Upcoming Events | Beaver Valley Choral Society

OPPORTUNITY – ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR

Beaver Valley Choral Society — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:05:16 +0000

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR

The Beaver Valley Choral Society, a prominent intergenerational, Christian-based, non-denominational community choral and orchestral organization in Western Pennsylvania, is seeking a dynamic Artistic Director and Principal Conductor beginning with its 2026–2027 concert season. This is a part-time, 12-month position with the potential for annual renewal.

The Artistic Director will oversee the musical and artistic vision of BVCS, leading/overseeing its Principal Choir, Orchestra, Youth Chorale, Hand Bell ensemble and other performing areas of the organization. The role includes selecting and conducting repertoire for three major concert series (Advent, Lent, and Spring Pops), leading weekly rehearsals, organizing 8–9 concerts annually (with two dress rehearsals per semester), and engaging in community performances throughout the Beaver Valley region.

Key Duties:

Select and conduct music for SATB choir with varying accompaniment (a cappella, orchestra, piano, organ, handbells, youth choir).
Lead weekly 2-hour rehearsals and additional dress/soloist rehearsals.
Coordinate with concert venues and the Concert Manager for logistics.
Develop and manage concert programming, write program notes and concert scripts.
Serve as an advisor to the Board of Directors, attending meetings and working closely with the operations and marketing teams.
Oversee all artistic staff including Assistant Conductor, Accompanists, Youth Director, Orchestra Manager, Hand Bell Director, Solo Series Coordinator, Chancel Choir Director, and other permanent or associate artistic staff.
Represent BVCS in media appearances and public events, including in print, on the radio and television, and on line.
Send weekly emails regarding rehearsal updates to entire membership.
Submit concert season proposal to Board, no later than June 1.
Work closely with print vendor to coordinate materials needed for concerts (bought in batch), Graphic Arts Designer in creating marketing materials for concert series, Orchestra Manager to ensure instrumental parts are covered for respective concerts, and the social media and Web Managers to promote the organization.
Understand the history of the BVCS and promote the organization accordingly.
Create agenda and script for annual member meeting.

Requirements:

Minimum Bachelor’s degree in music (choral emphasis preferred)
Experience in choral and orchestral conducting
Minimum Intermediate keyboard skills
Strong communication, leadership, and organizational abilities
Ability to work with Artistic and volunteer staff and Board of Directors
Passion for community music and Christian-based mission

Annual Stipend: $6,500

To Apply:

Submit your letter of intent, resume or CV, three references, and a short video of rehearsal or performance conducting to: bvcs.recruitment@gmail.com

The Beaver Valley Choral Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

GRACIE BURCHILL PERFORMS IN VATICAN CITY, ROME.

Beaver Valley Choral Society — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:24:10 +0000

Cecilia Grace (Gracie) Burchill, a student at Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, enrolled in Sacred Music and Organ studies, was blessed to have performed as organist for a Mass held at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Gracie is pictured on the organ console at St. Peter’s Basilica, photographed the day of the Mass.

Gracie is currently participating in Franciscan University’s European Study Abroad Program that is centered in Gaming, Austria. While there, she is also serving as one of two student organists for the chapel choir and serves additionally as the Music Assistant.

Gracie was a founding student member of the Beaver Valley Choral Society’s Treble Youth Chorale and graduated into the adult choir during her high school years. Gracie’s mother, Sharon Burchill, serves as the Beaver Valley Choral Society’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.”

DEB SILVERSTEIN INDUCTED INTO THE BATAVIA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT’S MUSICIANS OF NOTE HALL OF FAME

Beaver Valley Choral Society — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:08:46 +0000

Congratulations to our own Deb Silverstein on her recent Induction into the Batavia City School District’s Musicians of Note Hall of Fame 2024!

A native of Batavia, New York, and a graduate of the Batavia School District, Deb has had an illustrious career as a teacher and performer. Thousands of students have flourished under her direction, with hundreds of them pursuing careers in music and the arts. She has performed all over the nation and world as soloist and orchestral player on flute and piccolo. Deb has been instrumental to the BVCS as she directs the Treble Youth Chorale while also serving as Orchestra Manager and Concert Master of the BVCS Orchestra. She lends her talents to the orchestra as well, as lead flute player.

According to the nomination information, “Batavia City School District recognizes alumni and retired music educators for their accomplishments in

the field of music. Batavia has many alumni who have had successful careers in music performance,music education, musical theater, and audio recording.”

Deb was inducted into the Batavia City School District’s Musicians of Note Hall of Fame on October 24, 2024. A truly well-deserved honor for a truly remarkable musician!

Philip H. Inman added to Beaver County Genealogy and History Center

Beaver Valley Choral Society — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:27:45 +0000

A new archive has been added to the Beaver County Genealogy and History Center shelves.

Earlier this year Mary Inman, wife of the late Philip H. Inman (pictured), donated his large collection of photographs and programs for the Rochester Area High School musicals that were produced from the Sixties to the Eighties, spanning nearly 25 years.

Mr. Inman (1932-2019) was choral teacher at Rochester and is credited with organizing the first high school musical produced anywhere.

He had the foresight to document his students’ efforts with this priceless archive. These are not amateur snapshots, but are professional photographs from the stage scenes.

Many thanks to Mrs. Inman, Ray Rotuna, and BCG&HC volunteers Miriam Young, Lauraly Burnecke, Rose Marie Kendell, Cindy Latherow and Bob Headland for making this historic History Center collection possible.

Beaver Valley Choral Society Formally Celebrates 100 Years Of Song

Beaver Valley Choral Society — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:23:30 +0000

(As printed on the Beaver County Radio website / Matt Drzik, October 23, 2023)

Not one member of the current iteration of the Beaver Valley Choral Society was born when the organization began at Beaver College back on October 23, 1923. This fact did not stop them from presenting a performance worth 100 years of celebration.

Before a large crowd at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Hopewell, the BVCS formally commemorated 100 years of song in the Beaver Valley by performing selections from the oratorio “Messiah” composed by Georg Frédérich Handel. The group of principal vocalists and instrument

A cake celebrating 100 years of the Beaver Valley Choral Society is cut following their performance at Our Lady of Fatima Parish on October 23.

alists was joined by members of the Academy Chamber Orchestra from Pittsburgh, along with featured mezzo-soprano soloist Caroline Friend.

Following the opening number–Lloyd Larsen’s “Celebrate The Day”–the evening opened with an introduction from BVCS President Jim Angeloni, followed by the Historical Address from Chief Historian (and trombonist) Bob Headland. A proclamation from the Beaver County Commissioners was then read aloud by Board Member (and bass singer) Rick Murphy before being presented to BVCS Artistic Director Sharon Burchill.

Additionally, the performance of “Messiah” was an interactive one. Not only did Burchill occasionally turn from the choir towards the audience to conduct them, but the BVCS provided copies of the music to those in attendance.

In all, the centennial was lauded by the attendees, who stood and applauded following the final note of the first 100 years–a century of a non-profit group of ordinary citizens who only need three requirements to be active: to pay dues, to sing to the glory of God, and to sing “tunefully”.

On this night, they sang exceptionally.