Sasha Gerritson

Ópera Director, Choral Conductor, Philanthropist

Sasha Gerritson, Director of Music Ministries at Park Ridge Community Church

Sasha Gerritson is the Director of Music Ministries at Park Ridge Community Church in Park Ridge, Illinois.1 2 3 In this role, she conducts five choirs and oversees the church's large and robust Music Ministry.1 2

Background and Education

Sasha holds degrees in Opera Performance, French and Vocal Pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University (BA, MA) and DePaul University (PC).1
She has also studied choral conducting at Westminster College in New Jersey.1

Professional Experience

Sasha is a full-time professor at Northeastern Illinois University in the Music Department, teaching Opera, Music Theory and Sight-Singing.1
She previously served as the Executive Director of a not-for-profit children's group called The Happiness Club which used music, dance and drama to teach kids positive values.1
Sasha also worked for ten years as the Department Chair and Director of the Vocal Program for the MERIT School of Music.1
In 1998, while attending DePaul University, Sasha was recruited to be assistant to Maestro Daniel Barenboim at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and at the Staatsoper in Berlin, holding this position for two years.1

Performing Career

In addition to her teaching and leadership roles, Sasha enjoys an extensive solo performing career as both a Soprano and Choral Conductor in Chicago and internationally.1
She has sung the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs games many times and has performed leading roles with many of the area's opera companies.1
Sasha has been featured as a soloist at the Ravinia Festival and has sung leading roles in operas such as Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Bohème, La Traviata, and Falstaff.1

Awards and Recognition

Sasha is the recipient of many awards including the Harold Berlinger award, the Joan Sachs Memorial Award and Talent Scholarship.1
She has been featured on Channel 2 television as "Someone You Should Know" and was honored in 2005 as the Distinguished Alumna of the Year of DePaul University.1