Bach: Cantata BWV 1 / Wie Schön Leuchtet der Morgenstern

Maria Rist is the Director of Sacred Music at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, where she established the Gloria Dei Schola and the Jubilate Deo Youth Schola. Her focus of study is early music from Gregorian chant to Baroque oratorio. A founding member of Knoxville’s Harmonia Vocal Quartet and a frequent recitalist with the Knoxville Early Music Project, Maria performed with the Knoxville Choral Society and the Knoxville Chamber Chorale for over a decade, and she has also sung with the Tennessee Chamber Chorus. Maria has performed as a soprano soloist in choral works that span the history of Western religious music, from J. S. Bach to John Rutter. She is delighted to return as a guest soloist with the Chattanooga Bach Choir. Maria lives in Chattanooga with her husband, Bo, and their two daughters, Elena and Silvia.

A native of Chattanooga, James Harr is a candidate for the doctoral degree in vocal performance at the University of Memphis. He holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from Washington University. He has sung concerts with symphonies in St. Louis, Memphis, and Chattanooga. While in St. Louis, he sang with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Chorus for seven years as a principal singer. Upon moving to Memphis, James sang with the Rhodes MasterSingers, the Memphis Symphony, and the Memphis Masterworks Chorale. Since returning to Chattanooga, he has appeared with both the Chattanooga Symphony and the Chattanooga Bach Choir. James has performed a number of opera roles. Here in Chattanooga, he has appeared with Opera Tennessee and Scenic City Opera.James is on the faculty of the McCallie School where he serves as the Director of Choral Programs.

After graduating in 2010 from UTC with a major in vocal performance, Zach earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Louisville in 2012. From 2012 to 2015 Zach sang opera and oratorio with Kentucky Opera and the Louisville Master Chorale. In 2015, Zach moved back to Chattanooga and started working at Unum in the Short-Term Disability department. He still sings professionally on occasion and is grateful for another opportunity to sing with the Chattanooga Bach Choir.

bio coming soon…