Julie Beyler, Music Director

Julie Beyler photo Julie Beyler is the Conductor and Founding Music Director of The CHORALE (1982). A teacher, singer, and choral director, Beyler holds a BME from the University of Dubuque (Iowa) and attended Valparaiso University (Indiana) for graduate studies.

Beyler has conducted choirs in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Arizona. In June of 2005, she conducted The CHORALE in some of the most remarkable venues in Rome, Florence, Venice and Milian, Italy. At a high mass at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Choir Master, Monsignor Pablo Colino called the group's singing expressive and sensitive. full of passion and poetry. Other venues included St. Eustachio in Rome, St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice and the Duomo in Milan.

In August of 2006, Beyler took The Chorale on its second international tour to Scotland. Jean Redpath, world renowned Scottish singer, appeared as a guest performer on the tour. The group performed in Paisley Abbey, Iona Abbey, Stirling Castle, Dunkeld Cathedral, St. Giles and as a part of the Edinburgh Music Fringe Festival, at Cannongate Kirk.

Beyler served on the staff at Interlochen Summer Music Camp and has taught choral music in public schools in Iowa and Indiana. While a resident of Bermuda, she taught music privately and sang under Geoffrey Tankard in the Bermuda Philharmonic Society.

In Charleston, South Carolina, she served on the Board of Directors during the formation of the Charleston Opera Company prior to the Spoleto Festival. An accomplished soprano soloist, she sang the role of “Mother” in their premier performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” and has appeared as soloist with the Dubuque Symphony, with the Charleston Symphony, and with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra (WI).

In addition to her work with The CHORALE and other local organizations, Ms. Beyler has adjudicated for choral and solo contests and festivals in the Midwest, directed church choirs and handbell choirs, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.

Beyler, a Mahomet Illinois resident for 26 years, has a private voice and piano studio in her home, where she lives with her husband, Allen.

Kent Conrad, Accompanist

kent Kent is a 1984 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College with a Bachelors degree in Classical Studies. Following a stint in the United States Air Force as a Chinese translator, Mr. Conrad earned a law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in Pennsylvania. Recently Mr. Conrad received a Masters of Music in Piano Accompanying from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Currently Mr. Conrad is a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology at the University of Illinois. In addition to working as an accompanist, Mr. Conrad has served as rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor for the Harrisburg Opera Association. In 2002, Mr. Conrad accompanied the University of Missouri Show-Me Opera in their Carnegie Hall presentation of Corps of Discovery, a commissioned opera to celebrate the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's expedition.

Administration

The CHORALE is administered by a volunteer group of members who form The Steering Committee. Its purpose is to operate in the best interest of The CHORALE in accordance with its mission.

  • Julie Beyler, Music Director
  • Steve Ater, Production Manager
  • Kris Wise, Treasurer
  • Jan LaDuke, Librarian
  • Philip Meadows, Communications
  • Bonnie Taylor, Publicity
  • Sue Wyatt, Secretary
  • Holly Jordan, Community Relations