The Group
Merri Hanson, Alto currently resides in Urbana, Va. performs mostly classical repertoire and early American music, while also enjoys jazz standards. She has performed as a soloist in numerous regional ensembles, including The Virginia Opera Chorus, The Virginia Symphony Chorus, Capriole, The Norfolk Savoyards, The Williamsburg Choral Guild, The Williamsburg Women’s Chorus, First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach and many more across the Tidewater Virginia area and Washington State as well. Prior to joining The Colonial Singers, Merri was a longtime section leader at both The Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and also The University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. She holds both a minor in Voice Performance and a BA in Rhetoric and Public Address and a MA in Communication and Conflict Management from The University of the Pacific. Merri has performed The Messiah as alto soloist for many performances in Seattle with The Symphony Chorus as well as numerous Virginia colleges, universities, churches and orchestras.
Todd Worsham, Baritone, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Music degree from Old Dominion University. Although his degrees were earned as an oboist, he studied voice at VCU and participated in the Commonwealth Singers. He has also sung with the Virginia Symphony Chorus and Williamsburg Bach Choir. As an active freelance oboist, Todd plays throughout Hampton Roads and and Richmond. He particularly enjoys performing with the Virginia Wind Symphony and the pit orchestra for Thomas Nelson Community College summer Gilbert & Sullivan productions. Other highlights include performing with Classical Revolution RVA, the Virginia Symphony and Opera on the James.
Ellen Fisher Petko, Soprano is a native of Tidewater, Virginia. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Along with her many performing credits in both opera and musical theater, she has performed with the Virginia Choral Society and the McCollough Chorale. Presently, Mrs. Petko was the private vocal teacher at VPCC for 11&1/2 years. She has a vibrant voice studio, as well as performs as a guest soloist, conductor of church choirs and clinician. She resides in York County with her husband and two children. One of her favorite things in life is getting to perform with her Colonial Singers family!
Judy Vogan Boone, soprano, holds BS and MS degrees in education from Old Dominion University and a BA in Music from Virginia Wesleyan College, with an emphasis in organ. The product of a very musical family, playing piano and singing were central to her life from an early age. She taught for 25 years in the public schools. As a church musician, she held the position of organist and choir director at Freemason St. Baptist Church, in downtown Norfolk, as well as positions as a children’s choir director and soprano soloist . She was a private piano instructor in the studio of the late David Carr Glover. Judy has sung with the Vogan Chorale, Virginia Pro Musica, Virginia Symphony Chorus, Virginia Opera Chorus, Houston Symphony Chorus, the Berkshire Choral Institute, and the Robert Shaw Festival Singers at Carnegie Hall. She is currently in her 11th year with the Colonial Singers, and is also a member of the Williamsburg Bach Choir. Judy and her husband, Joe, share life with two cocker spaniels.
Jacob Warner, Tenor, is a graduate of the James Madison University School of Music where he studied voice and choral music education. He has taught choir in Virginia and North Carolina and is a specialist in working with transgender and gender diverse voices in choral ensembles. He has presented workshops on this topic for the Virginia Music Educator’s Association Conference and the Kennedy Center’s VSA Conference, as well as at universities across the region. Jacob performs in choral ensembles and as a tenor soloist throughout Virginia.
In Memoriam:
Ryan Fletcher, long time member and Baritone. He will be forever a part of this group and forever in our hearts.
GROUP ALTERNATES:
Jeff Joyner: Bass and Tenor voices
Norma Champion: Alto
Jennifer Moore Woods: Sopranos 1, 2 and Alto
Colonial Singers 