A nonprofit musical organization, the Vienna Choral Society (VCS) was formed in January 1987 to provide music for events sponsored by the Town of Vienna, community organizations, and the residents of Vienna and surrounding communities. Our membership and audience has since grown to serve a much wider radius in the DC-Metro region with singers and audience members from all over Fairfax County, Loudon County, and Montgomery County.
Our purpose is to be an excellent teaching choir that presents varied programs of high-quality music for public entertainment and personal enrichment, to promote greater appreciation and enjoyment of good music by the general public and to join with other organizations in giving our time and our talent to programs and activities that benefit our community.
Our members come from all backgrounds and walks of life. We share a love of singing and a desire to grow both in our awareness of the rich choral music that exists and in our abilities to perform it well. We are proud to have several founding members of VCS still within our ranks, and we warmly welcome new members who are interested in blending their voices with ours.
Organizational Structure
The Vienna Choral Society is a membership organization. The work of VCS is accomplished through a collaboration between the Members, the Board of Directors, the Artistic Director, the Executive Director, and the Accompanist. Members are asked to give additional volunteer time each year to perform for community events and celebrations, to serve on committees and to attend twice yearly VCS Membership Meetings. All Members are expected to sell tickets for the concerts.
Board of Directors
The VCS Board Members give many hours to planning and to ensuring that the work of the organization gets done and that sufficient moneys are raised. They also respond to the needs of current VCS Members and oversee the work of VCS staff members. They gladly wear many “hats” and demonstrate a devotion to and passion for choral music and the Vienna Choral Society!
Catherine Michela, President
Mark Davis, Vice President
Linda Ferri, Treasurer
Melissa Hindley, Secretary
Karen Akers
Jennifer Stein Hauptman
Jean Mack
Mariette Hiu Newcomb
Susan Pauly
James Whitcomb
Artistic Director, Mike Horanski
Mike Horanski earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education in and Master of Music in Music Education degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he performed and studied conducting under the leadership of Dr. Brady Allred.
Mike has taught in the Fairfax County Public Schools since 2005, and currently directs the choral ensembles at Robinson Secondary School. His ensembles study and perform a varied repertoire and consistently earn accolades for their performances locally, nationally and throughout the world.
Most recently Mike and the Robinson Choirs traveled to South Africa to compete in the 10th World Choir Games where the ensembles earned a Golden Diploma and two Champions Competition Level Silver Medals.
In 2017, Mike was named Outstanding Music Educator by the Virginia Music Educators Association for the entire Commonwealth. Mike is past President of the Virginia Choral Directors Association and is currently the event chair for the combined All-Virginia Band, Chorus and Orchestra. He is a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. Additionally, Mike serves as the Director of Music Ministries at Fairfax United Methodist Church in Fairfax, Virginia.
Accompanist, Melvin Goodwyn
Melvin Goodwyn retired in 2009 from the Prince William County School division after 31 years as choral director and arts administrator. Melvin has served as the accompanist for the Virginia All-State Choir, the VMEA Honors choir, the ACDA “Voices United” conference, and numerous District choirs for over 15 years. Melvin has been awarded the “Excellence in the Arts” award by the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce, the Outstanding Individual Performance Award by Prince William County Schools, the 2006 Seefeldt Award for outstanding arts advocacy and the 2006 Sidney Swiggett Award for service to the Virginia Choral Directors Association . He has served as President of both the Virginia Choral Directors Association and the Virginia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
Melvin holds a Bachelor of Music degree with in an emphasis in piano from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Music in Conducting from Catholic University. He currently serves as organist at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Woodbridge, VA.
Executive Director, Sohini Baliga
Sohini Baliga is a communications strategist and events producer. She joined VCS as a consultant when the choir rebranded and relaunched in 2010. She has stayed to volunteer, sing, produce, and eventually lead. Sohini holds a BA from UCLA and an MA from Rutgers-Newark, both in Literature. She comes to VCS with extensive experience in marketing, communications, development, event production, and non-profit management. When not at rehearsal or producing a show, she serves as Chief Communications Officer for Stand.earth.