About Us
In 1984, local musician June Todd decided there was something important missing in the Ocean City-Ocean Pines-Berlin region: a community chorus. No one knew better than June how communal singing could open hearts and minds and bring joy to a community, so she brought together a small group of friends, christened them the Pine Tones Chorus, and thus began a legacy that is only growing stronger after more than 40 years. We are nearly 60 voices, fueled not only by a love of choral music, but also by a passion for sharing that love with the local community. The Pine Tones is a community, a deliberate family. We are there for each other. We are there for our neighbors and the surrounding area. We sing for ourselves and we sing for you.
We are not an audition choir, although we do have high standards for performance. Some in the group are professional musicians, but most are just people who love to sing and who have at least a rudimentary of how to read notes on a staff.
As for our “style,” we have tackled nearly every musical genre except rap and K-pop, but who knows what we’ll try? Because we sing choral arrangements, our music is always heavy on harmony. Sometimes we are accompanied solely by piano, sometimes we have guest musicians, sometimes we sing to pre-recorded backing tracks; it all depends on the demands of the music. We try to serve the message of each song in both our singing and our demeanor. When we are presenting an inspirational or contemplative piece, we resist any urge to distract from the seriousness of the music. On the other hand, if we are singing something like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or It’s Raining Men, you can expect some hijinks!
Our Mission
We are an IRS-recognized all-volunteer non-profit performing arts organization operating on a shoestring budget, yet it is our mission to share the joy of choral music as widely in our community as we can. In addition to our two major annual concerts, we sing at retirement homes, rehab centers, and other care facilities in Worcester County as well as in neighboring Wicomico County and Sussex County, DE. You can also hear us supporting other community events and organizations. We have sung for Arbor Day celebrations, Veterans Day, Berlin History Week, the Rackliffe House, and more.