Our Music Director

Dr. Julia Davids enjoys a thriving career as a versatile musician.  She holds degrees in Education, Conducting and Voice Performance from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario), the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan), and a D.M. from Northwestern University.  Julia has been Music Director of the North Shore Choral Society since 2009. As a soprano soloist, she is an avid performer and recitalist having appeared with Bella Voce, the Callipygian Players, the Haymarket Opera, Music of the Baroque, and others. 

She is the Stephen J. Hendrickson Endowed Chair of Choral Activities at North Park University, Chicago, where she directs the choirs and teaches conducting and music education.  Julia has been the Artistic Director of the Canadian Chamber Choir since 2004.   Julia is also Director of Music Ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette.   She is co-author with NSCS member Stephen LaTour of the book Vocal Technique – A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers.  She resides in Skokie with her husband, baroque violinist Martin Davids, and their two children, Judith and Solomon.

Our Assistant Conductor

Organist and conductor Dr. Julia Brueck serves as Minister of Music at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Glenview, Illinois. Prior to this appointment she held the position of Director of Music Ministries at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City, Iowa, and served as Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dr. Brueck was recently appointed as Assistant Conductor with the North Shore Choral Society.

She earned a D.M.A. in Organ Performance and Pedagogy, an M.A. in Organ Performance and Sacred Music, and the Graduate Certificate in Sacred Music from The University of Iowa. She earned a B.S. in Music Education and a B.A. in Organ and Church Music from Lebanon Valley College, Pennsylvania.

Julia is active as a recitalist, accompanist, and private instructor, and presently serves on the board of the American Guild of Organists North Shore Chapter. She and her husband reside in Glenview with their daughter, Eliza, and are expecting their second child this spring.

Our Accompanist

Pianist for the Chicago Symphony Chorus since auditioning as a North Park College student in 1978, Sharon R. Peterson continues as Accompanist for the CSC as well as at Northwestern University, North Park University, and the North Shore Choral Society, starting in 1979.  She has served as accompanist for several years for Chicago Symphony Singers and CSC’s resident ensembles.  During the seven years spent living in Sweden and Norway, Sharon developed a specialty in Scandinavian Piano Repertoire as well as serving as staff accompanist at The Royal Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway.  Sharon was also the Swedish and Norwegian language coach for the 2005 season at Ravinia’s Steans Institute.  

Studying with Elizabeth Buccheri at North Park College (BM degree) and Robert Weirich at Northwestern University (MM degree), Sharon has also accompanied the Lyric Opera Chorus for several seasons, been Music Director twice of the Lyric Opera’s “Opera In the Neighborhood” touring production of The Magic Flute, served as staff accompanist at Roosevelt University, pianist for Candle Opera, and accompanist in the studios of soprano Maria Lagios and saxophonist Frederick Hemke.  Sharon toured Hawaii with singers Kathleen and Peter van de Graaff and performs with them regularly.  Active as a piano and organ recitalist and coach, Sharon is also organist at North Park Theological Seminary and North Park Covenant Church.