Our Director is a second generation barbershopper with a varied musical background.
She grew up on classical music, opera and barbershop! Zoe was involved in music, dance and theater from elementary school through college. She attended Central College in Missouri hoping to pass the audition to sing in the A Cappella Choir under the direction of Dean Luther T. Spayde. She passed and sang with them for two years while majoring in music. Music was to be her avocation however, and retail management her career in which she has her BS and MS degrees in Clothing and Textiles: Fashion Merchandising and Business from the University of Missouri.
She found Sweet Adelines in 1971 and later became co-director of the Capital City Chorus in Indianapolis. The chorus grew to 90 members and was awarded 2nd place regional medals twice while Zoe was a director. She has sung bass in several quartets placing 6th in regional competition with the Good Time Harmony Association.
After her family moved to Marion, she joined Christmas City Chorus in 1991 and became the director several years later. The chorus has achieved many regional awards including several 3rd and 2nd place medals in the small chorus division and the coveted Most Improved Chorus Award. For the second year in a row they have added the gold medal! -- First Place in Division A Small Choruses placing 6th overall.
As the director, Zoe’s priority is focused on the music education each chorus member receives. “Teaching and directing is one of the joys of my life. I love it when one of my chorus members learns something new -- that ‘Ah Hah!’ moment that takes them to a new level of performance. I couldn’t be prouder of them!”
Zoe is a certified director in Sweet Adelines and is a past member of the East Central Region 4 Management Team. She has served on the Regional Music Faculty, coaches choruses and quartets in both Sweet Adelines and BHS and has arranged some of the music the chorus sings.
