Conner Newkam-Ulrich (he, him, his) is a conductor, vocalist, and collaborator based in Harrisburg, PA. He serves as the conductor for the Lancaster Chamber Singers, Director of Music at Christ Church UCC in Elizabethtown, PA, and Conference Chair for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA-PA). At Christ Church, Conner directs the Chancel Choir and oversees a diverse music program that includes 3 youth and children’s ensembles, a handbell choir, a contemporary praise band, and the church’s concert music series. He has conducted various ensembles, including the Mansfield University Festival Chorus and Chamber Singers, and has performed with the Mansfield University Concert Choir at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and throughout Europe. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Mansfield University, where he studied conducting with Dr. Peggy Dettwiler and served as an undergraduate assistant conductor.
Recently, Conner received the 2024 Outstanding Young Conductor Award from ACDA-PA and was honored with the Harrisburg Young Professionals 20 in their 20’s Award. In 2018, Conner worked as a production assistant for The Crossing, a Philadelphia-based professional choir, contributing to four recordings that received Grammy nominations. He also performs with the Susquehanna Chorale and the Grantham Consort in Central PA and has studied with renowned choral conductors and educators, including William Weinert, Andre Thomas, Betsy Cook Weber, Anton Armstrong, and Lynda Hasseler.
Murray holds the BM degree in Music Education and in Organ from Oberlin College, and MM in Organ and Church Music from Eastman School of Music. He has taught for public and private high schools and at the college level. He has served as Director of Music for St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Salt Lake City, for St. John's Episcopal Church, Hampton VA, for First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln NE, and most recently for Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster PA. He has two adult children and five grandchildren, and is married to Pam Joy. While retired, Murray substitutes as musician for Grace Lutheran and Good Shepherd Lutheran, and since September 2024 he is accompanist for Lancaster Chamber Singers. When Murray isn't practicing he likes to cook, work on house projects, groom his English Springer Spaniel, or work in the garden and landscape.
Karen Homsher has been singing with the Lancaster Chamber Singers since 1981 as a member of the soprano or alto sections. In addition to being assistant rehearsal conductor, she also serves as the music librarian for the ensemble. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Houghton College and a Master of Music degree at the University of Michigan. She is a retired music educator and is active at Leacock Presbyterian Church where she sings in the chancel choir and directs the handbell choir.
The Lancaster Chamber Singers is composed of 35 to 40 volunteer members from Lancaster County and the surrounding area. Though LCS singers come from different musical, professional, and cultural backgrounds, they are passionate about coming together to create music!
The Lancaster Chamber Singers Steering Committee is composed of LCS singers and community members with a shared goal of supporting the ensemble. The Steering Committee oversees the day-to-day operations, music library, finances, philanthropy, policies, and marketing for the Lancaster Chamber Singers.
The Lancaster Chamber Singers, directed by Conner Newkam-Ulrich, is a select group of 35 to 40 auditioned volunteer vocalists performing sacred and secular choral works in a chamber setting. From the ensemble’s inception in 1978, the mission of the Lancaster Chamber Singers has been to provide an engaging vocal opportunity for experienced musicians and to bring the great choral heritage of our culture to life for audiences and singers alike.
The Lancaster Chamber Singers perform primarily in the Lancaster area, with regular concerts taking place in May and December. The group has also appeared in numerous invitation-only settings, including the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Longwood Gardens, and the Brandywine Museum of Art. In addition to singing a capella, the Singers also perform with notable Lancaster area instrumentalists and ensembles. Beyond the group’s regular spring and winter concert seasons, the Lancaster Chamber Singers have performed numerous charity concerts to benefit local and national causes.
Performances of note include Mozart’s Requiem with former Metropolitan Opera bass/baritone John Darrenkamp and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs with Met baritone Mark Oswald. LCS premiered Voices of Psalms, a unique work based on an Amish hymn, by Lancaster County composer Pomice Stoltzfus. The group has also been honored to commission and debut several pieces by Lebanon County composer and LCS member Lyndon Gehman. The ensemble presented the Pennsylvania premiere of James Bassi’s Harpsonnets, based on the works of Shakespeare and featuring New York City harpist Ray Pool. LCS was invited to help celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown with a concert at Bruton Parish Church, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. In the spring of 2018, the Lancaster Chamber Singers marked their 40th anniversary with a gala performance of Mozart’s Mass in C Major (Coronation Mass) with full orchestra for an audience of over 500.