Conductor & Musical Staff

David Irvine, Artistic Director and Conductor

David has been with the Sonoma Valley Chorale since 2003 as Associate Conductor, and as an excellent voice in our baritone section. He now assumes the role of Artistic Director and conductor, and has planned an exciting and challenging concert season.

David offers an impressive musical background to the Chorale. He has served as the Director of Worship and Music at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for the past 14 years, and currently continues in that position. He is both Assistant Director and baritone soloist with the Consort Chorale of Marin County, and performs as a soloist with the Redwood Empire Sing-along Messiah group. He was trained as a choral conductor at Chapman College by William Hall, and has worked closely with several other renowned choral conductors as well.

The members of the Sonoma Valley warmly welcome David as the new conductor, and are thrilled to be singing under his direction. We hope to enjoy a long and lasting musical relationship for many years to come.

Barbara McElroy, Associate Conductor and Accompanist

This season, our long time Associate Accompanist, Barbara McElroy, has been selected to fill the role of Associate Conductor. Barbara is an exceptionally talented musician, highly skilled in both vocal and instrumental performance. She has also provided many generations of Sonoma youth with musical education for over 33 years through the Sonoma Valley Unified School District during which time she guided her students to many music awards in national competitions. Barbara is the Music Director at Presbyterian Church of the Roses in Santa Rosa, and enjoys membership with several musical organizations.

JoAnne Connor, Chief Accompanist

JoAnne has been our cherished Chief Accompanist for many years, and the Sonoma Valley Chorale is grateful to have her continue on in that position. This extraordinary lady has had an amazing career in music. She graduated from Northwestern University in Musical Performance and has performed with many well known choral groups across the country. She served as accompanist for the late Jester Hairston, and to the delight of both singer and audience, has passed much of his memorable music on to the Chorale. She is also Director for the Vintage House Singers, a very popular group throughout our valley, and serves as the organist/pianist at the First Congregational Church in Sonoma. In addition, she produces and performs a number of solo concerts throughout the year.