Director of Music
Clair Neamand
The newest member of the Summer Harmony musical leadership staff is Clair A. Neamand. A graduate of Whitehall High School, he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Music Education Degree from West Chester University of PA. He has completed additional studies at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, East Stroudsburg University, Susquehanna University and Villanova University of PA.
Now retired, Mr. Neamand was the General Music Teacher and Choral Director of Springhouse Junior High School of the Parkland School District in Orefield, PA from 1971-1988. He was the Choral Director at Parkland High School, from 1988 -2007 where his choirs have won numerous awards, including performances at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Florida and at the National Music Clinic in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Neamand was also Chorale Director at Allentown College St. Francis de Sales from 1984-1987. During the summer of 1996 he toured the countries of Austria, Hungary, and Germany conducting the Parkland High School Chorale in numerous performances. The PHS Chorale also toured China in the summer of 2005 where they performed on the Great Wall. Mr. Neamand served as Secretary/Treasurer of District 10 and State Chairman of Music In Our Schools Month for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He also worked as a consultant to the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ. He received a Citation of Excellence for a Middle/Junior High Music Teacher in District 10 PMEA in 1985, and again in 2006 for High School music. He has been a guest conductor of Festival Choruses throughout Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Clair is married to his college sweetheart Kathleen. They have four Children, Kirsten, Christopher, Craig and Kara and one grandson, Ayden. His hobbies include boating, disc golf, skiing and traveling.
Clair Neamand explains the sound he wants at the first rehearsal of the 2008 season
Assistant Director & Primary Accompanist
Kenneth Schneider
Kenneth Schneider is currently the Senior Organist and the Director of the Chancel Choir at Asbury Methodist Church in Allentown, where he also directs the Men's Chorus. He is also a music teacher at Whitehall-Coplay Middle School and the director of the Men's and Women's Pop Ensembles at Whitehall High School. A practitioner of Pennsylvania Dutch humor, Kenny is a graduate of William Allen High School and Temple University. Kenny lists music, hunting, and old cars among his hobbies. He is married to Marcia and is the father of two children. When not directing Summer Harmony on stage, Ken sings with the ensemble and is the group's principal accompanist.
Kenny Schneider accompanies the chorus in concert.
Associates
Jerry Kaplan
As far as Summer Harmony audiences are concerned, the name Dr. Jerry Kaplan means Barbershop. An area dentist, Jerry is a graduate of the University of Vermont and the University of Pittsburgh. An active member of the Lehigh Valley Harmonizers and conducts Summer Harmony for Barbershop numbers. He also sings with our popular quartet, Audible Difference. Jerry and his wife Dorothy have three children and seven grandchildren. His hobbies include singing as well as metal and wood working.
Jerry Kaplan applies his
special touches to a barbershop number.
Larry Benner
Larry Benner was born and raised in Richlandtown, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of Quakertown Community Senior High School Class of 1965. A music lover all his life, he began piano lessons at age 6 and organ lessons at age 13. An avid singer, Larry was a member of the chorus and other related ensembles during his school career. His peers elected him president of the chorus. Upon graduation, he began singing with the Zion Choral Society, a sacred music mixed chorus based in Quakertown, and is an active member still today. An Army veteran, Larry entered the United States Army in 1966 and served as a chaplain’s assistant for three chaplains at the U. S. Army Hospital, Fort Gordon, Georgia. In 1968 Larry was awarded the Army Commendation Medal upon his departure from active duty. Curious what singing with an all-male chorus would be like, Larry joined Summer Harmony Men’s Chorus of the Lehigh Valley in its inception year—1991. In 2004 he became a member of the newly formed Allentown Symphony Chorus. Larry recently celebrated his 40th anniversary as organist and choir director of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Richlandtown. He is employed as an office manager at the Richard E. Strayer Middle School, an entity of the Quakertown Community School District.
Larry perfects another number for performance.
Ed Schatkowski
Dr. Edward Schatkowski joined Summer Harmony in 2005, and has been a welcome asset to the entire group. A graduate of West Chester and Penn State Universities, Ed has earned a Doctorate degree in Music Education. He has taught at Wilson Boro High School and at Kutztown University (33 years) and was director of the College Choir and a director for American Music Abroad. Ed has been an organist and Choir director at Jerusalem Western Salisbury Union Church for over 10 years and is presently teaching at Penn State Lehigh Valley. Ed is an accomplish pianist and organist.
Ed makes sure that we are all musically together.
In Memoriam
We all mourn the loss of our friend and former Associate Director:
Matt Hinkle
Matt came to Summer Harmony from a background in Barbershop harmony, and was a member of the quartet Audible Difference. He was employed by the Bethlehem School District as a Spanish teacher at East Hills Middle School. Our membership appreciated his ability to clearly explain what he wants musically, and why it is important. He is deeply missed.
Matt leads the chorus in the National Anthem at Citizens Bank Park
Past Director
George Boyer
George Boyer was the director of Summer Harmony from early in the planning stages. With George's background with church and school choirs, and professional and amateur musicians, he was the first choice of the founding committee, and the choice has never been second-guessed. A graduate of St. Clair High School and West Chester University and Temple University, George recently retired from a stellar career at William Allen High School. He has been the choir director at a number of area churches, and currently is director of music at Park Avenue Methodist Church in the City of New York and the Chorusmaster for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra Chorus. George and his wife Susan enjoy travel and antiques. Audiences enjoy his witty banter during concerts as well as the talent he has to bring the best out of his singers. George recently decided that it was time for him to vacate the Summer Harmony podium to spend more time with his other commitments, and retired from Summer Harmony.
Director George Boyer directed the chorus for
16 seasons.
