Burlington Choral Society

04/16/2026

Seven Days released an article about the retirement of our artistic director, Dick Riley, as well as our upcoming concert. We hope to see you Saturday night!

The chorus’ spring concert, “All Is Breath: The Music of Bach and Schachter,” is both a farewell to the artistic director and a celebration of BCS’ 50th anniversary.

04/12/2026

You can hear our music director, Richard Riley, along with composer Michael Schachter speak about our upcoming concert on Vermont Public this week! The conversation will air on 4/14 at 10 am and 4/16 at 8:30 am on VT Classical - be sure to tune in!

You can read more about the story here:

The Burlington Choral Society celebrates 50 years with a new commission by Michael Schachter as longtime music director Richard Riley retires.

04/24/2025

A great article about our upcoming concert - see you this weekend!

The group sets down more Vermont roots in an upcoming production with Burlington Choral Society and its own community concert in Richmond.

12/04/2024

Our very own chorister Trish O'Kane will be on NPR's Here and Now tomorrow speaking about her book, Birding to Change the World! We can wait to cheer for her, and we're keeping an ear out to see if our chorus will make a national debut.

You can listen to Trish's interview tomorrow at 1 pm on Vermont Public and its streams and can find more information on Here and Now at https://www.wbur.org/radio/programs/hereandnow.

EDIT: You can find a recording of the program here: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/12/04/birding-to-change-the-world

08/28/2024

We’re back! We started rehearsals last night, and can’t wait to share our program with you: Birds, Byrd, and Birding to Change the World. We’ll perform Saturday, November 23.

04/17/2024

In presenting this performance of Verdi’s Requiem on April 20th, the Burlington Choral Society honors the memories of past members and leaders Ann Curran, William Harwood and Maria Novas-Schmidt. We sure do miss their voices — and their loving kindness! Tickets available at the door and at: https://bit.ly/3J63Rrs

04/13/2024

Verdi’s Requiem was last performed in Burlington by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in 2010. We thought it was high time to perform it again! Come hear us one week from today — tickets available at https://bit.ly/3J63Rrs/

04/11/2024

Meet our soloists! Joshua Collier is not only a tenor that has sung much of the romantic leading roles in the Italian lirico-spinto repertoire, but is also the founder and artistic director of the regional opera company, BARN OPERA, who has just initiated their state-wide project of accessibility, Opera Vermont, to reach audiences across the state. When not performing, producing, or directing, he is on faculty as a private vocal instructor at the Castleton campus of the Vermont State University, and at the University of Vermont in Burlington, and is widely sought after as an operatic masterclass technician. Come see him perform next week — tickets available at: https://bit.ly/3J63Rrs

04/03/2024

Meet our soloists! Soprano Helen Lyons has enjoyed a singing career that has taken her to three continents. She grew up in Williston and holds degrees from Wellesley College, The Royal Academy of Music, and the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. She is currently the Director of Music and morning host on Vermont Public Classical. Come hear her perform with us April 20 at Elley Long. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/3J63Rrs.

03/26/2024

Meet our soloists! Specializing in the works of Wagner and Verdi, Amber Smoke is a premiere interpreter of both dramatic soprano and mezzo repertoire. Favorite performances include Sieglinde (Die Walküre), Brünnhilde (Siegfried), Elisabeth (Tannhauser), Maddalena (Rigoletto) and Komponist (Ariadne auf Naxos). Come hear her perform Verdi’s Requiem with us on April 20th — tickets available at https://bit.ly/3TaiPAM.