Jesse Cromer has lots of musical irons in the fire.
Cromer, who grew up in Stayton and graduated from Stayton High School, has performed every year since 2008 to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. He is also the choir director at Silverton United Methodist Church.
“I love to perform, teach piano and voice, director choir, compose, golf, occasionally bartend, and cook,” Cromer said. “I love to inspire and be inspired.”
Cromer and the Silverton UMC choir will perform “Love Songs of the 20th Century” at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at the church, 203 W. Main St., Silverton. The concert will explore the facets of love expressed in the genres of opera, standards, pop and modern ballads. Admission is free, and a love-offering basket will be at the door to the sanctuary.
“People can give what they can,” Cromer said. “One-third of the proceeds go to the church.”
The concert will feature music from opera, through the 20th century, with songs by Mozart, Rogers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Al Green, Sondheim, Carol King, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jonathan Larson, and more. Cromer will accompany himself.
Cromer’s musical career started with Pete Roth, his teacher at Stayton Middle School. Roth’s Ensemble, a group that met an hour before classes, featured guitars, recorders, upright bass, piano and singing.
“It had an ‘all God’s creatures got a place in the choir’ feel,” Cromer said. “He was responsible for fostering a deep love for music in hundreds of kids in the Stayton School District. He was to first one who coaxed me to sing.”
In 2009, Cromer graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, during which time he sang in the chorus of Beethoven’s Ninth at Carnegie Hall with a professional choir. While in New York, he also sang for countless services at churches, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Church of the Holy Family, and as a soloist at venues like Avery Fisher Hall.
Cromer has performed operas, musicals and concerts, including a stint on The Letterman Show. Singing the part of Apollo in Appolo e Dafne by G.F. Handel with Underworld Productions was another career highlight. He also sang with the alternative hip-hop super-group Deltron 3030, an experience he called “a blast!” Cromer toured Germany with master conductor Helmuth Rilling and the Festival Ensemble Stuttgart.
After a decade of performing andt teaching in New York City, Cromer returned home to be close to family.
“After marking my first year at the church, (the choir) has grown to 16-plus,” he said. “We perform music from all genres, and specialize in gospel.”
