The South Burlington Community Chorus is an SATB chorus that was founded in 1976 and is supported 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 requirements include 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. Experience singing in an organized group, such as in chorus or musical theater, is strongly recommended. For more information, please see our How to Join page.
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 occasionally participate as invited Guest Chorus at other events around the state. As funds allow, we have instrumental musicians accompany us where appropriate. 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. Our funding comes from dues paid by our singers, and concert ticket sales, 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
As a performer in opera companies around the world, Mr. Kroncke has been described as “engaging…a bass of astounding depth and warm timbre…an important voice and artist.” In the last year he sang Timur in Turandot and An Old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila with St. Petersburg Opera and Enrico in Anna Bolena with St. Louis Winter Opera. He performed multiple Messiah’s in December 2025 and will sing Alcondoro/Benoit in La Boheme at St. Petersburg Opera in May 2026. He has performed in opera concerts in Oderzo and Feltre, Italy as part of the Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers of Opera (EPCASO). He also conducts the South Burlington Community Chorus, is chorus director at the Waterbury Congregational Church, Teaches voice at the University of Vermont and Saint Michael’s College, is the vocal coach for two choruses, and stage directs operas and Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas. A more complete biography can be found at www.erikkroncke.com
Collaborative Accompanist ~ Mary Jane Austin
SBCC collaborative pianist Mary Jane Austin enjoys a multifaceted musical career spanning performance, education, and artistic leadership. She is the principal keyboardist of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and in 2016 was named an Honorary Conductor of that organization in recognition of her contributions to Vermont’s music scene. Since 2018, she has served as conductor of the Mad River Chorale and was recently appointed Music Director of the Bel Canto Singers in Lebanon, NH. Having an extended opportunity to work closely with many of the pillars of the Italian Bel Canto tradition in Italy over the years has fueled her passion to share beloved traditions with the next generation of young artists. She currently serves on the faculty of the University of Vermont, is the music director of the Youth Opera Company of OCM, and as a dedicated advocate for community music projects she co-founded Vermont Italian Opera with SBCC conductor Erik Kroncke. Together they direct annual summer productions of opera and operettas at the Unadilla Theatre, with this summer’s season to include Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience. She is the organist at the Waterbury Congregational Church and also serves as rehearsal pianist for the Vermont Symphony Chorus.
Questions?
For questions about the chorus, rehearsals, or upcoming performances contact: sbcommunitychorus@gmail.com
