Member Spotlight...

Ramona Warren is enjoying her second semester as a member of Greenville Choral Society.  Also a member of the GCS Board of Directors, she holds a BA in Music and is preparing to audition for graduate school where she plans to major in vocal performance.  Ramona joined the Choral Society because she missed singing in a choir, and she enjoys being in a group with so many talented people who love music as much as she does.  She finds this experience to be most inspiring!  She currently lives in Greenville with her fiancé.

Marilyn Alexander has been a faithful and invaluable member of GCS for 27 years, having served four terms on the Board of Directors (two as President.)  A retired piano teacher and choir director, Marilyn enjoys theater, concerts, travel and shopping.  Regarding her enjoyment of singing with GCS, Marilyn says, “After teaching, planning and conducting choirs for so many years, it is a pleasure to sing with such a fine group of musicians.  Singing under such accomplished conductors offers so many opportunities for self-improvement.  I have made so many friends over the years in the Greenville Choral Society and have been a part of a wonderful and very musical group.”

She and her husband Clyde, a local pharmacist, lived in Germany the first two years of their marriage and currently live in Greenville with their tuxedo cat, Jen.  They have one daughter who lives in Cape Coral, FL and a foster son who resides in Huntington, WV.  Both children are in the nursing profession.

Bill Hodges has been singing with Greenville Choral Society for 22 years and has served faithfully as Treasurer for the organization for the past 10 years.  A six-term board member, Bill is also the Chief of Perfusion Services for the East Carolina Heart Institute.  Outside of singing, Bill’s main interest is his son’s swimming.  As such, Bill is head of officials for the Greenville Area Summer Swim League and holds certification as a US Swimming and NC High School Association Stroke & Turn Official.  He enjoys golf and spending time with his family.  Bill’s prior singing experience includes performing with the Furman Singers under the direction of Dr. Bing Vick.  Of this experience, Bill says, “I loved being in that ensemble and the music they performed.  After moving to Greenville I was looking for that type of organization. GCS was recommended to me by a person singing in the group at that time.  I auditioned, and the rest is history.”

Greg Baldwin has been an asset to Greenville Choral Society for 32 years.  Yes, 32 years!! Since joining in 1978, Greg has served on the Board of Directors for most of those 32 years and has held the office of President three times.  As the long-time head of the GCS Concert Committee, Greg is saddled with the task of handling concert performance details ranging from becoming INTIMATELY involved with the riser transport and setup to coordinating the professional recordings of each concert performance.

He lives near Bell Arthur, on Stantonsburg Rd., with the love of his life, Patricia.  They have been married 28 years, and Greg has been teaching for the past 35 years.  He has been on faculty at Pitt Community College for the past 25 years.

Greg’s hobbies have included fishing and hunting, although not as often as he would like, and he enjoys travelling around the world, the US, and the great state of North Carolina.  Greg also attends Bible study once a week, stating that, “There is a lot to learn there!”

Amber Honeycutt, Soprano

Amber Honeycutt, section leader for the sopranos, started singing with GCS in the fall of 2006.

“I lost my dad tragically in April 2006, and wanted to do something for myself, but something that I know he would enjoy looking down from Heaven to see.  “My dad was the person I grew up singing with and enjoyed singing with the most,” says Amber.  “Singing has always been a passion of mine, and this was a great way to expand my repertoire of music.”

“I was amazed that some of the works performed by GCS included German and Hebrew.  I have been singing with both the Concert Choir and Chamber Chorale since 2006.”

A member of the GCS Board of Directors, Amber lives in Ayden, NC where she recently purchased an 1895 Victorian home, “a beautiful work in progress,” and just recently became engaged!  Amber holds a bachelors degree in Social Work and currently serves as a social worker with the Pitt County Health Department where she works with children with developmental delays.

She is also active in her church and enjoys working with kids, planning her wedding and trying to relax when she finds time!

When asked why she is a part of GCS, Amber says, “I love to sing!  I love to meet new people, I love the organization, and it is wonderful therapy after a stressful day.”  Amber refers to GCS rehearsals as, “her therapy sessions.”

“The people of GCS are wonderful, caring people.  I am glad to be a part of this group and feel that we are all part of a family.”

Diana Coble has been a valuable member of the Greenville Choral Society since the mid-1970s.  A six-term Board Member and former President, Diana sings in the alto section and currently serves as section leader.  She is the proud grandmother of four beautiful children who currently reside in Wilmington, NC and Charlottesville, VA.  While currently employed as an Employee Assistance Program counselor at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Diana has worked as a teacher of gifted & talented students, a human resources manager and a marriage & family therapist.  “Singing in a chorus is one of my favorite things to do,” says Diana.  “I especially enjoy singing with the Chamber Chorale for the camaraderie and the opportunity to sing a cappella.”

Diana especially likes the challenge of learning new music in the weekly rehearsals.  “It's great when it all comes together in a concert, but the process of getting there is why I keep coming back.”

Kirby Fuller, Tenor

Kirby Fuller, tenor section leader, was born and raised in Pinetops and is in his eleventh year singing tenor with the Greenville Choral Society.  A retired educator, Kirby taught elementary school for 28 years.  He has served on the Board of Directors of the Greenville Choral Society and as chair of the Social Committee.

According to Kirby, “I have always had a great appreciation for music.  I play for two small Presbyterian churches each Sunday morning.  I am active in my home church, which is celebrating its centennial this year.”

When asked why he chose be a part of GCS, Kirby says that he was approached by a former director who encouraged him to look at what GCS had to offer, as well as what Kirby could offer the organization.  It was this director that inspired Kirby to love ALL kinds of music and made him want to sing!  We are glad to have him!!

Frank Brown, Bass/Baritone

Frank Brown, bass section leader, has been a member of the Greenville Choral Society since the Fall of 2002.  A former Board Member, Frank and his wife, Ada (also a GCS member), live just outside of Greenville, enjoying the benefits of being “empty-nesters.”  Their son is in graduate school at UC Berkeley, and their daughter is graduating from Wake Forest with degrees in German and Psychology.

A 1971 graduate of Duke University, Frank received his Ph.D. from Cal Tech and is trained as an organic chemist.  He is a retired research chemist and systems analyst with DuPont and Computer Sciences Corporation.

In addition to singing with both the GCS Concert Choir and Chamber Chorale, Frank currently volunteers as a tutor with the Boys and Girls Club unit at Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church.

”I am getting involved with teaching math/computer courses for Literacy Volunteers,” says Frank.  “I also work with a group (Shepherd’s Helpers) from Jarvis UMC that builds handicap ramps for needy people in Pitt County.”

When asked why he became a part of the Greenville Choral Society, Frank says, “I joined GCS because I love to sing – especially the classical repertoire – with other talented singers and conductors – both of which GCS has!”