The Petersburg Festival Chorus

The Petersburg Festival Chorus' singers range in age from high school and college students to senior citizens.

We produce two major concerts each year, choosing from a wide variety of musical styles including classical, baroque,

renaissance, spiritual and contemporary.

Registered as a 501c3 non-profit organization, we are

dependent upon private donations to meet our operating costs and continue to perform. You also can become a Silver, Gold or Platinum corporate or individual sponsor of our group for free tickets and pre-notification of concerts and events. Sponsors' names will be included in our programs and on our web site.

We are actively recruiting members. You may fill out an

application here or write us for more information. As the resident chorus for Richard Bland College of the College of William and Mary, members attending this school can earn credit towards their degree through participation.

Please join us in one of the Tri-Cities'

oldest, most valued traditions!

Sandra Thomas holds a double

bachelor's degree in music performance

and music education from East Carolina

University and a master's degree in music from the University of Miami. Among her credits are award-winning choirs, which

frequently receive "superior" ratings in

music competition; several summers as

lead singer and dancer at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg; and performances with the Miami and Virginia Operas.

History

Petersburg, Virginia has enjoyed an active musical life since the early 19th century. As early as 1834, records

reveal performances held at Masonic Hall on West Tabb street featuring

various media. By 1843, this area of

the city had become its cultural center.

With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, musical activity is said to have continued. One specific reference to

music at the time of the war occurs at the First Union Attack on June 9, 1864 when " in an effort to keep up the spirits and patriotism, Philip Slaughter led

negro musicians in 'Dixie' and 'The Girl

I Left Behind'."

After the war in 1868, a new group

of music enthusiasts founded the

Petersburg Music Club, which met

regularly to sing choral works. In 1881, several area business men formed the Petersburg Music Association with a chorus of 21 singers.

The Petersburg Festival Chorus'

musical tradition began in 1884 with a four-part vocal ensemble of 68 singers. During that year, they participated in

a regional musical convention, which

included ten or twelve associations

from Virginia and North Carolina. Today, the Chorus continues to serve

the residents of the Tri-Cities, giving back to the community it so proudly

supports.

Scott Flaherty

President

Dr. George R. Partin

Vice-President

Miriam Hatchett

Secretary

Ginia Sullivan

Treasurer

Josephine Joyner

Contract Manager

Sandra Thomas

Director of Music

Robert W. Bates

Alexandra Black

Jennifer Grundy

Steven Gutowski

Dr. David Reames

Carole SantaMaria

Lynne Stanley

Derrick Young

Accompanist Cara Johnson earned her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied with Rebecca Penneys. She has performed, competed, and studied throughout the United States and abroad at institutions including the Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, the Chautauqua Institution and the Jan Deyl Conservatory in Prague, Czech Republic.

Johnson enjoys an active career as a collaborative pianist and educator. In 2007, the members of her trio for flute, oboe, and piano were finalists in the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in Pasadena, CA. When not performing, she instructs at a private piano studio in Richmond, Virginia.