Artistic Staff
Meet the dedicated musicians and educators who lead Cuyahoga Valley
Choral Arts.
Edward Arthur "Ted" Shure
Artistic Director, Cuyahoga Valley Choral Arts
Edward Arthur “Ted” Shure is a versatile conductor, pianist, and educator who has served as the director of the Cuyahoga Valley Community Chorus (formerly the Cuyahoga Falls Community Chorus) since 2004. Under his leadership, the organization expanded into Cuyahoga Valley Choral Arts, Inc., establishing its own 501(c)(3) and launching the Cuyahoga Valley Children’s Choir to serve underrepresented youth in the Akron area. His tenure is marked by high-profile performances, including the group’s sought after performances at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Cuyahoga Falls, a concert for President George W. Bush and regular appearances at Akron Rubber Ducks and Cleveland Cavaliers games.
An accomplished collaborator, Mr. Shure has served as Artistic Director for the Master Singers Chorale of Northeast Ohio and Music Director for the Chagrin Valley Choral Union. He has worked alongside world-renowned conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, and Claudio Abbado as a rehearsal accompanist. Additionally, he has contributed to the local arts community as a rehearsal conductor for the Akron Symphony Chorus, as an accompanist for the choirs at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and other school districts. He is also sought after as an adjudicator for competitions and festivals throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Mr. Shure earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. His primary piano teacher was his father, renown performing artist and teacher, Leonard Shure (who once taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Cleveland Music School Settlement, in addition to appearing as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra on numerous occasions). While at the Conservatory Mr. Shure studied choral conducting with Lorna Cooke DeVaron, voice with Mark Pearson, and composition and music history from Daniel Pinkham. Throughout his career, he has refined his craft through master classes with legendary musicians like Andre Watts and Menahem Pressler, and has performed as an orchestral pianist with symphonies in New Mexico and Savannah.
Active in several professional organizations, Mr. Shure is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Steinway Educators Partnership. His commitment to his community has been recognized with the Honorary Boulevard Award from the City of Cuyahoga Falls for his extensive volunteer work. Beyond the podium, he serves on the Summit Christian School Board of Education and is an avid photographer and digital artist.
Colleen Coyle Miller
Associate Conductor, Cuyahoga Valley Community Chorus · Music Director, Cuyahoga Valley Children's Choir
Colleen Coyle Miller is a versatile soprano, conductor, and arts educator based in Akron, Ohio, with extensive experience in both community and professional choral settings. She serves as a Board Member of Cuyahoga Valley Choral Arts, Inc. and is the Associate Conductor of the Cuyahoga Valley Community Chorus, where she plays a central role in music selection, conducting, organizational leadership, and performance.
She is also the Music Director of the newly formed Cuyahoga Valley Children’s Choir, where she creates meaningful and engaging performance opportunities for young singers. In addition, Colleen is the Artistic Director at S.C.O.P.E. Academy, leading music and theater programs and directing ensembles that perform throughout the Akron community. Her work as an educator continues with Summit Arts Collective, where she teaches music, theater, and visual art across a variety of programs.
In addition to singing with the Cuyahoga Valley Community Chorus, Colleen is also a soprano with the Akron Symphony Chorus and has appeared with several distinguished ensembles, including Summit Choral Society and the Master Singers Chorale of Northeast Ohio. She has earned recognition for both her solo performances and her leadership within these organizations.
Colleen studied in the Honors Program at Kent State University’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music and has received multiple honors for her artistic contributions, including civic recognition and international accolades for her performances. She lives in Akron, Ohio with her husband and two kids, who share her love of the arts!
John Eley
Pianist
John Eley is a vital member of the team at Cuyahoga Valley Choral Arts as pianist for both the adult and children’s choir. He is a lifelong singer and multi-instrumentalist with degrees in Music Performance from The Ohio State University and the Royal Academy of Music.
John is the Director of Music at Grandview United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. During the day, he manages the office operations at Hank’s Refrigeration, Inc. in Norton, Ohio. John spends much of his free time singing, playing, and directing in churches and schools throughout Northeast Ohio.
He is grateful to Ted Shure, Colleen Coyle-Miller, and the rest of the folks at Cuyahoga Valley Choral Arts for two years of excellent music-making and community-building.