For 32 years, the Neumann University Concert Chorale has celebrated the joy of singing by uniting community and students in the experience of group and ensemble performance. Under the direction of Yukiko Ishida, D.M.A. and accompanist Robert Nester, the Chorale performs its annual Holiday and Spring Concerts in the Neumann University Meagher Theater.  In the Franciscan tradition of service, the Chorale sings frequently at Assisi House and Bishop Nursing Home (Delaware County), and at Bellingham and Wellington Retirement Centers (Chester County). Since September 11, 2001, the Chorale has given two benefit concerts to honor those who lost their lives.
The Chorale also participates in the University's annual baccalaureate service. The Concert Chorales' musical accomplishments include excerpts from Handel's Messiah, a performance of Mass No. 2, G Major, D.167 by Franz Schubert with the Delaware County Symphony (Roman Pawlowski, conductor), and John Rutter's Requiem (Stephen Czarkowski, guest conductor).  Chorale members have performed for the Catholic Annual Conference at the Spectrum, the Japanese-American Association planting of the Cherry Trees in Fairmount Park, two Longwood Gardens holiday concerts (Kennett Square, PA). In the summer of 2005, the Concert Chorale performed Carmina Burana with the Czech National Symphony at Smetana Concert Hall (Prague, Czech Republic) under the direction of Maestro Dr. Will Kresling. In the fall of 2006, the Concert Chorale sung at St. Paul's United Methodist Church (Newport, RI), and this past spring they performed at Asbury United Methodist Church (Annapolis, MD).  The Neumann University Concert Chorale recently completed a premiere performance this past November (2007) at Carnegie Hall in New York City and in May 2009 traveled to Japan and joined the Hakodate A.M. Chorale for the 150th Anniversary of the Black Ships Festival.

Our Conductor, Yukiko Ishida, D.M.A. (coloratura soprano), was born in Kumamoto, Japan. She received a bachelor of music degree in piano education from Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo, Japan. She studied with Dr. Elizabeth Vandasper in London, specializing in the Dalcroze System. Dr. Ishida earned her master’s degree in voice at Temple University, studying with Dr. Philip Cho. She earned her doctorate in musical arts from Combs College of Music with Dolores Ferraro, and continued her voice study with David Lofton in the U.S., and Magda Lazlo, Arigo Pola, Eugenio Furlotti and Rafaele Cortesi in Italy.  Dr. Ishida has won numerous awards, including the Combs College Centennial Award, the Liberace Competition, the Cascarino Memorial Competition and the Mario Lanza Competition.  Currently, Dr. Ishida is associate professor of music at Neumann University, artistic director of the Neumann University Concert Chorale, and minister of music at Union Methodist Church in Havertown, PA. She served as a vocal instructor of an international chamber festival in Evian, France, and director of the Chitose Higher Education program in Hokkaido, Japan. She has performed concert tours and lecture series worldwide. She coordinates, conducts and performs for various charities, including the Kobe Earthquake Victims Fund, Ukrainian Disaster Relief, 9/11 Memorial concerts and other charitable events.  She has performed recitals in France, Germany, Italy, Japan and throughout the U.S., and has appeared as a soloist with the Czech National Orchestra (Prague, Czech Republic), St. Giles Orchestra (Oxford, England), Chitose Symphony Orchestra and Sapporo Symphony Orchestra (Japan), National Philharmonic (Washington, DC) and the Delaware County Symphony (Aston, PA).  After her many Christmas concerts this December in Tokyo, Japan and throughout the U.S., Dr. Ishida is scheduled for a 2008 concert/lecture tour in London, England and all around the world. Two compact discs of Dr. Ishida’s performances are available:  American Jewels and World Music Standard Collection with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.

Our Accompanist, Robert Nester has been an accompanist and assistant conductor for the Neumann University Concert Chorale since September 1997. A native of the Philadelphia suburbs, he began studying piano at age 11. He has been an organist, choir and music director at Clifton United Methodist Church (Clifton Heights, PA) for more than 20 years, and has arranged both sacred and contemporary Christian music and performed throughout the region as a piano accompanist.  Mr. Nester has appeared in the Neumann University faculty concert series, the Neumann University New Year's celebration (Evening in Rome) and with the Neumann University Theater production of Pippin.

Past Conductors:

1975–1976 Sister Gerald Helene, OSF
1976–1980 Adeline Bethany, D.M.A.
1980–1986 Stephanie Marek †
1986–1987 Dan Belmondo, Ph.D.
1987–1988 Stephanie Marek †
1988–1990 Bill Walton
1990–Present Yukiko Ishida, D.M.A.

† deceased