|
|
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Warren Ottey is in his 12th year as Director of
Music and Organist at Cazenovia Village Baptist Church.
A native of Coatesville, PA, he received his first singing experience in
the junior choir of Hephzibah Baptist Church (A.B.C.), and later sang in the
youth and senior choirs, under the direction of his father, Herbert A. Ottey, an
accomplished violinist.
At Coatesville High School, Mr. Ottey’s interest in vocal music
was keenly whetted after he joined the school’s famed Meistersingers, under
the dynamic direction of the legendary Gerald Daghir.
Subsequent experiences in district and all-state choruses helped convince
Mr. Ottey to begin the study of voice and then to audition for Eastman School of Music, where he was accepted and awarded a
Rochester National Scholarship.
A student of Metropolitan Opera mezzo soprano Anna Kaskas at
Eastman, Mr. Ottey’s later studies took him to Chicago’s Moody Bible
Institute, where he was soloist and vice president of the world-famous Moody
Chorale. He later attended Eastern
Baptist College and was a pitcher on the varsity baseball team.
His voice teachers and coaches have included Elizabeth Westmoreland of
Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music, Charles Wagner Opera baritone Frank
Cappelli, New York City Opera’s Donald Hassard, and Dr. David Blackburn,
renowned voice teacher and director of the Natchez (MS.) Opera Festival.
For many years Mr. Ottey was a well-known professional church
soloist and oratorio baritone on Philadelphia’s Main Line, where also he was
called upon to do choral conducting. During
this time he established his own voice teaching studio in Reading, PA.
In 1977, he founded Berks Grand Opera in that city and subsequently
served as president, director-at-large, and leading baritone.
Mr. Ottey has also been heard in a leading role with Syracuse Opera.
For four years Mr. Ottey was a well-known Christian radio
personality in Syracuse and was featured as a soloist in several concerts with
gospel singer Steve Green. After
his stint in radio, Mr. Ottey founded The Master’s Touch Chorale, a
Christian choir composed of about 40 members from all walks of life, but unified
in their ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through inspired
music.
Since 1994, Mr. Ottey has been Music Director of the Syracuse
Chorale, an eighty-member oratorio and concert choir, now in its 50th
year of performing six major concerts annually, in addition to many on a smaller
scale.
Mr. Ottey resides in Oran, NY, with his wife, Cherolyn,
Director of Drama and accompanist at Cazenovia Village Baptist Church.
If you have questions or comments about this site, please e-mail Webmaster: E-mail: webmaster@cazvbc.org Revised: May 18, 2007 |