Artistic Director

“Music, on one hand, draws us in, closer to our spirit-self, and on the other, guides us outwardly through the impediments of fulfilling our soul’s destiny, that is, being the best of what and whom we can be. What our soul seeks is truth, and music changes us for the better.”

~ Artistic Director Leroy Kromm

Maestro Leroy Kromm has served as the Director of Music for the San José Symphonic Choir since 1985. Throughout his celebrated career, he has achieved widespread recognition as a versatile conductor, soloist, pianist, and teacher. Under Maestro Kromm’s inspiring direction, SJSC has flourished, increasing in size and growing in artistry. In addition to directing SJSC, he is on the voice faculty at Santa Clara University and has been a member of the collegiate voice faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Maestro Kromm received bachelor’s degrees in applied music and music education and a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Photos by Carlin Ma

"Singing with Leroy Kromm, in rehearsals and in concerts, is life-affirming and gives me hope in troubled times. Many are the days I drag myself to rehearsal at the end of a long day, only to leave three hours later, energized by Leroy's words ... about the music, the text, the context of the piece we're learning, the vocal technique to sing it properly. He is a master teacher and we've performed some of the most challenging choral masterpieces because of his inspiring leadership."

Janice Goertz

Soprano, member since 2002

Kromm has provided clinician and consultant services nationally in both academia and the Hollywood film industry. He has also achieved great acclaim as a vocalist, performing in opera, cantata, and musical theater, and recording on various labels including Harmonia Mundi and Musical Heritage Society. Memorable collaborations include singing Don Giovanni with soprano Carol Vaness at the Carmel Bach Festival, conducting Belshazzar’s Feast by William Walton with baritone soloist Nathan Gunn, performing War Scenes with its composer, Ned Rorem, and singing David Sheinfeld’s Dear Theo with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (one of his last compositions).