m., Ms. Kubik said. After the concert, lunch will be available, and attendees should be able to get back to work a little after 1 p.m.
Other concerts in the series: Harper Kirk, the harp player formerly known as Kirk Kupensky, March 2; violinists Jonathan and Mary Moser, March 9; Youngstown Fine Arts Brass, March 16; and Thiel College Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Michael Bray, March 23.
- Religion
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105th conference to draw crowd
About 1,000 delegates and staff from 35 states and 30 countries — as well as an estimated 1,000 regional residents — will gather July 24-30 for the 105th New Wilmington Mission Conference at Westminster College.
The week will feature Bible study, spiritual enrichment, mission challenge, and Christian fellowship. All events are free to the public.
Speakers will urge attendees to follow Jesus Christ more closely and to take the Good News of Jesus to those who have not heard or received it. Missionaries and leaders from the global church will be among the speakers and will have exhibits on display.
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Valley Alive aims to proclaim gospel
Through his Hermitage-based ministry, Bill Rudge has witnessed to people the world over. Next month, he’ll bring the Good News to his friends and neighbors in the Shenango Valley.
Rudge compared being a part of the two-night Valley Alive! evangelism crusade, sponsored by Joshua's Haven City Mission, to coming home. He’s participated in similar events across the country and world, but when the doors of his alma mater, Sharon High School, open on Aug. 7 and 8, it will be something special.
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I am not ashamed of the gospel; after all, truth is what God says it is
When I hold a Bible, I am holding the most powerful force that God ever allowed mortal man to handle. The eternal, inerrant, unchanging, all mighty word of the living God.
This is not a good book; The Purpose-Driven Life is a good book. This is the power of God unto salvation. I do not judge the contents of this Bible by other books; I judge other books by the content of this Bible. Those who have a Bible that’s falling apart have a life that’s not. -
Monsignor celebrating gold jubilee
Monsignor Michael Polanichka, pastor of St. John's Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Sharon, will be honored by his congregation at a testimonial at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Avalon Golf and Country Club at Buhl Park.
Monsignor Polanichka is observing his 50th year in the priesthood, including 38 years at St. John’s. The latter is believed to be the longest current tenure at one church in Mercer County.
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Time away is necessary; use it to learn to share your God-given gift
Me-time. We all need that time to be not only alone but with our family — and without interruption.
I am reminded of Jesus often retreating to a quiet place to think, to pray, to reflect, to plan. It is only when we pause and reflect on the gifts God has provided do we understand what it is that we are to do with them.
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Hickory U.M. has new pastor
Hickory United Methodist Church will welcome their new pastor — the Rev. David S. Evans — on Sunday. Worship service is at 9:30 a.m. in the church at 240 N. Hermitage Road, next to Sears at the Shenango Valley Mall.
There will be a reception following the service to welcome the pastor and his wife, Carol.
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There was a time when about the only honorable vocation open to women was that of a housewife and mother. But now, thanks to the power of Christ’s Gospel, women have come upon a better day.
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Choir forming, volunteers needed for Aug. crusade
“Valley Alive” evangelistic crusade is planned for Aug. 7-8 at Sharon High School. An interdenominational choir is being formed for Family Night on Aug. 8. People are also needed both evenings to be ushers and parking attendants, as well as to participate in prayer teams.
Anyone interested in participating should call Sherry Masotto Swetz at Joshua’s Haven City Mission, 724-983-0304, to provide your name and phone number.
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Vacation Bible Schools
A compilation of vacation Bible schools in the Mercer County area.
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FROM THE PULPIT
HAVE you ever gotten into a conversation and asked someone their opinion, and they’d respond, “Well no offense, but ...” and totally put down what you were doing? They tell you something that will quite possibly hurt your feelings, if you let it, but don’t want you to be offended.
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