Holmes County's Toni Shreve Joins Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Performs at Carnegie Hall

Toni Arnold Shreve, a collaborative pianist and vocal coach at The College of Wooster, has earned a place in the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and will take the stage at Carnegie Hall on Jan. 20 as part of the chorus’ current tour. The opportunity follows performances at Severance Hall in November and the December holiday concert, and a run of Verdi’s Requiem presented Jan. 15, 16 and 18.

Shreve won a spot after a competitive audition and joined the 130-voice chorus that accompanies the Cleveland Orchestra. Her selection places a Holmes County native on two of the nation’s most prestigious platforms for orchestral and choral music, and it brings visibility to local arts programs and institutions that helped shape her development. “Being able to perform in Severance Hall is almost a religious experience in and of itself,” Shreve said, adding that “Performing at Carnegie Hall might just be an out-of-body experience for me.”

The chorus work required regular travel to rehearsals at Severance Hall this season and intense preparation once the group resumed rehearsals Jan. 4, followed by orchestra join-up the next week. Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Wong, director of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and a recent retiree from COW, the ensemble drew on a mix of longtime veterans and newcomers, including a quartet from The College of Wooster. Shreve praised Wong’s leadership: “Lisa is amazing, truly a force in the music world,” and noted that Wong “is so amazing at getting the best out of all of us while getting exactly what she wants out of each piece.”

Shreve’s role in the chorus intersects with longstanding local ties. She performs around Holmes County, including at St. John’s Evangelic Church near Millersburg and with local groups such as Thumbs McGee, keeping a steady presence in community music-making even as she pursues larger stages. “My mom said I could sing before I talked,” she said, recalling early starts in church and family encouragement. “My grandma had me singing in church when I was 3 years old. My brother says that for me, singing is like breathing, so I feel blessed with every opportunity to play music and sing.”

For Holmes County, Shreve’s Carnegie Hall appearance is more than a personal milestone. It highlights the county’s cultural pipeline—from church choirs and local bands to college music programs—and can strengthen community support for arts education. The chorus will proceed to Florida after the Carnegie Hall date; Shreve will bow out for the Florida leg due to scheduling conflicts.

This moment underscores how individual success can amplify local cultural capital and inspire young musicians here. For readers, Shreve’s ascent offers a concrete example of the opportunities available to county performers and a reminder that local stages and mentors can lead to venues as far-reaching as Carnegie Hall.