The Savannah Philharmonic Chorus is an auditioned chorus of 95 volunteer singers led by Chorus Master Paul Thornock. The chorus performs with the Savannah Philharmonic presenting major choral-orchestral works.
The chorus’ repertoire of major works includes Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Mass in C minor and Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria, and Verdi’s Requiem. They also perform shorter works by composers such as Copland (Old American Songs), Jessica French, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Stephanie Martin, and Sibelius.
In the 2024-25 Season the chorus performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, several of Sibelius’ orchestrated songs including the beloved Finlandia, a concert of spirituals and gospel music with guest conductor Jason Max Ferdinand, as well as joining Andrea Bocelli for a special performance on Valentine’s Day.
In the 2025-26 Season the chorus is performing Mozart’s Requiem, Vaughan Williams’ Flos campi, as well as a concert of favorite opera choruses by Verdi, Puccini, and Borodin. Early in the season they had a recording session with composer Jessica French, producing video recordings of Thy Will Be Done and Awake, O Sun.
Being a member of the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus reflects a sincere desire to participate in the creation of great music, and implies a commitment to to sing a full complement of concerts that is dictated by the season’s schedule.
Chorus members generally have previous experience singing or playing a musical instrument and come to us from a wide variety of professions and neighborhoods of Savannah and the surrounding area.
The chorus rehearses Tuesday evenings in Midtown Savannah, August through May. Chorus members receive perks such as private voice lessons, coaching in singing foreign languages, chorus parties, and first dibs on concert tickets.
Special thanks to Calvary Day School and Calvary Baptist Temple for providing the chorus with rehearsal space.
Learn more about what an audition entails.
Auditions for the 2026/27 Season will be held in June, July & August of this year.
In addition to our auditioned chorus, the Savannah Philharmonic hosts a Chorus Camp in the Summer open to singers throughout the city and region. In 2025 over 115 singers came together to study excellent repertoire, receive musical & vocal instruction, and meet others who also love to sing. We look forward to hosting again June 15-17, 2026. Registration will open in March 2026.
Chorus Master
Sponsored by Brenda Kenworthy, in memory of Brian Kenworthy
Dr. Paul Thornock is Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia, where he conducts the semi-professional Cathedral Choir, the fully professional Choral Scholars, and acts as Artistic Director for the Friends of Cathedral Music concert series.
Before coming to Savannah, Dr. Thornock was the director of music at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio and St. James Cathedral in Seattle. He has also taught at the University of Puget Sound, Capital University, and Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He holds degrees from the University of Puget Sound (BM), the University of Notre Dame (MM), and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA).
Chorus Manager
Sharon Mays serves as the Chorus Manager for the Savannah Philharmonic, spearheading all logistics and communications for our nearly one-hundred member community chorus and annual summer Chorus Camp.
Additionally, she works as a conductor and singer, leading choirs for adults and children at Sacred Heart Catholic Church which specialize in Gregorian chant, including an annual Chant Camp for children. Sharon received her Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music from Samford University and her Master of Music in Choral Studies from the University of Cambridge.
Monica Dekle, Pianist
Leah Dutton, Librarian
George Fergus, Pianist
Rebecca Flaherty, Vocal Coach
Cameron Fuhrman, Pianist
Haein Kim, Pianist
William Lavonis, Vocal Coach
Jonathan Murphy, Pianist
Elizabeth Splaine, Vocal Coach
Drew Whitlow, Vocal Coach
Tina Zenker Williams, Diction Coach
Jade Aviste
Kelly Bell
Caroline Bennet
Cailey D’Aguillo
Christina D’Aguillo
Aisleen Daly
Caroline Daruna
Jody Krepel DeLiguori
Vivienne English
Amanda Fite
Luisa Friend
Malia Hilleary
Brandy Hopkins
Angela Hopper-Lee
Katy Keyes
Cheri Leffler
Brandi Muhammad
Kara Mobley
Laurie Orsi
Terilyn Palanca
Olivia Pescatore
Lauren Ricciardelli
Kat Scandura
Lanier Shelton
Rebecca Sentman
Sarah Westcott
Joanna Angell
Carol Benton
Florence Bryant
Diane Davis
Marion Edens
Catherine Edwards
Gretchen Ernest
Susan Ganas
Annette Howell
Barbara Jenks
Mimi Krupp
Michelle Leffler
Diane McCabe
Crystal Nichols
Tara Oviedo
Danielle Peacock
Juliet Pearl
Sarah Phelan
Renee Portell
Geraldine Pufahl
Catherine Rogers
Dawn Stanford
Gwenn Strasser
Laurie Hicks Tanner
Alana Young
Nayaraq Armstrong
Logan Brown
Brian Dennison
Eric Doane
David Edwards
Dennis Fields
Bill Gardner
Grant Given
Benjamin Goldsmith
Alex Hencinski
Paulette Hosti
Tony Lembeck
David Lotz
Kathleen McGuire
Alan Page
David Rigsby
James Sentman
Darren Weaver
Roberto Avila III
John Bryan
Chris Campbell
Richard Cheong
Mark Dusek
Alejandro Edwards
Moses Friedman
Jason Fuller
Andrew Gibson
Bob Greenberg
Stephen Guarino
William Hagan
James Hedden
Kai Jorgensen
Jinki Kim
Wes Krulic
Paul Parco
James Shields
Harmon Shinall
Jeremiah Simpson
Timothy Teeter
James Vandeveer
Gary Weddel
