HANDEL | MESSIAH
Artists
Performers
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Macomb Symphony Orchestra -
Andrew NeerConductorAmerican conductor, Andrew Neer, was born in Tucker, Georgia and currently resides in Grosse Pointe, Michigan with his wife, Mary Lynn. He is quickly becoming known for his dynamic and expressive conducting style. His focus has been to educate and expand appreciation of music. He believes that at the heart of everything, music is the soul of America and provides transformative experiences for those performing and participating in the audience.
Living in Michigan for most of his life, he is thrilled to join the Macomb Symphony Orchestra family. He attended Central Michigan University (CMU) studying Composition, Trumpet and Music Theatre Performance. Following his time at CMU, he obtained two Master of Music degrees in Composition and Conducting, respectively, from Wayne State University, Detroit MI. His composition experience ranges from that of the art song to film scores.
In the summer 2013, he was invited to conduct Verdi’s La Traviata for Michigan Opera Theatre’s community programs, receiving high acclaim. In early 2016, he embarked on an international conducting career, appearing with orchestras in Romania and Bulgaria. He is honored to study privately with orchestral conductor & mentor Kenneth Kiesler. In 2023, Andrew completed Doctoral Studies in Orchestral Conducting at the world-renown University of Michigan. In addition to working with orchestras, Mr. Neer has been honored to lead choruses and conduct operas in and around Metropolitan Detroit.
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Charlotte DarrSopranoCharlotte Darr is a Michigan-based soprano who, in the 2026–2027 season, is honored to serve as Artist in Residence with the Macomb Symphony Orchestra and to join Toledo Opera’s chorus for Aida in October.
Recent performances include Morgana in Alcina (Oakland University Opera), Second Lady in The Magic Flute (Opera de Metro, covered Pamina), Silverpeal in The Impresario (Oakland University Opera), Magi in The Gift of the Magi (Opera de Metro, covered Della), and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (St. Dunstan’s Theatre).
Recent concert engagements include the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
As an avid choral singer, Charlotte regularly performs with ensembles throughout metro Detroit. She recently premiered Nora Duncan IV’s Journey: From Slavery to Freedom with the Macomb Symphony Orchestra chorus and sang in the chorus for Mozart’s Requiem with the Warren Symphony Orchestra. She has also sung with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra chorus on projects including Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and, with Opera MODO, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Charlotte has been recognized in several competitions, including as a Finalist in the Opera de Metro Concours de Voix (2026), Semi-Finalist in the Harold Haugh Light Opera Vocal Competition (2025), and Finalist in the Opera MODO Detroit Aria Competition (2019).
Charlotte holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Oakland University, and undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Michigan State University.
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Kendra BeasleyMezzo Soprano -
Jake SurzynBaritone
Born and raised near Detroit, baritone Jake Surzyn has performed with many of Michigan’s opera companies including Detroit Opera and Opera MODO. With Detroit Opera he covered the role of Councilman in Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves and performed in Ragnar Kjartansson’s Bliss as Antonio and Rodríguez’s Frida as Mr. Rockefeller. Throughout Michigan he has sung the roles of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Mandarin in Turandot, Der Lautsprecher in Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Marquis de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites, Doctor Gregg in Gallantry, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Crespel in Les contes d’Hoffmann, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, and covered Guglielmo in a virtual Così fan tutte.
Jake was a resident artist at Indianapolis Opera in 2024 where he sang Fiorello and covered Figaro in their production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. He was an emerging artist at Opera Idaho during the 2022/2023 season, covering the roles of Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Macbeth (Macbeth), Jim Crowley (An American Dream), and Vodník (Rusalka) while performing as Fiorello, il Medico and il Servo, the FBI Detective, and the Hunter. In the 2021/2022 season he was a studio artist with Madison Opera where he covered Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor.
While obtaining his master’s degree at the University of Michigan Jake sang the roles of Schaunard (La bohème), Melisso (Alcina), and Cacambo (Candide). During his undergraduate studies at Oakland University he performed in Die Zauberflöte as Papageno, Die Fledermaus as Frank, and Pirates of Penzance as Samuel.
During the summer of 2024 Jake was a developing artist with Central City Opera where he sang the roles of Samuel in Pirates of Penzance and George Jones in Street Scene. He has been an emerging artist with Charlottesville Opera, having performed as Herr Zegler in The Sound of Music, Sir Lionel in Camelot, and covered Danilo in The Merry Widow, Franz in The Sound of Music, Marcello in La bohème, Lancelot in Camelot, and Escamillo in La tragédie de Carmen.An avid performer of oratorio, Jake has been a soloist in works ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary. These engagements include Mendelssohn’s Elijah, J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, Haydn’s The Creation, Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. In April 2024 Jake covered the baritone soloist in University Musical Society’s performance of Brahms Requiem with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Jake, a champion of contemporary music, has sung Older Thompson in Cipullo’s Glory Denied, Mr. Johannes ‘Pa’ Zegner in Mazzoli’s Proving Up, The Pilot in Portman’s The Little Prince, and was the bass soloist in Lang’s the little match girl passion, Jesus in Chilcott’s St. John Passion, and the baritone soloist in Ticheli’s The Shore. Jake’s world premiere roles include Hõbepappel’s Der kleine Prinz as Der Pilot and John Shwver in Sink’s Shelton Laurel..
Jake serves as executive director for Opera de Metro, an opera company based in southeastern Michigan created in 2024. In previous seasons they have produced David Conte’s The Gift of the Magi, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Le nozze di Figaro, a community sing-along Handel’s Messiah, and a voice competition with divisions for high schoolers and emerging artists. This season Opera de Metro will produce Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Jake’s upcoming engagements include Avram in Fiddler on the Roof, Silvio in Pagliacci, and the Sergeant in La bohème.
Info & Repertoire
Celebrate the holiday season with the Macomb Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Andrew Neer as they present one of the most celebrated choral masterpieces of all time: George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Experience the profound beauty, dramatic narrative, and soaring majesty of this timeless holiday tradition, culminating in the iconic “Hallelujah” chorus.
Program
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Handel: Messiah
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