South Holland Master Chorale’s 80-plus active members have a long history as one of the premiere singing ensembles of the Chicago Southland. The Chorale draws singers from no fewer than 40 cities and villages extending from the South Side of Chicago to Kankakee and from Orland Park to Chesterton, Indiana. Broadly diverse and proudly non-discriminatory, the Chorale enjoys membership from across a wide range of demographics. The Chorale has always remained a non-auditioned group – all who love fine choral music and are willing to work hard to bring it to perfection are welcome, regardless of previous choral experience. The South Holland Master Chorale has performed many of the greatest masterpieces of classical choral and choral/orchestral literature.

Recognized by critics as offering “tremendously sensitive direction” and being “a gifted and spirited conductor,” Philip Bauman brings to the chorale decades of leadership and enthusiasm energizing the imagination of musicians and audience members. Maestro Bauman is also the Music Director of the Michigan City Messiah. Known for his charismatic presence on and off the podium he is frequently hailed for his innovative programs and consistently captivating performances. Mr. Bauman brings to the chorale a rich history of work with choruses and choral ensembles including work with Chicago Opera Theater, Downers Grove Oratorios Society, The Opera Factory, Light Opera Works, Boise Opera, Starlight Theater, and da Corneto Opera.

The Christian Oratorio Association in Veenendaal (COV) was founded on January 31, 1942, and has existed for 80 years with around 50 members. COV has high artistic ambitions and stands out for its high-quality performances, attracting renowned soloists and orchestras. Its repertoire includes both classical and modern choral works, oratorios, and passions. A selection from our recent concert history: Both St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion by Bach, Gloria by Vivaldi, Misa a Buenos Aires (Misa Tango) by Palmeri, St. Paul by Mendelssohn, and The Creation by Haydn.

Hans Lamers initially studied orchestral conducting for wind ensembles, as his roots lay in wind music. His passion for choral music led to a choral conducting diploma in 1984 at the Arnhem Conservatory. In 1987, he joined a masterclass with renowned conductor Kurt Sanderling. Through the Gelderland Opera and Operetta Society (GOOG) and Toonkunst Choir Zutphen, he developed a deep affinity for major choral and orchestral works. In 2023, he bid farewell to the choir with Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Since 2008, he has been the conductor of COV Veenendaal, proud of their 2015 freedom concert and Haydn’s The Creation in the Basilica.

Under Bisser Kostadinov artistic direction, has performed works from the major repertoire such as W.A. Mozart and G. Fauré Requiems, J.B. Bach, A. Vivaldi, G.B. Pergolesi Magnificats, Ethel Smyth Mass in D, but also contemporary works : M. Duruflé Requiem, B. Britten Cermony of Carols, J. Rutter Magnificat.

Bisser graduated from the National Music Conservatoire in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1987 he won the singing competition organised by Nikola Giuzelev, the famous Bass. He has been living in France since 1990, singing in lyrical performances alongside renowned soloists. In 2009 he opened a singing school - in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence – to teach Bel Canto, and also started conducting choirs. Passionate about Orthodox singing, in 2010 Bisser created and conducted Cantus Dixit, a choir which has performed throughout Europe, notably at the Pomorie Orthodox Music Festival in Bulgaria. In 2023, he founded the Vocalys choir, dedicated to major classical works.

The Arlington Chorale is a vibrant, multi-generational chorus featuring talented singers from Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. They perform a diverse repertoire that includes well-known masterpieces by composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Brahms, alongside contemporary works that address pressing societal issues. Committed to supporting living composers, the Chorale commissions new works that resonate with the community partnerships they have established with local non-profits. Their youth ensemble, Performers with Purpose (PWP), empowers young singers to engage with community organizations, emphasizing service through choral music. In 2024, the Chorale received the Greater Washington D.C. Choral Excellence “Ovation” Award for Exemplary Community Engagement.

Dr. Ingrid Lestrud enjoys an active career as a conductor and educator. She holds a Doctor of Music from Northwestern University, where she studied with Victor Yampolsky. She spent three years as Voice Department Chair of the Merit School of Music, a community music school focused on underserved communities. She worked with Renée Fleming and the Lyric Opera of Chicago to develop curriculum for Merit’s programs, and her choir performed with Ms. Fleming for special events. In 2022, she won the Mid-Atlantic Teaching Artists Innovate + Create contest for her work with Performers With Purpose, a youth ensemble that combines music with service projects.