The Directors
Pasquale A. Pascaretti has both Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Music degrees from Wayne State University and has been Director of the MDC since 1975. He is a retired Vocal Music Teacher and Music Department Chair from Fraser High School.
He has been Choir Master and Cantor at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and prior to that at St. Edmund's Catholic Church. He was instructor of Keyboard Harmony for Macomb Community College in 1991.
He has done summer studies with Robert Shaw, Westminster Choir College and with Margaret Hillis, Berkshire Chorale Institute.
Awards
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Fraser High School Teacher of the Year - sponsored by Michigan Education Assoc, Post & Newsweek -- 1994
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Nationally Registered Music Educator - Music Educators National Conference (MENC) -- 1993-1997
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Fraser High School Show Choir - 1st Place - Orlando Festival of Music National Competition - 1996 and often 1st Place annually at many other locations through 2007.
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Fraser High School Chamber Choir - 2nd Place - Orlando Festival of Music National Competition -- 1996
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Honored with membership in the Heritage Music Festivals Hall of Fame for the consistently high quality performances by Fraser Singers in festival competitions throughout the United States -- 2007
The Accompanist
Jacklyn Cole has accompanied the Metropolitan Detroit Chorale for over twenty years. She began studying the piano at the age of six and prior to graduating from high school won a scholarship to Interlochen. She attended Stephen's College in Missouri and later the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, earning a bachelor of music degree in 1972. She is the former accompanist for the Fort Street Chorale and has performed programs with several Detroit area soloists.
In June of 2015, she retired as the accompanist for the Fraser Public Schools vocal music programs where she also accompanied "Fraser Singers" show choir and has traveled with them to many national competitions where they repeatedly won the highest honors.
Jacklyn serves as the rehearsal accompanist for the Metropolitan Detroit Chorale, and as performance accompanist for many of the concerts on piano and harpsichord.
The Choreographer
Heidi Ann Coates holds a Bachelors degree of Music and Business Management. In addition to her degree, she has studied advanced classical ballet and choreography under Eva Powers.
Heidi studied dance at Charmaine's Studio of Dance in Roseville, Michigan and is accomplished in ballet, point, tap, modern, and jazz dance. Her Master classes included studying with George Chaffe of the New York Ballet, Eva Koursaska of the Houston Ballet Company and Al Gilbert, tap/choreographer from Hollywood, California.
Heidi has been choreographer for the Metropolitan Detroit Chorale since 1987. Prior to coming to the Chorale, she was an artist in residence for the Michigan Opera Theater where she instructed workshops on movement and choreography in L'anse Creuse Public Schools grades K-6. Ms. Coates has choreographed such theater productions as: Godspell, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Man of La Mancha, Annie Get Your Gun, Roar of the Greasepaint - Smell of the Crowd, Runaways, Grease, and selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippen and Hair.
Awards
Music Maestro Please/ Heritage Festivals - Fraser High School Choir, Fraser Singers repeatedly won highest honors at national competitions including the Adjudicator's Award and Outstanding Choral Program Award from Heritage Music Festivals in several states.