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Kerry Fradley, who has been artistic director and conductor of the North Florida Women’s Chorale since 2006, is an active choral conductor in the community where she is founder and director of the St. Augustine Youth Chorus and former director of the Flagler College Singers. Fradley, who has a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from Georgia State University, has a keen interest in researching, promoting, and performing the beautiful choral music written especially for treble voices. She is on the board of the First Coast Opera and the St. Augustine Community Chorus and is active in those organizations. In her free time, she also enjoys tennis, art museums, travel, and her 12 grandchildren Mrs. Fradley was honored in March 2015 in St. Augustine, FL, with the ROWITA award which stands for "Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts".
Kathleen Vande Berg, collaborative accompanist, is delighted to be working with the talented women of the NFWC. She was a music educator/chorus director in schools in New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Georgia before moving to St. Augustine in 2003 and also had an active career as a church organist and choir director. Ms. Vande Berg is currently the organist/choir director at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church and the director of the St. Augustine Chamber Singers. Kathleen is a recipient of the ROWITA Award and also was knighted by the Minorcan Easter Society for her service to the community.
The North Florida Women's Chorale was founded in 1992 by Dr. M.J. Palmer, director of the UNF Choral Department, as an auditioned organization for the purpose of promoting the performance of music written for women's voices.
Since its founding in 1992, the North Florida Women’s Chorale has attracted talent from the Jacksonville, Beaches and St. Augustine areas. Musicians with diverse professional backgrounds, including public relations, medicine, sales and education have all graced our ranks. Its 32 year history has seen 5 conductors: Dr. M. J. Palmer (1992-1998), Dr. Carl Peters, (1998-2002), Joel Colsant (2002-2004), Dr. Ted Mathews (2004-2006), and Kerry Fradley, (from 2006).
For the 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert on April 27, 2013, the Chorale presented the premiere performance of “Listening”, based on the poem by Amy Lowell, Pulitzer prize-winning poet. The original commissioned piece by Dawn Sonntag, for the occasion of our 20thAnniversary Season, was premiered at the Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic Beach, followed by a Reception honoring our past, with 4 out of 5 former Music Directors present!
The Women's Chorale has made several concert tours in the U.S including Washington D. C in 2010, Chicago with noted conductor Rollo Dilworth and Atlanta and most recently to Dublin Ireland!.
I am a retired music teacher from Scranton PA where I was a marching band and strings
teacher for 32 yrs. I graduated from Marywood college where I was a voice major and
brass minor. We moved to Florida 7 yrs ago with our family and was lucky enough to
find the women’s chorale. I have 3 children and 4 grand children. My goal after retiring
was to sing and that’s exactly what I’m doing. Besides spending time with my family I
enjoy crocheting and cross stitching and other crafts that keep my busy. I am honored
to be the chorale president and I look forward to another wonderful year of music with
this wonderful group of people.
Hello! My family and I have lived in St. Augustine since July of 2017. I have been a member of the NFWC since 2022. My family, and my husband's family, have always been involved in and exposed to music. In fact, he and I met at the Royal School of Church Music. I sang in church choirs as a child and adult, played bells in church, sang in multiple choirs in high school and college, and sang in a variety of community ensembles since my early 20s. In college, I double majored in music and biology (eventually going to school for nursing) and wrote 2 theses for the program I was in, which both focused on music. The first was on the impact of Kodaly hand signs on learning to read music while using solfege, and the second was how emotions were portrayed in John Downland's lute songs. We are avid listeners of music at home and encourage our daughters to listen to and appreciate all types of music. I also enjoy reading and manage the Silent Book Club chapter of St. Augustine.
I am Linda Roeser, secretary for NFWC. My family tells me that I started singing at the age of 3, standing on a table at “Happy’s” bar in Sandusky, Ohio. But seriously, I started singing in chorale groups 25 years ago in Virginia Beach, VA. I enjoyed singing with Virginia Voices International, Bellissima, Symphonicity, and my church choirs. Moving from Virginia Beach 3 years ago I quickly connected with Saint Augustine Community Chorus, North Florida Women’s Chorale, Inspirarei, and the Saint Augustine Chamber Singers and continue to enjoy my love of singing here in Florida. I grew up in Ohio but spent most of my life in Virginia Beach where I had a successful career in the corporate world managing people and processes for many years. After retiring (the first time) I spent 8 years teaching Kindergarten and enjoyed every second. I am blessedwith 2 beautiful daughters and their husbands, and 3 amazing grandchildren. Along with my passion for singing, I also enjoy riding my bicycle, reading, yoga, and traveling.
I grew up in Jacksonville. After graduating from FSU, I joined the Navy. After 5 years in the Navy, I resigned and became a Navy wife. I followed him all over the U.S. and Europe. He retired and we lived in Ohio for 21 years. After his retirement in Ohio, we moved back to Jacksonville. I joined NFWC immediately and have been with them for 24 years. While I was traveling, I found a group to sing with wherever I was, but I have to say the Chorale has been the most rewarding and fun to be a part of. I sing with 2 other groups – Singers by the Sea and Palms Presbyterian Choir but the Chorale can’t be beat.
Hello, My name is Jane Bastiansen and I am the concert coordinator for the North Florida Women’s Chorale. I started singing in junior high and it continued into high school where I sang with the school choir and also in a four part harmony acappella group. I moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida in 2016 by way of Minnesconsin.
I joined the North Florida Women’s Chorale in 2017
and have thoroughly enjoyed singing with this group of talented women. My great grandfather was a piano and organ maker and his daughter my grandmother was an opera singer. I guess I have music in my blood.
Music has been a lifelong passion for me, starting with piano lessons in 1st grade and continuing through various teachers. I began singing in church and school choirs across Alaska and Colorado, eventually performing in multiple church choirs, solos, and kids' choirs. My husband and I raised four musically-inclined children, while he sang along with the radio. After my husband's passing nearly 10 years ago, I found solace in music again by joining the NFWC Chorale, which has filled the void in my life and led to wonderful friendships and experiences, including singing at Carnegie Hall. As the Chorale concert liaison for community services, I organize projects that benefit local charities like food banks and shelters, and I'm open to new service ideas from fellow singers.
Hi! I'm Laurie Keller, the NFWC wardrobe manager. After a 35-year career of teaching high school English in PA, I retired to St. Augustine and became a member of NFWC in 2013. I also sing in the St. Augustine Community Chorus and the Trinity Parish, St. Aug. choir. Singing has been a love of mine since I was a young girl.
I have been a member of NFWC since 2022 and sing in the Alto section. I love singing and the emotion that it brings to those who hear it. I sing on my church's Praise Team at Christian Family Chapel and have sung in the choir and on the praise team of University Church. Tuscaloosa County High Girls Chorus and St. Augustine High School Acapella Choir.
I am the mother of 5, have 9 grandchildren, and Moses, my cat.
"On behalf of the Gainesville Brass Quintet, we want to express our appreciation for the honor of collaborating with the North Florida Women's Chorale. It was a pleasure to work with you, and we truly hope that we will work together again.
We were impressed with the quality of your musical selection and performance. Well Done!
(Reference to Christmas concerts 2018)"
Joe Jamerson 1/13/2019 10:55:52 AM
"What a delightful concert today. I loved your programming and the soloists were awesome. I was especially impressed with the cellist. Very fine! The Gate, Gate was excellent even though rhythmically challenging. Good job with the sacred harp singing - very effective.
The Mulholland and the Ellingboe pieces are two of my favorites for women's choirs and your choir did them so well! This is a top notch group - excellent diction and blend. Kudos to you Kerry! Thanks for a performance well done!
"
Judith Harmon, Choral Director, Cheyenne, Wyoming 8/19/2016 8:01:29 AM
""Before the first downbeat of any performance, the audience knows it is in for a musical treat. The women look beautiful and have a sound to match! It has been a joy to watch this group mature into a superior performing group over the past years under the baton of director, Kerry Fradley. The North Florida Women's Chorus communicates the joy of singing to their audience and presents interesting music performed well. The NFWC is worthy of your support and attendance at their concerts." Kathleen Vande Berg, Director of St. Augustine Chamber Singers"
Kathleen Vande Berg 1/24/2016 12:53:42 PM
“The Women’s Chorale is an outstanding chorus. The repertoire was innovative, the artistry and blend were exceptional, and the energy of the singers made this an enjoyable concert.”
Robert S. Webb, Jr., director of the Northern Virginia Chorale. 9/29/2014 2:49:57 PM
"The chorale concerts are a joy to attend. They perform some very challenging music at a professional level."
Supporter: John Snyder 9/29/2014 2:47:43 PM
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