In 1996, the late Fred Clements,who had many ties to the music community in the tri-city area, initiated the idea of a county choral society for Chesterfield. Through the efforts primarily of Fred Clements, Shirley Clements, Ellen Stephenson, Frances Mann and Ramona Snyder, potential members were contacted and by-laws for the choral society were written, a requirement for county sponsorship. The county approved the by-laws and the Chesterfield County Choral Society was born. In September 1996, the first rehearsal was held with Fred as the director and Shirley Clements as accompanist, both acting as volunteers. In 1999, the present director, Peter Furbush, took over the reins as both director and accompanist, also serving in a volunteer capacity.
The Chesterfield County Choral Society has grown and at the present time has approximately 30-35 members. In season, the group rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 pm at Chester Presbyterian Church at the corner of Route 10 and Osborne in Chester, Virginia, which has graciously provided a rehearsal space. Our Christmas season begins in September and runs through our public Christmas program in December. The Christmas program is performed at two or three assisted living facilities and at Chester Presbyterian Church. The Choral Society also prepares a Spring program during its Spring season, which runs from the middle of January until the public program in May. The Spring Program, like the Christmas Program, is performed at various assisted living facilities and at Chester Presbyterian Church. Members come from many surrounding communities. AUDITIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED AND MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE TO RESIDE IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY.
The group performs programs that run the gamut of musical styles. At a program, you might hear
selections such as Mendelssohn’s “How Lovely Are the Messengers”, “Their Sound Is Gone Out” from Handel’s Messiah, Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, an American Folk Song, a spiritual, Broadway selections,movie classics, inspiring Christmas music at Christmas time or patriotic music in the spring. The Chesterfield County Choral Society gives members the opportunity to perform a public service while enjoying the camaraderie of singing beautiful music together.
The present director, Peter Furbush, is a native and resident of Hopewell, Virginia. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College (BMus) and Virginia State University (MMEd). He taught middle and junior high school music in Hopewell for 39 years including choir, band, guitar, show choir and general music. For many years he was Choir Director at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hopewell. Peter was also a member and featured baritone soloist of the Hopewell-Petersburg Choral Society under Ronald W. Davis. From 1969-1972 he played trombone in the 392nd Army Band at Fort Lee. He lives in Hopewell with his wife Faith. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.