Ed Novitsky

          I’ll never forget the email and subsequent phone conversation I had with Ed Novitsky. He was on a mission--a singing mission. While he hadn’t sung before, Ed was determined to become a singer because he heard the Choral Society was doing Carmina Burana, and he was willing to do anything to be a part of that. So he came to the SCCS summer Sing-Alongs and then took voice lessons from Jan Miller. By fall, Ed was ready to jump in with both feet, madrigals and all.
          Ed grew up in Dallas, PA near Wilkes Barre, and played the saxaphone in high school. He came to State College in 1996 to work on a PhD in electrical engineering and since graduating, has worked for the Applied Research Lab. He feels settled here and hopes to buy a house soon. His most memorable musical experience was singing in madrigals in December. It looks as if Ed is hooked on singing so he’ll be around long after Carmina Burana. A big welcome to our newest tenor, Ed Novitsky.

Andrew Revell

          While Andrew isn’t one of the newest “kids on the block” he was recently appointed to the State College Choral Society Board as grad student representative. He joined SCCS in February of 2001. While enthusiastic about becoming part of the bass section, he had another “iron in the fire” that delayed his coming to rehearsals. He was taking a gourmet cooking class from the chef at the Hummingbird Room. Andrew comes from a family that values good music. His musical parents (his father graduated from a private conservatory) gave Andrew and his sister the tools to pursue a life that included music. Andrew chose the timpani at age 9 and continued as a percussionist through most of his undergraduate years in the midwest. Later he completed his master’s degree at Southern Illinois University in clinical adult psychology with an emphasis in gerontology.
          One of Andrew’s most memorable musical experiences was playing timpani with the St. Louis Symphony. Following completion of his master’s degree, he spent time doing research at Wayne State University, and it was in Michigan that he experienced a second memorable musical event. He joined a professional choir where he got paid for doing his favorite thing-singing. Andrew moved to State College in August 1999 to begin work on a PhD in the College of Human Development and Family Studies on Alzheimers disease. He hopes to finish his work this summer or fall, and plans to do post doc work in the early detection and prevention of Alzheimers. In addition to cooking, his hobbies include swimming and cycling. He is especially proud of his Scottish heritage and would love to show you his kilt.

Look for
Carmina Burana
Translation and Pronunciation Guides

on the Choral Society Website
www.SCChoralSociety.org