Artistic Staff

Peter Hopkins | Music Director

The Reading Choral Society is very proud to have Mr. Peter Hopkins as its Music Director. Hopkins is currently the director of Music Ministry and Choirmaster at St. Peter’s Church, Third and Pine Streets, Philadelphia. He conducts the adult and children’s choirs, and oversees the music ministry. All of the St. Peter’s choirs train and sing under cathedral style standards.

Prior to moving to Philadelphia, Hopkins served as conductor of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, the Michigan Bach Collegium, the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys, and the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus. He has led performances running the gamut of choral literature; from plainsong and renaissance motets through the major oratorio literature for chorus and orchestra as well as symphonies and concerti.

Every summer Mr. Hopkins prepares the professional chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival as Assistant Chorusmaster. Peter Hopkins is equally comfortable directing instrumentalists as well as singers, and enjoys working with a combination of amateurs and professionals. His doctoral studies were done at Michigan State University as well as in England and Germany. He is a student of famed conductor Helmuth Rilling, working with him since 1985, and is the only American to guest conduct Rilling’s Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart.

Hopkins is a lyric tenor of professional quality and an experienced voice teacher. Along with playing the piano, harpsichord and organ he frequently performs as a continuo player.

Mary Bishop | Accompanist | Reading Choral Society

Mary Bishop received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Piano Accompanying from West Chester University where she studied with Benjamin Whitten. Mrs. Bishop has taught vocal and instrumental music in Reading School District and Rose Tree Media School District. While taking time off from public music education to raise her son she is teaching private piano, saxophone, and clarinet from her home and accompanying various groups and recitals. She also plays piano in an eighteen-piece big band. Since 2004 she has also been an accompanist for the Berks Classical Children’s Chorus.

Toni Marie Palmertree | Vocal Coach | Reading Choral Society

Toni Marie Palmertree, Soprano, is a native of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. She is a captivating performer who delights audiences in concert and on the opera stage. Caryl Huffaker of The Kennett Paper describes:

“Toni Marie Palmertree wowed the audience. They appreciated her complete vocal mastery and technique… and had the audience in the palm of her hand. With her technical expertise, personality and powerful but effortless singing, she is a major force”.

Toni Marie recently tackled the role of Carmen. The performance brought the audience to their feet. Her previous roles include Alice in Falstaff, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Noemi in Cendrillon, Lauretta and Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Mimi in La Bohème, Ellen in Lakmé and Suor Genevieve in Suor Angelica. Toni Marie has also premiered roles in several 21st century operas during their world premier in Philadelphia.

Toni Marie is proud to hold many awards: She recently won first place in the Long Leaf Opera of North Carolina voice competition. Other first place awards include The Kennett Square Symphony Voice Competition, and The Marcella Sembrich competition. She was awarded third place in the James Parkinson Opera Competition and the second place winner of the Sylvia Green Voice Competition. From The Peabody Conservatory, she was granted The Anita Erdman award. At the age of 21, Toni Marie was a finalist in the International Moniuszko Voice Competition in Warsaw, Poland.

Toni Marie received her Bachelor of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. During her studies, she enjoyed being a student of Ms. Phyllis Bryn Julson. Toni Marie currently studies voice with Metropolitan Opera singer, Gwynne Geyer.