MacPhail Chamber Choir
A New Collaborative Choir
with Minnesota Chorale
Jerry Rubino, conductor | Kathy Romey, artistic consultant | Bryon Wilson, pianist
MacPhail Center for Music and the illustrious Minnesota Chorale proudly announce the MacPhail Chamber Choir, a collaborative endeavor designed for committed adult vocalists.
Experience Unparalleled Excellence:
At the heart of this choir lies a unique opportunity – the chance to sing alongside members of the esteemed Minnesota Chorale. Through this collaboration, you’ll refine your craft, learn from experienced section leaders, and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of choral repertoire.
A Community of Dedicated Vocalists:
Embracing a philosophy centered on the joy of choral singing, the MacPhail Chamber Choir fosters a supportive and nurturing environment. Here, you’ll enhance your vocal abilities and forge lasting connections within a vibrant community of enthusiasts.
Your Stage Awaits:
Picture yourself performing in the splendid Antonello Hall, MacPhail’s award-winning performance venue. With two captivating concerts each year, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your talents on a prestigious stage.
Rehearsals for the inaugural season begin September 2024.
Meet the Masters Behind the Music:
Under the expert guidance of renowned conductor Jerry Rubino, and with the artistic insights of Kathy Romey as Artistic Consultant, the MacPhail Chamber Choir promises an enriching journey through the world of choral music. Accompanied by the skilled pianist Bryon Wilson, you are in capable hands.
Jerry Rubino was appointed music director of Voices of Experience in 2011 and serves on the MacPhail faculty in the voice and piano departments. He holds piano, voice, music education, and conducting degrees from Temple University and the University of Minnesota. He has taught at Northwestern, Augsburg, and Carleton Colleges. A native of Philadelphia, he attended Curtis Institute as a cellist. He serves as Minister of Music at Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota, and is a staff conductor and professional singer with the Minnesota Chorale. Rubino worked for twenty-three seasons with the Dale Warland Singers as associate conductor, director of special projects and music education, pianist, singer, and arranger. His credits include honors choirs in Australia, Taiwan, Hawaii, and Europe, and he is a series editor and workshop presenter for Oxford University Press and the Hal Leonard Corporation.
Kathy Saltzman Romey is a distinguished figure in the world of choral music. She is the artistic director of the 200-voice Minnesota Chorale, the principal choir of the Minnesota Orchestra. Her extensive experience includes thirty years as Professor Emerita of Music and former Director of Choral Activities at the University of Minnesota, where she supervised the graduate program in choral conducting.
Recognized for her exacting standards in choir training, Romey has led the Chorale in performances across local, national, and international platforms. She has prepared the ensemble for collaborations with esteemed conductors and orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Romey also spearheads the Bridges series, a celebrated community engagement initiative to foster musical and social connections, expand the choral canon, and address societal needs through choral music.
Bryon Wilson is a freelance pianist based in Minneapolis. Bryon divides his time between teaching, coaching, and performing. He has appeared with numerous artistic organizations, including Schubert Club, Source Song Festival, Thursday Musical, NATS, Mill City Opera, Out of the Box Opera, and River Sounds in Ft. Lauderdale. In 2015 Bryon performed in the world premiere of Minnesota Concert Opera’s La Divina, a one-woman play about Maria Callas. Bryon also studies and performs music composed by holocaust prisoners in Theresienstadt and recently presented a lecture-recital on the topic as part of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas series on Holocaust survivors in Minnesota.
Bryon maintains an active piano studio, and his students have entered music programs at Indiana University, New York University, Boston University, and Interlochen Arts Camp. During his Master’s and Doctoral studies in Collaborative Piano at the University of Minnesota, Bryon studied with Timothy Lovelace, Noriko Kawai, Debra Bakland, and Margo Garrett. Bryon is the pianist for The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, on the faculty of Macphail Center for Music, and is an organist at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Edina, MN. Bryon also spends two months every summer commercial salmon fishing in Bristol Bay, AK.