Although Rochelle Ellis has performed on celebrated stages with famous orchestras throughout the world, including Carnegie Hall, Berkshire Choral Festival, New Jersey Symphony, New York City Opera, Chamber Opera Chicago, Opera of China in Beijing, the Prague Autumn Musical Festival, and solo recitals in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, she is happy to be the soprano soloist at Voices Chorale upcoming concerts featuring Brahms’ Requiem. The concerts are Saturday, April 28, at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, in Princeton, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 29, at Crossing Community Church, in Newton, Pennsylvania, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $22 for general admission, $30 for preferred seating; and $10 for children.##M:[more]##
Ellis, who lived in West Windsor from 1994 to 2006, has distinguished herself in a broad repertoire that extends from Bach and Beethoven to Verdi, Barber, and Gershwin. She has brought her national and international expertise to the area where she has taught voice both privately and at Westminster Choir College of Rider University.
All three of her children graduated from WW-P High School (South). Her daughter, Erin, 27, who lives in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese/English translator for video games at the Square Enix Corporation. Her son, Stephen, 24, who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a financial advisor. Her youngest child, David, died in a fire in January, 2006. He was living in an off-campus apartment at the University of Maryland-College Park.
After David died, Ellis felt the need to leave West Windsor, and moved to Trenton in November. She lives with her partner, Lucy Strauli and their dog, Sammy. Although she maintains a voice studio in her home, she took a year off from Westminster Choir College to recoup. In 2003 she joined Keller Williams Real Estate on Canal Pointe Boulevard.
“Our family gave a scholarship in David’s name to an orchestra student at High School South last year.” she says. “My ex-husband, James Ellis, established a permanent scholarship in David’s name at the University of Maryland for American Studies majors.”
Born in St. Louis, she received a bachelor of music education degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and a master’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College.
In the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district, she created a district-wide festival for African-American culture. She also presented a lecture and recital on the origins of African-American music from slavery through the Civil War for the tenth grade American history classes at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School (South).
One part of Brahms’ Requiem is especially meaningful to Ellis: You now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man shall take from you. I will comfort you as one comforted by his mother.
“The music touches me very deeply especially when I sing about how today there is sorrow, but that tomorrow there will be joy,” she says. “There is a line that can bring tears to my eyes when I think about my son. “Singing is a great comfort to me, and I’m looking forward to the Brahms.”
Singers from West Windsor include Bruce and Sandy Duffy, Norma Smiles, Barbara Weinfield, Suzanne Kazi, and Sandra Weinberger. Plainsboro resident Al Chan is also a member of the choir. The Delaware Valley Philharmonic Orchestra accompanies the choir at the concerts. Baritone soloist Richard Lalli is an associate professor of music at Yale.
“Singing the Brahms is such a wonderful honor and I’ve sung with Voices several times,” she says. “They are a wonderful group of people who make beautiful music together. It is always a pleasure working with Lynne Ransom (music director) and her crew.”
— Lynn Miller
Concert, Voices Chorale, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau Street, Princeton, 609-637-9383. $22 to $30. Saturday, April 28, 8 p.m.
