All About Us
Founded in 2009, The Woodlands Chorale is a community chorus that performs in The Woodlands, TX about 23 miles north of the city of Houston. For the fifteen years prior to 2009, this chorale was under the umbrella of The Woodlands Symphony and was known as The Woodlands Symphony Chorus. When the symphony ceased performing in the Spring 2009, the core chorus members and artistic director chose to follow their vision to perform beautiful classical and contemporary choral music for our community.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Woodlands Chorale is:
- To uphold the highest standards in the performance of classical and contemporary choral repertoire
- To reach out into the community to attract, educate, and inspire the broadest possible audience
- To recruit the best singers in our community as members of the Chorale
Read an article on the chorale’s appointment of new artistic director Mark Marotto, PhD
Mark Marotto, PhD
Artistic Director
Dr. Marotto has lived and worked in five countries throughout Europe and North America. During his eight years in Switzerland, he served as Artistic Director of Le Louverain, a summer choral festival in Neuchâtel as well as conducted a number of ensembles including the Bern University Chorus, Le Motet de Genève and the Lausanne Youth Choir. He also music directed musical theatre productions for the Geneva Amateur Operatic Society. In late 2004, Dr. Marotto founded Voix d’Espérance (Voices of Hope) to perform concerts in support of charities. The inaugural concert of the Mozart Requiem was televised and raised funds for tsunami-relief.
Dr. Marotto completed his doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Michigan under Jerry Blackstone. He also holds a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the National Music University of Bucharest, Romania and a bachelor’s in music, summa cum laude, from Duke University. He has worked with a number of prominent conductors, among them Helmuth Rilling, Christopher Hogwood, Kurt Masur and George Pehlivanian.
Matthew Martinez, MA
Accompanist
Matthew Martinez is the Assistant Choir Director at Beverly Hills Intermediate in Pasadena ISD. He holds degrees in Piano Performance from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton TX and in Choral Conducting from Sam Houston State University where he studied under Denise Eaton, Mike Ware, and James Franklin. He is in high demand as an accompanist and music director in Houston and surrounding areas where he plays for vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs. He has played for numerous vocal ensembles across the state of Texas, including Bell Civic Chorale, Temple College Symphony Chorale, SHSU Chorale, and the Region XIX Region Choir. Matthew also serves as the Church Pianist at First Baptist Church in Conroe.
Leadership Team
- Caroline Polgar – President
- Lorie Bear – Vice President
- Marjorie Russell – Treasurer
- Michael Rock – Secretary
- Gary Heath – Director at Large
- Erin Love-Rock – Director at Large
- Glen Bear – Director at Large
- Richard Saettone – Director at Large
- Barbara Kurtz – Director at Large
- Diana Malin – Director at Large
