A native Long Islander, Artistic Director Jeffrey Schneider has been active in the musical community for more than four decades. Mr. Schneider founded the North Shore Chamber Choir, now in its 15th season, and presently serves as its Musical Director. In addition, he has established and coordinated the North Shore Winter Choral Festival, and has served as Music Director for the Fire in the Spirit rally at the Nassau Coliseum, the Shoreham-Wading River Community Chorus, and the Town of Brookhaven's Remembrance & Renewal commemoration of the heroes of September 11th. His extensive history in the arts includes serving as music director at several churches in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, during which time he designed and installed two pipe organs and published one of his church anthems. Mr. Schneider is also an accomplished instrumentalist and has held the position of co-principal bassoonist of the Sound Symphony.

Mr. Schneider holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Cathedral College and began his postgraduate music training as a bassoon major at Mannes College of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, and studied with Harold Goltzer, co-principal bassoonist of the New York Philharmonic. He received his Master's degree from the Rensselaer Program in Church Music and Liturgy in Rensselaer, Indiana. He is a recipient of the Cantate Domino award and is a member of the American Society of Publishers, Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).

Michael Loeffler is a born-and-bred Long Islander.  He graduated from SUNY-New Paltz in May 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and currently works as a leasing consultant on Long Island.  His musical background began with high school musical performances, choir ensembles, variety shows, and benefit concerts.  He has performed with The Wesleyan Singers (a 12- person chamber choir) based in Virginia Beach at Virginia Wesleyan College, Absolut A Cappella of SUNY-New Paltz (where he was also Musical Director/Choreographer), and now the LIGMC.  Michael's dance background began in 2001 at Vic D'Amore Dance Studio.  He continued to dance throughout his college career with Culture Shock Dance Troupe, and choreographed as well as danced in Fresh Dance, a student-run dance show at SUNY-New Paltz.  Dancing and singing are his passions in life and nothing makes him happier than to be able to combine the two to help progress this amazing group of men to higher and higher levels of achievement.  LIGMC is more than a performing ensemble . . . it is a brotherhood, a family, and most importantly a group of outstanding individuals with a collective dream of bettering the lives, rights, and perceptions of the Gay and Lesbian community.
 

It seems Jeanette Barsi Cooper has been around choral music her whole life. She sang in her first church choir at the tender age of 11 and continues to enjoy being on both sides of the risers. She has musically directed for many area theaters, taking special pride in crating a beautiful ensemble sound. She has collaborated on many musical revues, favorites including "They Can't Take That Away" (the music of George and Ira Gershwin) and "Carolyn Carolin' Thru the Snow." Currently she is Accompanist for The Brookhaven Choral Festival, the Long Island Gay Men's Chorus, North Shore Chamber Choir, and the Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson school choral programs. Many thanks to the LIGMC for giving her the opportunity to be involved in their program.
 

SEAN ARTHURS
Chorus Librarian

STEPHEN DOONE
Webmaster

JIM COLLIER
President