Luke Zyla was appointed music director and conductor of the Parkersburg Choral Society in 1997. He previously appeared as guest conductor with the group in 1994 and 1995 for concerts presented at the Smoot Theater and was also a member of the tenor section.                                                     Luke Zyla holds bachelors and masters degrees from West Virginia University where he studied conducting with Donald Wilcox, Reginald Goecke, Joseph Goltz, and Donald Portnoy. He has studied choral conducting at WVU and has attended choral workshops at Cleveland State and Concordia College with Rene Clausen at the Rene Clausen Choral  School.                                                                                                 Mr. Zyla began his teaching career in 1978 in the Jackson County Schools and now teaches instrumental music at Parkersburg South High School. He was honored as West Virginia Bandmaster of the Year in 1994 and was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster Fraternity in 1997.  He resides in Parkersburg with his wife Melani and has two grown sons, Marc and Paul. 
   

Marjorie Hamperian graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Marietta College in 1951 and received her master of music degree in 1982 from Ohio University. She has extensive experience as a solo performer and accompanist, and was associated with the Showboat Becky Thatcher for ten seasons beginning in 1977. She has held church organ positions in both Parkersburg and Marietta. Mrs. Hamperian has taught at West Virginia University at Parkersburg since 1986. She is nationally certified as a piano teacher by the Music Teachers National Association