World-Class Vocal Ensembles & Training
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About Us
The Erie Philharmonic Chorus, a volunteer, adult choir, began its great tradition in April 1953, singing “La Traviata” under the baton of conductor Fritz Mahler, nephew to the great composer and conductor Gustav Mahler.
Now including three youth choirs encompassing grades 2-12, the Erie Philharmonic Chorus has grown to a powerhouse organization that amplifies the Erie Philharmonic while also featuring high-quality vocal ensembles for youth singers in our area.
23 West 10th Street, Erie, PA 16501
(814) 455-1375 ext. 117
Business Manager/Audition Information
Patrick Rose · chorus@eriephil.org
Erie Philharmonic Director of Community Programs
Lisa Herring · lisa@eriephil.org
Philharmonic Chorus Ensembles
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Erie Philharmonic Preparatory Chorus is for children in second and third grade and older children who need to develop some basic skills before joining the Youth Chorale. Students of any age may be moved into the Youth Chorale by the Conductor upon successful demonstration of specific skills.
Rehearsals are one hour and include singing, moving, and playing instruments. Students will develop a sense of steady beat, singing in tune, learning basic note and rhythm reading using the music education methods of Zoltan Kodaly and Carl Orff. Music skills are developed sequentially, appropriate to the singers’ abilities, all in a casual and creative environment. The Preparatory Chorus will perform for parents and with the Youth Chorale and Junior Chorus at various events and concerts.
The Preparatory Chorus meets on Tuesdays from 4-5pm at Meiser Place, downtown Erie.
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This ensemble is designed for children and youth with unchanged voices in fourth through eighth grade and will provide foundational vocal and musical training for aspiring young singers. The ranges of ages and experience in the group will foster teamwork and create opportunities for leadership as older singers are given the responsibility of mentoring younger singers.
Training will include:
· Develop good posture and breathing habits
· Age-appropriate vocal technique
· Developing music literacy using Solfege and traditional notation
· Melodic and Rhythmic Sight Reading
· Basic music theory
· Ear training
Singers will learn quality repertoire and work on individual skills in a challenging, stimulating and fun environment. The experience of singing with the Erie Philharmonic Youth Chorale is enhanced by opportunities to interact with professional musicians in a casual environment and on the performing stage. Performances with the Erie Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra provide a unique opportunity for young aspiring singers unlike any other in the region.
We also offer a state-of-the-art piano lab for members to enhance music reading and ear training skills while developing hand-eye coordination. Qualifications for potential singers include a love of singing, an eagerness to learn, and a commitment to regular attendance at rehearsals.
The Youth Chorale rehearses on Monday evenings at the Cathedral of St. Paul.
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The Erie Junior Philharmonic Chorus is an auditioned high school group comprised of the finest available talented singers from the Erie area. The goal of the ensemble is to create a performance ensemble which offers high school students the opportunity to sing with other outstanding students, while performing with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus as well as singing as an independent concert choir throughout the region.
Performance skills - including vocal production, performance deportment, musical style, ensemble techniques, and musicality - are taught to members of the chorus during rehearsal periods. Courses in sight reading and class voice lessons are also offered regularly as well as time each rehearsal in our state-of-the-art keyboard lab.
All members of the chorus must maintain memberships in good standing in their high school ensembles and are encouraged to become musical leaders in their schools and communities.
The Junior Chorus rehearses on Monday evenings at St. Paul Cathedral.
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Under the leadership of Thomas Brooks, The Philharmonic Chorus regularly appears on both the Symphonic Series and Pops Series of the Erie Philharmonic and presents independently produced concerts.
Recent Symphonic performances include Beethoven’s Mass in C, Brahms' Requiem, Britten's War Requiem, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Verdi’s Requiem, and most recently Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. The Chorus also annually presents Handel’s Messiah and other concerts featuring smaller choral works.
This group consists of high school graduates and adults from the Erie region.
The Erie Philharmonic Chamber Choir’s membership consists of 22 to 28 auditioned singers drawn from the larger Philharmonic Chorus. Its concerts include a diverse repertoire from six centuries of choral music including works by Bach, Elders and Whitaker. Enriching the culture of the surrounding community as well as sharing its passion for choral singing is the primary mission of the choir. Performances are held throughout western Pennsylvania.
The Philharmonic Chorus rehearses Tuesday evenings at UUC from 6:30-9pm.
Meet the Directors & Staff
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C. Thomas Brooks, Music Director & Conductor of Philharmonic Chorus and Junior Chorus
As a conductor and clinician C. Thomas Brooks has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, including such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Salzburg Cathedral in Salzburg, Austria. In the Northeast he is well-known as a choral conductor, voice teacher, college professor, opera conductor, and clinician. After retiring from his full-time teaching and church positions in Boston, his home base is now a 150-acre farm in Erie, which he shares with his wife soprano Susan Brooks and their dog Henry. Professor Brooks continues his work as a clinician for choirs, leads choral workshops, conducts Lyricora in Boston.
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Sharon Downey, Conductor of Preparatory Chorus and Youth Chorale
Sharon Downey is the conductor of the Youth Chorale, now in its second season. Prior to joining the Philharmonic staff, she was the Music Director at the Episcopal Cathedral of St Paul in Erie, PA, where she served from 1991 until her retirement in 2022. Ms. Downey has served as guest conductor for Chorister Festivals across the US and was a guest conductor for the Mississippi Conference on Church Music. She has also served as a consultant for churches beginning similar community chorister programs. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Burleigh Legacy Alliance. She is a member of and has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Anglican Musicians.
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Dr. Sarah Kahl, Accompanist, Piano Lab
Dr. Sarah Kahl is the accompanist for the Erie Philharmonic Choirs. She also serves as the piano lab instructor for their student ensembles. Kahl has extensive background in piano pedagogy and has taught piano and multi-level classes in the group piano setting at universities in Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. She also serves as a collaborative pianist at Mercyhurst University. Kahl is an active performer in the Erie area where she performs with established musicians and students alike. In addition to her performance roles, she is the Music Coordinator at Church of the Cross in Fairview, PA, and operates a private piano studio.
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Patrick Rose, Business Manager for Philharmonic Chorus & Student Ensembles
Audition Information
We would love to have you in one of our ensembles! Although we hold auditions periodically throughout the year, our main auditions are in August before the fall season starts. Please see requirements below and complete the appropriate form. Someone will reach out with the next audition date. Questions? Contact chorus@eriephil.org.
Beginner
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Demonstrate ability to read words at an age-appropriate level, match pitch and echo sing short phrases. No prior musical experience is necessary.
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Demonstrate ability to read words at an age-appropriate level, match pitch and echo sing short phrases. Singers should be prepared to sing a simple song such as Happy Birthday, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or Jingle Bells without accompaniment during the audition. No prior musical experience is necessary but is welcome.
Intermediate
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Auditions may be comprised of tone/pitch exercises, scale exercises, and light sight-reading. The sight-reading will be unaccompanied with a starting pitch. Students do not need to have a prepared piece for this audition.
Adult
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There are no auditions for the Chamber Choir. Members are selected by Music Director.
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Auditions will consist of tonal memory, pitch, and basic music exercises. You do not need to have a prepared piece for auditions.
Digital Piano Lab
Open to members of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus Student Ensembles.
During each chorus rehearsal, students will be given the opportunity to visit our state-of-the-art Roland digital piano lab, where Dr. Sarah Kahl instructs students in piano skills, music theory, composition and more!
This innovative training experience is offered at no extra charge for all students enrolled in our Chorus Student Ensembles.
Let’s be friends!
The Erie Philharmonic Chorus is the region’s premier choir group. The Chorus has grown to include three incredible youth choirs as well as a second adult ensemble, the Chamber Choir. We have achieved a great deal within each of these ensembles including vocal Camps, workshops, special performances, collaborating with local music educators, and community events.
Joining the Friends of the Chorus is simple! Donate $50 or more to become a Friend of the Chorus and together we can bring our community together through song.
You’ll receive a lapel pin to commemorate your support.
Friends of the Chorus receive benefits such as:
Early access to ticket sales including our Messiah performances and Fundraising Soiree
Name recognition in our printed programs
Invitations to “meet the chorus” at events and social outings
Invitations to chorus rehearsals
And more!
We can’t wait to show you what’s in store for the future! Thank you for supporting us as we advance and celebrate vocal music in our community.
