Richmond Symphony Chorus

James Erb organized the all-volunteer Richmond Symphony Chorus in 1971 for a December performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, under guest conductor Robert Shaw. For 36 years, Erb continued to direct and build the Chorus to reflect the Symphony’s high standards.  Erin Freeman assumed leadership of the Chorus at the start of its 2007-08 season.

The repertoire for its selected volunteer membership has included most of the standard repertoire for chorus and orchestra: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion and Mass in B Minor, Haydn’s Creation, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Choral Fantasy, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Requiem settings by Mozart, Brahms, Verdi and Fauré, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony and all of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloë. Over the years they have also sung shorter choral-orchestral works by Handel, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Bruckner, Delius, Debussy, Barber, Britten, Richard Strauss, Vaughan Williams, Stravinsky, Olivier Messiaen and Luigi Dallapiccola. In 2000 the Chorus attained a new level with performances of Britten’s demanding War Requiem.

Its annual December rendering of Handel’s Messiah has become a Richmond holiday tradition, along with a seasonal Wachovia Securities Symphony Pops concert and programs of light music. The chorus has several times sung Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in concert and in choreographed versions with the Richmond Ballet.

2007-08 Richmond Symphony Chorus

Erin Freeman, Associate Conductor, The James Erb Choral Chair
Michael Simpson, Accompanist and Assistant Director
Barbara Baker, Manager
Rehearsal Assistants: Melva Carle, Carl Eng, Duke Gosnell

    Alto
  • Christine Smith, section leader
  • Jan Altman
  • Barbara Baker
  • Barbara C. Batson *
  • Laura Mcbride Box
  • Melva Carle *
  • Linda H. Castle
  • Lynn Dichristina
  • Kathryn R. Erhardt
  • Maria J.K. Everett
  • Lindsay Michelle Fielding
  • Mary Cash Folkes
  • Carolyn Halbert
  • Liz Holland
  • Karen Holyer
  • Teresa Hudson
  • Nancy W. Kraus
  • Faith Love
  • Elaine Mandaleris
  • Eileen Mary Mannix
  • Martha Stockstill Mathews
  • Judy Mawyer
  • Kenna R. Payne
  • Lynne H. Read
  • Patricia Reddington
  • Nancy Reed †
  • Faith D. Sartoris †
  • Anne Sherwin †
  • Rita M. Smith
  • Debbi Smith
  • Mary Lou P. Sommardahl
  • Jane Terry
  • Janet E. Tice
  • Sally Warthen †
  • Beth Wiltshire
    Soprano
  • Laura C. Miles, section leader
  • Gerry Baldwin
  • Kerry Blum
  • Leslie Brewer
  • Claudia Carroll
  • Ann Whitfield Carter
  • Patricia G. Davis
  • Shirley B. Diggs
  • Heather Duncan
  • Sharon B. Freude
  • Lisa C. Fusco
  • Mary Bo Gassman
  • Sally Godsey
  • Beth Harper
  • Heather Harvell
  • Mari M. Hayashi
  • Leslie Anne Kay *
  • Cynthia Lee
  • Judy Lewis
  • Ashley M. Love
  • Martye Lowery
  • Gail A. Lyddane
  • Rosemary McCullough
  • Melisse Menchel
  • Theresa Moffett
  • Karen A. Polizzi
  • Cecky Ropelewski
  • Samantha P. Sawyer
  • Nancy Ambrose Schneider
  • Maura Scott
  • Becky Seckora
  • Joanne L. Sherman
  • Jayne Sneed
  • Georgia P. Stewart-Tuck
  • Marsha Summers
  • Kelly Sydnor
  • Charlene Tomlinson
  • Ann Voss *
  • Mary Ellen Wadsworth
  • Cora Wise
    Tenor
  • Wesley Pollard, section leader
  • Kevin Barger
  • Peter Bunn
  • Carl J. Eng *
  • Brian Fatzinger
  • Jody Gordon
  • Eric Jensen
  • Glenn P. Johnson
  • Robert E. Larkin
  • William Marshall
  • Andreas Marx
  • Andrew C. Mercadante
  • William Miller
  • Charles H. O'Neal †
  • Reginald H. Potts IV
  • Jim Rakes
  • Henry P. Robb *
  • Craig E. Ross
  • Gray Snowden
  • Nelson Taylor
  • John D. Watt
    Bass
  • Casey Mickelson, section leader
  • Ed Alexander †
  • M. Stephen Cates
  • Mike Champlin *
  • Mark A. Cole
  • David C. Cooley
  • Don Creach
  • Andrew J. Dolson
  • Martin Erb
  • Ryan Goldenberg
  • Duke Gosnell
  • Ronald V. Haizlip
  • Don Hall
  • Jay H. Hammack †
  • Sam Holland †
  • David R. Johnston
  • George R. Leichnetz
  • Donald Makosky
  • Stephen Manley
  • Douglass Moyers
  • Joel D. Palmer
  • Val Puster *
  • Stephen G. Read
  • Lawson E. Sherman
  • Richard Szucs
  • Jon A. Teates
  • Paul C. Tuttle

* Administrative Section Leader
† Active membership since the Chorus's first performance in 1971

The Chorus thanks Grace Baptist Church for the use of their facilities for rehearsals.

Click here for Chorus audition information.