Reston Chorale celebrates 60th season with new works and old favorites

By Heidi Kibirsky, guest writer

Reston's founder wanted the arts to bring the community together. He helped establish The Reston Chorale in 1966. Still going strong, The Reston Chorale is celebrating its 60th year. Photo by Mike Olson

When Reston founder Robert E. Simon Jr. planned his new community, he envisioned the arts as a way to bring people together. In 1966, that vision inspired the founding of The Reston Chorale.

Now in its 60th season, the Chorale performs a wide range of music, from classical works and Broadway favorites to popular songs and new compositions.

A musical legacy

In the summer of 1966, Simon recruited Dr. James Christian Pfohl, an experienced music educator and conductor who had led the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina, to establish a musical presence in Reston. Pfohl founded the Reston Music Center, which included a summer music camp, a children’s chorus, a chamber orchestra and The Reston Chorale.

The Chorale made its debut Dec. 11, 1966, at Lake Anne Community Center. A week later, singers performed in “Christmas in a New Town,” an outdoor concert at Washington Plaza. WETA filmed the performance, which aired across the Washington area and was distributed nationally.

The group pursued ambitious programming from the start. In 1967, it premiered “Vespers,” a work by American composer Robert Evett commissioned for the first anniversary of Reston’s dedication. Two years later, it launched the New Town Concert Series, presenting choral and chamber orchestra performances.

Photo by Mike Olson

Over the decades, the Chorale has performed major works such as Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and Fauré’s “Requiem,” collaborated with regional orchestras and explored popular music. In 2022, it joined the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra and a rock band for “Music of Queen (and Friends)” at Capital One Hall.

After performing “Elijah” in March 2020, the Chorale shifted to a virtual season during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, D.C.-area choral directors voted the Chorale “Best Municipal Chorus” in the Greater Washington, D.C., Area Choral Excellence (Ovation) Awards.

Artistic Director David B. Lang, who has led the Chorale since 2009, oversees a repertoire that welcomes singers with varied backgrounds and experience.

Anniversary season

The 2026-27 season, themed “A Tapestry of Voices: 60 Seasons of Harmony,” combines holiday traditions and Broadway favorites with new choral works.

“Threads of Joy,” the Chorale’s holiday concert celebrating its 60th anniversary season, will be performed Saturday, Dec. 5, at 4 and 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Members of the Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble will join the Chorale.

Attendees who bring toiletries or nonperishable food for the South Lakes High School Pantry will receive $5 off admission to the Dec. 22 sing-along of Handel’s “Messiah,” scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. A clean, new or gently used child-size coat or jacket also qualifies for a $5 discount. Organizers particularly need coats for elementary and middle school students.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, soprano Jacquelynne Fontaine-Isaac, a veteran of the national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Helen Hayes Award-winning tenor Alan Naylor will present “Broadway Favorites with Jacque & Alan” at 4 p.m. Lang will accompany the singers at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Presented by Music with the Maestro’s Jeffrey Dokken, the concert will benefit the Chorale.

The spring concert, “Colors of Harmony,” will take place Saturday, March 20, at 4 p.m. at Heritage Fellowship Church. The program will feature choral classics from the past six decades and the world premiere of a commissioned work by composer Michael John Trotta.

The season concludes Saturday, May 8, with “A Tapestry of Song,” featuring a new choral arrangement by composer and conductor Dr. Allan Laiño, a former associate director. Performances are scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. The date is subject to change.

Community events include two activities on Wednesday, Nov. 11. A small group of Chorale members will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Herndon at 11 a.m. That evening, Musical Bingo, a fundraiser, will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Lake Anne Brew House. The event will feature four rounds of music-based bingo and prizes, with food and beverages available for purchase.

On Sunday, May 23, 2027, the Chorale and the Brass Band of Northern Virginia will present “A Star-Spangled Salute,” a free patriotic concert from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Attendees can bring lawn chairs, make thank-you cards and donate care-package items for deployed service members.

Investing in the next generation

Board President Ruth Ann Pinkman said the anniversary recognizes the singers, audiences, volunteers and supporters who have sustained the Chorale across generations.

The organization also invests in young vocalists through the Robert E. Simon Jr. Music Scholarships, which support up to eight high school and college students each season. Recipients receive financial awards to help with educational expenses and gain experience performing with the Chorale and professional musicians.

Six decades after its founding, The Reston Chorale continues to connect the community through music while preserving its history and introducing audiences to new works.

For concert details, tickets and season updates, visit RestonChorale.org.