Who is The Choral Majority?
The Choral Majority Gospel Choir is a Merrimack Valley-based non-profit arts ministry who’ve shared their message of faith, love and unity with audiences across New England for over 30 years. The group includes members and music of different cultures and sings in multiple languages to reflect the rich heritage and inspiring diversity of our faith and country.
The first gospel choir to appear on the main stage at SoulFest, The Choral Majority has sung with Grammy award-winning artist Ashley Cleveland, at the National Day of Prayer at the State House, NH PBS’s screening of GOSPEL by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., in Martin Luther King Day celebrations at Andover Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Malden, North Andover Historical Society’s Black History Month, Juneteenth Celebration in Andover, July 4th Celebration on North Andover Common, The National Council of Negro Women’s Courage and Conviction Awards, and the popular original Christmas production Not Your Typical Silent Night at the Rogers Center for the Arts.
The group has organized or appeared in benefit events for Bradford Christian Academy, Community Teamwork & the Merrimack Valley Regional Network to End Homelessness, Esperanza Academy, Hope for the Children of Haiti, InterVarsity, Lazarus House, National Night Out-Lawrence Police, PEER Servants, The Salvation Army, and area food pantry ministries.
While we are a Christian group, we strive to follow Jesus’ example of seeing each person of every faith and persuasion as a child of God made in His image. We joyously share the Gospel in our music, but do not proselytize, instead focusing on our message of the power of unity in diversity and loving respect for every person.
MEET THE TEAM
FOUNDING DIRECTORS
Eric W. Lindahl
Eric is a lifelong musician, having toured the world with The American Boychoir and grown up in a musical home. He’s a worship leader and arts ministry consultant to churches in New England and beyond, co-directs youth and adult choirs with his wife Robin, and teaches privately. He loves tennis, old movies and working in the yard with his wife and the chickadees.
Robin Allison Lindahl
Robin is a vocalist, actress, theatre and music teacher and director who’s performed on stages across the US and in acclaimed musical productions in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and New York. She loves connecting with children of all ages, from senior saints to kids and people with needs, learning from her best friend, her grandmother to never lose the play spirit.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nancy Basilicato, Treasurer
Nancy hails from Long Island, NY, and has been a Christian servant-leader for decades, guided by the principles of Jesus to love and honor one another. She is the CFO of a large real estate developer, after owning a CPA firm for 25 years. She was a founding board member and treasurer of One Foundation Christian arts ministry and has offered financial and tax services and support to Eric and Robin and Blue Window Arts Group (‘Not Your Typical Silent Night’ productions) for decades. As a longtime member and former elder of BrookRidge Community Church, Nancy helped develop the church’s philosophies, vision, and future goals. She serves in the kids Sunday school, at the annual Kids Camp and on mission trips. She is a studied and excellent total-health cook and leads BRCC’s volunteer group that feeds the hungry and homeless hot meals each month. Nancy is a selfless friend. She moved to North Carolina for three months to be the lifesaving support to a close friend who received a liver transplant, managing her care and critical medications to help her survive. While putting in 12-hour days at the hospital she was also able to maintain her “day job” duties remotely. She regularly counsels people on life issues, fiscal stability, and health and nutrition (freely sharing her awesome recipe database!).
Susanna Daniel
Susanna is a clinical social worker with a private practice focused on providing treatment to older adults and individuals with physical disabilities and complex medical conditions in their homes. She draws on her Christian faith both in her career as a social worker and in her volunteer work as an advocate and champion for social justice causes. Susanna lives in Amesbury, Mass with her husband. She attends Hope Community Church in Newburyport. Susanna enjoys spending time in Maine with family, collecting any and all things vintage, and doing creative projects with her husband.
Patti Hamann, Clerk
Patti is newly semi-retired after working 37 years in the health technology industry. She and her husband, Darrell, have lived in the North Andover, MA area for 32 years. She is actively involved in the Women’s Ministry leadership team at Free Christian Church and enjoys guest-lecturing and mentoring Marketing & Strategy students at the university level. She is an avid perennial gardener and global traveler and likes exercise, and Tai Chi. She seizes every opportunity to share God’s love with everyone she meets!
Adine Latimore
Adine is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) with the MA Department of Public Health’s SANE Program. During the past 15 years, she has worked as the Pediatric SANE as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County (CAC). As a part of this team, Ms. Latimore works under the principles of “do no harm” to conduct forensic examinations for children who have been sexually abused. Her role also includes medical consultation to the MDT, child health assessment and management, and patient education with a focus on child health and well-being. Adine has over 30 years of nursing experience, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire, and her Master of Science in Maternal and Child Nursing from Boston College. She’s presently a doctoral student at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and has recently co-authored a textbook chapter on “Child Maltreatment” in “A Practical Guide to Forensic Nursing: Incorporating Forensic Principles into Nursing Practice” by Angela Amar and Kathleen Sekula. Adine is an active member of the Andover Baptist Church the past 12 years and enjoys many church activities which include singing in the choir. “It is a pleasure for me to be given the opportunity to serve on TCM’s board of directors. I hope to use my skills to serve in this community and hopefully beyond, in whatever capacity I am able to.”
Bill Moline
Bill is an avid musician, technologist, husband, father, and Christian. He has been actively involved with The Choral Majority for more than 30 years, uniting these passions to spread the Gospel. He brings decades of experience in architecting and developing mission-critical software systems across many areas including scientific, industrial, financial services, and music to provide TCM with a solid technology foundation. He is also a founding and featured saxophonist of the TCM band. Bill is a member of the Free Christian Church in Andover, where he worships with his family, and enjoys opportunities to join the praise team on saxophone.
ADVISORS & STAFF
Reverend Nathaniel C. Burnes, Chaplain
Rev. Nathaniel C. Burnes is an ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches of the United States. He has been serving as the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Methuen for eight years. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Reverend Burnes is the Vice President of the executive committee of the Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society. He is an active member of the community and is particularly involved in missions. Reverend Burnes is also the Chaplain of The Choral Majority and the Methuen Fire Department. Prior to his pastoral work, he was employed at Proctor & Gamble for twenty-two years. However, he is most happy with his thirty-eight-year marriage to his wife, Mrs. Anita Burnes, and their four children and three grandsons.
Audra Hebert, Photographer
Audra is a professional photographer and runs her own Pet Concierge business. She has been a member of Free Christian Church in Andover, MA for 14 years and has led many small groups, ministries and been a co-leader of alpha over the years. She has supported Lazarus House and St. Martha’s Food Pantry through food donation drives. Her life motto, inspired by Ephesians 5:2, is: "Live a life of love (for all), following the example of Christ who loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Peter Vantine, Development Manager
From the first note composed to the latest project produced, Peter's 40-year journey as a professional musician has been an exciting symphony of discovery. His original compositions have resonated in concert halls, recordings, streaming services, and through film and television screens. Winning the grand prize in the 2001 Turner Classic Movies Young Composer's Competition was a pivotal moment, propelling Peter to produce over 35 albums and publish two multi-album series of solo piano music recordings. Alongside his musical explorations, he has dedicated nearly 20 years to administrative roles in music, education, and nonprofit settings. Today, he seeks to channel this rich tapestry of experiences into providing virtual administrative services for independent musicians and nonprofits, helping them to thrive both artistically and operationally. Peter co-produced the 1999 TCM self-titled debut album with director, Eric Lindahl and served as pianist with the group for several years.
TCM HISTORY
Original 2001 TCM Website
Courtesy of The Wayback Machine, The Choral Majority's original website has been archived for historical purposes . . . and we didn't even know it! The entire website can be viewed via The Wayback Machine. Check it out to browse through this time capsule with info and photos from our early days.