Bennington County Choral Society
The Bennington County Choral Society is a mixed adult chorus of voices drawn from southern Vermont and nearby New York and Massachusetts communities. It aims to foster an environment in which chorus members coalesce as a group and develop as an ensemble, with the goal of growing musically through weekly rehearsals and biannual performances that are a source of pride and pleasure.
The Choral Society is open to all ages and singing/reading abilities and performs two concerts each year. Auditions are not required to join. Members are expected to bring a love of singing and are asked to pay the appropriate dues.
Meet Our Director Dr. Brian Dukeshier
Dr. Brian Dukeshier has over 20 years of private, elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels of choral, piano, theory, orchestral, and vocal instruction. Dr. Dukeshier comes to us from Colorado’s University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music where he has been conducting choirs, overseeing graduate students, teaching choral pedagogy, and private conducting while working as a collaborative pianist. He has been an active pianist and vocalist with the Colorado Symphony for a number of years as well and is the Assistant Conductor of Ars Nova, a professional choral ensemble in Boulder, Colorado. He has advanced degrees in classical piano performance, choral conducting, and orchestral conducting as well as extensive study in music theory.
Ben April,
Assistant Director
Ben April is a vocal music educator at the Long Trail School in Dorset. He serves as the Director of Music Ministries at the Community Reformed Church of Colonie in Albany, NY, accompanist for the Bennington Children's Chorus, and maintains a private piano and voice studio at his home in Shaftsbury. Long active in the Capitol Region of NY, he previously served as Artistic Director of the Albany Gay Men's Chorus in Albany, NY and the Schoharie Valley Singers in Schoharie, NY and has extensive experience as an accompanist, musical theater director, church musician, and choir director. Ben has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Music Education.
