Musician Jon Szabo Details

Skills

Church Music - choral, vocal

About

Hello,
I hope this finds you well, and your musical endeavors blossoming!
I wanted to let you know of my plans for being a Columbus area church and civic choir conducting substitute this coming year. Having conducted and sung in many different settings over the years, I’m offering you my services as a fill-in for your group, be it a Sunday here, a weekday rehearsal there, a couple of weeks when you are out of town, or any combination of these.
What I am not, just to clarify, is a keyboardist/organist--these skills are marginal! Also, I have conducted several bell choirs, but don’t consider myself to be a bell ‘specialist.’
If you know of my work/skills, you may skip to the final paragraph! Here in the Columbus area, I have held positions at United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches since arriving here 20 years ago. My longest tenure was at North Broadway UMC, where I was Director of Music from 2009-2021. While there, I always directed the adult groups (choir and bells), and would occasionally be tasked with directing youth and children’s groups as well, if not overseeing the individual in charge of these groups. I also did some conducting and vocal subbing at First Congregational from 2021-’23.
Prior to 2003, I was based in the NYC area for ten years, doing full-time vocal freelancing…some solo and oratorio, a good dose of early and thorny newly-composed music, much church and synagogue work, and professional choral settings. I sang/recorded with the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, Ascension Music, Early Music New York, New York Collegium, and Cathedral of St. John the Divine, among many others. I also had a one-year stint teaching voice/choir at LaGuardia Performing Arts High School.
Prior to that, I was a performance Voice and Choral Conducting graduate from BGSU, and taught 7-12 vocal and choral music in NW Ohio for 3 years, and taught/lead many things adjunctly at Bluffton University…Opera Workshop, applied voice and violin(!), voice and string class, and Choral Society.
I’d be happy to discuss with you when the time is right or need arises! I love leading choral groups at a high level, yet can and have adapted well to groups of all ability levels and personalities.
Thanks for considering!

Best,

Jon Szabo
paprikash.js@gmail.com
614-578-3949
539 E. Lincoln Ave.
Columbus, OH 43214