The South Burlington Community Chorus is an SATB chorus that was founded in 1973 and is partially funded by the South Burlington Recreation Department. There are no auditions to join our Chorus, and you do not have to be a South Burlington resident to join. The SBCC strives to create a community of singers who are committed to supporting one another to learn more about singing, have fun, and provide our audiences with quality performances.
The only requirements are the ability to match pitch and follow along with the written music, to consistently attend rehearsals, a desire and willingness to learn, have fun and be committed to helping our Chorus be a vibrant and quality group. Depending on the chosen program, some experience may be helpful. We do our best to keep membership dues and costs to a minimum so that as many people can join as are interested. Part of our mission is to have funds available to help those with financial need participate as well.
We believe singing is good for your health, spirit and well-being. Singing is a wonderful, uplifting way to communicate and connect with those in our community and beyond. We strive for excellence in our performances and enjoy making wonderful music accessible to our friends and neighbors for a reasonable price.
Every year we perform a concert at Holiday time and another in the spring, as well as participate as invited Guest Chorus at other events around the state. As funds allow, we have instrumental musicians accompany us -where appropriate. We must pay for these professionals. We have, in the past, participated in the Vermont Sings for Peace Concert, the South Burlington National Night Out Event and the Vermont International Choral Festival, just to name a few. We are supported financially, in part, by the City of South Burlington. The rest of our funding comes from dues paid by our singers, which enables us to remain a vibrant, viable community organization
We are a Non-Profit Organization, dedicated to providing an opportunity to all who have the desire to come and SING with us!
The chorus meets Tuesday Evenings from 7:00-9:00 pm in South Burlington.
Director ~ Erik Kroncke
Erik has been in demand as Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Philip II in Don Carlo, Enrico VIII in Anna Bolena, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Ramphis in Aida, and Mephistopheles in Faust. He has appeared with Sarasota Opera, Opera San José, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Colorado, New Jersey Verismo Opera, Green Mountain Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera, among others.
He was an award winner of the Gerda Lissner vocal competition in 2010, the American Wagner and St. Bonaventura award winner from the Liederkranz competition in 2008, and a winner of the 2002 and 2003 Friedrich Schorr Vocal Competition. His symphonic and oratorio performances have included engagements with the National Chorale, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Korean Philharmonic, and the American Classical Orchestra, as well as appearances in “The Three Basses” concerts.
In the last year, Erik sang the bass solo in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the National Chorale at Lincoln Center, and the role of Tackleton in the North American premier of Zandonai’s Il Grillo del Focolare with Teatro Grattacielo. He also opened the 27th season of the Capriccio concert series in recital with pianist Mary Jane Austin. He will be performing more recitals with Ms. Austin throughout the United States as well as in the Vermont Virtuosi concert series. He has performed in opera concerts in Oderzo and Feltre, Italy every summer since 2011. Erik is a student of Claudia Pinza.
Collaborative Accompanist ~ Mary Jane Austin
Mary Jane Austin earned her bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Olga Radosavljevich and Vivian Weilerstein. She then pursued graduate studies in vocal coaching and accompanying, studying both art song and opera at Duquesne University with Warren Jones and Claudia Pinza. She has worked as an accompanist and coach for six summers at the EPCASO opera program in Oderzo, Italy, with mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux, soprano Young Ok Shin, and baritones Richard Bernstein and Michael Chioldi, among others.
Closer to home, she co-founded the Sky Meadow Chamber Players in 2003, has worked at the Green Mountain Opera Festival as chorus pianist and repetiteur for their Emerging Artist Program, and has played with the Mad River Chorale, Onion River Chorus, Vermont Opera Theater and Echo Valley Community Arts. She has played for several silent films at the Vergennes Opera House. She is currently the organist at the Waterbury Congregational Church, accompanies the South Burlington Community Chorus and the Vermont Young Singers’ Chorus, and teaches at Johnson State College.
Mary Jane Austin earned her bachelor’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Olga Radosavljevich and Vivian Weilerstein. She then pursued graduate studies in vocal coaching and accompanying, studying both art song and opera at Duquesne University with Warren Jones and Claudia Pinza. She has worked as an accompanist and coach for six summers at the EPCASO opera program in Oderzo, Italy. Closer to home, she co-founded the Sky Meadow Chamber Players in 2003, has worked at the Green Mountain Opera Festival as chorus pianist and repetiteur for their Emerging Artist Program. She has played for several silent films at the Vergennes Opera House. She is currently the organist at the Waterbury Congregational Church, accompanies the South Burlington Community Chorus and the Vermont Young Singers’ Chorus, and teaches at Johnson State College.
Questions?
For questions about the chorus, rehearsals, or upcoming performances contact: sbcommunitychorus@gmail.com or The City of South Burlington Department of Recreation and Parks at 802-846-4108, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403
South Burlington Community Chorus 