Artistic Director

The 2024 season marks Karen Mail’s fourteenth season as Artistic Director of Mason Chorale. Karen is also Director of Music Ministries at Heritage Presbyterian Church in Mason, and a voice instructor at West Chester Academy of Music and Dance. She is an accomplished soprano soloist, conductor, choral adjudicator, and music educator.

Karen has conducted Mason Chorale in John Rutter’s Gloria and Michael Burkhardt's Savior of the Nations, Come, both presented with soloists, chamber orchestra, and organ. She has prepared Chorale to sing with Paul Stanbery’s Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra under J. R. Cassidy; and at Choirs4Crayons with the Greater Cincinnati Choral Consortium, and the World Choir Games.

At Heritage Presbyterian Church, Karen selects music and directs their handbell choirs and vocal ensembles, and sings regularly for their weekly worship services. She is a soloist and section leader for West Chester Chorale, performing the role of "The Mother" in their presentations of Amahl and the Night Visitors, and as soprano soloist for Schubert’s Mass in G, Te Deum by Anton Bruckner, and Missa Luba, a setting of the Latin Mass sung in styles traditional to the Democratic Republic of Congo arranged by Father Guido Haazen.

A passionate music educator, Karen taught vocal and choral music for the Hamilton City Schools to singers in grades K through 12. Her school choirs received many superior ratings and first place trophies at choral competitions. She is currently an adjudicator for Music in the Parks, who sponsors competitions for school music groups at theme parks around the country.

Professional memberships include Chorus America, American Choral Directors of America, and Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians. Karen participates in many of national, state and local events sponsored by these organizations.

Karen is a graduate of Indiana University’s School of Music, studying with Virginia MacWatters, and touring with their Singing Hoosiers. She has also done extensive post graduate work at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Accompanist

Ann began her piano studies at the age of seven. Ann holds an Associate in Arts degree from North East Mississippi Junior College (1977). Studying with Dr. Natalia DaRosa at the University of Mississippi, and then with pianist Max W. Pugh at Union University, Ann earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Union University in Jackson, TN (1980). As a student of renowned pianist Daniel Fletcher, Ann earned a Masters of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Memphis (1982).

In 1982, the music education division of the Baldwin Piano & Organ Co. brought Ann to Cincinnati. For the next 12 years, while at Baldwin, Ann taught pre-school and class piano, and developed curriculum for all stages of musical education, including co-authoring Let’s Make Music Together! with Judy Long & Suzanne Whitaker. In 1985, Ann joined the faculty of the Toedtman School of Music, where she met her husband, pianist & teacher Tim LeVan.

Mrs. LeVan served as the organist for Pleasant Ridge United Methodist Church from 1982 - 1986. Loveland United Methodist Church called her as their music director from 1988 thru 1991. In 1994, having heard Mrs. LeVan perform as an organist for a wedding, Blue Ash Presbyterian Church invited her to become their organist. Two years later, BAPC added to her responsibilities the position of music director; a role that she held through 2003. Between 2003 & 2018, Ann actively participated at Hope Church, and served Hope’s choir as their accompanist from 2009 through 2015. Ann currently is the church accompanist and rings in the bell choir at Heritage Presbyterian Church (Mason, OH). She also sings and plays piano for the Mason Chorale - a community choir based at HPC.

Secretary-Michelle Romans

Treasurer-Bill Devine

President-Alana Plessinger

Accompanist-Ann LeVan