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.

2008-09 Richmond Symphony Chorus

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

    Alto
  • Jane Koenig Terry, Music Section Leader
  • Jan Altman
  • Barbara Baker
  • Barbara C. Batson *
  • Laura Mcbride Box
  • Melva Carle *
  • Iva Davis
  • Linda H. Castle
  • Lynn Dichristina
  • Kathryn R. Erhardt
  • Maria J.K. Everett
  • Kathryn R. Erhardt
  • Lindsay Michelle Fielding
  • Mary Cash Folkes
  • Liz Holland
  • Teresa Hudson
  • Nancy W. Kraus
  • Martha Stockstill Mathews
  • Judy Mawyer
  • Kenna R. Payne
  • Lynne H. Read
  • Patricia Reddington
  • Nancy Reed †
  • Jane Pulliam Riddle
  • Faith D. Sartoris †
  • Anne Sherwin †
  • Christine Smith
  • Debbi Smith
  • Mary Lou P. Sommardahl
  • Jane Koenig Terry
  • Janet E. Tice
  • Sally Warthen †
  • Beth Wiltshire
    Soprano
  • Joanne L. Sherman, Music Section Leader
  • Gerry Baldwin
  • Kerry Blum
  • Claudia Carroll
  • Ann Whitfield Carter
  • Leah Darley
  • Patricia G. Davis
  • Shirley B. Diggs
  • Sharon B. Freude
  • Lisa C. Fusco
  • Mary Bo Gassman
  • Sally Godsey
  • Kerry L. Grey
  • Elizabeth C. Harper
  • Ella Nelson Johnson
  • Leslie Anne Kay *
  • Cynthia Lee
  • Judy Lewis
  • Ashley M. Love
  • Martye Lowery
  • Gail A. Lyddane
  • Rosemary McCullough
  • Melisse Menchel
  • Laura C. Miles
  • Theresa Moffett
  • Stephanie Poxon
  • Cecky Ropelewski
  • Samantha P. Sawyer
  • Becky Seckora
  • Joanne L. Sherman
  • Jayne Sneed
  • Georgia P. Stewart-Tuck
  • Kelly Sydnor
  • Charlene Tomlinson
  • Ann Voss *
  • Mary Ellen Wadsworth
  • Cora Wise
    Tenor
  • Wesley Pollard, Music Section Leader
  • Kevin Barger
  • Mike Clay
  • Carl J. Eng *
  • James Erb
  • Jody Gordon
  • Glenn P. Johnson
  • Robert E. Larkin
  • William N. Marshall
  • Andrew C. Mercadante
  • William Miller
  • Steve Morris
  • Charles H. O'Neal †
  • Wesley Pollard
  • Reginald H. Potts IV
  • Jim Rakes
  • Henry P. Robb *
  • Craig E. Ross
  • Rick Sample
    Bass
  • Casey Mickelson, Music Section Leader
  • Edward W. Alexander †
  • John Byrne
  • M. Stephen Cates
  • Mike Champlin *
  • David C. Cooley
  • Don Creach
  • Andrew J. Dolson
  • Duke Gosnell
  • Ronald V. Haizlip
  • Don Hall
  • Jay H. Hammack †
  • Sam Holland †
  • Don Irwin
  • David R. Johnston
  • George R. Leichnetz
  • William Lyddane
  • Donald Makosky
  • Donald Makosky
  • Casey Mickelson
  • Joel D. Palmer
  • Val Puster *
  • Stephen G. Read
  • Lawson E. Sherman
  • Richard Szucs
  • Jon A. Teates
  • Charles G. Todd
  • Paul C. Tuttle
  • John D. Watt

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

The Chorus thanks Grace Baptist Church for the use of its facilities for our weekly rehearsals.

Click here for Chorus audition information.