The Crozet Community Chorus brings people together through the shared joy of singing. As a non-audition community chorus, we welcome adults of all musical backgrounds who want to learn, grow, and make beautiful music in a supportive, non-competitive environment.
Founded in 2015 by Sandy Hodge, the chorus was created with a simple vision: to provide a place where anyone who loves to sing could experience the joy of making music together. Since then, we’ve welcomed more than 100 singers from Crozet and the surrounding region, building a vibrant community united by a shared love of choral music.
Each season, our members come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to rehearse, perform, and build lasting friendships. Together, we explore music that spans centuries, cultures, and styles—from beloved classical works to contemporary favorites—always striving for performances that inspire both singers and audiences alike.
As a nonprofit community organization, the Crozet Community Chorus is dedicated to enriching our community through music. We are secular, inclusive, and open to all, united by the belief that singing together creates connection, belonging, and joy.
In every rehearsal and every performance, we’re reminded that a chorus is more than voices singing in harmony—it’s neighbors becoming friends, individuals becoming a community, and music becoming something larger than ourselves.
Dr. Penelope Shumate, Artistic Director
Dr. Penelope Shumate is an acclaimed soprano, vocal pedagogue, and educator whose distinguished career spans the concert stage, opera, and higher education. Praised by The New York Times for her “appealing bell-like clarity and surpassing sweetness,” she has appeared as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in works including Messiah, Carmina Burana, and major choral masterworks.
An experienced university professor and voice teacher, Dr. Shumate has guided students to success in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, NATS competitions, professional performance careers, and prestigious graduate programs. A frequent masterclass clinician and presenter, she is passionate about healthy vocal technique, artistic excellence, and inspiring singers of all experience levels.
Joyce Polifka, Collaborative Pianist
Joyce Polifka has been enriching musical communities through teaching, performance, and collaboration for more than two decades. Since relocating to Charlottesville in 2018 with her husband and three children, she has become a valued collaborator with singers, instrumentalists, and students throughout the region.
Prior to moving to Virginia, Joyce served as Adjunct Professor of Piano at Colorado College from 2006–2018. She was also Children’s Music Assistant at Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where she helped direct and accompany choristers ages 5–18 while maintaining an active private piano studio. A dedicated member of the Pikes Peak Music Teachers Association, she chaired festivals and served in several leadership roles.
Earlier in her career, Joyce taught on the piano faculty at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, and served as Director of Music at the National Naval Medical Center and Assistant Director of Music at St. Jude’s Catholic Church. She holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from The Catholic University of America and earned her National Certification as a Teacher of Music (NCTM) in 2007.
Whether accompanying a chorus, coaching a soloist, or inspiring the next generation of musicians, Joyce is known for her exceptional musicianship, thoughtful collaboration, and generous spirit. Her ability to bring out the best in those around her makes her an invaluable part of the Crozet Community Chorus.
Chorus Leadership
Board of Directors 2026-27
- Susannah Hornsby, President
- Katy Mullin, Vice President
- Linda Julliard, Secretary
- Traci Slivinski, Treasurer
- Kadie Hudson
- Paula Mendenhall
- Kiki Osbourne
- Karen Parks
- Tim Root
- Marji Ross
Legacy Advisors
- Dr. Addison Walton
- Dr. W. Bryce Hayes