HAS About Us

The Hinesburg Artist Series, Inc (HAS) is the governing organization for South County Chorus (SCC), Hinesburg Community Band (HCB), and, the a cappella group, In Accord (IA). HAS was incorporated in 2004 and is a 501(c)(3) organization. All groups are directed by Rufus C. Patrick.

Members come from Hinesburg, Williston, Shelburne, Charlotte, Burlington, South Burlington, and many other surrounding communities.

Please, join us!

South County Chorus and In Accord meet Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in the Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) chorus room (#160).

Hinesburg Community Band meets Septeptember through May, Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. in the CVU band room (#163 across from the chorus room). Summertime rehearsals are held on Thursdays at 7:15 pm at the Hinesburg Elementary School.

Hinesburg Artist Series was created because its founder, Rufus Patrick, wanted to provide a performance venue for one of his talented ex-students from Burlington High School, Guillaine Senecal. The first HAS concert was held on March 16, 1997 at the United Church of Hinesburg with a 40-voice chorus and a 12-piece orchestra where they performed Rutter’s Requiem.

Over the next nine years, with enthusiastic support from the community, the Series continued to develop and grow to encompass the South County Chorus, the Hinesburg Community Band and In Accord a cappella singers and the ad hoc HAS orchestras, with an expanded mission and on-going effort to integrate the visual and performing arts.

In 2006 HAS 10th anniversary season, HAS expanded its offerings by hosting a concert on February 12 featuring the world-renowned harpist Grace Cloutier, who will be performing at Carnegie Hall later that spring, and by performing at the Farmers’ Night Concert Series at the State Capitol. Other 2006 performances were the Hinesburg Winter Carnival Cabaret, the Hinesburg 4th of July parade and fireworks, and the Hinesburg “Concert in the Park” summer series, Hinesburg Harvest Festival as well as the traditional spring and fall concerts and the annual Community Christmas Concert held in December

RUFUS C. PATRICK received his degree in Music Education from the University of Vermont. He was a music educator in Vermont for 25 years and served as president of the Vermont Music Educators, the New England Music Festival Association and was a member of the Music Educator's National Conference executive Board. In 1987 he was the chorus director for "Project Harmony" and performed in Russia and Latvia. Also in 1987 Rufus was recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award for the Burlington School Department. At BHS he conducted the Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Pit Orchestra, Madrigal Singers and Pep Band.

In 1993 he was music director for the production of "Guys and Dolls" that performed in Hamelin Germany. In 2002 he was the recipient of the "Aw Shucks" Award from Connecting Youth in Chittenden South. Rufus has been conductor of the pit orchestra for the Hinesburg Community School Musicals for 14 years. He was music director for the 2001 Lyric Theatre production of "Singin' in the Rain", and the Stowe Theatre Guild's "Hello Dolly" in 2004, "Music Man" in 2005, "Bye, Bye Birdie" in 2006 and "Annie" in 2008. Rufus is the founder and artistic director for the Hinesburg Artist Series. He currently conducts the South County Chorus, the Hinesburg Community Band, In Accord, the Hinesburg United Church Choir, the All Souls Interfaith Gathering Choir in Shelburne and the Wake Robin Singers.

Our Accompanist...Carolyn Wood

CAROLYN WOOD has been the rehearsal and performance pianist for a number of musicals in Vermont and Maine. She has accompanied variety shows, choruses, choirs, and performed solo and in chamber groups. She teaches piano in the Burlington area, plays the organ, and teaches an early childhood music and movement program called Music Seeds. Carolyn in currently the accompanist for the South County Chorus, and the Wake Robin Singers, and is organist at the Hinesburg United Church.

South County Chorus (SCC) was organized in January 1992 by several people from Shelburne and Charlotte who were looking for the opportunity to sing a variety of music for pleasure in a non-competitive setting with the intention of performing one or two concerts a year for the benefit of the community. That vision took shape over the years initially under the direction of Carl Recchia, the CVU choral director. In 1999 Rufus C. Patrick took over as the SCC and In Accord director. With a passion for music bringing the group together over the years, the chorus has grown from a 25 voice group to a 55-60 voice chorus. SCC has sung at a variety of locations including Wake Robin, Shelburne Museum, the Unitarian Church in Burlington, the Round Barn in Waitsfield, First Methodist Church in Burlington, the Williston Federated Church, and Saint Jude Church in Hinesburg.

Hinesburg Community Band (HCB) Seeing the need for a band in the Hinesburg 4th of July Parade, Rufus Patrick revived the once vital Hinesburg Town Band, a group that his uncles and family friends used to play in, by talking local musicians into rehearsing a few times prior to performing at the parade. The band was so well received that they continued to practice and perfect their great cohesive sound. The group has since been renamed the Hinesburg Community Band. They have performed for the past 10 years in locations including Basin Harbor, Shelburne Museum on the Ticonderoga, the Statehouse in Montpelier, Hinesburg Concert in the Park, and the annual Hinesburg 4th of July parade.

In Accord began its a cappella life known as the South County Ensemble - formed from members of South County Chorus who "never had enough sense" to go home after rehearsal. The group's current moniker of "In Accord" was devised by past member Dorrice Hammer. In Accord has performed at venues including the Williston Coffee House, the Addison County Hospice Memorial Ceremony, Shelburne Farms, and continue to appear at Burlington's First Night for their 13th year!

Providing opportunities for the community to experience and celebrate the Arts