The Hampshire Choral Society is entering a year of transition following the retirement of long-time director Allan Taylor. The 2023-24 season will be conducted by two interim directors, Marc Winer (Fall 2023) and Paige Graham (Spring 2024). Over the course of the season the board of directors will be generating a job description and considering applicants. Meanwhile, we are grateful to have two such talented people to guide us through the coming year.

Marc Winer is well known as a tenor soloist throughout the Pioneer Valley and beyond. Highlights of his singing career include tenor soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Haydn’s Seasons, and the American premiere of A Cambridge Mass, a newly discovered work by Vaughan Williams. A personal favorite is the performance at Westfield State University of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, in which he shared the stage with his daughter Mara, who starred in the lead role. It has been a pleasure to sing as a soloist and chorister with Hampshire Choral Society for many years!

Mr. Winer currently is tenor soloist at First Congregational Church in Westfield. Marc has also performed throughout New England and beyond with such groups as Arcadia Players, the Middletown Chorale, Farmington Chorale, Novi Cantori and many others. He is also the current Music Director for the Greater Westfield Choral Society, who just celebrated their 45th anniversary with a World Premier of a new Mass by Jay Ducharme.

Paige Graham is a conductor and soprano from Marquette, Michigan. She is the Assistant Director of Choral Activities at Smith College where, in addition to conducting the Glee Club and Chamber Singers, Paige teaches Introduction to Singing, private voice lessons, and music appreciation.

Prior to her work at Smith, Paige worked with the treble and low-voiced choirs at the Universities of Illinois and North Texas. She also conducted the Central Illinois Youth Chorus, various church choirs, and founded a community group dedicated to performing the works of female-identifying and non-binary composers. 

As a vocalist, Paige frequently presents faculty recitals at Smith. She recently performed Bach’s Cantata 84 Ich bin vergnügt as well as a song recital of American repertoire by composers ranging from Charles Ives to Joni Mitchell. As an ensemble musician, she sings with local groups including Illuminati Vocal Ensemble and Novi Cantori. Paige’s performance and vocal pedagogy background significantly impact her work as a conductor and vice-versa.

Paige holds a bachelor’s degree in voice performance from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Illinois.