The Paul Madore Chorale

The Chorale was founded in 1964 by Maestro L. Paul Madore, for whom the chorale is named. Under Paul Madore’s direction, the Chorale sang a variety of music, from Gregorian Chant to contemporary styles. The Chorale performed fully staged productions of Die Fledermaus, Verdi’s Manzoni Requiem, the Berlioz Requiem, and The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins. Additionally, the Chorale toured France twice, notably to participate in the 50th Anniversary of D-Day Concert. The Chorale also toured Italy in 1997 and sang for Pope John Paul II.

René Minalga-Rheault took the position of Music Director in 2019 after Paul’s retirement. Paul remained active with the Chorale until his death in June 2021. While closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chorale returned for the 2021-2022 season. 

Taking its name from one of the Greek Muses, Calliope is an offshoot of the Paul Madore Chorale featuring solely treble voices, usually in the settings of SSA and SSAA. This group is by audition only and is an opportunity for singers to try more challenging repertoire in a small group setting. The goal for Calliope is to present their own annual concert in addition to the large group.

The Annual SummerSings, once voluntarily hosted by the Chorale, have now become an integrated part of our seasons. They are held every year in and they provide the public with a unique opportunity to sing through large works of the choral repertoire in an informal setting. Professional soloists and conductors are invited (as well as an ad hoc orchestra)  and volunteer their time and talents to the chorale. The SummerSings are a main fundraiser for the chorale and a donation of $15 per person is suggested. Scores are provided as well as refreshments. 

Meet the Music Director

René A. Minalga-Rheault is a conductor, soprano, and organist hailing from Shirley, Massachusetts. She acquired a GPD and master’s in piano performance from the Longy School of Music where she studied piano with the late Ludmilla Lifson and organ with Dr. Libor Dudaš. Continuing studies at the Longy School led René to pursue a passion for early music where she studied voice with Ryan Turner and Pamela Dellal. René has performed with the Boston Camerata, Boston Opera Collaborative, and Eudaimonia. She is currently the music director of the vibrant music program at Trinity Lutheran Church of Chelmsford. René is a competitive chess player in the United States Chess Federation. Other interests include naps, coffee, and single malt scotch. She lives in Nashua, New Hampshire, with wife, Melody, and feline friend, Basil.

Meet the Board

President: Diane Anderson
Diane Anderson has been with the Chorale since 2006 and has been President of the board since 2019. Diane is a pianist and composer and is the Music Director at St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield. She lives in Beverly with her husband and her two little feline furballs, Newt & Simon Peter.

Vice President and Accompianist: Christina Guibas
Christina Maria Bray, née Guibas,  received her Masters in piano performance along with the Mary Ellis Smith prize in 2013 from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Throughout undergraduate and graduate school, her primary studies were with the late Ludmilla Lifson (former faculty of the Leningrad State Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, Russia). Post-graduate school, Bray continued her studies briefly with Tufts Music Faculty and Mozarteum graduate Thomas Stumpf.  

Bray taught privately for a decade, and as a member of the piano faculty at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts from 2014 through 2017. She has served on numerous boards including the New England Piano Teachers Association as their 20th and 21st century recital chair, the Bridge at 211 in Salem, a large 19th century architectural landmark slotted to serve as a future performance hub for the greater North Shore, and her current seat as Vice President of the Paul Madore Chorale, where she is also the pianist for the group. She regularly collaborates with musicians throughout greater Boston, and substitutes for church musicians in various local churches.

Bray married her husband Preston in 2024 and they now live in Manchester-by-the-sea with their cat Sebo. 

Treasurer: Lisa Koed

Librarian: Sue Maxwell

Sue joined the Chorale in 2021 and has been Librarian since 2023. She works as an office manager and lives in Peabody with her feline fur baby Noah.

Recording Secretary: Pamela Spencer
Recording Secretary Pam Spencer sings alto and has been a member of the Chorale for over 15 years. She is currently retired and enjoying a relaxed life. She fills her time with music of all kinds, gardening, yoga, grandchildren, and traveling!

Media and Corresponding Secretary: Kate Dobson
Kate D. has been a soprano in the Chorale since 2018. She recently joined the Board in January 2022 in the new position of Media and Corresponding Secretary, managing the Chorale’s social medias, website, and emails. Kate received her BA in Music from Sweet Briar College in 2015 and her Masters of Elementary Education from Lesley University in 2017. Kate has played several instruments over the years in addition to singing. Notably, she played for 3 years in SkiffleUSA, a women’s steel orchestra group at her alma mater Sweet Briar. There she learned to play djembe and other engine room percussion, tenor bass steel pan, and 7 bass steel pan under the instruction of Dr. Jeffrey Jones. Outside of the Chorale, Kate enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, creating various crafts, and playing with her cats, Binx and Max.

Grants and Events Secretary: Maggie Dobson

Margaret “Maggie” Dobson is an experienced grant and arts administrator passionate about supporting creative endeavors through strategic funding and resource management. With a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management and a minor in Anthropology, she began her career in grant writing and event coordination for arts organizations, later expanding into research administration. Maggie’s professional work emphasizes empowering organizations to achieve their goals through meticulous grant management and innovative program development. She is dedicated to fostering collaboration and sustainability within the arts and academic communities. Maggie joined The Paul Madore Chorale’s Board of Directors in 2024 as well as a singing member, as an alto. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her cats (Binx and Max), listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family.