Singer Spotlight: Gaye Wetzel

What is/was your occupation?

Following college, I was a legal administrative assistant for a large law firm in Sunbury, Pennsylvania for almost 20 years. During that period, I took a six-year hiatus to stay at home with my two young children. I then switched from the legal field to medical and eventually became a supervisor of the desk personnel at Associated Oral Surgeons. I retired from there last fall after 13 1/2 years.

How many years have you been singing with the SVC?

I’ve been an SVC member since 1987…that’s 32 years! My former sister-in-law, who is a music teacher, talked me into auditioning with her. Until that night, I had never heard of the SVC. Had I known how marvelous they sounded, I would have been nervous at my audition.

What was your favorite concert or chorale season to date, and why?

Of course, I love almost all of the concerts. But an absolute favorite of mine was the Karl Jenkins “Stabat Mater.” I was mesmerized by the instrumentation and beauty of the vocal parts. The entire work is just stunning!

Do you have any other musical involvements?

Musical involvement began for me, like most of the SVC members, by singing in the children’s choir at church. When I was five, my family moved from Pennsylvania to Kansas where I started accordion lessons. We returned to New Berlin, Pennsylvania when I was ten, and I began piano and voice lessons and continued with both through high school. I studied violin from 7th – 12th grades and played in both the string ensemble and orchestra. I had the privilege of taking private voice and organ lessons at Susquehanna University while still in high school, and I began playing pipe organ in church at the age of 15. I’ve accompanied and sung with church and school choirs from elementary school through high school. Currently I’m one of two organists at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Berlin and will soon have served there as the music director for the past 25 years.

Do you have any other family members involved with SVC or SVYC?

No, none of my family is involved with SVC or SVYC as a singer. But my husband loves to usher at the concerts. My mother was a regular concert attendee until recent years. My brothers all appreciate good music, but none of them sing in a group.

What keeps you coming back to sing with the chorale year after year?

What I enjoy most about being in the SVC is that I love singing high quality music under Bill’s excellent direction. And I love the camaraderie I share with the SVC members. I do have one question, however. How does he know when one little part, be it vocal or instrumental, is off? He hears everything!