About Us
Established in 1961, the Manchester Choral Society is a non-profit, auditioned community choir and is proud to be a part of the rich choral tradition that contributes to the cultural community of New Hampshire.
MISSION
The Manchester Choral Society is committed to sharing and promoting the best choral music of a variety of styles and periods through vibrant performances, collaboration, and educational and community outreach. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion through collaboration with BIPOC artists, as well as the performance and commissioning of works by composers from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
Vision
To seek relevance and hope through music
To bring communities together
To promote a sense of unity and peace
To bring communities together
To promote a sense of unity and peace
DAN PERKINS
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Dr. Perkins, music director since 2005, is Professor Emeritus at Plymouth State University, where he was professor of music and director of choral activities for 29 years and in 2007 was honored with the Stevens-Bristow Distinguished Professorship. Dr. Perkins is also music director of the New Hampshire Master Chorale which he founded in 2003, and has served as the principal guest conductor of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet in Hanoi, guest conductor of the Dartmouth Concertato Singers, Dartmouth Handel Society, and as the music director of the Hanover Chamber Orchestra, and New Hampshire Friendship Chorus. Perkins’ choirs have performed and studied in Canada, England, Peru, Chile, Vietnam, South Africa, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Austria, South Korea, Brazil, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Bulgaria, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Ireland, Georgia, Armenia and throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
Perkins is a co-founder, with Dr. Trish Lindberg, of the award-winning Educational Theatre Collaborative, and pianist for Trio Veritas. He holds DMA and MM degrees from the University of Southern California, and a BMu from Brigham Young University. He continued his studies as a Fulbright Scholar in Finland. |
CHARLES BLOOD
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Charles Blood has worked as Manchester Choral Society’s collaborative pianist since 1986. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music education and a Master of Arts degree in music.
As a member of the music faculty of Notre Dame College, he founded and served as director of the college’s Community Music School and was co-founder and coordinator of the Summer Concert Series. In addition to teaching at St. Paul’s School and the Manchester public schools, he also taught for many years in the Derry Co-operative School District where he was awarded the Nancy Apostle Friends of Education Award for his work. An active accompanist and freelance musician, Mr. Blood served for many years as a collaborative pianist at Plymouth State University and throughout the region for choral workshops, festivals, recitals and musical theater productions. He has also served as accompanist for numerous international tours, most recently traveling to Bulgaria with the New Hampshire Friendship Chorus. In addition, he has served as a collaborative pianist for the New Hampshire All-State Music Festival, the All New England Choral Festival, the New Hampshire Music Festival, Lakes Region Music Festival, and for National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions. Throughout his career, Mr. Blood has been an active church musician, serving as Minister of Music at South Main Street Congregational Church in Manchester and, for 25 years, at Bethany Covenant Church in Bedford. Mr. Blood has worked as an adjunct piano instructor and collaborative pianist at Southern New Hampshire University and is currently music director of the New Castle Congregational Church. |
CONTACT INFORMATIONManchester Choral Society 88 Hanover Street Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 472-6627 MCS / Richard Crafts Memorial ScholarshipEach year the MCS awards a $1000 scholarship to assist a qualified student with funding their post-secondary school music studies. Visit the Scholarship page for more information |
2023 - 2024 Board
Liz Sheil, President Kirsten Mohring, Vice President Brian Fanning, Treasurer Darah Dal Pra, Secretary Members at large: Maria Di Nola Jacki Gallagher Ray Gaspari Sharon Richert Gabe Stoutimore Kim Wertz Music Director: Dan Perkins |