About the Chorale
Commonwealth Chorale is an accomplished, welcoming and inclusive auditioned chorus that attracts experienced singers from the metropolitan Boston area. Led by Artistic Director Dr. Michael Driscoll, Commonwealth Chorale is committed to performing the finest classical music from all periods and from a wide cross-section of composers. Past performances have included Amy Beach's Grand Mass in E-flat Major, Handel's Israel in Egypt, Haydn's The Creation, Vaughan Williams's Sea Symphony, Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil, Bloch's Sacred Service, Poulenc's Mass in G, and Requiem settings by Mozart, Brahms, Verdi, Fauré, Duruflé, and Rutter. The Chorale has collaborated with the Metropolitan Chorale and the Zamir Chorale plus a number of orchestras including the Boston Pops, Boston Philharmonic, Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra, Concord Orchestra, the New Philharmonia, and the Newton Symphony Orchestra.
Commonwealth Chorale annually presents a 'Commonwealth Composer' concert that highlights the music of a composer with ties to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Past Commonwealth Composer concerts have included works by Carson Cooman, Randall Thompson, Amy Beach, Daniel Pinkham, and Kevin Siegfried. The Commonwealth Chorale has also commissioned and premiered many works, including Carson Cooman's As We are Changed, Patricia Van Ness's Nocturnes, Alan Fletcher's That Hour of Gentleness, and James Woodman's Narcissus.
2024 – 2025
Board of Directors
President Carol Abrahams
VP Administration Michele Michaud Kinchla
VP Development David Bean
VP Marketing Neil MacGaffey
VP Membership Michele Berman
Treasurer Ron Severson
Recording Secretary Tricia Zuttermeister
Corresponding Secretary Carolyn Jarvis
Assistant Treasurer Fran Gratz
At Large Judy Jacobs-Estner
At Large Carol Fernandez
Past President (non-voting) David Bean
David Carrier, Music Director Emeritus
David guided us through the very early years when, as the Newton Choral Society, all we could afford were concerts with piano or organ accompaniment. From those humble beginnings, and with David’s always growing vision for what we could be as singers, we grew and matured. Maturation was reflected in the music we performed and in our ability to raise the funds needed for hiring professional musicians to perform with us and to perform in venues that early-on were only a fantasy. As the scope of our programming grew so did the quality of our performances. Increasingly our membership was from well beyond Newton, reflecting our reputation as one of the best amateur choral groups in the greater Boston area. Ultimately we changed our name to Commonwealth Chorale.
Without David’s guidance, vision, musical talent, teaching skills, patience, and perseverance, Commonwealth Chorale would not be the group it is today. David’s work created the excellent musical foundation on which we continue to build. Thank you, David!