Registration Now Open for the Hall of Fame Banquet on May 17th

The 2025 Class of the Ashtabula County Choral Hall of Fame will be inducted on Saturday, May 17^th at the Ashtabula County Choral Music Society Hall of Fame Banquet and Awards. The Hall of Fame was begun in 2010 to provide an opportunity to remember, to tell their stories and to create an archive in honor of individuals who have contributed with distinction to the fabric of vocal music in Ashtabula County.

2025 Inductees are: Rebecca Levering, who was an elementary school music teacher in Buckeye Schools and in Amherst Schools, and devoted 50+ years to music ministry as a choir director, bell choir director, church organist, and was a private piano teacher. She sang alto for many years in the Ashtabula County Choral Music Chorale, served on the ACCMS board in various leadership positions, and was a patron.

Joan Andrews, who has sung alto, and provided leadership to her section for 35 years with ACCMS, and in community Messiah performances prior to the founding of ACCMS in 1989. Joan notes that she “has been singing since she started talking”, was in Choir at the School for the Blind 3^rd-12^th grade and sang at Syracuse University. She sang and played guitar with a quartet “The Basic 4” who sang at college and community events.

Gary Yost, active in choral music for 40+ years, Organist/Choir Director at First Congregational UCC Church in Jefferson, Ohio, Director of the Church’s Community Music Series, County Choir Collaborator/Director, Singer for ACCMS, has provided extensive support/leadership/mentorship to young musicians. Judge Yost recently retired after serving on the Ashtabula County Common Pleas bench for thirty years. He took his role of choir director seriously, including joining the Ohio Choral Directors Association and attending their conferences. 

Ellen Jacobs, an alto singer with the ACCMS Chorale for 35 years, sang in the Messiah concerts prior to the founding of ACCMS in 1989, has served as an ACCMS Board Member for 16 years, holding positions of President and Vice President, serving on multiple committees, including the Elizabethan Feaste, Fundraising, is the Publicity and Marketing Coordinator, was the “Tour Director” for the ACCMS  2024 Trip to Carnegie Hall, NYC, is a patron, and has sung in the Choir for East Side Presbyterian Church since 1984.

Nominations for the Class of 2025 were submitted in January and February by individuals throughout the county who identified musicians who have made an impact on their community through choral music leadership and inspiration. Each nomination was reviewed for selection based on established criteria of leadership, singing participation, performance, education, financial support, and audience enthusiasm. The Ashtabula County Choral Hall of Fame occurs every 5 years, and previous nominees continue to be in consideration for future inductions.

The Banquet and Awards will be held on May 17^th at the Elks in Ashtabula; tickets are available from ACCMS Chorale and Board Members, and at ashcochoralmusicsociety.org. On May 18^th Mr. Paul Shellhammer III will direct the ACCMS Chorale in the HOF concert, “Strength in Unity” a program of uplifting music, at 4 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ashtabula. The concert is free; donations are appreciated.

REGISTER HERE for our Hall of Fame Banquet by May 2nd

1) Register using the form below.
2) Click the DONATE button above. Remember, each ticket is $50.
3) Join us on May 17th at the Elks Lodge in Ashtabula.