SYMPHONICITY CHORUS
The Chorus is the vocal companion to Symphonicity, an all-volunteer orchestra founded in 1981 by Conductor Emeritus David Kunkel, which continues to perform great orchestral and choral works under the baton of its current Music Director and Conductor, Daniel W. Boothe. Chorus members are recruited and auditioned from all Southeastern Virginia cities annually. Dr. Nancy Klein serves as the official Chorus Master for Symphonicity. SIGN UP HERE TO AUDITION!
Symphonicity Chorus
A Brief History
The Symphonicity Chorus made its debut as the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra Chorus at "Ode to Joy: The International Sister Cities Music Festival" on February 14, 2003. The Chorus has continued performing some of the great choral works in the years since this date. Previous performances have included Brahms' A German Requiem, Puccini's Missa di Gloria, Cherubini's Requiem in C minor and Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang). In 2008, the Chorus performed Francis Poulenc's Gloria and was joined by The Virginia Children's Chorus in John Rutter's Mass of the Children. More recent performances include the magnificent Requiem Masses by Mozart and Verdi.
Dr. Nancy Klein
Chorus Master
Dr. Nancy Kirkland Klein has directed the Choral Program at Old Dominion University since 1986. In her 33 years with the School of Music, Dr. Klein has seen the University Choir more than double in size, has established the F. Ludwig Diehn Chorale, began and developed the NASM-accredited Masters Degree in Music Education, and has traveled world-wide as a conductor and choral clinician. She has conducted choral groups in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris; St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice; St. Giles Cathedral, Scotland; Conservatiore de Musique in Luxembourg; Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall, New York, and returned to conduct in Carnegie Hall in 2017.
Dr. Klein has been a three-time keynote speaker for the European Music Educator’s Association and is a regular presenter and guest conductor for the Virginia Music Educator’s Association. She has conducted master classes in Choral Conducting from Rochester, New York, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She regularly trains conductors for the U.S. Army, preparing them to work with instrumental and choral groups, and has trained many of the music educators in the region.
Dr. Klein has received numerous awards including the Joel S. Lewis Award for Mentoring, University Professor designation for excellence in teaching, Robert Stern Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2011 ALLI Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Arts, was nominated by ODU in 2015 for U.S. Professor of the Year, and is listed in Who’s Who in Education, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Entertainment. Nancy Klein was promoted to Full Professor in 2014 and is currently serving as Chairman for the School of Music.
