Jonathan Colby Joins The Keene Chorale as Program Director

The Keene Chorale is thrilled to welcome Jonathan Colby as its new program director. Hailing from Central Massachusetts, Colby brings with him a wealth of experience as the current Artistic Director of The Worcester Youth Orchestras, as well as the Music Director for both the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra and The Worcester Winds. Colby expressed his excitement for this new chapter, feeling deeply inspired by the Keene Chorale's strong sense of community and its warm, welcoming atmosphere. He looks forward to building upon the ensemble's rich legacy and fostering connections within the group as they continue to share the joy of music with the region. Colby was born and raised in Middlesex, England. He began his musical journey as a boy soprano with the St. Martin's Choir and started studying violin at a young age. As a conductor, Colby has earned recognition and awards for his interpretations of European and American operetta. In 2017, he was honored with the Key to the City of Worcester by Mayor Joseph Petty in recognition of his contributions to music. He is in his 13th season with Worcester Youth Orchestras (WYO) and under his leadership, WYO has grown from a single orchestra to four. He also founded the jazz and wind ensemble programs. In May 2014, Colby was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut, becoming only the second conductor in the orchestra's history since its founding in 1982. Colby spent 15 seasons with the College Light Opera Company, where he earned the WISE Foundation's Conductor of the Year Award in 2013 for his direction of "Die Fledermaus." His conducting experience extends to a wide range of prestigious ensembles, including New York State School Music Association, Connecticut Music Educators Association and Massachusetts Music Educators Association festival orchestras, Mahler's 4th Symphony at SUNY Purchase and NYC Opera Center, the Commonwealth Lyric Opera and the Ip Annual Concerto Competition at the Tsai Performing Arts Center. He has also worked with the Nashoba Valley Chorale, Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra and Youth Orchestra, Manchester Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. For a decade, he served as Director of Music at First Parish in Arlington, Mass. where he conducted multiple choirs and collaborated with notable artists such as Ysaye Barnwell, Sol y Canto, Mark Miller and Dominick DiOrio. As a member of the Conductors Guild and League of American Orchestras, Colby currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Youth Orchestra Division and on the scholarship committees for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. The Keene Chorale, a non-auditioned chorus, is in their 46th year. They are open to adults of all singing and music abilities. They rehearse every Tuesday from September through May, accompanied by concert pianist Vladimir Odinokikh, and they present two concerts a year. Their most recent concert, "Magnificence," was performed on Dec. 8, at the United Church of Christ in Keene and their next concert, "Faure Mon Amour," is scheduled for June 1, 2025, at Saint Bernard Church in Keene. "I have sung in choruses since I was a young child and have directed many choruses, and I felt like there was something missing in my career. Keene Chorale has a wonderful reputation and wonderful history," said Colby. "The big thing that has struck me about the chorale is the sense of community and how welcoming they are, not only towards me but to their fellow members — reaching out to people if they have been sick, staying in touch with former members who have moved away — they have very strong ties and I think that is to their credit, not every community chorus is like that. People join not only because of their mutual love of singing but because of the strong community that it has." For more information about the Keene Chorale visit, www.keenechorale.org.