The Reston Chorale - Fairfax County Choir
The Reston Chorale - Fairfax County Choir
The Reston Chorale - Fairfax County Choir
Frederick Wygal, Artistic Director
Frederick Wygal has been a conductor, teacher, and singer in the Greater Washington
area for more than 50 years, arriving in Northern Virginia in 1953 as a graduate of
the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music/University of Cincinnati. Mr. Wygal taught
choral singing to thousands of high school students in the Fairfax County School
System, retiring in 1983 as music department chair at Fairfax High School. He has
served as a choral clinician and adjudicator for festivals and performances in
both the United States and Canada.
He was the founding Director of the Fairfax Choral Society and its Music Director for 13 years. Through the performance of such works as the Beethoven Missa Solemnis and the Orff Carmina Burana, both Virginia premiers, he established that group as an important cultural resource in the greater Washington area, a position it still holds. He was a founding board member of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, and served as its manager and timpanist for 5 years. He has also guest-conducted that orchestra, as well as the Arlington Symphony, the Prince William Symphony, and the Virginia Chamber Orchestra.
As a professional singer, Mr. Wygal has performed with the American Light Opera Company, The Opera Society of Washington, the D.C. Civic Opera, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and others. Notable directors under whom he has performed include Igor Stravinsky, Robert Shaw, Eugene Ormandy, Julius Rudel, and Raphael Fruehbec de Burgos.
In 1983, Mr. Wygal became the Artistic Director of The Reston Chorale, which has served the Reston community since 1967. Under his direction, the Chorale has continued to present itself as an outstanding interpreter of the classic choral repertory as well as becoming a definitive performer of the many varied American musical styles.
Mr. Wygal has served as Secretary of the Virginia Music Educators Association, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Fairfax Education Association and as a board member of the Fairfax County Cultural Association.
Linda Ackerman, Managing Director
Linda Ackerman joined the Reston Chorale as Managing Director in 2002. Her background
in management and human resources enabled her to expand the position beyond the
management of the group's day-to-day operations. Linda has extensive experience as a
human resources professional and in event planning. Linda has used her skills to
recruit new members, negotiate contracts and put the organization of the Chorale on
a sound footing. During her time as Managing Director, the membership of the Reston
Chorale has grown from 100 to more than 130 members.
As Managing Director, she oversees the Chorale's four annual concert performances. Linda also coordinates publicity and public relations for the Chorale. She is a member of the Chorale Board, Communications and Corporate Development committees. Outside the Chorale, Linda is a Senior Human Resources Generalist at NeuStar, Inc. She has also provided consulting services to ChalleNGe, the National Guard's Youth at Risk program. Linda has sung with a variety of vocal groups in Arizona, Illinois, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Tordis Fahringer, Accompanist
The Reston Chorale welcomes Tordis Fahringer, accompanist. Ms Fahringer began studying
classical piano at the age of five years. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree,
with a major in music, from Douglass College (Rutgers University) in New Brunswick,
NJ. Following graduation, she lived and worked in New York City, where she studied
piano with Jascha Zayde. In 1995 Ms. Fahringer began to substitute as organist for
many area churches of varying denominations. Since 1999, she has been the organist
for Community Lutheran Church in Sterling, VA, she also teaches privately. From July
of 1995 through May of 2004, she was the accompanist for the Master Singers of
Virginia. Ms. Fahringer has accompanied many middle and high school choral concerts,
as well as Workshop Chorus, in 1998 through 2000. She also accompanied the Reston
Chorale previously, as the rehearsal accompanist and for the performance of Carmina
Burana for 2 pianos and percussion in 2003.
Executive Board Officers
|
President First Vice-President, Patrons Second Vice-President, Membership Third Vice-President, Corporate Development Secretary Treasurer Grants Coordinator Music Librarian |
Al Torzilli Virginia Clark Shannon Burcroff Ruth Overton Dick Takamatsu Lori Mihalyo Ruth Overton June Harper |
Honorary Board Members
|
James C. Cleveland C. Barrie Cook, M.D. Frederick L. Fox, M.D. The Honorable Janet Howell The Honorable Catherine M. Hudgins William Hudson |
Phil Hunter James W. Jones John T. Morris, Jr. The Honorable Kenneth R. Plum Robert E. Simon, Jr. Gloria Sussman |
