Under the leadership of Artistic Director and founding Conductor Wishart Bell, the company has become a major artistic and educational influence in the community. Through its Basically Baroque Concert Series, Vesper Chorale and Orchestra perform collaborative concerts of historic and contemporary literature with singers from colleges, universities, public schools, and local parishes. These singers receive specific vocal and stylistic education while preparing for professional level performances. The Vesper Chorale Young Singer Development Program invites gifted high school singers and string players to practice and perform beside professional musicians.

The choir’s educational programming has been recognized with awards form the Elnora Stickley Foundation, Indiana Arts Council, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, and the Josephson Music Trust. In 2008, in commemoration of the organization’s 15th Anniversary, Musical Arts Indiana Inc. received a citation from the Mayor of South Bend for its contribution to arts education in the community.

Wishart Bell leads Vesper Chorale, Inc. into its 19th season, and into its new incarnation as Musical Arts Indiana, Inc. Highlights this season include a trip with Vesper Chorale to Glenview, IL for a performance of Holocaust Cantata, Songs from the Camps, traveling with the Children’s Choir of Michiana to Washington D.C. for a concert tour, and conducting Vesper Chorale and Vesper Chamber Orchestra in Bach’s Magnificat and Jorge Muñiz’s Stabat Mater.

Wishart’s research and writing focus on the unification of instrumental and vocal techniques in Baroque performance practice as it applies to repertoire for chorus and orchestra, in particular the music of Handel and Bach. His published essays, academic presentations, and professional activities additionally demonstrate his dedication to developing a love of singing in children and his passion for church music.

He has published articles in The Journal of the Conductor’s Guild, Creator Magazine, The American Organist, Worship Arts Magazine and Resound, the regional journal of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He continues to direct music at First United Methodist Church in South Bend, as well as Cantus Cathedralis (Cathedral Singers) at St. Matthew Cathedral. He will continue his role as Repertory and Standards Chair for Community Choirs for the Central Division of ACDA. He remains active as a clinician for adult and children’s choirs.

His work has earned numerous awards, most recently a nomination for the prestigious Spectrum Award for 2010 television production of Holocaust Canatata – Songs from the Camps, recorded and broadcast by PBS station WNIT.

Wishart holds the degrees Master of Music in Piano and Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The American Conservatory of Music, in Chicago. He has also taken advanced study in vocal pedagogy with Richard Miller at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Patricia Doyle

Ms. Doyle’s has 33 years experience in community arts organizations including music, dance, and theater both in volunteer (President, Board of Directors) and paid positions (Executive Director). She has produced classical, jazz, and pop festivals in California and Indiana. She is skilled in grant writing, development, and marketing.

She received a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana in 1969, a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas in 1973, and a Certificate of Arts Administration (1997) from the University of California-Irvine.

Lisa Bloom

Currently celebrating her seventh season singing with Vesper Chorale, Lisa Bloom is a graduate of DePauw University and The Cleveland Institute of Music with degrees in vocal performance.

She currently teaches private voice in several schools throughout the area, in addition to singing with Cantus Cathedralis at the Cathedral of St. Matthew and with the choir of First United Methodist Church.

Beverly Butler

Beverly Butler has been accompanying Vesper Chorale since 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel College in Mishawaka, and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University at South Bend. Beverly is an Adjunct Piano Instructor at St. Mary's College, where she teaches private piano and does vocal and instrumental accompanying.

Beverly has also accompanied St. Mary's Women's Choir in concerts and on several tours, including a 2005 trip to Los Angeles to perform at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. She has accompanied Suzuki String programs, enjoys playing in the Morrow Piano Trio, and has served as church organist in area churches. She currently serves as Choir Accompanist and Substitute Organist at Christ the King Lutheran Church in South Bend. 

Vicky Warkentien

Vicky Tan Warkentien combines the academic rigors of her discipline with the practical experience of church music ministry. She currently is Assistant Professor of Music at Bethel College, Indiana, and serves as the Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City, Indiana.

Through the years, Dr. Warkentien has appeared as lecturer in Chinese Church music ministry through out Chinese Christian communities in North America, New Zealand, Australia and Asia. Dr. Warkentien was the choral director for San Francisco Chinese Children's Choir from 1984-87, touring Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Since 1990, she has served as the choral director for annual Summer Children Music Camp in Rochester, NY and Toronto, Ontario.

Samantha Hartsough

Samantha Hartsough is a vocal performance major and church music minor at Bethel College. She is a member of the Concert Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and Opera Workshop. She has also participated in a college musical, as a member of music ministry teams, in alternative chapel band, and in a summer music ministry team. In the summer of 2008 Samantha traveled with the music ministry team, “Tapestry” through-out the Midwest on tour. She also did a tour with the Concert Choir in spring 2010 as a soloist.

Outside of school, Samantha enjoys singing the National Anthem at the Silverhawk’s stadium periodically and at Bethel sporting events. Samantha also serves as the worship leader at Bethany Missionary Church in Elkhart, IN. Upon graduation, Samantha plans to continue her education through pursuing a master’s degree and doctorate in vocal performance.

Karen Eckman

Karen Eckman directs the Dowagiac Children’s Choir, a satellite of the Children’s Choir of Michiana. Ms. Eckman received a Bachelor of Music degree from Heidelberg College (Tiffin, Ohio) and Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University.

She currently teaches general music at two elementary buildings for Dowagiac Union Schools and is part of the Music Ministry team at Scared Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Dowagiac.  She is currently enjoying her sixth season of singing with Vesper Chorale and is extremely excited about beginning a Children’s Chorus in Dowagiac.

Sharon Yant

Sharon Yant has dedicated her life to her family, raising four children, and volunteering. Her commitment to children led to the daycare world, in which she worked through her own company, as well as in the employ of others, and teaching pre-kindergarten.

Currently homeschooling her youngest son, Sharon also co-chairs the Trinity School Christmas Bazaar, volunteers at the First United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen, and teaches Sunday School. She has had children in Children’s Choir of Michiana for three years.

This activity made possible, in part, by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.