Darlene Kuperus, DMus

Workshop Presenter

Events

Workshop – Leading Ladies… Lasting Legacies: Emma Lou Diemer, Marilyn Mason, and Alice Parker
Convention Hotel
7/9/2020 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM

About

Darlene Kuperus is a versatile musician. Over the span of her career she has served as a full- time church music director, organist, pianist, conductor, chamber musician, and concert manager. In the fall of 2016, she was a Visiting Faculty member at the University of Michigan Organ Department during the sabbatical of Dr. James Kibbie, Department Chair.

She is a frequent presenter at the Annual Organ Conference at the University of Michigan. Her presentation at the Fall 2018 conference (theme: Women as Trailblazers) was titled Living Legends….Lasting Legacies: Emma Lou Diemer, Marilyn Mason, Alice Parker. Her presentation at the fall 2016 conference was titled, Current Practices in Christian Churches: Observations of Clergy and Church Musicians which was based on a survey of professionals from around the country.

Darlene has spent over 30 years as a church musician in positions at Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. She has conducted the Community Chamber Singers since 1997. Under her direction, this ensemble has performed Handel’s Messiah each December, accompanied by professional orchestra and soloists. In addition, she has conducted performances of other major choral works such as Mozart’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass, Rutter’s Feel the Spirit, among others.

Kuperus earned her undergraduate degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. She earned Master and Doctoral degrees in Church Music at the University of Michigan. She serves as the sub-dean of the American Guild of Organists/Ann Arbor Chapter.

She is currently the Assistant Music Director/Accompanist at the First United Methodist Church of Plymouth, MI. She is also a piano and organ instructor at the Fine Arts Academy of the church.