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 Genworth Financial 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.

2009-10 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
Melva Carle, Carl Eng, and Duke Gosnell, Rehearsal Assistants

    Alto
  • Jane Koenig Terry, Music 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
  • Kelly Hellmuth
  • Liz Holland
  • Teresa Hudson
  • Nancy W. Kraus
  • Eileen Mary Mannix
  • Judy Mawyer
  • Mary Elliott Neal
  • Kenna R. Payne
  • Lynne H. Read
  • Patricia Reddington
  • Nancy Reed †
  • Jane Pulliam Riddle
  • Faith D. Sartoris †
  • Christine Smith
  • Debbi Smith
  • Mary Lou P. Sommardahl
  • Jane Koenig Terry
  • Janet E. Tice
  • Sally Warthen †
  • Sala Webb
  • Joelle Willmore
    Soprano
  • Joanne L. Sherman, Music Section Leader
  • Gerry Baldwin
  • Kerry Blum
  • Claudia Carroll
  • Ann Whitfield Carter
  • Sarah Cupp
  • Leah Darley
  • Shirley B. Diggs
  • Heather Duncan
  • 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
  • Terry Moffett
  • Kristen Leigh Morrow
  • Stephanie Poxon
  • Cecky Ropelewski
  • Samantha P. Sawyer
  • Becky Seckora
  • Joanne L. Sherman
  • Jayne Sneed
  • Georgia P. Stewart-Tuck
  • Charlene Tomlinson
  • Molly Underwood
  • Ann Voss *
  • Mary Ellen Wadsworth
  • Cora Wise
    Tenor
  • Wesley Pollard, Music Section Leader
  • Kevin Barger
  • Mike Clay
  • Christopher Crowley
  • Carl J. Eng *
  • James Erb
  • Jody Gordon
  • Glenn Johnson
  • Rob Larkin
  • James S. Lowery
  • 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
  • Nelson C. Taylor
    Bass
  • Casey Mickelson, Music Section Leader
  • Edward W. Alexander †
  • James P. Bennett
  • Michael Breakall
  • 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
  • Scott Meadows
  • Casey Mickelson
  • K. Douglass Moyers
  • 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 rehearsals.

Click here for Chorus audition information.