ABOUT US

The Manassas Chorale was founded in 1994, and the original group of about 25 singers has since quadrupled in size to become a 100-voice auditioned organization. The mission of the Chorale is to promote a greater appreciation and enjoyment of quality music, both classical and contemporary, throughout the greater Manassas community. The Chorale is an Arts Partner of the Hylton Performing Arts Center located on the Science and Technology Campus of George Mason University.

PERFORMANCES

We present four major concerts each season, in October, December, March, and May/June. Musical styles vary from sacred to secular, from traditional Americana to more culturally and ethnically diverse pieces, from classical masterworks to Broadway showtunes. In addition, we perform at various local venues throughout the year, including many events in Old Town Manassas, local retirement homes and assisted living facilities, and area churches, civic groups, and museums. The Chorale has been asked to perform at groundbreakings and dedications, receptions, and sporting events. We also perform every winter at the historic Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg. In recent years, the Chorale has sung at the Washington National Cathedral and Constitution Hall in Washington DC, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, and three European tours, singing in Germany, France, Austria, Ireland, Wales, and England.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Since 2007, the Chorale has partnered with several local charitable organizations for “Concerts with a Cause,” in which singers and audience members are asked to support such efforts as SERVE, the Haymarket Food Bank, Youth for Tomorrow, Matthew’s Center, BARN Transitional Housing, Operation Homefront, the Manassas Senior Center, and the Prince William Hospital Pediatric Ward. Donations of various items, per the organization’s requests, are collected at each concert and delivered by the Chorale.

Voices United

Each March, the Chorale coordinates with Manassas Baptist Church in sponsoring Voices United, a festival choir made up of singers from church congregations and community choruses. A guest master clinician holds a two-day workshop, directly followed by a concert featuring the Voices United Festival Choir and the Chorale. In recent years, over 150 singers have participated in Voices United. Featured clinicians have included Mark Hayes, Joseph Martin, Barbara Wesley Baker, and Greg Gilpin.

Collaborations

At times, the Chorale will combine with other local musical groups such as the Prince William Symphony and the Northern Virginia Manassas Symphony Orchestra. We also regularly incorporate guest instrumentalists and soloists.

Meet Our Leaders

Rebecca Verner

DIRECTOR

Rebecca (Becky) Verner has served as the Artistic Director of the Manassas Chorale since 1997. Under her leadership, the Chorale has sung 20 Candlelight Concerts in Williamsburg, performed at Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center in New York City, and sung internationally in Germany, France, Austria, Ireland, Wales, and England as part of several European tours. Members of the Chorale Ensemble have sung at the Washington National Cathedral, Constitution Hall, and for many community events. Becky is also Director of Music at Manassas Baptist Church, where she directs the Sanctuary Choir and Evensong Bells. Past Dean and Auditor of the Northern Virginia chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and Past President of the Osbourn Alumni Association, Ms. Verner is also a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Choristers Guild, and serves on a state committee for her denomination. In 2007, she was named Woman of the Year by the Manassas Parade Committee, and in 2014 she was selected as Alumnus of the Year by the OHS/OPHS Alumni Association. She and her husband Dan have two grown daughters, Amy and Alyssa, and two sons-in-law each named Chris.

KristIna Schenck

ACCOMPANIST

Kristina Schenck joined the Chorale as accompanist in January 2016. Kristina is also the Music Associate at Grace United Methodist Church serving as the director of the Wesley Singers, Treble Ensemble, Grace Notes, and accompanist of the Chancel Choir. She is in her twenty-third year as the Choir Director at Manassas Park High School. In 2015, she was chosen to represent MPHS for the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award and was also nominated for The Life Changer of the Year Award. A native of New Jersey, Kristina holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Vocal Concentration) from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University. She is also a founding member and performer in the group Keyed-in-2 Christ, a worship duo, where she writes original music and drama and has published two albums and a book. Kristina is passionate about providing opportunities to collaborate with others through worship arts.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Please consider serving as a member of the Board of Directors! The new Board is elected each May for the following Chorale season. Board meetings take place every few months on a schedule convenient for most members. Meetings are open to the Chorale membership, but if members wish to raise a topic for discussion, they must ask the President for a place on the agenda prior to the meeting. Feel free to contact any Board member with your questions, concerns, or suggestions.

OFFICERS

President
Mark Dodge

Vice President
Vacant

Secretary
Julie Mahoney

Treasurer
Alan Salsieder

Artistic Director
Becky Verner

CHORALE AT-LARGE MEMBERS

Eileen Daniels
Karla Kenefake-Hymans
Kathryn Moore

Community At-Large Members

Robert Beecher
Catherine Drummond
Mark Siem

Chorale Staff

Executive Director
Jennifer Blanchard

Concert Manager
Tamara Halstead

Accompanist
Kristina Schenck

Committee Chairs

Chamber Representative: Bob Beecher
Concert Attire: Julia Martin
Fundraising: Susie Theobald
Grants: Eileen Daniels
Hospitality: Karen Borozinski
Music Library: Susie Theobald
Patron Development: Vacant

AWARDS

The American Prize in Choral Performance – Semi-Finalist, 2020
InsideNOVA Best of Prince William – Best Performing Arts Group, 2020
Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award of Excellence – Arts Organization of the Year, 2017
Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award of Excellence – Arts Organization of the Year, 2011

Kathleen K. Seefeldt Award of Excellence – Arts Organization of the Year, 2005
Prince William County Manassas Chamber of Commerce – Non-Profit Arts and Entertainment Member of the Year, 2004-2005
Prince William Readers Choice Award – Best Performing Arts Group, 2004

Our History

November 1994
The Manassas Community Chorale, a group of about 25 singers, forms under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. John (Jack) Martin, accompanied by Jill Tomlinson.

August 1997
Rebecca Verner becomes Artistic Director of the Chorale.

March 1998
The Chorale joins members of the Reston Community Chorale, local church choirs, and the Prince William Symphony Orchestra in presenting Haydn’s “Creation” on the 200th anniversary of the oratorio and the 25th anniversary of the Orchestra.

Fall 1998
The Chorale Ensemble, a smaller group of auditioned singers, is formed.

Spring 1999
The first Voices United concert is held.

December 2002
The Chorale is invited to perform a candlelight concert at the historic Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg.

Fall 2004
The Chorale goes online with its first website.

May 2004
The Chorale celebrates its tenth anniversary in concert.

August 2005
The Chorale becomes a fully auditioned group.

Diann Clark joins the Chorale as accompanist.

May 2006
The Chorale performs Brahms’ “Requiem” with the NOVA Manassas Symphony Orchestra, the first time the entire Requiem has been presented in the Manassas area.

June 2006
The Chorale sings at the groundbreaking for the Hylton Performing Arts Center at the George Mason University Manassas campus.

Chorale President Diana Van Broekhoven receives the Seefeldt Award for Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.

Fall 2006
The Chorale Board of Directors begins designing a strategic five-year plan for the future.

July 2007
The Chorale Ensemble sings at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. for the Prelude to Evensong.

August 2007
Jon Laird joins the Chorale as accompanist.

December 2007
The Chorale performs at the Marine Museum in Quantico, VA.

June 2008
The Chorale kicks off the City of Manassas Summer Sounds Concert Series with music from the 1930s and 1940s.

June 2009
Members of the Chorale perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of Shawnee Press’ 70th anniversary celebration.

August 2009
The Chorale changes its name to the Manassas Chorale.

August 2010
The Chorale becomes the official choral group in residence at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

Summer 2011
Members of the Chorale participate in “An American Salute,” a European tour of Germany and France.

September 2011
Members of the Chorale participate in “Memorial” at Lincoln Center in New York City, remembering the events of 9/11.

October 2011
The Chorale combines with Grey Ghost Theatre Company to present “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Civil War Musical,” a mixed singing/spoken word performance.

June 2012
The Chorale performs Mozart’s “Requiem.”

August 2013
The Chorale joins Facebook.

October 2013
Members of the Chorale participate in “An American Salute” Tapestry Choir performing at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.

May 2014
The Chorale celebrates its twentieth anniversary in concert.

September 2014
Members of the Chorale participate in the taping of “Dailey and Vincent LIVE” PBS television show and CD/DVD at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

June 2015
Members of the Chorale participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for a custom home in Nokesville, VA for a wounded warrior.

January 2016
Kristina Schenck joins the Chorale as accompanist.

June-July 2016
Members of the Chorale participate in “A Celtic Passage” musical tour of Ireland, Wales, England, and France.

March 2017
Members of the Chorale participate in the “Key Ceremony” to present a completed custom home in Nokesville, VA to a wounded warrior.

June 2017
Becky Verner celebrates 20 years as the Chorale’s Artistic Director.

March 2018
Voices United celebrates its 20th anniversary.

June 2018
Members of the Chorale participate in a “Summer Serenade” musical tour of Germany and Austria.

December 2019
Members of the Chorale perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City under the direction of Mark Hayes.

Fall 2020
The Chorale debuts the “Virtual School of Music” as the global coronavirus pandemic prevents in-person rehearsals and performances.

December 2020
The Chorale’s first virtual concert “Joyful and Triumphant” premieres on YouTube.

June 2021
The Chorale’s second virtual concert “My Favorite Decade” premieres on YouTube.

Fall 2021
The Chorale returns to in-person performances.

June 2022
Becky Verner celebrates 25 years as the Chorale’s Artistic Director.

May 2024
Members of the Manassas Chorale participate in a mass choir for the world premiere of Mark Hayes’ “Kindness, A Chorale and Fugue in the Baroque Tradition” at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Spring 2024
The Chorale celebrates 30 years of musical excellence!

Immerse Yourself in Music with the Manassas Chorale