Our story

Nearly four decades of singing together in Healdsburg

Healdsburg Chorus began in 1987 with a simple idea: bring people together through the joy of singing.

That year, a small group of community members gathered in Healdsburg to imagine a chorus of their own. With approximately twenty singers, founding director Betty Zukov and accompanist Susan Nelson helped turn that idea into the Healdsburg Community Chorus. The ensemble presented its first concert in 1988, beginning a musical tradition that has continued for nearly four decades.

Under Betty Zukov’s leadership, the Chorus grew from its modest beginnings into an established part of Healdsburg’s cultural life. In 2013, the organization celebrated its 25th anniversary and honored Zukov as she concluded 25 years of artistic leadership.

Jim Humphreys became director in 2013, bringing his experience as a music educator, energetic musicianship, and a strong commitment to helping singers grow. Susan Nelson continued as accompanist until her retirement in 2019 after more than three decades of service to the Chorus.

Like performing organizations everywhere, Healdsburg Chorus faced an extraordinary challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dedicated singers and Board members kept the organization moving forward through a period when gathering to sing was anything but simple.

Following the pandemic, David Martin helped restore the Chorus to full musical activity and led the ensemble from 2021 through 2026. Beth Benjamin joined the organization as collaborative pianist in 2024, bringing extensive experience as a pianist and organist to the ensemble.

In 2026, Don Scott Carpenter became Choral Director, opening a new chapter in the Chorus’s history. Today, Healdsburg Chorus continues to build on the community spirit that inspired its founding while expanding its artistic ambitions, developing new performance opportunities, supporting young musicians, and creating new ways for singing to connect people throughout the community.

What began with twenty people gathered around a shared love of music continues today in every rehearsal and performance: many individual voices coming together to create something none could create alone.