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ABOUT US

The Madison Choral Society has been performing sacred works in the central Virginia area since 1986. Choir members hail from Madison, Virginia and the surrounding counties. The choir welcomes all to sing with them and does not audition members.

 

The Madison Choral Society presents two concerts each season, with a Christmas or Epiphany concert in early December or January and a spring concert in late April or early May. Concerts feature the choir, our accompanist, and guest instrumentalists and vocal soloists. Repertoire performed is sacred and includes major works and octavos.

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The Madison Choral Society is a registered 501c3 nonprofit.

OUR MISSION

Founded in 1986, the mission of the Madison Choral Society is to promote brotherhood and build community by providing free public access to quality concerts.

HISTORY

In 1977,  founding conductor Keith Wagner organized a group of singers accompanied by pianist Fay Utz to present Handel's Messiah under the moniker "Madison County Choral Society." In 1986, the group restructured, formed a nine member board, and was presented to the community as the Madison Choral Society. Since that time, the Madison Choral Society has presented sacred choral works to their audience in the central Virginia area, often including area instrumentalists and vocal soloists. The Society has also collaborated with area choral and instrumental groups in joint performances.

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In 1996, Keith Wagner stepped down from conducting the group. Brad Jackson, a member of the bass section with an extensive musical background and degrees in choral music, took the helm for the spring of 1997. 

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In 1998, with the assistance of Frank Thomas, the choir applied for and was granted status as a 501 C3 nonprofit organization. In that same year, Donald Kruger, previous soloist and guest director of the choir, became Madison Choral Society's Artistic Director. Kruger led the ensemble until 2001, when local multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and conductor Martha Mikula became the new Artistic Director.

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Mikula served as Artistic Director for the ensemble through 2012, seeing Madison Choral Society through occasional guest conductors Judith Maxfield and Alan Miller. In 2013, Miller became the Madison Choral Society's Artistic Director. Since Miller directed Orange Baptist Church's Singing Christmas Tree performances in the winter, guest conductors Ronald D. Panebaker and Lauren Estes were brought in for the Christmas seasons.

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In 2016, when Miller moved closer to ordination and took on new responsibilities, Estes was selected as the new Artistic Director. As her work schedule required extensive travel during the spring, guest conductor Suzanne Risk was brought in for the spring 2017 concert. Estes directed the 2017-18 season prior to moving to California.

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Dr. Rafael Scarfullery began conducting in the fall of 2018. Dr. Scarfullery holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts and a Doctorate of Sacred music, he works full time in the field of music as a classical guitarist, composer, and church musician.

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Ethan Wagner began conducting MCS in September 2022.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

  • 1986 - 1996         Keith Wagner

  • 1997                     Brad Jackson

  • 1998 - 2001        Don Kruger

  • 2001 - 2012        Martha Mikula

  • 2013 - 2016        Alan Miller

  • 2016 - 2018        Lauren Estes​

  • 2019 - 2020       Dr. Rafael Scarfullery

  • 2022 - present  Ethan Wagner

GUEST DIRECTORS

  • Donald Kruger (1995, 1996, fall 1997)

  • Judith Maxfield (2007, 2008, 2009, 2013)

  • Alan Miller (2010, 2011, 2012)

  • Ronald D. Panebaker (2014)

  • Lauren Estes (2015)

  • Suzanne Risk (2017)

  • Dr. Rafael Scarfullery (2018)

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