The Frederick Chorale celebrates its thirty-second year as a major performing ensemble. The Chorale, an auditioned chamber chorus of fifty-five voices, was founded in 1977 by Nancy Roblin, an accomplished organist and choral conductor, to provide an outlet for talented area singers who wanted to study and perform great choral music from all periods. The Chorale has distinguished itself by the high caliber of its performances of masterworks and by combining visual and theatrical elements with choral singing to enhance the audience's experience.
The Chorale's original and unique Madrigal Feastes' elaborate dinner theaters set in Queen Elizabeth's Court have attracted national attention among choral conductors. Chorus members have become adept at writing, staging, costuming, and producing Feastes and also special multi-media community events, such as Milestones, for Frederick City's 250th Anniversary celebration; Patchworks, for Frederick County's 250th Anniversary celebration; and special Civil War presentations - all of which presented a scripted montage of vocal and instrumental music, costumes, dance, slide show, sets, and re-enactors from the community representing different periods of local history. The Chorale has also been part of many community events such as the Kris Kringle Parade, the Frederick County Open House and Holiday Church Tour, the Frederick County New Citizen's naturalization Ceremony, the Frederick City Fourth of July Celebration in Baker Park, the Frederick Community Foundation Awards Dinner, and the Frederick Keys games.
The Chorale has given hundreds of other performances, including concerts at The Walter's Art Gallery, the National Cathedral, the National Shrine, Westmoreland Church, Cedar Lane Church, and Bruton Parish in Colonial Williamsburg. The Chorale has been a featured chorus for the American Chorale Directors' Association and the Maryland State Legislature's Prayer Breakfasts in Annapolis. The Chorale has performed on national television on the Today Show, and has also been honored with two invitations to sing at The White House Presidential Christmas Receptions. In the summer of 1996, The Chorale was invited by the Washington Camerata Nuove to join them in an extraordinary Concert for Peace Tour in the Middle East. There, the combined groups sang Beethovenâs Ninth Symphony in Jordan, and also performed in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The group has also performed on concert tours of England and Scotland in 2000, and in Montreal and Quebec, Canada, in 2003 and Vancouver and Victoria, in 2006.
The Chorale has performed many major works with professional instrumentalists. These include the Mozartâs Requiem; Brahm's German Requiem; Handel's Messiah, Israel in Egypt and the Dettingen Te Deum; Mendelssohnâs Elijah; Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem; Bachâs Magnificat, Jesu Meine Freude, and B Minor Mass; and the Faure Requiem. The Chorale has also sponsored numerous open-to-the-public workshops and guest performances with great musicians and conductors. These included Ward Swingle of the Swingle Singers, Jeremy Jackman of the Kingâs Singers, Dr. Elaine Brown of Philadelphiaâs Singing City Chorus, Allen Lannom of Bostonâs Masterworkâs Chorale, and Dr. Nathan Carter of Morgan State Choir.
The Frederick Chorale is available in full chorus or small ensembles for special concerts at private parties, weddings or organizational events. The Chorale can also provide a partial or complete Madrigal Feaste for private individuals, corporations, or associations. To schedule a concert or request further information, email info@FrederickChorale.org or call 301-865-5458 or 301-662-8506.
Director Nancy Roblin is a graduate of Vassar College and Boston University School for the Arts, where she earned a Master's degree in Organ Performance and Choral Studies . In addition, she attended graduate school in contemporary music at the University of California at San Diego. Her teachers have included Dr. Gerald Mack, Thomas Nee, Kenneth Gaburo, and Allen Lannom.
Ms. Roblin founded the Frederick Chorale in 1977, served as Music Director in an area church, led the YMCA Children's Chorus, directed the local community chorus now known as the Frederick Choral Arts Society, and initiated the music program at Frederick Community College. She is also a partner with Korn/Ferry International, the world's leading executive search firm, where she specializes in telecommunications and high-tech searches.
In 2005, Ms. Roblin was nominated for the Governor's Maryland You Are Beautiful Volunteer Award, honoring her 30 years of volunteer service as Chorale director and her influence on the arts and community spirit of Frederick County.
She is married to Dr. Richard Roblin, a biotechnologist and also a member of the Frederick Chorale. They have two grown children.
A native of Southern California, Nick IntVeldt graduated from the University of California at Irvine with an Information and Computer Sciences degree before coming East. He studied classical piano all through his student years, and has been very active in the musical life of Frederick County since the 1970s. He has a great gift for piano improvisation and generously shares his creative talents in recitals and performances. His interest in popular music has led to extensive involvement in musical theater. He has been the music director and/or conductor for numerous shows produced by the Fredericktowne Players, including "Cinderella," "Camelot," "The King and I," "Man of La Mancha," "Nunsense II," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Forever Plaid," and "Oliver!"
In addition to his career as a software developer and manager of his own software-development business, Nick served the congregation of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick for over 30 years as accompanist or director of various music ensembles, eventually earning the title of Assistant Director of Music Ministry. Having joined the Frederick Chorale in 1990 as a baritone, Nick subsequently became the assistant conductor and accompanist, and is a vital member of the group. Nick met and married his wife, Deborah, who is a leading soprano in the Chorale. He has one grown son.