About the Society
The Choral Society of the Moriches has been presenting George Frideric Handel's Messiah since 1937, when Edna Kaler Gracey, the founder of the Society, conducted their first Messiah concert at The Presbyterian Church of the Moriches. Against the backdrop of the beautiful pipe organ, the 39 original chorus members sang an abridged version of the score. The emphasis was on quality and authenticity, reflecting the training Mrs. Gracey received during her European studies. Thereafter, each Christmas season until 1948, the Choral Society continued to present the Messiah under Mrs. Gracey's direction. In 1949, George Harrup picked up the baton and directed the Society until 1958.
From 1959, until his retirement after the 1993 concert season, The Choral Society of the Moriches flourished under the direction of Josef Lemmen. Mr. Lemmen, a rich baritone who would traditionally sing 'Why do the Nations' or 'The Trumpet Shall Sound,' expanded the scope of the Society's Messiah tradition. Eventually under his direction, a small orchestra was assembled to accompany the chorus and nearly the entire score of the Messiah was presented.
After Mr. Lemmen's retirement, Carol Jurgielewicz (a longtime soprano soloist with the Society) directed the 1994 concert season. From 1995 until 2014, The Choral Society of the Moriches continued to grow under the direction of Martha Campanile. Martha retired at the end of the 2014 season. In 2015, Kamilla Ozman took over as our music director. Kamilla chose an orchestration that reflected Handel's original composition. In 2019, Dr. Richard Wright became our director, working in conjunction with The New Inlet Orchestra.
After several seasons missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Choral Society of the Moriches is excited to emerge with Martha Campanile back at the podium.
About Handel’s Messiah
Handel's Messiah, unlike the traditional form of oratorio, is a collection of quotations from the Old and New Testaments telling of the prophecy of Christ's coming: His birth, life, death and resurrection. George Frideric Handel began to compose Messiah on August 22, 1741, and completed it in the astonishingly short time of 24 days! The work affected the emotions of Handel as perhaps it does ours, for he said of those 24 days, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the Great God Himself."
Our Director
Martha Campanile returns to direct the Choral Society after an eight year hiatus. Martha directed for twenty years with a love and passion for sharing the Messiah.
Mrs. Campanile holds a Master’s Degree from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts. She has completed extensive graduate work at the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and has participated in international Choral conducting workshops in Norway, France, Scotland and Austria. She appears in “Who’s Who of American Teachers,” ”Outstanding Teachers of American,“ and has received recognition as a “Brookhaven Town Woman of the Year- in the Arts.”
Mrs. Campanile conducts the Bay Area Friends of Fine Arts (BAFFA) Chorus and is organist and choir director of the United Methodist Church in Patchogue and is a Choral director of the Brookhaven Choral Festival.
Mrs. Campanile was active in major organization festivals for NYSSMA and supervised student music teachers for SUNY College at Fredonia.
Martha maintains a private studio for piano and voice instruction. She enjoys participation in recitals as accompanist and frequently shares music with several local churches as organist.
Mrs. Campanile taught in Brentwood and Sachem and has worked with singers ages 3-95 and skill levels from beginner to professional. It is always a joy to share music and a special joy to return as director of the Choral Society of the Moriches.