Winter concert is upcoming

sussex county-The Sussex County Oratorio Society has begun rehearsals for its winter concert. Voice placement for new members began at 7:15 p.m. on Monday and will continue at the same time next Monday, Sept. 20, at Christ Episcopal Church in Newton.  There are no auditions.  Under the direction of Al Kopacka, the Oratorio Society rehearses every Monday evening from 7:45-9:45. Kopacka earned his B.M.E. from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Va., where he studied voice with Lloyd Robb.  He has been musically active in Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties, most recently directing the Oratorio Society as well as the Messiah sing-along at the Branchville Presbyterian Church.  He is also currently the director of music at the First Presbyterian church of Washington, N.J., where he and his wife, Vicki, an organist and voice teacher, conduct six choirs. The fall season of the Sussex County Oratorio Society will culminate in a Jan. 9 winter concert of 19th Century Christmas music, including pieces by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Stetsenko, Courtney, and Delibes.  For more information, call 908-850-1179.