A look at some of the talent featured at Concert in the Park on July 1
We have already mention Jared and Joyce Feldpausch and St. Johns native, Alyssa Wettlaufer in earlier articles. Now here is a look at some more of the homegrown talent featured on July 1, 2015.
The boys of “Synergy” were all taking individual music lessons from the same instructor in DeWitt, Mr. John Kelly. John saw the potential in all of them, and decided to get them together as a band. They started their 1st practices as a group in February of 2014, and with Mr. Kelly’s incredible patience and talent as an instructor, they have made great progress as a band, getting better and better every week.
All the boys are students in St. Johns public schools. Members are: Chaston “Chase” Brya (15) on Bass Guitar/Vocals, Josh Weinberg (14) on Guitar/Vocals, Tommy Brewbaker (13) on Drums, Alex Pung (13) on Lead Guitar/Vocals, and Jonny Collins (14) on Keyboard/Vocals.
The boys decided on calling themselves “Synergy”: “several Elements that when combined together produce a total affect that is greater than the Sum of the individual Elements.”
Chuck and Anna Biewer are a father-daughter duo and have been singing together for most of Anna’s 19 years. They share their love of music at church and have been heard together singing for various services in St. Johns, Fowler and DeWitt. Chuck also ranges out to Grand Rapids as a member of the Opera GR chorus, having recently performed in Puccini’s “Tosca” as well as the GR Symphony’s production of LiveArts. The Biewers reside in the outlying country area northwest of St. Johns.
Nichole Ellers is one of our teachers, and you may already know her as the choir director/music teacher at St. Johns High School. Nichole shares her love of music and teaching everyday with many of your children, and we are excited to bring her to our stage, to share with all of you, too.
These four girls have been singing together since freshmen year but have known each other since middle school. Being seniors now they hope to continue working together this coming school year. Julia Buck (far left) plays the piano and usually is the first one in the group to come up with a harmony for them to sing. Audrey DeAlmeida (mid left) is the coordinator who plans and works to organize when and where they meet. Gwen Gaffney (mid right) is the one who always keeps their spirits up even when they are working on a difficult song. Jenna Cody (far right) plays the guitar and has been playing since middle school.
All of the girls are part of the St. John’s High School Concert Choir with Nichole Eller as their director. She is the person they credit as really bringing them together musically.