About Our Artistic Director
Dr. Bruce Borton
Bruce Borton has been making music in the Southern Tier for over 30 years. At Binghamton University, he was Director of Choral Activities from 1988-2017, where he conducted the University Chorus, Harpur Chorale and Women’s Chorus. In addition, he directed the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program and taught undergraduate conducting, choral arranging and voice. He was Music Department chair from 1998-2004 and also served for 15 years as Director of Graduate Studies in Music.
Before coming to New York, Borton taught at West Georgia College in Carrollton, near Atlanta, and spent fourteen seasons as a member of and conducting assistant with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus conducted by the late Robert Shaw. Growing up in the Midwest, Bruce earned degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Borton is a composer and arranger of choral music, and has championed new music through commissions of works performed with his university ensembles and with the Madrigal Choir. He served as a church musician for over 40 years in Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, and New York, and he continues to sing as a volunteer with the Trinity Memorial Church Choir. Bruce has prepared choruses for the Binghamton Philharmonic and Binghamton Community Orchestra, and served for several years on the Tri-Cities Opera Board. His community work was recognized in 2008 when he was honored by the Broome County Arts Council as a recipient of the semi-annual “Heart of the Arts” award.
Dr. Borton has been leading the Madrigal Choir with innovative and traditional programing since 2011. When not making, performing and teaching music, Bruce can be found in his basement shop producing artistic and functional woodworking pieces for family and friends.
About Our Accompanist
Jean Herman Henssler
A familiar figure on organ and piano benches in the area, Jean has served as accompanist of the Madrigal Choir of Binghamton for over 15 years. When not accompanying, she can be found singing in the alto section. Her extensive experience as soloist, church and collaborative musician includes concerts throughout Europe during her 18 years of residence in southern Germany. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio, and a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Ithaca College School of Music.
Upon graduation from Oberlin, she was chosen for membership in the honorary music society, Pi Kappa Lambda. Recently she has rediscovered her love of the King of Instruments, the Pipe Organ, and has played several solo organ recitals, both live and archived on YouTube. You can enjoy Jean’s most recent organ recital, An Evening in Paris, on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5n-PCEpXEqE.
Our Board
Our 2022-2023 talented and hard-working Board includes people in the fields of education, religion, media, graphic arts, and, mainly, music. They are:
Theresa Lee-Whiting
President
Claudia Kachmarik
Vice-President
Sarina Barrera
Secretary
Thomas Marsh
Treasurer
Susan Bachman
Bruce Borton
Ex-Officio
Leann Lesperance
Joanne Corey
Heather Rattenbury Shaw
