Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Join the MSO Chorus for their 26th Season!
Registration for 2026/27 Season will be available in August. Please email Burt Vasché, Chorus Manager at chorus@modestosymphony.org for more information.
Calling all singers! Whether you’re a seasoned vocalist or love to sing in the shower, MSO Chorus Summer Sings is a fun, no-pressure way to make music this summer. No auditions or experience needed—just show up and sing! Each week brings a new theme and a chance to connect through song.
July 13, 20, & 27, 2026
7 to 9:30 pm
Trinity United Presbyterian Church
1600 Carver Road, Modesto
$5 per person, per session
Amount is suggested donation, cash or check only. Scholarships available.
This summer, we’ll explore:
July 13: Music from the Classical Period
Dr. Buddy James, guest conductor
We will explore works by the best-known composers from this period (Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven) and also look at the music of a woman composer who was active during that same time!
July 20: “High-Octane Story Telling”
Dr. Anna Hamre, guest conductor
In this session we will focus on repertoire in which the chorus tells the story! Be ready to explore some beautiful, colorful, and fun excerpts from famous oratorios, including a couple of passages from Haydn’s The Creation, which the MSOC will perform in May 2027.
July 27: English Part-songs
Dr. Magen Solomon, guest conductor
In our last session, we will discover the beauty of the 19th century English part-songs, a type of choral composition that combines lyrical melodies and “lush” harmonic progressions with the wonderful poetry of that period.
About the MSO Chorus
Formed in 2001, the Modesto Symphony Chorus is a regional ensemble of singers of all ages and experience who share a commitment to performing concerts of the highest artistic quality and enhancing the appreciation and enjoyment of choral music among members and audiences alike. Under the skillful and inspiring direction of Dr. Daniel R. Afonso, Jr., the MSO Chorus rehearses weekly and performs throughout the season with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and also for additional community events.
Rehearsals
Mondays, 7 to 8:30 pm
Trinity United Presbyterian Church
1600 Carver Road, Modesto
Artistic Leadership
Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr., director
Burt Vasché, chorus manager
Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr.
Chorus Director
Daniel R. Afonso Jr. has served as conductor of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus since its foundation in 2001 and has prepared several choral works with the ensemble. He is also Coordinator of Vocal and Choral Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. Afonso received a B.M.E. degree from the Universidade do Rio de Janeiro (UNI -Rio), a M.M. degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a D.M.A. degree in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa. Dr. Afonso is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has studied conducting with Carlos Alberto Figueiredo, Cees Rotteveel, Eph Ehly, and William Hatcher.
Interested in joining our chorus?
If you are interested in joining our chorus or have any questions about this season, email chorus@modestosymphony.org or please fill out the form below: