a community chorus celebrating 45 years of sharing the power and spirit of music
Philomusica Chorale Presents
We are in Spring training for our upcoming concert!
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
8855 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Please Support Us
Your generosity is a vote for beauty and art in our world
About Us
Our Mission, Vision, and Values
Philomusica Chorale connects people through imaginative choral music programs that
Entertain, Educate, Engage, and Inspire
We Sing Together, Listen Together, Learn Together, and Uplift Lives Together.
Our Values:
• We strive for excellence by delivering compelling and timely concerts, ranging from classical to contemporary,
to share the power and spirit of music with our audience.
• We are fiscally responsible - we manage our finances responsibly with a focus on sustainable funding and growth.
• We are inclusive - we welcome all ages, genders, orientations, races, religions, ethnicities and affiliations.
• We are accessible - all people can attend our concerts regardless of mobility or ability to pay.
• We take our music seriously but not ourselves - we have fun!
Our Story
Since Philomusica Chorale (of Delaware Valley) was formed in 1979 by the late Dr. Mardia Melroy, our purpose has been to present all types of choral music from all periods of music history.
Led by Artistic Director Gayle Wieand since 2005, Philomusica is an auditioned volunteer chorus drawing singers and audiences from all over the Delaware Valley.We perform two major concert cycles each year, many enriched by collaboration with dance, visual arts, instrumentalists, spoken word, and even members of our audience.A volunteer Board of Directors handles financial management, fundraising, publicity, programs, activity packs for kids and hospitality. Volunteers manage ticket sales, staging, ushering and parking.Our home base is the Chestnut Hill section of Northwest Philadelphia as well as the surrounding areas of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In addition to performances at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, the Chorale takes its programs to the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, as well as local senior communities, rehabilitation centers, and shelters.We welcome and encourage children to attend our concerts. Special Kids Packs, filled with concert-related materials and puzzles are available at every program.
Our Singers
Roughly translated from the Greek, Philomusica means loving music. And that’s just the beginning.
Our singers have a wide range of musical and performance experience and represent diverse races, ages, faith traditions, community segments, orientations, and economic/cultural backgrounds.
Our ensemble is a balance of soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices—our number is currently at about 50 singers, and we welcome newcomers at any time!
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Our Artistic Staff
Artistic Director Gayle Wieand brings to the Chorale an effervescent enthusiasm and a belief that music has the power to connect people of all ages and backgrounds in a meaningful way.
Gayle Wieand, Artistic Director
Under Gayle's leadership, the Chorale has commissioned choral works by national composers, engaged in unique artistic collaborations, created a welcoming place for children as both soloists and audience members, and carried the music to underserved audiences.Gayle brings extraordinary creativity and dedication to presenting programs that engage the mind, touch the heart, and often tickle the funny bone.A composer in her own right, Gayle’s Sacred Service, an extended work for chorus, soloists and instrumental ensemble, premiered in June 2010. Her full length composition, With Every Breath, premiered in May 2019.Gayle earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in music from Temple University.
Gayle also leads the Philadelphia Women’s Music Project and gives private studio lessons in voice, piano, clarinet, theory and composition in person and on Zoom.
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Patricia L. Hallman
Accompanist
Pat has served as accompanist for Philomusica Chorale for more than 30 years. With a degree in music from Susquehanna University, Pat is a retired vocal music and string instrument teacher in the Upper Merion Area School District and works in area churches as a substitute organist.
Vanessa Ballard
Poet-in-Residence
Vanessa is an accomplished soprano, actor, and poet.
Board of Directors
Philomusica Chorale has a diverse and accomplished board leadership team. The majority of board members are also singers in the Chorale, showing their love of and commitment to the group by volunteering their time on the board, in addition to time in rehearsals. Our highly educated board consists of three members with terminal degrees of Ph.D., six with Master’s degrees and a CPA.The work experience the members bring to the board help them to make informed decisions and think strategically in order to build the chorale and reach Philomusica's mission to entertain, engage, educate and inspire. The experience includes two members who worked in leadership for the National Park Service, an educational administrator, a nursing home administrator, a marketing, engineering and sales leader, a certified technology and business analyst, a digital library strategist, an IT strategist, an accountant, a project manager, a senior measurement scientist and two music educators.Many Philomusica Board members have also sung with and have been members of other chorale boards. board member longevity in Philomusica ranges from 23 years to 2 years. Their talents and skills vary with their training and experience which makes them extremely able to accomplish the many tasks required for being on a board. Many have leadership roles in their current or previous work life. Our treasurer is extremely talented and experienced in the financial world, and has functioned in that role since 2015. Her continuity, joined with our talented Executive Artistic Director, have led the Board and the Chorale through good times, and challenging times, such as the global pandemic.Other board members have extensive musical knowledge which supports the Chorale’s ownership and management of an extensive music library. A few board members bring a background in fundraising which will help us to meet our goal of growing our coffers to provide opportunities to continue to present innovative concerts supported by talented musicians and to champion new compositions and composers. A few of our board members are especially skilled in computer and digital organization and communication. This supports our goal to update and revise our website to better reach our community with information about the Chorale and Ways to Give. Finally, we are organized, focused and interested in continuing to grow Philomusica Chorale as we fulfill our mission to entertain, engage, educate and inspire.
Board of Directors
Sandy Connelly, President
Janine Beale, Vice President
Lauren Entrekin, Treasurer
Melissa Margolis, Secretary
Najah Ali
Diane Breen
Kathy Dilenschneider
Mary J. Fallon
Sherry Peck
Julia Shoff
Access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) Statement
Philomusica Chorale is a diverse and inclusive community promoting equity and access for all. We work to celebrate our similarities, respect and learn from each other’s differences, and make space for all voices to be heard. Philomusica strives to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels welcome, respected and valued.
Contact Us
Questions? Suggestions?
We'd love to hear from you!
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Philomusica Chorale
P.O. Box 4016
8225 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Our Season
We are in Spring training for our upcoming concert!
Thank you for attending our Winter 2025 Concert: "Ahh... in search of beauty"
Philomusica Chorale presents "Ah..in search of beauty" with Pat Hallman, Accompanist
Carolyn Szumal
Katie Karlyn
Vanessa Ballard
Diane Breen
Dave Mosteller
Gayle Wieand conducts
Joy Warren & Krys Cooper
Kathy Harrod with special guests, The Philadelphia Women's Music Project
Sing With Us
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Philomusica Chorale’s volunteer singers come from all walks of life.
We work hard but laugh harder, we learn, grow, and love making a
musical contribution to our community.
There are so many reasons to join us as a singer!
you'll grow musically
you'll stretch your brain
you'll feel a sense of accomplishment
you'll meet new people and cultivate new friendships
you'll have a lot of fun
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We rehearse in person —and occasionally on Zoom
Mondays at 7:30 from September through May at:
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
8855 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Experience our rehearsals for yourself! All singing abilities are welcome.
You can request an audition time OR you sit in on a few rehearsals first to see if we are a good fit for you before you decide to audition.
Click here to contact us
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS1. Why should I join Philomusica Chorale?
We are a vibrant community chorus celebrating 45 years of sharing the power and spirit of music. We connect with each other and our audiences through imaginative choral music programs. We are inclusive—we welcome all ages, genders, orientations, races, religions, ethnicities and affiliations. And finally, we take our music seriously but not ourselves - we have fun! Our rehearsals include a break time with snacks and socializing. We also hold social gatherings from time to time.2. What type of music do you sing?
We take on ambitious programming that ranges from the classical repertoire to contemporary works. Our programs are usually unified through a compelling and timely theme. Recent performances include: Haydn’s "Mass for Troubled Times" (also known as the Lord Nelson Mass), Ralph Vaughan Williams’ "Dona Nobis Pacem", and Ola Gjello’s "Dark Night of the Soul".3. Where do you rehearse?
We rehearse Monday evenings in person at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (PCCH), 8855 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia 19118 in the Chestnut Hill section of the city. It's near many city neighborhoods and the suburbs too. Our rehearsal location has free parking and is conveniently located only a few miles from major highways. We are also within walking distance of SEPTA regional rail and bus routes.4. Where do you perform?
Our main concert location is the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (PCCH), 8855 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia 19118 in the Chestnut Hill section of the city. We hire professional musicians as needed to serve in the orchestra for these performances. We also seek out performance locations/opportunities in other areas of Northwest Philadelphia and adjacent communities. From time to time, we also perform community outreach concerts in various locations.5. When are your concerts?
We hold two main concerts annually in winter (late January or early February) and spring (mid-May). Throughout the year we take advantage of occasional performance opportunities at community events and festivals or in special locations around the city. These community outreach performances happen every few months or so in various venues.6. What voice parts are you most in need of?
As of fall 2024, we are in particular need of both male voices (all ranges) and sopranos. However, we do accept auditions from all voice types and all ages.7. How does the audition process work?
You can request an audition time OR you can come to sit in on a few rehearsals first to see if we are a good fit for you. Click here to contact us about audition times or to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal. The audition itself will be friendly and un-stressful. The music director will ask you to sing 1) a song of your choice, 2) some warm-up type exercises, and 3) a selected excerpt we will send to you in advance to prepare. There might also be a short music sightreading exercise.8. Do you have any other affiliated singing groups?
We do! The Philadelphia Women’s Music Project (PWMP) is our sister chorus and consists of female voices only. PWMP also rehearses at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, on Tuesday evenings. If you are interested in Philomusica, PWMP, or both, the process to connect with us and audition is the same. Click here to contact us about audition times or to arrange to sit in on a rehearsal with either group.9. Do you need to read music to be part of Philomusica Chorale (or the Philadelphia Women’s Music Project)?
The ability to read music is important. However, in certain circumstances we are willing to consider participants whose ability to read music is more limited. Part of the Philomusica experience is education for our members. We dig deep into our repertoire, especially its historical significance and context both musically and poetically. We also explore music theory concepts as a group.10. What does it cost to belong to Philomusica?
We are a volunteer community chorus focused on great music, and we embrace financial stewardship and responsibility. We rely on both individual donations and grants from organizations (such as foundations) to cover costs of music licensing, rehearsal space, and performances. As a result, there is an expected annual contribution. For the current 2024-2025 season, this contribution is $250 for the year from each singer. We also strive to be inclusive and therefore we would not turn away a successful auditioner from the chorale for economic reasons.11. Are you affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill?
We are a non-sectarian group. We rent rehearsal and performance space from PCCH, and we consider their community to be good friends and supporters. We are not affiliated with them or with the Presbyterian church. We welcome all ages, genders, orientations, races, religions, ethnicities and affiliations.12. I have other questions. How can I contact Philomusica Chorale to discuss further?
Submit the form below, or send an email to info@philomusicachorale.org. We look forward to hearing from you and we’ll be happy to speak with you further!
If you're interested in a truly wonderful singing experience,
we want to hear from you!
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Stay in Touch
Stay up to date on upcoming events by adding your name to our mailing list.
Our mailings are infrequent and friendly, and we never share the list!
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Support Us
We are profoundly grateful for your support.
Your gift is a vote for beauty and art in our world—
which we promise will make you feel really good!
You can make a difference!
Donors play an essential role in the arts and ticket prices cover only a small fraction of our expenses. As a community choir, the financial support we receive is critical and necessary for us to bring people together to share in the power and spirit of choral music.Every dollar we receive makes a significant difference in our ability to bring creative programming to our audience. Your generous gift may be used in a number of ways, including performance space rental, funding instrumentalists, and reimbursing expenses for outreach concerts to underserved communities.There are many ways to make a gift to Philomusica Chorale:
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For planned financial giving, please contact our treasurer at: philomusicaoffice@gmail.com.
Philomusica Chorale is a 501(c)(3) non-profit chorus, so your contributions are tax deductible.
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If you prefer to mail a check, please make it out to Philomusica Chorale and mail to:
Philomusica Chorale
P.O. Box 4016
8225 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Philomusica Chorale is supported by the following foundations
COVID Policy
As we have returned to more normal routines, we continue to be mindful about COVID and keeping our singers and audience safe. As such, we adhere to the following health policies:
1. For singers, vaccinations are recommended by not required. We do ask those that feel sick to stay home. Thanks to technology, singers can Zoom into rehearsal and miss anything!2. All rehearsals and performances are MASK OPTIONAL.3. We love to perform in person with an live audience but we also stream our concerts live to expand our reach to those who live far away or who can't make the trip.4. We want everyone—singers and audience alike—to feel safe and to stay healthy. Our Medic Committee remains active in monitoring community COVID trends and making evidence-based decisions about rehearsing, performing, and masking.
Let's be safe and have fun at the same time!
Philomusica in the News
Philomusica Chorale will perform in a “"Grant Us Peace” on May 18 at The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.
Press Release: May 31, 2024
By Michael Caruso
After a postponement earlier this year due to COVID, the Philomusica Chorale was finally able to present two performances of its concert “Grant Us Peace.” The first took place before a packed Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill Saturday evening, May 18; the reprise was given the following day at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown.The Chorale’s program was a mighty one: “Mass for Troubled Times” (Lord Nelson) by Franz Josef Haydn and “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Grant Us Peace) by Ralph Vaughan Williams. I suppose that it might be possible to choose a pair of great sacred choral works even more suited to our times, but I can hardly think of one.Artistic director Gayle Wieand presided over her large choir and a full symphonic complement to deliver two stunning interpretations of demanding choral scores. She approached the Haydn with an equally balanced understanding of its tightly knit classical structure as well as its highly pitched delineation of an appreciation of the horrors of war stitched within the promise of eternal salvation assured by the text of every Latin Mass of the Roman Catholic Church.Composed during the mid-1930s, as Europe was poised to degenerate into yet another world war, the Anglican Vaughan Williams combined the Latin moniker of “Dona Nobis Pacem” with selections drawn from the Biblical books of Daniel, Jeremiah and Haggai along with poetry by Walt Whitman and John Bright. The result was a text aimed at reminding the listener that everyone and everything are the losers in all wars.Wieand was at her most inspired here. She elicited singing and playing of searing emotion: both devastating sorrow and reassuring beauty.For more information about Philomusica Chorale, visit philomusicachorale.org.
Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters to us. We will never share your personal information and we only use third parties who protect your information as well, including Zeffy, the service that manages our donation platform and Carrd, our website platform.
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Past Events
Take a look at some of our past concert posters
