Daniel Lentz Voices High Praise for Wooster’s Music Program

When people hear Daniel Lentz sing, they are often surprised — sometimes even shocked — that such a bold baritone sound could emanate from a body so slight in stature. “That’s what people tell me,” says Lentz, who stands 5’8” and weighs just 155 lbs. “They don ’t expect me to have that kind of voice.”

But Lentz, a senior music major, has made believers of audiences at The College of Wooster and elsewhere for the past three years, particularly the faculty. “He has a presence on stage that enables him to connect with people,” says Pam Yarnell, adjunct professor of piano at Wooster. “He is very effective at incorporating the audience into his performance.”

Lentz, whose family moved to Wooster from southern Ohio in 1993, honed his craft as a member of several ensembles at Wooster High School, but his first love was theatre. He appeared in more than a dozen productions and had lead roles in five shows, including Linus in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” and Danny Zucko in “Grease,” but he always enjoyed singing and even belonged to a local rock band ("Sullen Aura”) with several friends from high school.

Despite his natural talent, Lentz is quick to recognize those who nurtured him along the way, including Amy Gilbert, director of choirs at Wooster High School; Joyce Mason, former choir director at Wooster High School; Todd Raney, vocal coach and music director at Wooster United Methodist Church; and Charles Snyder, director of the All-Ohio Youth Choir, of which Lentz was a member. “They were very good to me,” he says. “They told me I had a gift and that I needed to develop it.”

By the time Lentz came to The College of Wooster, he knew he wanted to sing, but he wasn’t sure about majoring in music. “I wanted to be in the Wooster Chorus because I had heard them perform, and I knew they were excellent,” says Lentz. “When I auditioned with Mr. (Jack) Russell (director of the Wooster Chorus), he told me that I should strongly consider majoring in music.”

And so Lentz, like most of Russell’s students, recognized the wisdom of his words (not to mention the consequences of ignoring his advice) and became a full-time music student. Since that time, Lentz has taken advantage of every opportunity. He is a member of four a cappella groups: A Round of Monkeys, Sacred Choral, PAX, and the Wooster Chorus. As a junior, he was appointed bass choral scholar at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lakewood, Ohio, where Russell is director of music. For two-and-a-half years, his voice teacher was James Mismas, former adjunct Wooster faculty member and Ohio Light Opera performer. Currently, he is studying with David Templeton, a member of Wooster’s music department and an internationally recognized singer of opera.

Lentz credits the Wooster faculty for his continued development as a singer. “They have been so supportive,” he says. “I’m really glad I decided to major in music.”

Many believe the best is yet to come for Lentz. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in vocal performance, after which he hopes to enter the highly competitive world of classical music performance, something Russell believes he can achieve.

“With his rich and warm baritone sound as well as his a remarkable work ethic, Daniel has the talent to become the next Erie Mills (a 1975 Wooster graduate who sings with various operas around the world),” says Russell. “He really is that good.”