The Masterwork Chorus
Upcoming Concerts
Our Mission
The Masterwork Chorus is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching and supporting the cultural life of the community through professional-level choral performances and the promotion of music education.
Masterwork Goals
- Produce professional-level performances of diverse character and appeal;
- Promote music education;
- Collaborate with other organizations;
- Support the arts community;
- Engage in community outreach; and
- Strengthen The Masterwork Chorus and its organization.
For a sample of our passions, enjoy this one minute recording:
Our History
Founded in May 1955, The Masterwork Chorus is a not-for-profit Morris County, New Jersey based organization. In October 1955 (two months after the first rehearsal), The Masterwork Chorus' first performance was Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra at Newark's Symphony Hall. The chorus' second concert was in January 1956, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mozart's birth, with a program which consisted of Mozart's Requiem and excerpts from The Magic Flute. David Randolph served as The Masterwork Chorus' first Music Director and Conductor until his retirement in 1992.
Director: Andrew Megill
Andrew Megill was appointed Music Director of The Masterwork Chorus in January 2000 and is just the third Music Director in the chorus history. He also serves as Associate Professor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Director of Choral Activities for the Carmel (CA) Bach Festival, and Artistic Director of Fuma Sacra, one of America's leading professional ensembles specializing in Renaissance and Baroque vocal music.
He has prepared choruses for performances with ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonie, National Symphony, American Symphony adn the Mark Morris Dance Company for conductors including Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Joseph Flummerfelt, Alan Gilbert, Jane Glover, Kurt Masur, Zdenek Macal and Bruno Weil.
Mr. Megill is particularly admired for his performances of Baroque repertoire. He has led Bach festivals at Westminster Choir College and in Dublin, Ireland, and guest-conducted Bach works for Yale University, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and Emmanuel Church in Boston. He has collaborated with many leading Baroque specialists, including conductors Ton Koopman and Masaaki Suzuki. He has also served as interim choirmaster at Trinity Church Wall Street and as chorusmaster for the Spoleto Festival USA.
Associate Director: J.D. Burnett
J.D. Burnett has already enjoyed a varied career as a conductor, singer and educator. He is on the music staff of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, is Choir Director at St. Peter's Church in Mountain Lakes, NJ, and teaches on the choral music faculty of Montclair State University. He is also Music Director for the burgeoning ensemble Kinnara. Prior to these appointments, he served as Interim Director of Choral Activities at San Jose State University, was Artistic Director of the New Jersey Chamber Singers, was Music Director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus, founded Men's Consort Houston, and was a member of the choral music faculty at Kingwood High School in Suburban Houston. Burnett did undergraduate study at Stanford University and Oklahoma State University. He holds a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, where he sang in the Westminster Symphonic Choir and Westminster Kantorei, and served as Assistant Conductor of the renowned Westminster Choir. As a professional choral singer, Burnett has performed seasons, concerts, and recordings with the Stillwater Chamber Singers, Cantare Houston, The Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Fuma Sacra, the Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street, the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, and Conspirare.
ReachOut!
With the 1998-1999 season, The Masterwork Chorus' program of Community Outreach was formalized as ReachOut! This program of community outreach is focused on presenting short choral performances for those groups within our community who might otherwise be unable to hear the chorus in a standard venue. ReachOut! seeks to reach senior citizens, patients in hospitals and nursing facilities, young audiences, and the disadvantaged of our community.
Board of Directors
The Masterwork Board of Directors is elected each year by the Chorus membership and, along with our Music Director, directs all activities of the Chorus. Below are Board members for the 2009-2010 concert year (executive committee members identified by their positions):
Becky Adams
Pat Bartinique
Katherine Becker
Marty Carson - President
George Chang - Vice President
Laura DeFelice
Joy Eakley
Kit Haines-Bornheimer
Kathy Hannan - Vice President
Don MacGowan - Secretary
Erwin Petri
Lee Vogt
Andy Walsh - Treasurer
