Bio
About NOVA
Bio
About NOVA
THE GROUPS
NOVA CHORALE
An auditioned choir of 60-some skilled musicians.
MASTER CHORALE
NOVA Chorale plus a broader group of community singers.
OUR PASSION
NOVA | New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale is a group of dedicated choral professionals (singers, teachers, conductors, and students) whose goal is to bring high-quality performances of great choral music to New Orleans, the North Shore, and other area audiences. The Chorale performs a free concert series each year.
OUR HISTORY
Dr. Ray Sprague, Founder of Louisiana Vocal Arts Chorale which later became NOVA Chorale
NOVA was conceived in 1989 by Dr. Raymond Sprague, professor of choral music at UNO, as a chorale which would recruit the area's finest singers to perform great choral music in the New Orleans region. Meg Frazier, Director of the School of Music at Loyola University, New Orleans let NOVA for 30 years, building on the excellence. In 2026, Brian Martinez took up the baton.
The chorale has offered over thirty seasons of free concerts as the area's premier choral ensemble. In addition, NOVA has performed by invitation with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and at the Contemporary Arts Center, the Historic New Orleans Collection sponsored Mass for the Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase at St. Louis Cathedral, the Red Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, the Louisiana American Choral Director's convention, and at numerous other events around the state.
OUR TEAM
Artistic Director
Brian Martinez
Personnel coordinator
Kelly Cuppett
BOARD PRESIDENT
Betsy Widhalm
BOARD Secretary
Jessica McKeown
BOARD Treasurer
Joseph Mace
Board MEMBERS
Caitlin Scanlan, Development Chair
Rebecca Coatney
Julie Grant Meyer
Hank Fanberg
Andrew Hollenbach
Clark Charbonnet
HAVE A VOICE THAT DESERVES TO BE HEARD?
Nova Chorale is an all volunteer organization that is continuously looking for new voices to join in on the harmony. Contact us today by clicking the contact button below and filling out the contact form. Our personnel director will contact you within 5 business days about joining NOVA.