Cindy Grove
Director
Cindy is a cum laude graduate with a Bachelors of Music from Kent State University where she studied choral conducting under Grammy Award winner Vance George and earned a Masters of Education with Emphasis in Talent Development from Ashland University. She taught music K-12 in East Holmes School District, was a music specialist for Protective Services in Canton, taught music K-3 at Heritage Christian, and just retired after twenty years of teaching for Jackson Local Schools. While working for Jackson Cindy directed her school, Amherst, in a musical video that was entered into a national contest. Her school won third place and $10,000. While teaching at Jackson, she was a Performing Arts Assessor for Summit County as well as Jackson Local Schools where she also served as a member of the Gifted Mandate Plan Committee. Cindy served as a co-director of the Jackson Elementary Honors Choir and was the sole director of the Amherst Choir. Under her direction the Amherst choir became the first elementary choir ever to sing the National Anthem for the Cleveland Cavaliers. She also served as director of the elementary musical theater summer camp for the Jackson School of Arts
Privately, she coached voice students for twenty five years and professionally she has performed as a harpist, pianist and vocalist. Cindy also served as a choral and handbell director at both St. John’s UCC and First Church of Canton. She has written several musicals and appeared in various musical theater productions. She was the interim director for the Greater Canton Men’s Chorus and also served as musical director for Aida under the direction of John Tisavich. Cindy is thrilled to be directing the very first Canton Christmas Spectacular.
Jon C Peterson
Conductor, Malone University
Jon C. Peterson, D.M.A., serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Malone University. At Malone, Dr. Peterson conducts the University Chorale, Chamber Choir and he teaches courses in choral music (including literature, methods and conducting) as well as some coursework in music ministry.
Peterson received his doctoral and masters degrees in choral conducting with a doctoral minor in historical musicology from The University of Arizona and Southern Methodist University, respectively. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Austin College with an undergraduate degree in vocal performance.
Prior to coming to Malone in Fall 2013, Peterson served on the music faculty at Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio and as Artistic Director of The Magpie Consort, a Columbus-based chamber chorus of 20 voices. In addition to his passion for working with university students, his experience in music ministry has taken him to congregations of varying sizes and denominations in Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and Ohio.
In addition to his faculty responsibilities at Malone, he also serves as conductor for the Malone University Honors Choir (for high school students), Voices of Canton, Inc. (VOCI), and The All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir.
When not making music, Dr. Peterson enjoys cycling and spending time with his wife and sons.
