Our Staff
Erik Clayton
Artistic Director
Erik Clayton received his Undergraduate and Masters degrees in music from Penn State University. During his time at Penn State, he studied conducting with Dr. Lynn Drafall, Dr. Christopher Kiver and Prof. Gerardo Edelstein. Since 2015, Mr. Clayton has served as Director of Choirs at State College Area High School. Ensembles under Mr. Clayton's direction have been selected to perform at state-level conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Previously, Mr. Clayton held positions at Williamsport Area High School and Central Dauphin High School. From 2011-2012 he served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Williamsport Chamber Choir and Orchestra and appeared as a guest conductor with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Clayton is excited to take up the baton as the Artistic Director of the State College Choral Society beginning in the 2024-2025 season. He resides in State College with his wife and four children.
John Bukowski
Accompanist
John Bukowski is in his second year as accompanist of the State College Choral Society. He has previously performed with the Choral Society on works such as Brahms’ Liebeslieder, Elgar’s From the Bavarian Highlands, and Vaughan Williams’ In Windsor Forest, as well as in several Christmas concerts. Bukowski studied piano with Hanna Wu Li at Carnegie Mellon University for many years and was a winner of the Young Artists Auditions of the Pittsburgh Concert Society. He has performed solo recitals in Boothbay Harbor (Maine), Salvador (Brazil), and Huntingdon (PA). Bukowski is the long-time accompanist of the Juniata College Concert Choir and Choral Union. He conducted the Concert Choir during the Fall 2018 semester and on a subsequent tour of Germany, Switzerland, and France. In recent years, he has participated in summer conducting workshops at Westminster Choir College. Bukowski is organist and music coordinator at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Huntingdon, where he also conducts the Trinity Choir. He is Professor of Mathematics and former Mathematics Department Chair at Juniata College.
Tom Penkala
General Manager
Tom Penkala, a twenty-six year member of the Choral Society, is retired from Penn State University after serving 30 years in Housing & Food Services, Donor Relations and the Office of the Board of Trustees. During his tenure with SCCS, he has served in many roles; as a board member, Board Chair and as General Manager for the past 17 years. A lifelong resident of Centre County, he has enjoyed participation in musical groups since junior high school, OLV Church Choir and numerous international choir tours, PSU Concert Choir, Penn State Singers, Orpheus Singers and Penn State's production of La Bohème.
Zeke Zembower
Chorus Manager
Zeke Zembower, a twenty-four year member of the Choral Society, is retired from the State College Area School District where he served as a Music Educator and Instructional Technology Specialist. He has previously served as a member of the board of directors for multiple organizations including the Penn State Alumni Blue Band Association, State College Meals on Wheels, and the State College Choral Society.
Emily Gregory
Music Sales Coordinator
Emily Gregory is mom to three grown children and Nana of two wonderful boys. She is a retired Special Education teacher from Juniata Valley School District and adjunct professor at Juniata Collage. She joined the Choral Society in January of 1992 and served as board secretary for six years prior to her current position as music sales manager. Emily orders music and arranges for the distribution of the music to members. She also arranges for audio recording of the concerts, takes orders and sells the concert recordings to members. You may see Emily ushering at Center for Performing Arts events.
Michaela Penkala
Graphic Designer
& Web Editor
Michaela Penkala is a true State College "townie"; having been born and raised here, and even graduating from Penn State with a degree in Graphic Design. She is excited to continue to put her knowledge to use, creating the logos, program covers, tickets, and any other designs needed for the State College Choral Society and their website. Her other work experience includes being an intern at a PSU Alum founded graphic design firm in Maryland, a short stint in merchandising at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and is currently a sales floor manager and social media manager at Lions Pride in downtown State College.
H. Ryan Ditmer
Board Chair
2022 - 2025
Originally from Juniata County, Ryan Ditmer moved to the State College area in 1985. He has lived in Boalsburg for over 37 years, and has been a member of the SCCS since the 1990/1991 concert season. He previously served on the SCCS Board from 1997 to 2003 and was the SCCS Board Chair from 1998 to 2003 which included the SCCS 50th Anniversary and the transition from Dr. D. Douglas Miller to Dr. Russell Shelley as Music Directors. During the week Ryan works as a Project Manager in Altoona at Glass Mender Mirror & Plate and during the weekends he is on the bench as an organist at St. John's UCC in Boalsburg, Associate Organist at St. Paul's Methodist, or as a Pianist at Grace Lutheran, both in State College.
Calvin Amato
Vice Chair
2024 - 2027
Calvin Amato is a dedicated funeral professional and licensed trainee at Koch Funeral Home in State College. With a diverse educational background, Calvin completed coursework at Arizona State University, where he majored in neuroscience, and presently attends the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
In addition to his professional achievements, Calvin has pursued a range of personal interests that enrich his life and contribute to his well-rounded professional perspective. As a certified death doula through the International Association of Professions Career College, he provides invaluable support and guidance to individuals and families during challenging times through his business, Immortal Beloved. Calvin's passion for holistic healing also extends to his certification as a meditation and yoga teacher through Yogamu, allowing him to share the transformative power of mindfulness with others.
Calvin's leadership qualities have been recognized through his former role as President of Helping Hands, where he championed community engagement and service. Additionally, he advocated for bridging the gap and healing the divide in rural communities as the Pennsylvania State Chairman and Regional Director overseeing fundraising and recruitment in 15 states of the United Rural Democrats. Currently, Calvin is an esteemed member of the Standards Board for MenuTrinfo, ensuring food safety and allergen management across the United States and Canada. He also contributes his expertise as a member of the Board of Directors for Tides Program.
Aside from his professional achievements, Calvin also finds joy and inspiration in his personal pursuits. During his free time, he immerses himself in the soothing melodies of jazz music, finds solace in the timeless charm of old black and white films, and embarks on thrilling adventures exploring caves. Calvin has also been known to capture the beauty of nature through his photography.
Calvin is pleased to join and contribute to the State College Choral Society Board of Directors in 2024.
Colleen Kennedy
Treasurer
2022 - 2025
This bio is yet to come! It takes time to summarize one's life into a few sentences.
Carolyn Johnson
Secretary
2024 - 2027
Carolyn Johnson grew up in Bucks County, went to Penn State, and has lived in several cities, including a year in Germany, before moving back to State College. She has loved singing all of her 70 years, and has sung in choirs while in school, including some solos. She joined the Choral Society in 2003 and needed to take a hiatus to care for her mother for a few years. She has since retired from her faculty position at Penn State, and her mother is in assisted living, so she was thrilled to be able to join SCCS again for the fall season of 2022. Fun fact: two of her children are singer/songwriters, and play several instruments!
Crispolo Bloom
Board Member
2024 - 2027
Cris Bloom has been with the State College Choral Society (in the small, but mighty tenor section!) since 2015. He joined the Board in 2021 and is serving his second, three-year term.
Outside of SCCS, Cris is a technology enthusiast, passionate church musician, and fan of sci-fi & theater. One of his greatest joys is directing the Saturday Music Ministry at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Port Matilda. He also enjoys serving on the Parish’s Pastoral and Knights of Columbus Councils, as well as the Executive Team for the BEA Performing Arts Boosters.
Professionally, Cris works at Penn State as a Telecommunications Analyst – his unit supports the University’s Voice Over IP (VoIP) phone systems and related IT infrastructure.
SCCS was his first ‘big’ choir, and he continues to learn so much from our experienced musicians. Cris is thrilled to be serving on the Board and is looking forward to another great season!
Jonathan Brockopp
Board Member
2022 - 2025
This bio is yet to come! It takes time to summarize one's life into a few sentences.
Val Flamini
Board Member
2023 - 2026
Valerie Flamini came to State College to complete a Ph.D. at Penn State in Music education after years of conducting choirs, teaching voice, and directing theatre. Valerie taught 10 years in Georgia public schools where she conducted and taught music for three high schools and an elementary school. She moved to Pennsylvania in 2008 and was offered a conducting position with the Susquehanna Valley Chorale where she directed three youth chorale ensembles over the course of 8 years. Dr. Flamini currently teaches for PSU. In addition, she runs a music studio where she teaches voice, Sohum Studio. Valerie recently released a book, inspired by her research on flow experiences, The Conscious Human: Flow With the Elements of Art.
Jud Mathews
Board Member
2023 - 2026
Jud Mathews started singing with the State College Choral Society in 2023, more than a quarter century since his last organized singing experience, in a college a cappella group. He has lived in State College since 2013 with his wife and two sons. He is a Professor of Law and Political Science at Penn State and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Penn State Law.
Rose Petrunyak
Board Member
2022 - 2025
As a Bellefonte native, Rose Petrunyak was more than willing to return to Happy Valley when her husband
retired from the military. After living all around the world, they decided the four seasons and
glorious landscapes of central PA were just what they needed. Despite their many moves, Rose tried to
sing in choral groups whenever she could. Aside from being part of the IUP Chorale in her good old
college days, she was fortunate enough to sing with the Lebanon Valley College Alumni Chorale
while living in the Hershey area for a few years.
Rose currently works for Penn State World Campus as a Military Enrollment Initiatives Coordinator
and spends the rest of her time hiking with her beagle, volunteering in the community for fantastic
organizations such as Clearwater Conservancy, The Central PA Arts Fest and Free Mom Hugs. She also recently took up Mahjong! Basically Rose likes to be busy now that her two kids are grown and
gone.
Leslie Smith
Board Member
2024 - 2027
Leslie Smith has been a member of the State College Choral Society since 2022. She grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Dayton with a business degree and Gannon University's paralegal program. She worked for many years for Tom Ridge as Executive Assistant in his private law practice, Congressional Office and Governor's Office. Over the years she has participated in the Erie Philharmonic Choir, the Chautauqua Institution Regional Choir, the Capitol Hill Choir in Washington, DC, and various church choirs.
After retiring from the law firm of DLA Piper, she moved to the State College area in 2020 with her husband from Philadelphia where their son still resides.
Debbie Strine
Board Member
2022 - 2025
Debbie Strine and her husband moved to Centre County to spend retirement here. Her husband retired... but she didn't! She currently works as a Registered Nurse for Penn State, and works part time at Mt. Nittany Medical Center. She had sung with the Sacred Heart Choir, and the Heinz Chapel Choir at the University of Pittsburgh while in college in the early 70's, and hadn't been in a choir since then before joining SCCS! (Too busy, raising four sons.) She has not had any formal music training, but rather learns by listening. Debbie has ten grandchildren, so if you don't see her at practice or an event, it's likely that she is watching a grandkid (or 2)!
Walter Wells
Board Member
2023 - 2026
Walter Wells completed his degrees at Penn State University, studying Voice with Willa Taylor, William Lewis, and Robert Trehy, Conducting with D. Douglas Miller, and Composition with James Case. He worked in the Penn State Arts and Humanities Library for 32 years, and has been choirmaster at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in State College for 48 years. He has sung with orchestras in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts, and did regional opera work in Pennsylvania. Several of his choral compositions have been published. He was very active in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania as a musician, directing the music for the consecration of the two most recent bishops. He has been a member of the Choral Society for 12 years. He and his wife Molly, who has also sung in the society, reside in State College with a very intelligent master of the house, Mariss the cat.